Schwinn Le Tour, show yours.
03-31-13, 07:46 PM
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Schwinn Le Tour, show yours.
I just finished building up my 1981 Le Tour for light commuter/town duties and it got me to thinking about how long various incarnations of the model were produced over the years and how they varied. So lets see yours, and be sure to share the stats!
As for mine, I swapped the wheels for two alloy wheels with quick release, swapped out the turkey levers for standard, and added downtube shifters. I originally had bar end shifters, but I wanted those for something else, so I ground off the cable stops and added a new stop for downtube shifters. Probably too much work in hindsight, but I'm happy with the results.
As for mine, I swapped the wheels for two alloy wheels with quick release, swapped out the turkey levers for standard, and added downtube shifters. I originally had bar end shifters, but I wanted those for something else, so I ground off the cable stops and added a new stop for downtube shifters. Probably too much work in hindsight, but I'm happy with the results.
03-31-13, 07:56 PM
#2
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1977 Schwinn Le Tour II. Had the frame powdercoated, new handlebars and brake levers, seat, pedals, tires. Still has the 2 x 6 drivetrain, 27" wheels, and diacompe-style centerpull brakes. I use it as a commuter/utility bike in rotation with a rigid MTB.
03-31-13, 08:08 PM
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1980 Letour.
03-31-13, 08:40 PM
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1984 Le Tour Luxe
Suntour drive train, Weinmann brakes with Schwinn-labelled quick-release levers.
Seems to have been built in Greenville MS of Tenax tubing, although it's just tagged "chromoly". That has been debated quite a bit on this site.
Stock fitted Jim Blackburn rack.
Last edited by BluesDaddy; 03-31-13 at 08:43 PM.
03-31-13, 08:54 PM
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1978 25" Silver Mist Super Le Tour 12.2.
Made in Japan, Double-Butted 4130 Chrome-Moly Top & Bottom Tubes.
Made in Japan, Double-Butted 4130 Chrome-Moly Top & Bottom Tubes.
03-31-13, 09:10 PM
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My daughter's Le Tour mixte. I swapped the OEM steel wheels and tired tires for the aluminum wheels and Pasela tires from her Suteki mixte. New bar tape, removed the chainwheel guard, added a different saddle and she loves it.
Before
After
Before
After
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03-31-13, 10:22 PM
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Super Le Tour in Chrome. Yes the seat is on wrong, I took the pic when it arrived. But I need to find it a new home. I have Paramount fever. 
07-09-13, 08:51 PM
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My re-entry into road biking a few years back, a $25 Letour, 79. A bit tired, a bit rusted chrome rims that didn't hold a good true, paint shot, decals mostly gone (I had to HUNT the model). Superlite 1020 frame, the year they BOASTED it was sub 30!
It eventually got stripped down and repainted, 700c alloy wheels, aero brake levers. Kept the SuperMaxy Cranks
The resurrected LeTour, down from just under 30 pounds to just above 27
It eventually got stripped down and repainted, 700c alloy wheels, aero brake levers. Kept the SuperMaxy Cranks
The resurrected LeTour, down from just under 30 pounds to just above 27
07-09-13, 09:35 PM
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Very nice bikes in this thread.
My powdercoated '84 LeTour:
My powdercoated '84 LeTour:
07-09-13, 10:13 PM
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This bike has been seen here before. It's a 1977 Schwinn Le Tour II. 23" height. Upgrades include a mid eighties logo-ed Schwinn seat, alloy seat post, Suntour clamp-on downtube shifters (approx. era correct), Araya 27 X 1.25" alloy rims. The brake handles were modded to remove the safety extensions on the brake levers (the local bike shop supplied shorter pivots). The derailleurs, brakes, cranks, peddles, stem, handlebars, etc are all original. The kick stand wore out on me, so I finally took it off. This seems to be the only bike I can keep going in running order on a consistent basis.
08-10-13, 11:49 AM
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This is my 1974 Le Tour I got from a coworker after I wrecked my 1969 Raleigh Super Course. I switched to Alloy 27's, a Brooks B-17 Imperial and I wrapped the bars in yellow cloth tape, finished with twine and shellacked with Zinser Amber Shellac. The only other mod was removing the chain-ring guard...
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08-10-13, 12:30 PM
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Oh is that thing cool.
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08-10-13, 04:10 PM
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OK, here are some 1980s LeTours that have passed on to new homes:
1988 LeTour, came as a package deal with the Tommasini Prestige I picked up a month ago:
1984 LeTour Luxe, picked up on my best garage sale day ever (Masi Gran Corsa, Panasonic DX3000 and a really nice workstand)L
1985 Super LeTour. came with a Tempo I sent on to RaleighSport:
1982 ish LeTour
bill
1988 LeTour, came as a package deal with the Tommasini Prestige I picked up a month ago:
1984 LeTour Luxe, picked up on my best garage sale day ever (Masi Gran Corsa, Panasonic DX3000 and a really nice workstand)L
1985 Super LeTour. came with a Tempo I sent on to RaleighSport:
1982 ish LeTour
bill
08-10-13, 04:15 PM
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Poor old bike.. if I'd known then what I know now.
'79 Le Tour IV
'79 Le Tour IV
09-08-14, 10:17 AM
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Still have my 1979 Le Tour IV which I purchased new 35 years ago. Been stored indoors except for one winter when I left it out on the balcony of a studio apartment which caused some decals to crack and flake off. Had Brooks Professional seat installed when I purchased the bike, but recently swapped with a cheap seat to avoid theft.
09-08-14, 04:27 PM
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Old thread, I know but oh well. This is the second road bike owned/restored. Sadly, although i've searched my computer many times I cannot find the after pics anymore. I wish I still had this bike. This is the condition I paid $20 for a couple years ago:
09-08-14, 07:23 PM
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This is the last bike I will get rid of (if forced).
It is slated to be upgraded with a red Brooks Saddle, tool bag, and bar tape.
I have a set of Suntour brakes to put on, but I am just not that worried about mixed Suntour and Shimano parts. I like the Shimano 600 side pulls.
I bought the bike with the pump holder on it. That has since been removed - with only minimal scratching to the frame. Thank goodness the clamp was well coated.
Love this bike!!!
Last edited by jjames1452; 09-08-14 at 07:28 PM. Reason: add
08-14-16, 05:47 PM
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08-15-16, 07:58 AM
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My everyday workhorse! 1978 Le Tour III, all 34# of it, acquired for the princely sum of $27. Still my favorite ride!
08-15-16, 09:59 AM
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