Classic & Vintage - Lastest build 1980 Schwinn Super Le Tour - A hodge podge turns out pretty cool

Howdy,
Some may recall my post about parting down my too tall Raleigh Prestige (CL find)

My original post (http://www.bikeforums.net/showthread.php/789444-This-1984-Raleigh-Prestige-find-gets-better-and-better-Yikes.?p=13656740&highlight=#post13656740)

So, anyhoo, the past two days have been some studying, some scrounging at the LBS for little nick-nacs and then it comes together pretty nicely last night and this a.m. (Nothing better to do on New Years Eve, why not build a bike?)

Components
Suntour Superbe Pro derailleurs with original Shimano down-tube shifters, non-index (I may put some Suntour bar ends shifters on if I locate a set) (As the front DR doesn't have a built-in cable housing seat, I did a work around for the under the bottom bracket open cable with a nylon cable guide that I installed using 3M auto-body double-sided sticky tape.)

DeRosa Campagnolo crank-set. (Campagnolo 1049/A, Strada Super Record - Date code "11" = 1984 - 42/52 with 177.5 crank arms!) and Phil Wood BB, Original pedals (Japanese Campy copies)

Rear cluster 6-speed 13~28

Original Dia Compe brake calipers (they had enough reach to easily adjust for the 700C wheel conversion, lucky me!) But I used the Dia Compe AERO brake levers from the Raliegh. (The AERO calipers were way too short reach for this frame) So a mix of parts within the same brand.

New nice but inexpensive built-up and tuned by my LBS wheel set (Alexrims) with Bontrager Race lite Hard Case 700x23 tires.

Original SR stem and Sakae bars

Original seat post. Don't remember the brand but a nice Japanese Campy copy.

The Raleigh is now a bare frame and fork.
I bagged and tagged all the original Super Le Tour parts.
The Raleigh's super trick Mavic 501 700c wheel set is now on my 1973 P10-9 Paramount.

Here are some pics from today.

(NOTES: My handlebar position is my personal preference. I have Carpal Tunnel and ride 99% on the brake hoods. No problems for me to reach the brakes. I honestly don't care what other people think of the way I set-up my bars. I also prefer toe-clips for the simple reason that I have too many bikes to realistically go clip-less. I know all about how much energy I lose with these old type pedals and my indoor soccer shoes. But what I do notice is how many of my middle aged club riding associates also are using clips and sport shoes. I am not racing, not splitting hairs over weight, materials, cadence, etc etc... And constantly switching pedals from one bike to the next is not only time consuming but IMHO asking for thread problems in the crank arms.) :)

http://www.jims59.com/fs/images/super_le_tour/Super_Le_Tour_Jan2012_01.JPG

http://www.jims59.com/fs/images/super_le_tour/Super_Le_Tour_Jan2012_03.JPG

http://www.jims59.com/fs/images/super_le_tour/Super_Le_Tour_Jan2012_05.JPG

http://www.jims59.com/fs/images/super_le_tour/Super_Le_Tour_Jan2012_11.JPG

http://www.jims59.com/fs/images/super_le_tour/Super_Le_Tour_Jan2012_13.JPG

http://www.jims59.com/fs/images/super_le_tour/Super_Le_Tour_Jan2012_14.JPG

http://www.jims59.com/fs/images/super_le_tour/Super_Le_Tour_Jan2012_15.JPG

http://www.jims59.com/fs/images/super_le_tour/Super_Le_Tour_Jan2012_16.JPG

http://www.jims59.com/fs/images/super_le_tour/Super_Le_Tour_Jan2012_20.JPG

http://www.jims59.com/fs/images/super_le_tour/Super_Le_Tour_Jan2012_21.JPG

http://www.jims59.com/fs/images/super_le_tour/Super_Le_Tour_Jan2012_26.JPG


All that's left of the Raleigh
http://www.jims59.com/fs/images/Bicycles4Sale/Raleigh%20Prestige%20Sept%202011/Raleigh_frame_01.JPG

Nice work.

My first reply was "why!" but then I went back and read the full story. Nice build man, as long as it fits and you love it "so it shall be!" =0)

What's the date code number on the headbadge of the Schwinn? I ask because according to the 1980 Schwinn catalog, 1979 and 1980 year model Le Tours were built in Chicago. Yours has the made in Japan label, I'm wondering if maybe it was built in very late 1980 and is actually a 1981 year model frame-

Here's a link to the 1980 catalog showing the '80 Super Le Tour.....it says these frames are "torch brazed in Chicago" or something to that effect.

http://www.trfindley.com/flschwinn_1971_1980/1980_05.html

Here's a link to the '81 Super Le Tour catalog page. The white color is shown, but they were available in black. This model year was built in Japan (I had one at one time, with the made in Japan label).

http://www.trfindley.com/flschwinn_1981_1990/1981_09.html

I'm guessing your frame is a 1981 year model. :)

Nice job on the build, by the way!

