Classic & Vintage - Schwinn Super Le Tour Question

I have a real quick question...

I've been in the market for a road bike to use as a commuter. A recent visit to a local website showed one that might be perfect. It's a Schwinn Super Le Tour and joy of joys its a 62 cm (I'm tall and cheap bikes that size are tough to come by). Anyway, looking at the pictures it looks to be in very good shape and he's asking for $260 for it. That's just outside of my price range. Is that price something that I could
live with or could this be a bit high? It looks to be at least 10 years old, maybe more... Anyway, if anyone has any info on this type of bike I would really appreciate it.

Thank you very much..

$260 sounds high to me. See if you find out what the frame is made from. Some of the early Super Le Tours were made from 1020 carbon steel. The later ones were made from 4130 Chrome-moly which is better. I wouldn't pay that much for one with the 1020 frame.

I'll look into it. According to a brief website search it looks to be a 1980-ish model. I'll ask the seller to make sure. That's the only year I could find that offered the Super Le Tour in white.

Also, if it indeed is a 1980-ish model (and I've checked that is the 1020 steel that you mentioned), what would be a fair price? It does look to be in great shape.

Thank you

Get the 4 digit serial number off of the headbadge and post it. That will tell us the year it was made. Each year around 1980 the LeTours had changes in origins and materials.

I had it backwards. '76-'78 Super LeTour 12.2 had chrome moly top and down tubes. Name changed to Super LeTour II for '79 and was 1020 steel. Name changed again for 1980 to simply Super LeTour and was again 1020 steel and I think stayed that way for the rest of the years the model was produced. I find the bike in white for 1980 and 1981 which were 1020 steel years. It's your money and your choice, but I think there are better bikes out there for $260. I bought a fully chrome plated Schwinn Voyageur 11.8(next bike up from the SLT 12.2) for $75 a couple years ago. I had to do a little cleaning and a little fixing, but it's a stunning looking bike now IMHO, and an excellent rider.

Any additional information would be appreciated but thank you very much for the input. I've sent a message to the guy asking about the serial number. It seemed a little high for me for sure so now I'm armed with a little more info... Sierra, since you had it backwards, that still means the 1020 steel is the lesser of the two (vs. CroMo)? That seems to still be the case.
Thank you again!

Those chrome Voyageurs are great looking bikes!! $75 was a great deal. Ooops, this is a LeTour thread. Check out eBay item 7100430724. 62 cm white LeTour. Just an idea...

Yes, 4130 chrome moly is a stronger steel than the 1020. The chrome moly frame then can be made from thinner tubing(therefore lighter in weight) while retaining the same(or better) strength.

I should also add that bikes made from these higher strength alloys have a livelier, more responsive feel to them than those made with the lower grade alloys. By comparison, the others feel kind of sodden and dead. Seems to be more to it than just the weight difference.

Get the 4 digit serial number off of the headbadge and post it. That will tell us the year it was made. Each year around 1980 the LeTours had changes in origins and materials.
I checked with the seller and he said that he looked and saw "80539" on the badge but that it was very small and hard to read.

Hmmmm, don't know about that 8 in front. It's supposed to be a four digit number. The first three digits are the sequential day of the year and the last digit is the year of the decade. If we ignore the 8, we get the 53rd day of 1979. Odd, but not too unusual that an early '79 frame would be on an '80 model bike.

Hmmmm, don't know about that 8 in front. It's supposed to be a four digit number. The first three digits are the sequential day of the year and the last digit is the year of the decade. If we ignore the 8, we get the 53rd day of 1979. Odd, but not too unusual that an early '79 frame would be on an '80 model bike.

Yeah that was what I thought. I'm going to go check it out later this evening and maybe I can take a look for that as well. Thanks again for the input. I'm thinking that $100 or so is a fair price, based upon what I see and your comments. Thanks again.

Good Luck. Let us know how it goes.

Good Luck. Let us know how it goes.

Well, I offered $125 for it (thinking that we'd go up from there) and he was a bit upset by the offer. He said that if he can't get what he wants for it, he'll just keep it for himself. So, needless to say, I don't think we're going to reach an agreement on the price. Maybe I'll go up a little bit more an see if he'd go for $175. He sent me a couple links for similar bikes that sold for around the price range that he's asking, but I still think his value is a bit inflated.

Hmmm....

I think I would let it go. You could send him just as many links for bikes that sold for $100 - $125. The LeTour on eBay I mentioned earlier is still under $20 with 2 days to go.

I agree with Kerk. There are plenty of good, inexpensive road bikes around. Unless you are stuck on a vintage Schwinn, I would just keep my eyes open. The Trek 1000 is a very nice bike with index shifting and older models sell pretty reasonably. Just watch ebay for a while and you will see how many nice, affordable road bikes are out there.

Oops, I forgot this was the vintage and classic forum. Perhaps you don't want the index shifting. Scratch the Trek 1000. Still plenty of nice affordable vintage bikes out there.

