1977 Chrome Schwinn Super Le Tour 12.2
 

I finished up this bike last week and have put a few short rides on it. Im still getting it adjusted to fit me just right but so far she rides amazing. Im really happy with the way it turned out. The only thing I dislike so far are the pedals, but they are manageable. I may put on a pair of ATOM 440's to ride it though, well see. Shes completely original except for the seat, chain, bar wrap, and tires. This is the first "Schwinn Approved" bike ive owned and although I was a skeptic before, im very happy with it and would not mind owning a couple more Japanese built frame models. Without further ado, the fruits of my labor over the last couple months..

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https://farm6.staticflickr.com/5584/...17601746_c.jpg

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Beauty! Well done.

Regards, Dick

This is a fine looking bike and I like the progression of pics from frame to the completely built up bike. While I am not a fan of short fenders, they do look good on this bike. This is a very cool bike.

That is my grail bike. You kitted it out really nicely. Beautiful!

I love the sight of an all-chrome frame in the morning! Very nice!

Nice! I'm a sucker for chrome bikes. I had a '77 Super Letour 12.2 in grey, rode it a bit, but it was too small. My impression was that it was a good quality bike.

What is that finger grip looking cover over your brake levers? Looks cool. Well done!

Sweet. Was it all chrome to begin with or did you remove paint? Are they new decals?

Oh, hell to the yes. Lovely bicycle.

I'd lose the little fenders and rock the bars down so the flats were a little flatter; but everyone fits differently.

What dontcha like about the pedals? Those little pointy things out on the end messing with your big wide feet? I have the that problem.

Solution.

They used to make rubber covers that went over the brake levers- good luck finding any.

It took me 10 minutes of searching Google Images to find just a pic:

http://thumbs3.ebaystatic.com/d/l225...zV0gNE5ZUQ.jpg




And, of course if you search "Schwinn hand brake lever covers" then tons of pix show up...

Yeah that's sexy.

Those are Schwinn Approved "flexon" (vinyl) handbrake lever covers, made for Schwinn by Hunt-Wilde and also sold under the Hunt-Wilde name (and a few other names as well). They were introduced mid-1968 in colors matching the colored handlebar tape and grips Schwinn installed on its bikes, which also matched most of the Schwinn paint colors at the time. Various colors were added and subtracted over the years until they were finally discontinued in '82. Fanatics of Schwinn '60s and '70s models (and the paint matching colored tape/grips) often consider these an absolutely essential accessory to install. ;)

While certain colors are very hard to find, the more common colors are almost always available on eBay: http://www.ebay.com/sch/i.html?_nkw=schwinn+lever+cover

https://c2.staticflickr.com/6/5105/5...3f9633550f.jpg
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http://schwinnmantaray.com/gallery/P...Covers%207.JPG
http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-StcsePj-q8...0/DSC02130.jpg

I have the same. If there is some protective layer on chrome? Something peels of. Varnish?

It's the " clear coat" finish that's peeling off.

I have the exact same bike and there are a few places doing this.

Some people take the clear coat right off.

The SLT 12.2 is a GREAT bike !!

VERY STABLE AND SMOOTH !!!!!

Posts some pics when you can .

Bought one of these new back in...'77-'78. Nice bike. Paid $250-$260? for it..if memory serves, though that was 40+ years ago. I had it about a year before I sold it. Young, strong man that I was...the bottom bracket used to bounce when I jumped on it in a sprint. At least it felt that way. Ended up stepping into a columbus-tubed bike..no more flex in a sprint. My sprints have mostly sprinted away now days..I imagine it would ride pretty well.

I like minimalism, so it will be a singlespeed bike. What the price of all parts on last photo?

https://cimg8.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...b487d4e2fc.jpg
https://cimg9.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...76cb5e7d85.jpg
https://cimg0.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...793e92e199.jpg
Owner studied in Colorado University in 1979)
https://cimg1.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...2d7252f88e.jpg
What is the price?