1988 Schwinn Letour
02-20-07, 08:30 AM
#1
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1988 Schwinn Letour
Anyone riding one of these?
I know a guy that is selling one in very good condition (original owner) for $100. Am I correct in thinking that this was a mid-level model during the late 80's? I have an 86 sprint (20 years together and still going strong) which I believe was the entry level model during that time period and I thought the letour was a few steps up from it.
Thanks
I know a guy that is selling one in very good condition (original owner) for $100. Am I correct in thinking that this was a mid-level model during the late 80's? I have an 86 sprint (20 years together and still going strong) which I believe was the entry level model during that time period and I thought the letour was a few steps up from it.
Thanks
02-20-07, 08:55 AM
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The LeTour's are a nothing fancy but very nice bikes. Typically 4130 tubing nicely constructed for Schwinn in Japan. For $100 if it fits and is in decent shape would be a nice find and worth the effort to overhaul.
02-20-07, 09:34 AM
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I have an 89 LeTour that I love, I don't think it was mid level when new, but maybe upper entry level. I do not know what frames were made by Panasonic, but my 89 is made in the USA, probaby Miss. with Tru Temper. For 100 bucks, I would buy it I have an easy 20k miles on mine, considering I paid under 300 bucks for it back in 89, I would say it was a good investment.
02-20-07, 10:12 AM
#4
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la tour was always a nice bike, its ranking in the line up changed over the years but U.S.A. or Japan its worth having
02-20-07, 12:51 PM
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If a Letour is mid-range -- would someone be kind enough to rank the late 80s Schwinn lineup?
02-20-07, 02:57 PM
#6
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Originally Posted by ragboy
If a Letour is mid-range -- would someone be kind enough to rank the late 80s Schwinn lineup?
Paramount (Doh!) - Columbus SLX or SL/SP (frames above 57 cm used SL/SP mix)
Circuit - Columbus double-butted SL (SP down tube on 23" and larger frames) forged dropouts, Tange aero seatstays
Tempo - Columbus Tenax double-butted Chrome-Moly main tubes, Chrome-Moly stays, forged dropouts
Premis - Columbus Tenax double-butted Chrome-Moly main tubes, Chrome-Moly stays, forged dropouts
Prelude - Columbus Tenax double-butted Chrome-Moly main tubes, Chrome-Moly stays, forged dropouts
Voyageur - Columbus Tenax double-butted Chrome-Moly main tubes, Chrome-Moly stays, forged dropouts with double eyelets
Le Tour - True Temper T1-4130 Chrome-Moly double-butted main tubes, Chrome-Moly stays, forged dropouts with eyelets
Traveler - True Temper T1-4130 Chrome-Moly double-butted main tubes, forged dropouts with eyelets
World Sport - 4130 Chrome-Moly double-butted main tubes, forged dropouts with eyelets
World - frame material not specified in catalog
Sprint - frame material not specified in catalog
Caliene - frame material not specified in catalog
Also, the Avion aluminum framed bike was on a par with the Circuit.
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02-20-07, 03:07 PM
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Thanks Stan -- how many of those are road bikes? I know the Paramount, LeTour, Traveler, World Sport, World are -- any others?
(And, I'm assuming you're ranking goes from paramount (top) down to the Caliene (bottom) ?)
(And, I'm assuming you're ranking goes from paramount (top) down to the Caliene (bottom) ?)
02-20-07, 03:28 PM
#8
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Originally Posted by ragboy
Thanks Stan -- how many of those are road bikes? I know the Paramount, LeTour, Traveler, World Sport, World are -- any others?
(And, I'm assuming you're ranking goes from paramount (top) down to the Caliene (bottom) ?)
(And, I'm assuming you're ranking goes from paramount (top) down to the Caliene (bottom) ?)
The Paramount came in three flavors in 1988. That year was the fiftieth anniversary of the Paramount, which was introduced in 1938. The "commemorative" Paramount had a gold plated fork, and the Road and Track Paramounts had slightly different frame geometries (the track bike had shorter chain stays and less fork rake than the road bike).
The Paramount, Avion, Circuit, Premis, Prelude were considered competition bikes, while the Voyageur, Le Tour, Traveler and World Sport were considered "performance sport" or "touring" bikes. The World, Sprint, and Caliente were value priced bikes for recreational biking.
02-20-07, 03:37 PM
#9
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Thanks for the info!!
My 86 sprint has a made in taiwan sticker and no indication of frame material that I've been able to find.
My 86 sprint has a made in taiwan sticker and no indication of frame material that I've been able to find.
02-20-07, 06:15 PM
#10
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https://cgi.ebay.com/VNTG-SCHWINN-VOY...QQcmdZViewItem
Too bad this one isn't in my size. That chrome frame sure is slick.
Too bad this one isn't in my size. That chrome frame sure is slick.
02-20-07, 06:27 PM
#11
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Originally Posted by dtipton
Too bad this one isn't in my size. That chrome frame sure is slick.
02-20-07, 07:41 PM
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I was told this is a 1988 when I bought the NOS frame... I built it up and sold it for $450 Cnd... it road beautifully!