What's the date code number on the headbadge of the Schwinn? I ask because according to the 1980 Schwinn catalog, 1979 and 1980 year model Le Tours were built in Chicago. Yours has the made in Japan label, I'm wondering if maybe it was built in very late 1980 and is actually a 1981 year model frame-

0771 using my electron microscope

I always thought it was a 1980. I bought it new in about 1981 and it had been hanging there one display for a long time, so I low-balled him and he sold it to me. $250.00 if I remember correctly. But I can't remember exactly when.


http://waterfordbikes.com/SchwinnCat/flschwinn_1971_1980/1980_05.html

0771 using my electron microscope



You've got yourself a 1981 frame (in black sable), assembled in the factory on the 77th day of 1981 (in Japan). :)

Cool, thanks.

Here's the 1981 catalog page.

http://www.trfindley.com/flschwinn_1981_1990/1981_09.JPG

Hoss

The build is very nice, and the red bar tape and cables go very nice with the black frame. 2 nice touches:
The red cable end on the RD is very nice.
The bar drops are parallel to the down tube, which is how the catalogs said to set them up.

Schwinn's assembly instructions for handlebars:

http://i32.photobucket.com/albums/d7/k4drd/Bicycles/Schwinn%20Publ%20Pages/HandlebarsandStems.jpg

Nice Bike!

The Schwinn looks great!

How tall is the Raleigh and what are your plans for it? :rolleyes:

Very Nice Le Tour. Love the later Non-Fluted Super Record Crank, in 177.5mm no less. I would like to find a 175mm version of that crank.

Nice job! She's sharp with the red highlights on black. These Schwinnasonics are nicely built bikes.

I picked up a 1985 Super Le Tour this past Summer that my wife fits (48-50cm). She liked the gray paint, but I'll be repainting it with a more updated metallic gray, and use red for the secondary color. Most of the OEM parts were swapped out and lost on mine, with exception of the front Cyclone II derailleur. When it's her turn to be wrenched, it should be a fun project.

I plan to make it a dedication theme to Sakae Ringyo (hubs, pedals, crank, seatpost, stem, handlebar) and Suntour (RD,RD, shifters, freewheel). My only snag are the brake calipers, want to give her updated braking, but Suntour never released a DP sidepull.

Love the black and red combo. I have a Le Tour also,


http://i1128.photobucket.com/albums/m483/MichaelAngelo54/1980%20Schwinn%20Le%20Tour/LeTour1.jpg

Love the black and red combo. I have a Le Tour also,

That bike is gorgeous!

Hoss...I really like the what you've done with this. The red bar tape looks great. I have an almost identical one to yours that I haven't done anything with yet (same color and size). Mine has 1311 stamped on the headbadge.

Very nice looking build Hoss!

it looks fabulous! I just have this thing about toe strap routing.....

All my bikes FAIL the Schwinn Assembly Checklist - I can't seem to find the Twin-Stick, for referencing the stem height... :innocent:

I am not deliberately "bumping" this thread..
I've been working on the Super LeTour some more this week. Was in the LBS and just asking about bar-end shifters. He had a new set of Riverdells that were collecting dust and he made me a good deal on them. As I had read mostly good reviews, I figured I'd give them a try.

http://ep.yimg.com/ca/I/yhst-3773699254952_2189_9943259

So here is the bike now with the shifters and pretty much all done except some minor clean-up detailing. Took her for a 15 mile spin today (53 degrees here in Mid-Northwest Indiana which might be some kind of record! I was jonesing for a ride anyway)
The shifters work great and the bike as a whole seems to be spot-on for my tastes.


http://prairienerds.com/misc_images/Super_Le_Tour_final_rt_2.jpg

As I explained in my original post

[QUOTE=Hoss Cartright;13663116] (As the Suntour Superb Pro front DR doesn't have a built-in cable housing seat, I did a work around for the under the bottom bracket open cable with a nylon cable guide that I installed using 3M auto-body double-sided sticky tape.)

Here is a pic of that, it worked perfect.

http://www.jims59.com/fs/images/super_le_tour/Super_Le_Tour_Jan2012_34.JPG