Classic and Vintage Bicycles: What's it Worth? Appraisals and Inquiries - '88 Schwinn World Sport $100

http://images.craigslist.org/3n73m23o11g813314691ld03031c0cb061825.jpg

Sorry...LeTour!! (hit submit before catching mistake)

http://detroit.craigslist.org/bik/1001610091.html

Not a bargain especially in the Detroit market these days, I know -- but worth it for a rider? I don't often see decent bikes on CL that fit me. Looks to be all or mostly original.

An 88 Le Tour is going to be double butted chromoly frame, TruTemper I think. That's a pretty nice bike. Around here it would be off of CL for $100 in less than a day. Something doesn't add up. Why does it have turkey wing brake levers? I had a 87 Traveler and it had nicer brake levers than that LeTour. Otherwise it looks original and in good shape. Its kinda small, but if that's your size, I'd go for it. If it's a flipper, it's a little high priced, but for a keeper, yeah, looks good.

+1 Assuming it is really a Le Tour, this bike wouldn't last around here either. Personally, if it is a keeper, I would dump the turkey levers for some decent aerolevers, which is a cheap upgrade.

+1 That is a small bike, as small as the mens style comes. Usually meant for a very short rider, someone in the 5-0 to 5-4 range +/-.

+1 OP: Being in Detroit, I would think the garage sale market would be pretty good (cheap), although this is the wrong time of year. Ditto Craigs List, so you might want to hold out for something better.

Check for internal rust and the old stuck seat post (can do both checks at once, pull the seat post, and look down the seat tube), otherwise, buy it!

I agree with posts #2 and #3. As long as there's no rust and everything works/moves I wouldnt hesitate at $100.

If it were my size and I was looking for a rider, well, it would no longer be an active listing as it would already be in my garage.

Thanks. I'll give the guy a call. Maybe I can check it out on the way home from work today. BTW, I'm 5'5" and the World Sport F/G conversion in my sig (no kittens died) is the same size and is comfortable. Not quite East Hill (tm) short but...

Yeah, not sure about those suicide levers. Catalog doesn't show them and the pic on the ad cuts off the levers.

He had listed the same bike a month or two ago...maybe he'll deal. Seems to be a flipper; has some other bikes & parts listed. Other bike currently listed is a slightly shabby looking World for the same price.

EDIT: Seller is evidently a shop, Town & Country bikes in Livonia MI. Any Detroit/Ann Arborites here know of them?

Shop makes sense, as you can see the window display in the background of the pic.

Sometimes flippers or even shops will post a bike for a few days to a week, then pull the ad down. Then repost a few weeks later. I have done this myself on multiple bikes. Buyers tend to not look past the last couple of days of for sale items.

At this price, the shop may just want to move it to get the bike out of the way. So they may take an offer.

The handle bar and stem may not be original if this is a 87 or 88 LeTour. These were set with a more aggressive position, lower than the seat. With SAFETY levers on the brakes it is possible the bars were swapped with another to make it ride ready. It does appear there is a hood on the left brake handle (?), would expect the same on the right. Possible cut away for the safety lever extension.

It has always been my understanding Suicide levers were describing derailleur shifters mounted lower on the down tube for rear, and seat tube for front units.

If ride ready with good rubber, a $100 is fair. You are competing with college riders in your market too.

If frame is your size, best of luck.

PS: 86 LeTour was fitted with Huret rear derailleur, 87 with Shimano. The picture appears to be a SunTour. Niether were fitted with plastic spoke protector. Make certain the rims are aluminum, if Schwinn steel the bike will be heavier than the list 27 - 28# range and then not worth the money being asked, makes it a $50 rider in my market, and much less for a flipper.

I went, I saw, I passed. It was far from "ready to ride" as the ad claimed, indeed fairly rough overall. If it was $30 or $40 in a thrift shop maybe I'd take a chance & put in the work and new consumables -- after checking the frame for straightness.

FWIW, with the exception of the saddle and maybe the brake levers it looked all original (including the dirt & grease) in spite of the dork disk (maybe it and the safety levers were added?). I took a printout of the '88 catalog spec page to check.