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1 Super Record bike, 1 Nuovo Record bike, 1 Pista, 1 Road, 1 Cyclocross/Allrounder, 1 MTB, 1 Touring, 1 Fixed gear
1 Super Record bike, 1 Nuovo Record bike, 1 Pista, 1 Road, 1 Cyclocross/Allrounder, 1 MTB, 1 Touring, 1 Fixed gear
02-20-07, 09:58 PM
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The Voyageur 11.8 is a great ride. I have an 83 and it rides smooth as a Caddy. I saw another all chrome 11.8 sell on ebay just a couple of days ago. I think it went for around 3-4 hundred, but can't remember for sure. I paid $450 for mine, simply because I liked the black and chrome color scheme and it was in near new condition.
02-20-07, 10:13 PM
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Originally Posted by Scooper
They're all road bikes, and you're right about the heirarchy; Paramount at the top, Caliente at the bottom.
The Paramount came in three flavors in 1988. That year was the fiftieth anniversary of the Paramount, which was introduced in 1938. The "commemorative" Paramount had a gold plated fork, and the Road and Track Paramounts had slightly different frame geometries (the track bike had shorter chain stays and less fork rake than the road bike).
The Paramount, Avion, Circuit, Premis, Prelude were considered competition bikes, while the Voyageur, Le Tour, Traveler and World Sport were considered "performance sport" or "touring" bikes. The World, Sprint, and Caliente were value priced bikes for recreational biking.
The Paramount came in three flavors in 1988. That year was the fiftieth anniversary of the Paramount, which was introduced in 1938. The "commemorative" Paramount had a gold plated fork, and the Road and Track Paramounts had slightly different frame geometries (the track bike had shorter chain stays and less fork rake than the road bike).
The Paramount, Avion, Circuit, Premis, Prelude were considered competition bikes, while the Voyageur, Le Tour, Traveler and World Sport were considered "performance sport" or "touring" bikes. The World, Sprint, and Caliente were value priced bikes for recreational biking.
02-21-07, 12:31 AM
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Le Tour - True Temper T1-4130 Chrome-Moly double-butted main tubes, Chrome-Moly stays, forged dropouts with eyelets
02-21-07, 06:39 AM
#17
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It doesn't need to be a steal, just a fair price. I've been looking at the thrift shops and on craigslist in my local area and haven't seen anything other than Huffy and Murray for less than $100. I've bid on several bikes on ebay within driving distance, but always miss out by a few dollars because I'm not online in the closing minutes to get in that final bid.
02-21-07, 12:48 PM
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I fail to see how 4130 Chromoly and a steal at $100 goes hand in hand.
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02-21-07, 02:37 PM
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Is something wrong with 4130 steel?
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02-21-07, 03:00 PM
#20
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Originally Posted by Mariner Fan
Is something wrong with 4130 steel?
Last edited by Scooper; 02-21-07 at 03:18 PM.
02-21-07, 09:06 PM
#21
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Thread Starter
Still waiting to hear back from the letour owner, but had my first ebay success.
Mid 80's Schwinn Traveler in good condition for $15.
Mid 80's Schwinn Traveler in good condition for $15.
02-21-07, 10:55 PM
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Hmm
That is really pretty thorough. For what its worth, my 86 prelude frame does have eyelets front and rear. Guess they must have dropped them bythe 88 model year
She can be yours, PM if interested
She can be yours, PM if interested
02-21-07, 11:39 PM
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Mid 80's Schwinn Traveler in good condition for $15.
Not a bad True Temper frame.
02-22-07, 04:25 PM
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One of the things about the "LeTour" name is that it was attached to some very different bikes over the decades. Most of the LeTour models were intended to fit into about the middle of the Schwinn road bike line-up, but some years the LeTour was positioned a bit higher in the line-up.
Some years the LeTour was promoted as a "touring bike" and shown in ads with a rear rack for the "touring" image. Other years it was promoted more as a "racing" style bike. As a result, you may find some LeTour's with a tourish length wheelbase of 40 or 41 inches, and you may see others with a 39 inch wheel base, similar to racing bikes of the era.
There were also variations in weight. Some of the early LeTour models were advertised as weighing around 28 pounds, but some years LeTours were made that were substantially lighter.
What all LeTour models in the '70's and '80's had in common was that they always were a "best buy". They offered about 90% or so of the ride quality of the "mega-buck" bikes, yet were usually priced just above Schwinn's entry level road bikes.
Some years the LeTour was promoted as a "touring bike" and shown in ads with a rear rack for the "touring" image. Other years it was promoted more as a "racing" style bike. As a result, you may find some LeTour's with a tourish length wheelbase of 40 or 41 inches, and you may see others with a 39 inch wheel base, similar to racing bikes of the era.
There were also variations in weight. Some of the early LeTour models were advertised as weighing around 28 pounds, but some years LeTours were made that were substantially lighter.
What all LeTour models in the '70's and '80's had in common was that they always were a "best buy". They offered about 90% or so of the ride quality of the "mega-buck" bikes, yet were usually priced just above Schwinn's entry level road bikes.
02-22-07, 04:43 PM
#25
Decrepit Member
^ +1