Classic & Vintage - Mystery Bike, please help me identify it, bunch of pics

I just got this bike yesterday afternoon and have not had a chance to give it a good cleaning. I will post some after pictures after I get it looking good. The paint is great and I believe it is some kind of Schwinn, maybe a Super Sport, but 2 owners ago every decal was removed and the only identifying mark remaining is the serial number under the BB. I think it is C894149, it is very hard to read.

It has Shimano 600 everything except crankset, which is made up of at least one specialized chain ring. My guess was that it came with the Biopace set and it was replaced with a standard set.

The seat post is a 26.6mm.

I will post a bunch of pics and any help on the make model and year will be greatly appreciated. Thanks in advance.

Here is picture of the whole bike.

Does this look like a Schwinn Peloton or Tempo? I did a search and the 26.6mm seat post matches that of the Tempo, but I think that they were normally built with 105 components.

'LIL help??

You forgot the one telltale piece of information that could help us determine whether or not it's a Schwinn. The weight. :D

Edit: I'm wondering if it might be a Nishiki.

I don't have a scale, but I am guessing about 22-23 lbs, maybe less.

My guess is a Raleigh.

The holes from the badge look like they are low on the headtube which would allow the Raleigh badge to sit centered.
The adjustment screws on the dropouts are similar to a Raleigh I had.

This is only a guess and a wild one at that

That fork looks like a tange based on the shape of the fork crown. The bike is def mid to late 80's maybe early 90's japanese. I'd guess a nutshike (but I don't think it's a nutshike) or something similar probably with tange number 2 frameset. I think the serial box placement may give it away. Maybe a 600 group was used to rebuild a midrange schwinn or something...

I think I have come up with it. It is a Schwinn Circuit, likely made in 1989 by the serial number. It has consumed my work day. Now I need a brew.....

edited..

Alright, I think I am wrong on this being a Schwinn Circuit. Circuits seem to have had a 27.2mm seat post and my bike has a 26.6mm one. They were supposed to be about 21lbs and according to my kitchen scale this one weighs between 23 and 24 lbs.

Apparently there are some subtle differences on the years of the Tempos. One difference is the eyelets on the dropouts for fenders/racks, which mine does not have. The other being Lugs (or a triangle lug design) on the fork, which mine does not have either.

I have dated my parts, but that proved to be very unconclusive, especially because Tempos were normally built up with 105 parts. I don't know what Schwinns were originally built up with 600 or if any of these components are original.

Seat post - 26.6mm - Dated 94 D = April 1994
Front Der - Shimano 600 - Dated KF = June 1986
Front Brake - Shimano 600 - Dated LC = March 1987
Rear Brake - Shimano 600 - Dated JK = November 1985

The Rear Der is a 600 Ultegra, which was not original.

Anyone know anything that can help??????????? I'm dying here :eek:

Seatpost - most certainly a replacement. Possible that it's not the right size? Shimmed - overly crimped seat clamp?

Sounds like an 87 model of something based on the datecodes - though the mix/matched years on the brakes are interesting (maybe more to me than those with more experience though).

Likely a Japanese import of one brand or another. Surprised T-Mar or one of the Schwinn crew hasn't confirmed or defeated the Schwinn idea. Though - Schwinn was going through troubled times in these years and the and as such searial number may not be as useful. Decent looking frame and build in any case.

Seatpost - most certainly a replacement. Possible that it's not the right size? Shimmed - overly crimped seat clamp?

Sounds like an 87 model of something based on the datecodes - though the mix/matched years on the brakes are interesting (maybe more to me than those with more experience though).

Likely a Japanese import of one brand or another. Surprised T-Mar or one of the Schwinn crew hasn't confirmed or defeated the Schwinn idea. Though - Schwinn was going through troubled times in these years and the and as such searial number may not be as useful. Decent looking frame and build in any case.

Thanks for the quick response.

If figured the seat post was a replacement, it is way too long to have been stock. It does fit perfectly though. No shims and no crimped seat clamp.

Why do you say 87? I figured it was a 88 if the 2nd number was the year or possibly an 89 if the 2nd and 3rd numbers make up the year. I think that the serial number is similar to the ones that came out of the Greenville, MS plant.

I really like the bike, it fits perfectly, the components are nice, and I will ride the hell out of it, but not knowing the model is killing me.

Those rear stays look EXACTLY like those on my Circuit, the one on the left in the fork pic.

Those rear stays look EXACTLY like those on my Circuit, the one on the left in the fork pic.

Here is a better picture. Notice that there are no eyelets on my bike.

In the set of pictures there is one of the underside of the BB. It has what appears to be a third derailer/brake guide rail. Is that an identifying mark and does anyone know what that is for?

Here is another pic showing a non lugged fork. I saw some pictures of some Tempos with a triangle looking lug/overlay on the fork and this bike doesn't have that.

