What type of Schwinn is this?
05-21-09, 12:17 AM
#1
Klaus Pierre-Action Star
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What type of Schwinn is this?
Guy says it has shimano shifters (if that helps) its a 53cm too. Could be a varsity? (arent varsity's suntour?)
05-21-09, 01:52 AM
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Looks like a late 70's Le Tour to me. Nicer bike than the varsity for sure.
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05-21-09, 03:26 AM
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LeTour is a good guess mkeller! Probably about a '78-82.
Bob, if you are considering buying this bike, don't pay much. It does look to be in poor shape at best. Free to $10 is all I'd pay, and $10 looks high.
Stan,
A Varsity of the same vintage would weigh about 15 lbs more, come equipped with chrome RD, FD, shifters, bars, and stem, (instead of aluminum), a one piece steel crank, and a solid bladed fork, just to name a few of the big differences. mkeller can't tell by the pictures as much as by reading the spec sheets.
Bob, if you are considering buying this bike, don't pay much. It does look to be in poor shape at best. Free to $10 is all I'd pay, and $10 looks high.
Originally Posted by Stan the Man
Just out of curiosity, what makes it look like a nicer bike than a varsity by just looking at the pictures?
A Varsity of the same vintage would weigh about 15 lbs more, come equipped with chrome RD, FD, shifters, bars, and stem, (instead of aluminum), a one piece steel crank, and a solid bladed fork, just to name a few of the big differences. mkeller can't tell by the pictures as much as by reading the spec sheets.
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05-21-09, 03:34 AM
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Thanks PB! (Bob Hufford makes it easy)
Were all of the lugged frames Asian made? I agree about the condition.
Were all of the lugged frames Asian made? I agree about the condition.
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Last edited by mkeller234; 05-21-09 at 04:14 AM.
05-21-09, 07:20 AM
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No on the lugged frames. Some were made in Chicago and many were made in Greenville Mississippi. Also all Paramounts were lugged frames and built in Chicago and Kenosha WI until 1978 and then when production restarted in Waterford WI. Roger
05-21-09, 08:12 AM
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The LeTours of that era were still Hiten steel, with chromed steel rims later they moved to Chromoly and aluminum alloy rims.
In my opinion, for a hiten bike, they are pretty nice. My first road bike was a 1979 LeTour IV, so I am biased.
Construction location seems to have varied by year between US and Japan as I recall when I was looking at the specs. With the Asian variants usually weighing a touch less. The weight and specs varied by year... and was not always on a downward trend. For example, I think the 1978 LeTour III weighed slightly less than the 1979 LeTour IV.
In my opinion, for a hiten bike, they are pretty nice. My first road bike was a 1979 LeTour IV, so I am biased.
Construction location seems to have varied by year between US and Japan as I recall when I was looking at the specs. With the Asian variants usually weighing a touch less. The weight and specs varied by year... and was not always on a downward trend. For example, I think the 1978 LeTour III weighed slightly less than the 1979 LeTour IV.
05-21-09, 09:12 AM
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I learn something new everyday here.... thanks
05-21-09, 10:49 AM
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The LeTour name was used for some very different road bikes over the years. The first LeTour of about 1974/1975 was made in Japan, and was a nice bike for its low price ($150 in 1975...just $20 or so more than a Continental).
I saw a catalog with a LeTour from around 1990 or so that appeared to be made in Taiwan that was probably five pounds lighter than the original LeTour (butted cro-mo lugged frame) with far better components. And, during the 15 years in between, the LeTour name was used for bikes made in Chicago (heavy hi-ten frames...the worst LeTours??), ones made in Mississippi (cro-mo frames...a step up from Chicago??).
So, although the LeTour was one of Schwinn's "B" level bikes, some years were a B+ and some only a B-....the best LeTours always gave customers good value for their money.
I saw a catalog with a LeTour from around 1990 or so that appeared to be made in Taiwan that was probably five pounds lighter than the original LeTour (butted cro-mo lugged frame) with far better components. And, during the 15 years in between, the LeTour name was used for bikes made in Chicago (heavy hi-ten frames...the worst LeTours??), ones made in Mississippi (cro-mo frames...a step up from Chicago??).
So, although the LeTour was one of Schwinn's "B" level bikes, some years were a B+ and some only a B-....the best LeTours always gave customers good value for their money.
