Salubrious

Those Esge cast aluminum racks were pretty much the only game in town if you wanted a decent, strong and also lightweight rack in the 1970s. I would keep it.

That Gran Tourismo will get pretty tiring if you are used to a derailler that actually shifts. Pretty thing though.

Metacortex

I might keep the rack but I'd probably remove and sell the generator set, of course that's your call. However other than the accessories, since that bike is so original to start with I'd definitely try to keep it that way.

The original housings (sometimes with a minor trim at one or both ends) can indeed be re-used with new cables. The brake cables are standard road type that you can get anywhere, however the shift cables are the old Huret type with a disc end. You can get new ones from bike shops like Harris for $4 each, but there is an eBay seller offering NOS Huret cables in quantities of 10 for $12, or 20 for only $17.40 (current sale price), including shipping. I have purchased these from that seller and they are pristine.

The Golden Boy 

The first cool bike I bought off CL was an 84 Stumpjumper Sport- the seller had a picture from Mombat with the "my bike is like this" type annotation.

He wasn't much older than me, he knew what his bike was, he had the original receipt, had some cool stories- and it turned out we'd worked together before.

The Golden Boy 

This bike is completely unmolested- just a bit dirty.

I would take the best pix you possibly can- like with the sheet behind it, and document everything about it. The plastic cable tips are intact. Wow.


What's interesting about the previous owner- unless he was a "collector," that bike must not have meant a whole lot to him- it went right to the garage.

When I think of my 84 Voyageur SP, I imagine a well off family buying a kid a VERY nice bike- and the kid leaving the bike in the garage and playing with his Commodore 64.

likebike23

You never know what you'll find. I think that's half of the fun.

Flog00

I wasn't really looking for a bike, my son saw this bike on CL. It had been there for several days when I called and the owner said he'd be out of town and would call when he returned, said he'd save it for me.
He called and my boy and I drove an hour to pick it up. The owner lives in his dad's house now and he said his dad used the bike to just ride around the neighborhood.
The guy said I was the only call he received about the bike. Surprising. I paid his full asking price and he was happy to see it go.
I'm happy to have it and save it from hanging in the garage.

likebike23

I'm glad you got the bike. It would be a shame if they threw it out thinking nobody would want it. I almost had a Sports Tourer, but the guy selling it flaked out.

schwinn499

What a sweet original! Id reconsider any touchups being necessary on a ride that pristine.

Flog00

Started assembly.

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Flog00

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Oldairhead 

I have this exact same bike in 25 inch size. It is a blue, low miles, 1973 Sports Tourer which according to the frame number was manufactured in June 1972. I picked it up at an estate sale for $50 after watching it for a couple of days. I bought it mainly for the saddle, a Brooks B-15 which looked to be in excellent condition. Sadly, the saddle failed even after extensive treatment (see "Death of a Brooks B-15") but I still have the rest of the bike. I'm not really a Schwinn guy but it is a complete and original one owner bike. At least it is a good reference for and original 73 Sports Tourer. I'll put it together sometime soon I guess.

Metacortex

Make sure you install the asymmetric spindle with the longer end on the drive side. From the pics you posted you may have it backwards.

Flog00

Yep! Thanks!

Bicycle1966

Yep -- the Sports Tourer of the early-mid 70s had the Gran Turismo -- later, the bike would be re-named Superior and Schwinn would start equipping it with Shimano instead of the steel Campy by the end of the line for the fillet-brazed models.

Bicycle1966

Some really nice bikes! The Sports Tourer is a great model. I just had a post about those (and the other fillet-brazed models) on The Retrogrouch Blog -- The Retrogrouch: Handbuilt Schwinns

it's got some info about spotting the differences between the fillet brazed bikes and the lesser "electro-forged" or flash-welded models.

Metacortex

The Sports Tourer came with the Campagnolo Gran Turismo in '71 and '72, then for '73 through '75 it came with the GT-300 Le Tour (a rebadged Shimano Crane GS). The '76 Superior (replacing the Sports Tourer that year) continued to use the GT-300, but for '77 and '78 it came with a SunTour VGT-Luxe.

Nice post! You show several of the noticeable differences between the fillet-brazed and electro-forged frames that make it very easy to tell them apart. One additional easy-to-spot difference are the stamped and welded vs. machined and brazed-on cable stops. 1976 and earlier electro-forged 10-speed bikes had 2-piece stamped and welded downtube cable stops. Sometime in early to mid-1976 these were changed to a 1-piece stamped and welded stop. Fillet-brazed bikes always used individual Huret machined round cable stops that were brazed-on.




One minor correction to your post (not your fault) is that the "Whole lotta brazin'..." article is incorrect about when the Sport Limited model was produced. The article incorrectly says '79 when they were actually built and sold in late '77, leaving the '78 Superior as truly the last Chicago-built fillet-brazed Schwinn.

Bicycle1966

One minor correction to your post (not your fault) is that the "Whole lotta brazin'..." article is incorrect about when the Sport Limited model was produced. The article incorrectly says '79 when they were actually built and sold in late '77, leaving the '78 Superior as truly the last Chicago-built fillet-brazed Schwinn.[/QUOTE]

AAUUGH! I hate when that happens. But thanks for the help!

Flog00

@Metacortex
I tried installing the cranks and there is interference with the integrated kickstand on the drive side. Removed the BB and flipped it, all good now.

Flog00

Thanks @fender1, the rack fits perfectly.

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Flog00

@Metacortex , thanks.

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Flog00

So far.....

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Hudson308 

Very, very nice!!!

Flog00

Schwinn guys with opaque blue bikes, what is your source for opaque blue bar tape?

Metacortex

If you mean the original Schwinn or Hunt-Wilde Opaque Blue tape, then eBay or swap meets are about the only places you can find it. And unfortunately OB is becoming one of the harder colors to find. I don't see any genuine Schwinn/Hunt-Wilde OB currently listed, here was a roll that recently sold: Hunt Wilde Flexon Handlebar Tape Sky Blue Unopen Brand New | eBay

This knock-off may be similar enough for the mean-time (although I can't vouch for it): "NOS" Vintage Plastic Blue "OGK" Handlebar Tape | eBay

If you want a color-matching modern tape, Fizik Light Blue Microtex is just about a perfect color match for Opaque Blue: Amazon.com : Fizik Bicycle Bar Tape : Bike Handlebar Tape : Sports & Outdoors

pastorbobnlnh 

My 2 cents:

I'm not a fan of the original Hunt Wilde tape. I find it too slippery, not enough padding, the diameter too small (same for cotton tape), and I don't care much for the style. The Hunt Wilde seems too "Disney" for my tastes and not like serious bar tape. Even back in the 1970s, I think I would have replaced it ASAP.

So I do my best to match the tape color to something else on the bike. Might be the saddle, could be the bar bag, and in the case of my '75 Sports Tourer, I matched the Bluemels fenders, which are sort of a champagne color. Sometimes I'll go with a more C&V like tape such as Bike Ribbon.
@Metacortex has found some great alternatives. I use the "Metal" blue Fizik on my '71 Paramount. It's painted in flamboyant red. The tape matches the handlebar bag and the brake cable casing. I like the Fizik tape.