I think I would let it go. You could send him just as many links for bikes that sold for $100 - $125. The LeTour on eBay I mentioned earlier is still under $20 with 2 days to go.
Yeah, I've been tracking it every once in a while...

Thanks for the link...

$260? That seems like a fair price to me. You could probably offer $240 and get a very collectible and solid road bike. If it is in good shape, then I'd say go for it. Not much else in that price range that is in decent condition. The Super Letour in white with orange highlights had matching orange cables and handlebar grip foam. I think that's the only year they did that color scheme. They also had Shimano components. Sounds like a good one. I'd go for it.

And if you're not interested, I would be. Where is this for sale?

I say let it go also. Even $175 is probably too high. I think the guy should have taken the $125 offer. You can still get good deals on used road bikes from the late seventies all the way up to the early nineties.

I agree with everyone else, that's far too much money for a bike like that, it sold new in the early 80's between 250 and 350 dollars! Check to see what components it has, must Schwinn's were mutts, in other words they had one manufacture for the brakes, another for the derailleurs, another for the crank etc. So check for the brand and model of the components. If the bike was in good condition with mid level components (which is what LeTours came with) I would offer no more then $75. This bike is not a collectable bike; the only Schwinn that was a collectable was the Paramont. Don't get me wrong, it was a decent bike in it's day, but that was 20 and maybe more years ago and most bikes do depreciate in value. If the bike was never used New In a Box stored and forgotten bike then yes the $250 would be worth it.

$260 is overpriced. I just saw a Schwinn World Sport with 4130 main tubes for $45 at my local flea market. Me being a cheapo asked $25 dollars and get a good laugh from the seller. If I didn't have 7 bikes, I most likely would have bought it for $40.

I think it is overpriced, a couple weeks ago I purchased a Black le tour 12.2 4130 Chrome-moly for $80. The bike is in great condition and rides really well.

Yeah, I think that I'm going to head elsewhere. He has my info and if he'd ever like to meet somewhere near the middle, we'll see, but I'm sure that I can find something elsewhere.

Let me ask though, where did you guys find your vintage bikes? I'm thinking that Pawn Shops are not the way to go...

I've bought some at local thrift shops, and quite a few on ebay. Many of these bikes need some attention though. I'm willing, able, and set up to work on the bikes, which helps if you are looking for an inexpensive bike. If you need a bike in good operating order, the price will be higher.

I have a question about the Schwinn Le Tour: How difficult is it to get one into nice shape? Can you put STI shifters on one? Or upgrade the brakes/derailers/crank?

I ran into a guy with a really beautiful white one on my commute...was found in an attic, with the original tags and paperwork still with it! Alas, he wouldn't part with it...

Yeah, I think that I'm going to head elsewhere. He has my info and if he'd ever like to meet somewhere near the middle, we'll see, but I'm sure that I can find something elsewhere.

Let me ask though, where did you guys find your vintage bikes? I'm thinking that Pawn Shops are not the way to go...

I bought one brand new in 1974, I bought the rest on eBay or at yard/garage sales.

Flea Markets, Salvation Army, Goodwill, Garage Sales is where you will find the diamond in the ruff.

Oh yeah, add Goodwill to my sources. I've bought several there!

Hi. I have a 1986 Schwinn LeTour 12 speed , The head badge says Schwinn Chicago. There is a sicker on the seatube that says 4130 cromoly stays and butted frame tubes. This is a lugged frameset.The seat stays are very narrow I found this bike at a LBS last year for 165 dollars in near mint condition. The bike has Weinnaman aluminum wheels,Wennaman brakes and calipers,Sachs deraillers,Stronglight double crankset. Im not sure if this is all original. I think the crank is questionable. Anyways im updating this bike with Shimano Ultegra 6500 double crank, Ultegra 6500 derailleurs,shimano 6speed Hyperglide freewheel NOS shimano Tigra brake levers,Kelly Take-Offs ,Nitto long quill road stem,new handlebars, Koobi PRS Enduro seat and a Byco stereo. This is a very nice bike and feel the upgrades are worth while!

Why are you updating/upgrading?

Well at first,It was just a couple parts,like handlebars stem and a freewheel cassette. i then decided to replace the crank because it was only 170mm and im 6ft. So I got one that was 175mm. Then i decided the old Diacompe calipers were alittle flimsey,so i replaced them. I didnt like the old hard saddle , so I replaced that. and on and on. Till the only thing I didnt replace were the wheels and the front derailleur. so I just ordered a set of wheels through Harris cyclery which are 27 and one fourth . with a 7 speed freehub , a new casette and index downtube shifters. I figured I went this far, why not finish. Im still waiting for a few parts i ordered. I added it up and its about a thousand dollars! The bike rode pretty nice before all these upgrades. I plan on doing alot of miles with this bike and the old parts that were on it are almost 20 years old.maybe im just crazy! I should have just saved 2800 bucks and bought the titanium Airborne!