kevtos

Hi everyone, I'm new to not only the forum but biking also. I was looking into getting my first road bike, primarily for recreation and to commute. Instead of grabbing a new bike, I've been looking into vintage models and this came across and caught my attention:

https://sandiego.craigslist.org/csd/bik/1320595940.html
https://sandiego.craigslist.org/csd/bik/1316862706.html
(they are the same bike, just relisted)

Would getting a vintage bike as my first be a bad idea? I'm an engineering student and love to tinker with things which is why I was looking into getting an older bike (also I didn't really want to spend more than 200).

I was told the head badge number read 0929.

Scooper

It's a 1979 Super Le Tour II, and a decent first road bike. It has a straight gauge (not butted) 1020 carbon steel frame, Sugino Super Maxy alloy crankset, Shimano Altus LT Deluxe RD and FD, and Weinmann alloy side-pull brakes. Rims are alloy Weinmann 27". Advertised weight is 28 pounds.

IMHO, it's not a bad idea at all to buy vintage.

bab2000

I agree with Scooper, the LeTour II is a nice bike and this appears in very good condition.

The bar end shifters were a option and well worth the cost IMHO.

This appears to be a 25" frame, so I hope you are tall, stand over will be about 34".

I like the vintage frames, and this would be one I would look for as it is a solid and smooth bike as originally equipped. The owner of this has it fitted with a Brooks saddle (or same style) and a modern seat post.

The price on the 8/12 listing makes it even more attractive.

kevtos

i stand at about a smidge under 6'0'', and the bike height did concern me, but im going to go out and ride it later today or tomorrow.

fucxms

I'm the exact same height as you, and the 23" frame Le Tour II (1977) fits me perfectly. Standover is 33". If your sensitive parts are rubbing on the top tube, don't buy it.

Interesting how the tubes on the '79 aren't butted, but the '77 has single-butted top and bottom tubes. Also interesting how they removed the "Le Tour" branding from the components, which appear identical.

kevtos

What do you mean by interesting? Haha, I have barely any knowledge of bikes, and would like to know as much as I can about this one if I do end up wanting to buy it.

Scooper

Here are the 1979 Super LeTour II specifications:



1979 Super Le Tour II catalog page:

ilikebikes

and what appears to be either a Brooks Swift? or more like a Brooks Swallow! you'd be a fool not to buy it at the $200.00 price!

fucxms

It's a cut-down B-17. Still looks nice.

kevtos

thank you all for the responses!

fucxms

Oh, and I thought it was 'interesting' because one expects higher-end features (like butting) to appear on the 'Super' Le Tour, but it seems that was the lower-end lightweight model for '79. And the branding change could reflect the emergence of the Japanese manufacturers as respected brands in their own rights.

Scooper

The 1979 Super Le Tour II frame was produced in the Schwinn plant in Chicago. While the bike was mid- level, the 28 pound "ready-to-ride" weight isn't too shabby for a straight gauge 1020 carbon steel frame. Remember, in 1979 Schwinn's entry-level bikes were all electro-forged weighing close to forty pounds. It wasn't until 1984 that Schwinn moved to double-butted 4130 frames for most of the models. The exceptions were two or three entry level bikes that retained straight gauge carbon steel frames.

duffer1960

I have had one (same model +/- a year or two) since ~1982 and it was my only bike 'til I got a used Trek 400 in '98. Once took it road riding in Colorado and it was a struggle going up with the stock gearing but going down was a blast -it handled very well. It's now the bike I keep at Mom's to ride when I visit there. I rode ~15 miles on it yesterday. Despite it being a few lbs heavier than the Trek & having steel wheels it is still a fast and enjoyable ride. For some reason I don't understand, the Le Tour is easier to ride in the drops than is the Trek. (The rear shifting isn't great - hard to hit the 4th cog - as I recall touchy shifting was common on bikes of the era.) Edit - gotta increase the spring tension on the cage, right? Maybe also an overall cleaning & lube of the rear der.