Good point about the serial number. I was looking at the date codes. :o

What was the model down from the curcuit in those years?

Ok, scooper is lurking around here somewhere... hopefully he'll drop into this thread and give some insight.

Here is a picture of the inside of the seat tube. It takes a 26.6mm seat post and there is a hole that appears intentional in shape and position where the top tube is joined. Does anyone know what kind of tubing this is? Columbus?

Well, I have as close to 100% confirmation as I can get. A guy is selling a bike on eBay right now and I confirmed his serial number is very similar to mine and his pictures look exactly like mine. My bike is a (drum roll please)

SCHWINN TEMPO (most likely a 1988)

Does anyone have a catalogue that they can check to verify the year???

Thanks to everyone who has helped me in this quest.

PM scooper and see if he may have one. the Tempo was a nice bike in its day. I had a feeling it was close to that. :)

FWIW, I think it's probably a Japanese made model. It seems that the Mississippi made Schwinns have serial numbers starting with "S." That's not an indisputable fact as far as I know, but we've had a few of these discussions before, and if my memory is correct the Mississippi models have always had serial #'s starting with "S." If you can find a photo showing an '88 Tempo with the decals intact, it should be clearly marked "made in Japan" if it was made there.

I PM'd Rob with links to the 1988 Tempo photo and specs, but it looks like the links aren't working. Sorry to take up so much bandwidth, but here are the images:

http://i32.photobucket.com/albums/d7/k4drd/Bicycles/1988TempoPhoto.jpg

http://i32.photobucket.com/albums/d7/k4drd/Bicycles/1988TempoSpecs.jpg

so is tempo the consensus here? You can look on the underside of the lug that connects the headtube to the stear tube, the size will be stamped there. that conforms it is a schwinn at least, though I am pretty sure it is.

I have PM'd and emailed alot of people on this type of serial number (letter followed by 6 numbers) and it seems that there are C's and G's, but I haven't talked to anyone with an S. Do you know anyone, I can ask about that?

Also, I assume that the concensus is that the first letter is not the month?

I confirmed a Tempo with a C89 start to the serial number with 1898 on the Badge, which is certainly feasible. March of 88 frame build with a July of 88 build up?

I have PM'd and emailed alot of people on this type of serial number (letter followed by 6 numbers) and it seems that there are C's and G's, but I haven't talked to anyone with an S. Do you know anyone, I can ask about that?

Also, I assume that the concensus is that the first letter is not the month?

I confirmed a Tempo with a C89 start to the serial number with 1898 on the Badge, which is certainly feasible. March of 88 frame build with a July of 88 build up?

I've got two le tour models ('83 le tour luxe, '84 le tour) that I believe were made in Mississippi. The serial numbers start with S, then a letter for the month I think, then a number for the last digit of the year. Example: the '83 starts out SF3, which would indicate Mississippi, June, 1983, I believe. I'm not totally positive about this, and Mr. Hufford and Sierra are much more expert on serial numbers than I am. But I think every USA made Schwinn (not just le tours) we've discussed from this time period has had a serial number starting with S, and since the Chicago plant was shut down at the end of '83, it's seems Mississippi is the place the USA bikes were made. I also had an '82 Super le tour recently, made in Japan, and the serial # had the format your Tempo seems to have. Also, the Tempo was more of a high end model, and it seems most of the better Schwinn models were made overseas for Schwinn during the mid/late '80's, although I believe there were exceptions. It's confusing stuff, that's for sure-

have you pulled the fork and looked at the stamping on the steerer tube? I'm thinking its a Letour with true temper tubing and a tange fork. should be stamped on the fork steerer

have you pulled the fork and looked at the stamping on the steerer tube? I'm thinking its a Letour with true temper tubing and a tange fork. should be stamped on the fork steerer

What will be stamped on the steerer tube that will help identify this bike? Also, didn't the LeTours have eyelets on the rear dropouts for a rack/fender? My bike does not have any eyelets. Also, how much do the LeTours weigh? Thanks.

What will be stamped on the steerer tube that will help identify this bike? Also, didn't the LeTours have eyelets on the rear dropouts for a rack/fender? My bike does not have any eyelets. Also, how much do the LeTours weigh? Thanks.

There were LOTS of bikes with Tange forks back then. And you make a good point about the eyelets, le tours (at least the ones from the '80's) have'em front and rear.

What will be stamped on the steerer tube that will help identify this bike? Also, didn't the LeTours have eyelets on the rear dropouts for a rack/fender? My bike does not have any eyelets. Also, how much do the LeTours weigh? Thanks.


sorry, I should seperate my thoughts into paragraphs.

You can look at the steerer tube and see what it was made of. It should be stamped with the manufacturer and type of tubing (Tange 1, Ishiwata 019, whatever.) many tubing makers did this. This idea has no relationship to my WAG that its a Letour, but is another way to add a piece to the puzzle.

