I got recently a red Schwinn Le Tour 10 Speed road bike. It says made in Japan..and everything component wise is shimano that says "Schwinn Approved". It has a Le Tour crank. I looked on the bottom of b.b. for a serial and nothing. When does someone estimate it was made and who/what made it. Why in Japan? I googled it and something about emsembly in Japan? Nothing came up that looked like it. Also...I am serious thinking about making it a Single Speed...is the frame light enough to do it? I got a small Shogun 300 touring S.S. and want to transfer everything. This is a pic of the same shogun I found on the web. Sorry I dont have a pic of mine but no digital camera. Thanks,

Hello fellow Bostonian! Even though Schwinn did make bikes in the US all of their stuff since probably the mid 80's has been made over seas...as with all former "US manufactured" brands. A lot of times even just the tubes are cut over here and then shipped to Japan for welding and such.

As far as frame weight goes, it's really just a matter of how much you want to chug up a hill. Where we live a frame like that is probably a perfect ss candidate. I'd say go for it and just save all the parts so that if it doesn't work out you can switch back. I think you're well on your way to a new fixie fellow Bostonian.

yeah word...im gonna see when it was built in, serials.

the serial for that bike should be stamped on the emblem on the front, IIRC. After that, it's just a process of finding the table that tells you what that means

Mine turned out nice.
https://www.fixedgeargallery.com/2005...avidKresge.htm

Serial is 4112241 . Anyone know it?

Anyone>

bueller?

Panisonic of Japan built some LeTours.

I heard that....Where can I get info from the serial

Just do it. I've done it to a Schwinn worldsport, and I helped a friend fix up a Le Tour and they all are decent candidates for conversion.

Is the world sport the more expensive model?

What exactly do you want to know?I mean, the existing components on it will tell you anything you need to know as far as parts sizes etc.The bike is 4130 chromoly steel, lightweight?thats a non-issue.For what its worth, lots of name brand frames are made overseas these days, doesnt change anything.Its a perfectly good candidate for fixed gear or singlespeed.

Take some initiative man. Go to google and type in " SCHWINN SERIAL NUMBERS " .

Follow the links, and get info about your bike. Sheesh.

For your googley fingers... data sheet

It was made by panasonic. Probably single butted tubing... a so-so bike that sold for maybe $150 in its day. Realistically, you probably won't really be upgrading your frame much.