Super Le Tour 12.2 Chrome Fork decals?
 

I'm restoring a '77 Super Le Tour 12.2 and have the small rainbow decals for the front fork like you see on many of the painted SLT 12.2s... but I can't find a picture of a stock SLT 12.2 with the fork decals on the chrome version.

Anyone know if it was standard to leave the fork decals off the chrome-moly version? Thanks!

I could be Wrong, capital letter, but the sticker was used to hide the paint/ chrome break. There was no need for it on an all chrome fork.

Oh, Welcome to BF!

I, we, would love to see pics of your SLT.

thanks for the welcome, 3SS... this is my first rebuild and has been a blast. I was thinking the same thing as you (paint / chrome break) but wanted to validate it. I actually have TWO of these jewels! Bought one, had a great time restoring it, called him back and bought the twin.. Neither had the fork decal so I figured it came from the factory that way. I'm going to try and post a few pics here, so bear with me if I accidentally explode the msg board...

PS> Welp... just was informed I have to have at least 10 posts before I can post the pics. So... here's #2!! :)

Those Schwinns can be a hoot to work on. I am on my second buildup with the 1977 Le Tour II.

Took me awhile to find the pearlescent orange model. Love how it shows and rides!

Gorgeous! Very nice... love the color (War Eagle!)... post #3 woo woo!

Post #4... ! getting there... :lol:

So, you have 2 SLT's?

What size frame do you ride?

They are both 25"... I'm 6'5" and have the stem & seat post adjusted to max height as I pedal around my basement. My plan is to mount the first one on my office wall, restore the 2nd one (should be easier since now I know all the mistakes I made... damn ball bearings everywhere!) and ride it. I found some NOS Schwinn 27x1" 'beigewall' tires that went on easy and I think really look sharp. It had white handlebar wrap that look disgustingly gray and I went back with the white wrap.

Was thinking about going with the Brooks B17 brown seat, but haven't pulled the trigger yet... any thoughts on what seat might be best for either (both)?

You can ride around your basement! Must be huge, great for large bike stable!!

Do you own a Brooks saddle? Saddle recommendations are iffy but Brooks got it made in the looks department. What is the colour of the frame? Are you trying to match the tape, hoods and saddle or frame, saddle ?

B17s are not all the same. I ride a B17 narrow but find the B17 standard a little harder to get used to.

Both are chrome so I can go with any color, really. I have never owned a Brooks saddle but have heard great things about them. But I love the looks and the exposed copper rivets just give it that antique pop.

Disassembled #2 (post #7 so I can show pics @ #10!)

Post 8!!

Know what you mean!

OH YEAH.... ! Love the look, the wear, patina on the rivets... suh-weet..! :-)

OK... some pics on the way... #dix (French for 10)... !!

First pic attempt:

As I found it... http://www.innss.com/1st pic.png

Almost there...!
http://www.innss.com/Pre-decals wrap2.png

Chrome bike for sure. Be careful where you clamp on that top tube, it is possible to accidentally break the cable stop off. Your clamp looks very close to it. Is the seatpost the height needed to achieve leg extension? I hope the post has enough down in the seat tube to support you and the saddle.

The colour bands on the seat tube, do you want to replace them? EDIT... just noticed, all the decals are gone. Will they be replaced?

Very nice looking bike! The chrome option for those at 50 bucks was worth it. Great to finally see some pics.

Thanks for the note on the cable stop... it's about 1/2" behind the clamp, but that's a good heads up. Seat post height is right at the max in this picture. Given I'm 6'5", I went ahead and just started with it here, and it is almost perfect. You wouldn't believe how difficult it was to get that post out of the down tube... (maybe you would)... holee molee I used Liquid Wrench several times before it would even budge. Kept working and working it and finally it started letting go. Must've been the 2 different metal corrosion for so many years.

On the decals... they are all on now, but I am waiting for the Brooks saddle to come in Wed (fingers crossed), then take more pics and post them. The wheels might have been the hardest to shine up (I didn't want to take all the spokes out)... lots of rubbing and lots of steel wool. The NOS tires came out nice too. I'm still cleaning up the freewheel cassette and will probably put it back on this one (#1; Wall Trophy) and use the current one on it for the rider (#2; under restoration).

Glad the post came out with only a short tug of war. Does the post have the fancy script Le Tour on it?

I would consider putting fenders on in due time. Easier to clean and a lot less messy for you too.

These came with free wheels. Cassettes came later. Surprise for me, the original wheel came on it but as a lark I tried a 1990 7 speed Shimano cassette and it fit right in. 14 gears for getting around on the coast is easy toast!

Keep us updated on the progress.

YES! I think the post has the fancy script on it.. does that mean something? I'll have to pull it back up to double-check. I've been searching around a bit for the 'shorty' type fenders, but have not found what I want yet. I doubt seriously I'll be riding in any inclement type weather as well.

Since I now have TWO SLT 12.2s, I'm going to make this one my 'trophy' and mount it on my wall in my office. When I get done with #2 (already have it all broken down and starting to work on the polishing the frame), it will be my part-time rider.

I bought a Sunrace 5 speed 14-28 Freewheel and put it on for now... given this is my first experience with disassembling a freewheel (jeebus at the little BBs), I am still cleaning and polishing it. It will go back on the trophy version as I want to keep it 100% original spec. I may look for a 1990 Shimano 7 speed for the rider you mentioned... lots of hills here in Northern New Jersey and 14 sounds way better than 10...

Question: Do you think I should put the reflectors back on the trophy bike? Front/Back/Wheels were on it (see 1st pic) when I got it but that was almost the first thing I took off. Appreciate your opinion...

If 100% original is what you are aiming for with the trophy, do it.

Fenders on the rider.... so far this summer, I have been surprised by unexpected rain squalls many times. Has to be part of living at the coast. They do a great job of just keeping the grit down even when it does not rain.

The 7 speed cassette set up came off a 90 Schwinn Traveler, hyperglide 13-26. In fact it was the whole wheelset I used on my Le Tour II. Nice Sun Levantar rims and SS spokes.

Your call! Pls keep those pics coming.

I was wrong about the fancy script on the post...has the Max Height stamped in block letters with 'B77' under it (I assume that is 2/77 since 2/77 was on the right side handlebar). 0507 is on the headtube plate (Feb 19 1977?).

Thanks again for the cassette info. One thing I'm noticing (again) on rebuilding #2 is this 'cloudy type coating' (?) that is coming off the frame. I assume this is the clear coat that was applied after the decals were put on. It is probably more difficult to 'polish off' (using the aluminum foil / water method) than the pitted parts of the frame. I'm having to use a safety razor to peel most of it off in flakes. I've tried a number of other ideas... acetone, kerosene, silver polish (works OK-ish), foil and coca-cola... but nothing really takes it except scraping virtually every sq in with a razor. Did you ever work on something similar?

Look at the cloudy area in this latest pic of #2... thoughts?

http://www.innss.com/downtube_cloud.png

That is indeed a clearcoat film. You can scrap it off gently but I am very Leary of that. I've done it on an old Sekine after I got as much off with tinfoil. I have heard that chemical paint strippers will work but never tried it and don't know if I would recommend it. Some others might chime in with first hand experience. [MENTION=139746]sloar[/MENTION] for one.

1977 is your bikes build Year and production year. Great progress [MENTION=463230]SchwinnStrong[/MENTION]