I have no idea what Letours weigh. My light blue Letour (about 1988 or so) did not have eyelets for fenders/racks, a tange fork, and true temper tubing.
the lugs and geometry of my old bike seem to match your picture, hence my wild-as$-guess. Unfortunately I sold it last spring so I cant make a decent comparison

sorry, I should seperate my thoughts into paragraphs.

You can look at the steerer tube and see what it was made of. It should be stamped with the manufacturer and type of tubing (Tange 1, Ishiwata 019, whatever.) many tubing makers did this. This idea has no relationship to my WAG that its a Letour, but is another way to add a piece to the puzzle.

I have no idea what Letours weigh. My light blue Letour (about 1988 or so) did not have eyelets for fenders/racks, a tange fork, and true temper tubing.
the lugs and geometry of my old bike seem to match your picture, hence my wild-as$-guess. Unfortunately I sold it last spring so I cant make a decent comparison

I need a larger crescent wrench to remove the headset, so I will report on the tubing later, but I do have some more information that will likely disprove my Tempo conclusion. The bike is a little heftier than I expected, weighing in as pictured at 24.75lbs. The bike is carrying some extra weight from the super long seatpost, the water bottle holders, and possibly the swapped crankset and front hub, but certainly not 2.75 lbs worth. So that rules out the 22lb 1988 Schwinn Tempo.

Two other things I have attached a picture of both. One is the cable guide under the bottom bracket shell. It says Made in Canada and has a third wire guide. What is that for??

The other is a picture of the inside of the front fork showing the connecting overlay/lug/reinforcement? I don't know what to call it, but maybe it will help identify the bike.

The quest continues.....

Hello, handsomerob, fancy meeting you here. I'm the guy with the Tempo on eBay, I have the same username on both sites.

The Tempo I'm selling has identical spear reinforcements on the fork and a very similar three-groove cable guide on the bottom bracket shell, as well as identical lug profiles and water bottle reinforcements. I am convinced that your frame is either a Tempo or one of the several models that used an identical frameset, including at least the Schwinn Prelude. Your frame is made from Columbus Tenax, a good quality double-butted CrMo. I wouldn't trust the accuracy of the advertised weight in the Schwinn catalogue, they usually tend to shave a pound or two in those listings, or give the weight of a small size.

For anyone interested, Click here to view the eBay listing for my Schwinn Tempo. (http://search.ebay.com/_W0QQsassZnome.kingQQhtZ-1)

Hello, handsomerob, fancy meeting you here. I'm the guy with the Tempo on eBay, I have the same username on both sites.

The Tempo I'm selling has identical spear reinforcements on the fork and a very similar three-groove cable guide on the bottom bracket shell, as well as identical lug profiles and water bottle reinforcements. I am convinced that your frame is either a Tempo or one of the several models that used an identical frameset, including at least the Schwinn Prelude. Your frame is made from Columbus Tenax, a good quality double-butted CrMo. I wouldn't trust the accuracy of the advertised weight in the Schwinn catalogue, they usually tend to shave a pound or two in those listings, or give the weight of a small size.

For anyone interested, Click here to view the eBay listing for my Schwinn Tempo. (http://search.ebay.com/_W0QQsassZnome.kingQQhtZ-1)

What a coincidence finding you here. I appreciate you checking this out for me. I thought the same thing about this maybe being a Prelude or Premis, but I haven't been able to locate a good picture to verify. Thanks again for all your help, hopefully I can get some specs to see how it matches.

Any idea why they have that three groove cable?

edited to add - I will send you $5 via paypal if you will weigh your Tempo for me.... not knowing is killing me.

I don't have a scale and the only LBS that weighs bikes locally is very unpleasant to deal with, sorry.

I sold a 1988 Prelude last year, and I have lots of photos of it. As far as I can tell the frame was identical to the Tempo, except the Prelude had fender eyelets and came with Suntour Alpha 5000 series components which didn't work particularily well. It had the Columbus Tenax decal on the seat tube.

I don't have a scale and the only LBS that weighs bikes locally is very unpleasant to deal with, sorry.

I sold a 1988 Prelude last year, and I have lots of photos of it. As far as I can tell the frame was identical to the Tempo, except the Prelude had fender eyelets and came with Suntour Alpha 5000 series components which didn't work particularily well. It had the Columbus Tenax decal on the seat tube.

That is a beautiful bike in the picture. Must have been tough to sell.

As far as the weight issue goes, I was thinking about it and if it was the 19" frame bike that was about 22 lbs, how much more would my 23" frame weigh? Combine the larger frame with swapped out components, wheelset, crankset, seatpost, and saddle as well as another coat or two of paint and two water bottle holders, there may be 2 lbs in there. Possible? Likely? Just Wishful thinking?