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1986 Schwinn LeTour serial #2096

Old 03-18-10, 02:37 PM
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1986 Schwinn LeTour serial #2096

If I have deciphered this right I have a 1986 Schwinn Le Tour. Except for the the usual replaceables it is is pristine shape. I have a couple of questions. Is there a definitive way to tell if its a Japanese or American made? Any ideas what the original retail price was??

Thanks in advance for your help.
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Old 03-18-10, 03:35 PM
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Does headbadge say: "Schwinn Chicago" or "Schwinn Quality" or "Schwinn Approved". The Schwinn Chicago was made in USA, in Mississippi, as the Chicago plant was long gone by then. I believe the 1986 LeTour was USA made. The Schwinn Approved and Schwinn Quality were made in Asia. The Taiwanese Schwinns tended to have a Giant serial number on the drop out.

Note that the Japanese Schwinns were some really good bikes, made by companies such as Panasonic and others.
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Old 03-18-10, 03:49 PM
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Originally Posted by wrk101
Does headbadge say: "Schwinn Chicago" or "Schwinn Quality" or "Schwinn Approved". The Schwinn Chicago was made in USA, in Mississippi, as the Chicago plant was long gone by then. I believe the 1986 LeTour was USA made. The Schwinn Approved and Schwinn Quality were made in Asia. The Taiwanese Schwinns tended to have a Giant serial number on the drop out.

Note that the Japanese Schwinns were some really good bikes, made by companies such as Panasonic and others.
This is a Miss. made bike. Funny enough, all (I think) the 80s+ Schwinn Chicago badged bikes, including the Tenax bikes were made by Giant. Most of the Schwinn-approved bikes in the mid to late 80s were made in Miss. Here are the badges of my Asian made '87 Super Sport and '89 Traveler:





1979 or 80 was the last production year in Chicago (for Schwinns) and 1989 or 90 in Greenville, MS

Actually the 1986 Le Tour was a fairly interesting bike: It has a French flair with Huret derailleurs and Stronglight crankcase. Not sure about the price, but it was right below Prelude at the time (dead middle in the lineup)

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Old 03-18-10, 03:50 PM
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The "2096" stamped into the head badge isn't a serial number; it's an assembly date code. It translates to the 209th day of 1986.

I suspect it was made in Greenville, Mississippi because it has True Temper tubing, but don't know for sure.
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Old 03-18-10, 04:04 PM
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It sounds likes it's a Ms bike. The head badge is identical to the 2 pictured. I was hoping for a Japanese bike as I already have an '86 Panasonic. It's still a great bike and will be perfect for my girlfriend.

https://s246.photobucket.com/albums/g...eenville%20Ms/

Thanks for all the help......
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