Here is my Schwinn Le Tour lux.

I just bought a Le Tour yesterday, but it does not really look like the bikes in the pictures. I'd really like to know what year it is. It does say Chicago on the front badge, its white and fades to blue. Any help?

For the record, a 1980-ish Le Tour just sold on Ebay... in rather excellent condition, with an excellent set of photographs, $220 + $80 shipping.

You must make a very good case for yours, if you want to get that kind of money.

I thought the mid-'80s Le Tours were made in Greenville, MS. I have an '85 Le Tour Luxe with a Greenville serial #. Does anyone know what period of time this took place?

I love my Kool Lemon 1974 Sprint. Met up with 3 women riding their Waterfords at our small town bakery. They stopped me and asked "is your seat tube supposed to be bent?" Good times. it is the only schwinn I have ever owned and it found me.

I love the Japanese made Schwinn road bikes. I own 4 Super Le Tour 12.2s from 76-78. I am after a Volare, But they prove to be hard to find.

If anyone has that jacket in a M or L send me a PM.

If it's white and fades to blue, it just about has to be a 1988 model year. Look closely at the head badge for four lightly stamped digits. This is the assembly date of the bike. The first three digits are the day of the year (001 - 366), and the last digit is the last digit of the year (for 1988, the last digit would be an 8).

1988 Voyageur and Le Tour catalog page

1988 Le Tour specifications

just found this thread. i bought my schwinn le tour II from a thrift shop for $15. Put new tires/tubes on it and rode it for my first century. I picked up a Miyata 721a at the same thrift shop 3 years later ($20), so I turned the le tour into a fixed gear ride.

I love it, it's my favorite bike to ride. (bike is also from allentown, like the OP's bikes)

I've always thought Le Tour was a great model name - the obvious "Le Tour de France", but also for six-day racer Alfred Letourneur who set a ~109mph world speed record (motor paced - did I need to say that?) on a Schwinn-build special in 1941.

tcs

Dang this an old thread.

I sold this one on Portland Craigslist for $225. Fresh new powdercoat. Way to big for me. Just a restore job.

https://www.flickr.com/photos/44021379@N07/4077141710/

This 82 Le Tour was one of my first road bikes. I love this bike. Sorry for the fuzzy picture.

I bought one a few months ago, alas I got in a wreck and lost my job. And since it has original tires, they are always flat so I can't even ride it.

Anyway, I'm trying to figure out what year it's from. It says "Schwinn Approved" instead of just Schwinn everywhere there is a logo. I know it's made in Japan but I don't know which era it's from.

1980 LeTour bought for $40, sold for $110.

Thank you very much!! Yes, the numbers read "1 9 0 8" lightly stamped on the front badge. Now I know that I my bike is a 1988! Thank you!
https://i302.photobucket.com/albums/n...r/P1000931.jpg

Here's my daily rider (note lights and computer):
https://i302.photobucket.com/albums/n...r/P1000929.jpg

I find this thread very interesting especially because I recently picked up a Le Tour. Maybe some one can help me with identifying my bike. It is a Chrome Moly 4130 Mixte frame painted black. Based on my Internet research I think it was made in 1983. The serial number on the frame if I'm not mistaken starts with SB30xxxx. It looks just like the one in the Schwinn catalog, BUT it has the swept back handle bars. Complete with black plastic cushion Schwinn hand grips and a wide saddle (KMS). It has Araya rims made in France and Schwinn HP Sport tour tires. The Head tube badge says Schwinn Chicago with a four digit number (xxx3 don't have the bike here with me). If I were to guess, I'd say it was made in Budapest and came out of the factory as is. My second guess would be that I don't know where the frame came from, but the saddle and handle bars was a LBS customization job. Any ideas?

I recently found a used 1980 Super LeTour , Cardinal Red , in pristine condition. It had been slightly modified to a Hybrid with a handlebar change and commuter tires. I did put the road tires back on , however.
I had a Schwinn Continental that I rode until 1990 but I always wanted a LeTour. I read a post and the person said he has a Cannondale and longs for his smooth riding LeTour. I agree. This bike is 30 years old and is smooth and quiet. The shifting is flawless and smooth. Just the sound of the bike takes me way back. I live in Arizona now with desert bike trails. Flat and smooth. You get in a zone and ride forever. I am posting a photo. You will all be jealous.

here's my '85 4130 cromo LeTour that i got last summer. been liking it a lot and rode it to work today. the previous owner says it wasn't built in Chicago despite the badge

Thanks for giving me reason to post my 1974 Le Tour

I need help. I have done research to understand my serial number. Nothing but confusion.


Here it is SG571330 Schwinn Super LeTour Made in Chicago. Anyone ???? Thanks

Soonerbills,
Your bike, looks very much like one I picked up at Goodwill yesterday afternoon. It needs some work, but the color and labeling "Schwinn Le Tour" are similar. By chance does your serial number begin with a '4C'? The one I picked up has a serial number located on the left dropout of 4C05156. So far, I haven't been able to decipher the year at on any sites.

Thanks for any help you can give!

Is that a common problem?
I'm looking for a Le Tour

I think its just something to check when considering old bikes. we tend to look at the brake levers and calipers; shift levers and derailers; wheels and tires and measure size, etc. but often don't think to check if the seatpost is stuck!

Look at the tiny numbers stamped on the head badge.