Hammered Honjo Fenders on a Schwinn Le Tour?
 

Gang, I have a 1980 Schwinn Super Le Tour (1020 frame I think, or is it 1030?) that I want to put some hammered Honjo fenders on. Velo Orange sells them. From what I have read on various sites using those fenders is either somewhat challenging (but do-able) or VERY challenging. I'm not the sharpest wrench in the box so I was wondering if anyone else has used those exact fender on their vintage Le Tour and if so could you tell me how big of an undertaking it's going to be. Thanks very much.

Chris

I don't have a LeTour, but a Miyata Two Ten. I would check and make sure you have clearance under your brakes for the fenders.

I can tell you first hand that installing these fenders so they look correct and function is very time consuming. I had to measure, install and removed the rear fender twice and the front three times. And to be honest, I 'm thinking of removing it again because it is sitting a little high on the top of the front wheel.

It's involved but nothing looks quite as nice in my opinion.

http://i243.photobucket.com/albums/f...BikeRide33.jpg

"It's involved but nothing looks quite as nice in my opinion."

True dat!

I told my friend he ought to get fluted french style honjos for his Schwinn Le Tour because they'd look nicer with the bike's stylings.

I lied. I'm gettting hammered Honjos for my bike.

I didn't want him to have the same ones.

I am evil, evil, evil sometimes.

-nick

I've got the hammered ones, no issues putting them on my Surly LHT. They look great!

I'll be putting hammered ones on my (in the works) Geoffrey Butler....

I didn't really like them until I saw that picture.
Now I'm not sure I can live without them :love:
-Gene-

Too bad they aren't available in stock black to fit classic black bikes.

Too bad black isn't the single most common paint color in the world.

:lol:

I wouldnt imagine it would be more than $30 to powdercoat a set

black anodized would be pretty neat

I had no problems with mine. Pretty straightforward actually.
http://i271.photobucket.com/albums/j...ced_bruce1.jpg

Schwinn Le Tours of that era had yards of clearance under the brake. Installation should be no big deal.

I'm thinking about the same, fenders on a Super LeTour. What size are you going to use? I like the polished stainless ones best, but they come in 45mm only. It may be best to go with the widest which will fit (which according to my measurements is 50mm), so I am also considering the 48mm fluted, and the 52mm smooth (with some judicious cutting and squeezing).

Also, any thought of using a rack? I installed an old rack that was on a mountain bike on the Super LeTour and there is almost NO clearance above the wheel. I suppose the rack is intended for 26" wheels. What considerations have to be made when using a rear rack with fenders on a bike with 27 x1 1/4 wheels?

I measured everything (about 4 or 5 measurements) as suggested at the Velo Orange site and according to what they recommend I'll be getting 35mm fenders, the hammered ones are what I want and 45mm would be pushing it. I'm planning to use a Wald's chrome rack, I think it's the 215 model (maybe). I think my wheels are 27 x 1/8 (26mm wide).

I just measured mine, again, because your message has me thinking I may have measured wrong. For comparison:

• tire = 1 1/4 = 32 mm
• >50mm between brake arms when brake applied
• 9mm vertically between tire and brake
• fork crown = 48mm wide / 10mm high
• brake bridge is 55mm wide / 12mm above tire
• chainstay bridge = 15mm to tire / 35mm wide

I understand it is easy and common to trim the rear fender at the chainstay bridge, so the 35mm should not be a constraint. That should make the 48mm the constraint on this bike. By the way, this is a 1983 Super LeTour which was made in Mississippi, if I understand the timeline correctly. What measurement are you using as the minimum?


I was looking at the Wald 215 last night. Not only is it a good price for a bottom feeder like myself, but it looks like something that should be on a C&V bike. However, the installation guide on the Wald website says WALD 215 Rear Rack Installation Instructions The Wald 215 Rear Rack works best with bicycles using 26‐inch wheels and a fixed gear, single speed, or internal transmission. Some 700c (27‐inch) wheels can be accommodated but only on a case by case basis. I measured the mountain bike rack I have on their now and it has a 330mm (13 inch) high deck, and that leaves very little room for a fender. I spent hours googling for other racks but they are either too expensive or only available in black. The search continues.

Regards,
Steve

Steve, mine is a 1980 made in Chicago Super LE Tour. My measurements are:

tire = 26 mm
45 mm between brake arms when brake applied
10mm vertically between tire and brake
fork crown = 15mm high
brake bridge 15mm above tire

Or something like that. The smallest fender mine will take is 35, the largest would be 45 but 45 would be pushing it. The have a 37 but not the hammered style so I'm going with the 35 which should easily fit the bike.

I have 4 bikes so if the Wald is a bust on the Le Tour it will fit one of the other ones. My concern is a fender and rack sharing the same eyelets. Is that going to work?

Chris

Chris

If it helps, they were a squeeze on my Trek 400 with 25c tires. These are the slimmest of the hammered Honjos, and yes, I have to agree that they were a bit of a chore to install but I lusted after the look and have been very happy with the results.

Has anyone ever seen them with mudflaps on them? I can't see it being a problem on the rear, but the fronts are so close to the ground. Of course, I mean leather flaps, not the non-American term for mudflap.
-Gene-

That will work fine. I went to a bike coop a few months back and noticed many bikes set up that way. There is also a thread in the archive here on BF which came to the same conclusion. Good luck with the fenders and rack.

Following up, I got one of the Wald 215 racks and just installed it. It works great on a bike with 27" wheels. Plenty of space for fenders too.