I have a LeTour that seems like a decent older road bike. (I bought it maybe 10-12 years ago and have had it in dry storage since) Hopefully if I did it right, pictures should be attached. I'm trying to learn as much as I can about the bike and wondering if anyone can help me determine what I have here.

The bike was originally owned by a racer that unfortunately passed away. His wife held onto the bike for many years and when she was ready to let it go, choose to sell it at a garage sale. She had told me that it was her husbands pride and joy.

It seems to me to be all original with SunTour BLAZE components. The front badge says it was made in Chicago and the frame is 4130 Chrome Molly. As far as my crummy eyesight can tell the numbers stamped on the badge are 3298 - indicating that it's a 1988 model? The 700c tires say Schwinn Super Record and the wheels say Alesa, made in Belgium. The handlebars have a wreath with "Road Champion" stamped on each side.

Can anyone tell me if this is a standard issue LeTour or a custom racing version?

Thanks for any input.

It's a 1989 Le Tour in Medium Blue/Dark Blue Fade, assembled on the 329th day of 1988. It wasn't made in Chicago, as the Chicago plant closed in late 1983.

1989 Le Tour catalog page

1989 Specs

Thank you very much for the info, it's very helpful. Would you happen to know where the '89s were manufactured? There is a sticker that says made in the USA near the bottom of the frame.

Greenville, Mississippi.

I just picked up a black Le Tour today. I believe it's an 83 model, since the serial number starts with SD3xxxxx.

The paint isn't in the best condition, but I'm a sucker for bikes with scratches on them! At least there is no rust like the Suburban that sat in my garage for...15 years or so. I love how much lighter this bike is compared to my 72 Schwinn Suburban! It needs a new rear tube, and maybe a new roll of grip tape and it is ready to go. The center pull brakes are awesome, although I need to adjust the brakes a bit.

Can't wait to work on this!

bobaab ~ congrats on the find! I like my '85 for the same reasons. though I think I'll be putting my old varsity to service with short commutes to a new nite job cuz its less precious to me than my cromoly letour or rodified hybrid winter commuter. keep that suburban in working order - you never know when you or someone else might need it!

how 'bout some pics - I like scratched bikes too!

The head badge doesn't have any numbers stamped on it. It only has numbers by the left drop out.

I am resurrecting a 79 LeTourIV, picked it up at a Rummage Sale for $25 last year. It was ridable but needed work. I have probably put more than a 1000 miles on it since. It IS heavy, the 70 catalog brags about it being 30 pounds! Being that it is in ROUGH shape, it is NOT a collector classic, it is a rider. Soaks up bad roads well. 1020 frame. I recently acquired some Matrix alloy 700s and have Strada-K 23s and thorn resist tubes in them. The new wheels came with a Shimano 8 speed Hyperglide cassette, so it got a new (narrow)chain as well. She does not quite get all the gears, the old Shimano 400FF (no it does NOT have the experimental front freewheel setup) does not want to grab bottom gear, the cage gets too friendly with the spokes. She does ride a bit smoother and quicker now, and really quiet. At some point I plan on stripping it down and doing a repaint as the red is tattered and rusty, Schwinn decals mostly gone and have NOT seen ANY replacements for them. NOT worth putting back to factory, the rusty old chrome rims...oddball French freewheel, still solid, BUT not worth it.

By chance, what are you doing with the rusty old wheels? I'm looking for a set for a project...

They are just hanging in the garage at the moment, they really aren't too bad, after LOTS of cleaning, polishing and elbow grease. A bit pitted and a couple small dings in the back one. I was going to hold on to them just in case I update my bike and need the new wheels, but, I could part with them. "Spare" parts DO build up in the garage. They have good "Schwinn Approved" alloy "French" hubs, spokes are NOT rusty, OK tires, needs a new tube in the front wheel (which is a quick-release axle). 5 speed freewheel-good condition, slight wear (but it is the oldstyle funny French one, good luck with finding a tool for it!).

Here is the set-up on the 1979 LeTour IV, I think it was pretty much stock till I started on it!
Frame: 1020 Steel, Fork Steel w/chrome tips, 21"
SeatTube, 25.4mm chromed steel seat post
Handlebars: Randonneur Alloy, 42cm
Pedals: 9/16" Chrome Rat-trap
F Derailleur: Schwinn Approved
R Derailleur: Shimano 400 FF
Crankset: Sugino Super Maxy 170mm: 39/52
Freewheel, French Splined, Mailard Normandy, 14/17/20/24/28
Rims: Ukai Box Steel Chromed, 27x1-1/4, 36 spoke
Hub: Schwinn Approved: Wide flange alloy, front: Quick Release, rear: Axle Nuts
Brakes: S.A. Centerpulls, (Dia-Comp)

I love how someone always comes along eventually and revives this thread... even more so in this case since someone owns an identical model Le Tour to mine! Rubber, until I started working on it we had twin bikes me thinks Now how ever I'm still converting mine to a different look, but the ride it has is still amazing! Anyone know if schwinn ever made a black/silver racing seat?


Oh and for much more info on Le Tours
https://www.bikeforums.net/archive/in.../t-209280.html

Good old Schwinn road bikes...TOUGH as IRON! Yours is looking great! I'll have to post more pics of my ol Iron Beast as she goes through her resurrection! It IS too bad that even perfectly kept old Schwinns have so little value, but it IS what it IS! I am looking to acquire and install Shimano 105 gear on it as I can find at decent prices. Lots of it out there and should make for a good, solid, reliable ride. Repaint is coming...trying to decide a color scheme, may go candy-apple red and black, or silver and black, have not decided yet.

Have you considered the alternate original color of frost blue? It looks pretty nice and is nowhere near as loud as the red... 105 huh? That be a very nice upgrade for the old gal I'm sure...
This was the shape mine was in when I got it wheelset was a write off, that stem/fork were corroded together another write off, the bearings/BB races had to go too the front derailer was also a write off... I ended up putting the crankset on my nieces bike to replace a very worn down one but I may end up swapping that back.. I don't know if I prefer silver or black yet... We'll see, this is turning into a 50th anniversay paramount ripoff sorta.. I like the overall style and am doing a lot of the same details just with chrome and silver.

OUCH, looks like your old gal spent some time out in the weather! I think mine was mostly garage kept, but with the high humidity here in FL, lots of surface rust just from the air. Every nick on the frame turned to rust, but the bearings, drive train and stem were OK....LOTS of built up grease on the drive train had pickled it pretty well! Did an overall cleaning, lubing, new tubes and did a few hundred miles on it. Kinks worked out, now giving it new ones to tweak and fix! My son and I spent a month trying to unstick the seatpost on his 81 Takara, rusted in-place BIG TIME! PB Blasted it, whacked it with hammers, pipe-wrenched on it... FINALLY busted it loose without breaking the frame or the seat-post...RUST is NOT our friend! Vintage bikes are cheap and easy to work on...but they do eat your time.

Here new drive gear

Very nice! except.. what is that a white plastic nut? go chrome!

Yeah, they arent going on a bike so it doesnt matter how bad they are...friend needs them for a bike themed wedding.

Forgot to post a pic from way back when...over a year ago! Here it is from last year...don't worry about the valve stem being crooked, that was fixed soon after

Nice! Very Nice! Ride her in health and safety! (and have fun!!!)

This is my 82 LeTour. I've done a few upgrades to it and it rides great.

This thread needs to be revived at least oncea year!
1980 Chicago-made, my new favorite!

Thanks for reviving this thread. Here is a 1981 LeTour mixte that I picked up for my daughter .