Schwinn Volare 1200 Review 2023: 5 Reasons I Recommend It

By Mark Plummer •  Updated: 01/06/23 •  5 min read

When you use our links, we may earn an affiliate commission. Learn more.

Schwinn is without a doubt one of the finest road bike manufacturers that exist today, I’ve been following their progression as a brand for many years now and can say without a shade of doubt that the Schwinn Volare 1200 is one of their top models.

I believe that this road bike is the quintessential option for people who are looking for an affordable road bike that is both rapid on the roads, lightweight for the hills, and agile when traversing the city streets.

SCHWINN VOLARE 1200

Our Rating

SCHWINN VOLARE 1200

PROS

  • Amazing value for money
  • Minimal design
  • Very light
  • Interesting hybrid design
  • 21 quick shift gears

CONS

  • Hard to assemble

OUR VERDICT

“The Schwinn Volare 1200 is a very cheap bike that is clearly worth more than people can buy one for. Filled with quality components it provides a truly awesome ride.”

Schwinn Volare Review

Schwinn Volare 1200 Review
Schwinn Volare 1200 Review

This gorgeous, high-performance bike has been designed by Schwinn bicycles to be cheap, reliable and a smooth ride it is for these reasons that Schwinn is able to continually produce world-class road bikes for the masses.

This particular model has been designed for those who would like a bike for pleasure and commuting alike, these are the qualities that are most appealing to people and so it is easy to see why Schwinn has aligned their vision with them.

The Schwinn Volare 1200 road bike is ideal to be used as a daily driver and will have you to and from work in no time, this is a powerful bike that can accelerate extremely rapidly without too much physical exertion on your behalf.

At the same time the Volare 1200 is also able to be used as an exercise bike, or one for competition purposes too – if you are after a well-rounded model then continue reading.

“Stunning design, lightweight frame, comfortable saddle, rapid gear changes, and available for two hundred dollars – what?!”

Firstly, the Volare 1200 has been crafted using a high-quality and truly lightweight aluminum frame that enables riders to climb steep inclines with relative ease.

While it is without a doubt true that many road bikes utilize aluminum frames over and above the traditionally used steel frames, not many weigh as little as the Schwinn Volare 1200.

Not only that but the frame itself is built using a 6061 form of aluminum, this is typically regarded as being the sturdiest available and it is exceptionally ideal for road bikes.

Designed to be a smooth ride, the frame works in tandem with some stunning forks that will blissfully reduce vibrations felt by the rider on bumpy or uneven terrain.

This is, unfortunately, a stumbling block for the majority of bike manufacturers who produce beautiful bikes but the quality lacking, however, with Schwinn being the true industry leading expert they are consistently able to provide riders with bikes that perform well at all times.

Performance

The Schwinn Volare 1200 is equipped with a total of 21 gear speeds and these have been built around some high-quality Shimano components, including Shimano derailleurs and a high-functioning crankset.

These premium parts of the bike provide a seamless experience whenever you change gears and this is what provides that added benefit to commuters who are seeking out a truly reliable road bike.

Schwinn is the master of ensuring that their bikes always perform as and when required and when you’re using it every day you don’t ever want it to fail.

Another thing that is regularly seen in the cheaper road bike models is a low-quality braking mechanism and once again we quickly found out that this was not the case here.

After rigorously testing the bike out in a wide range of scenarios I was extremely impressed with the Volare 1200, never once did it struggle to bring the bike to a rapid stop.

Additionally, the bike also did not shudder one bit, this is again something fairly typical of entry-level road bikes.

Test Ride

The gorgeous alloy-based wheelsets and rims were a lovely added extra, they have been constructed to be lightweight and durable.

Similarly, the 700c tires also performed well on the road, we managed to get out and test them in the rain and dry – we experienced no difficulties here and were impressed with how lightweight they were too.

It is always a treat to get your hands on a road bike that has extra slim tires, but can still maintain grip without any difficulties.

Some of the additional benefits that we noted for the bike were the ergonomically styled handlebars and grips that were really soft to the touch. With many cheap road bikes, these are an afterthought and it was a pleasant surprise to find that this was not the case with the Volare 1200. 

Likewise, the saddle was also fairly comfortable too – at just over two hundred dollars this bike is shaping up to be quite the steal for some lucky people! 

Schwinn Volare 1200 Price

Sale
Schwinn Volare 1200 Mens and Womens Hybrid Sport...
  • Road bike with aluminum rigid fitness frame and rigid fork....
  • 21-speed trigger shifters offer a wide gear range and smooth...
  • Alloy disc brakes deliver superior stopping power

Last update on 2023-05-29 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API

Schwinn Volare 1200 Specs

Brake Stylelinear pull
ColorGrey
Frame Material TypeAluminum
Number Of Speeds21
Package Height10.3 x 29.7 x 52.5 inches
Shipping Weight39.4 pounds
Size56cm/Medium
Wheel Size700 inches

Conclusion

Our final verdict on the Schwinn Volare 1200 men’s road bike was that it is an ideal bike for somebody looking for a reliable daily commuting model, or somebody who was looking for a more casual ride too.

It is available for an affordable price but performs just as well as bikes that cost considerably more.

To add to this, we also believe that it will do a great job for somebody looking to simply get out onto the roads to keep themselves fit and healthy. It really was a treat to ride and we’re excited to be checking out some more of Schwinn’s road bikes in the coming days too.

The Best Road Bikes I’ve Reviewed This Year:

Tommaso Imola - Sport Bike Performance Aluminum...

#1 Tommaso Imola: This is my absolute favorite road bike for beginner to intermediate riders who use their bike regularly. It comes with a 24-speed Shimano Claris drivetrain, Corsa TC20 wheels, an aluminum frame, and ultracompact handlebars. Check out what the Tommaso Imola is going for on Amazon right now.

#2 Vilano Shadow 3.0: I really like this road bike for anyone who’s looking for exceptional performance on a tight budget. The Vilano has features, such as integrated shifters, which I would only expect to see at a much higher price point. It performs exceptionally well on the road too even for longer distances. Check out the amazing reviews it’s been getting!

Vilano Shadow 3.0 Road Bike with Integrated...

Mark Plummer

Mark Plummer is an experienced bike mechanic who has built, repaired, and customized thousands of bikes over the years. A former mountain biking athlete, his cycling adventures have taken him all over the globe from the mountains of Scotland to the South Island of New Zealand. These days he enjoys the benefits of commuting to work and touring on his Dahon and Brompton folding bikes.

Read These Next