treebound 

I just picked this one up this weekend, don’t know if it is a keeper or not.
I’m having a little trouble finding the serial number on it. The headbadge is stsmped with 0347, and on the bottom of the bottom bracket there is 80 12 13817 . I find no numbers around the headtube, none on the rear dropouts, none elsewhere around the bottom bracket unless they are hiding under the paint. Based on the headbadge I’m guessing it is from 1977 or 1987. Gearing is 2x6, Altus LT rear derailleur, 27” wheels (and I just sold off all my 27” wheels except for a French pair).

The fit works for me at 57ctc seat tube and top tube. 170mm Super Maxy cranks with some Kyokuto Top-Run pedals. The seatpost and stem are not stuck.

Handlebars still have some cloth tape wrapped on the lower portions. The dangerously sketchy looking tires held air enough for me to ride the bike sround the block.

The bike is made in Japan, 4130 double butted tubes. Right now just trying to confirm the age and pricing a set of tires for it.

treebound 

It does have sort of an interesting saddle clamping system.

88Tempo

Looks like a 1980 model to me. No idea on value.

3speedslow

Good snag! They are fine bikes to fix up and ride. I have the same one and size as yours. I believe you have an 81. They were made only in 81-82 years. Might be wrong. Yours could have been strapped in 80 for the next year run.

The black and red accents are quite smashing when you get it cleaned up. Components are quite good but not high end. Certainly nothing for some to sneer at.

You can make 700 wheels wrk with the brake set it came with. The seatpost is a pain to work with.

Keep us informed as you proceed!

3speedslow

BTW... 11.8 is in reference to the weight, 26lbs. Easy to beat it with simple upgrades if you so desire.

ryansu

Nice chrome "socks" looks like it will clean up into a nice rider. I have had good luck with Panaracer Pasalea's and Swift Sand Canyons for a nice plush ride in a 27" tire.

3speedslow

The chrome is very good on these Japanese Schwinns!

treebound 

I found an old saddle in a corner of my garage that says Voyageur on the rear of it and it even has some red accents that make a nice match to the bike. Has sort of a grippy cloth-like covering that I’m not sure how long it will last, but that one is on the bike now. And that saddle clamp is a hassle to deal with.

I’ve got a couple sets of old 700c wheels that I’ve still kept hold of so I will play around with those to see how the brakes match up.

Not decided what I might do with the gumbo brake hoods on the bike. I’ve got some aero Tekro brake levers that I might play with as well on this bike. Not overly long ago I sold off the 1989 Letour I had and I still miss that bike (it lost the coin flip during a downsizing purge session).

I took the risk with the tires and took the bike for another lap around the block, it is kind of growing on me.

Pcampeau

Is there any chance that the last digit on your headbadge is a 1 and not a 7? This bike was definitely not available in 77 or 87, but right in the middle; 80, 81, 82.

treebound 

Headbadge

Pcampeau

Okay, thanks for the pic. It’s clearly a 7. Still, your bike with its color scheme and decals appears in the Schwinn catalogs for 1980, 81, and 82 and no other years at all.

3alarmer 

^^^what the other guys said on dating. I have one that was pretty clean when I bought it for $125 on the local Craigslist here from the original owner. I believe it's a three main tubes butted tubing bike, and don't know what the stays and fork were made from.

It was always a little doggy to ride with the original wheels, but I liked the geometry and feel of it, so I took a chance and built new wheels for it that have better bead hooks to allow full inflation of a more modern high pressure tyre. I kept it at 27" wheels on instinct, using Sun rims. After that, it became a favorite rider, and I even put fenders on it.

The components are nothing fancy, but are very serviceable. I think it might have been an MTB group to get a larger gear range to fit with the light touring motif.

Pcampeau

That’s a nice one 3alamer! Not a blemish to be seen on the drive side. I believe the entire frame is 4130 Chromoly but only the top and down tubes are double butted. I could be mistaken but that’s the way it reads according to Schwinn.

wrk101

Check component codes, I bet they are newer than 1977. Headbadge may have been a mistake.

bwilli88 

If you want to get rid of that, let me know.

treebound 

I think I’ll just call it a model year 1977+6-or-so

bwilli88,
I will keep you in mind

treebound 

I took a few minutes tonight and tried the 700c wheels with 700x28c tires off the Univega and tried them out on the Schwinn since both were 6-speeds on back. They fit and ran with the brakes just fine, or at least close enough to not be an issue. So I swapped the wheels back since the Sportour is currently up for sale, and put the Schwinn back on a hook until I have the time to give it some proper attention. Should be a fun project.

Tomsl923833

I am no expert but, I have a 79 le tour that looks very similar as far as the crank set and, decals. There are a lot of people on here that have more knowledge In the coming days you'll probably get more info. As far as price beauty is in the eyes of the beholder. The bottom bearing housing is a good place to start. Another place is on the head badge. There should be numbers stamped on it. You have to look really close. If you're half blind like I am use a magnifying glass.

Tomsl923833

Condition is everything. You have original decals that are legible. It's not a varsity or, a collegiate. That's another plus! On Ebay they ask crazy prices $150 to $300. A quick flip not doing anything at all $100 to $175. It's a nice bike!!! Somebody loved it!!!! That's my 2 cents!!!lol

ryansu

Looks like the one on my 78 Moto GT, took me a while to wrap my head around the orientations for clockwise vs counter clock - kinda upside down and backwards, but its done a fine job of keeping the saddle clamped. Much easier to adjust and tighten/loosen off the bike imho.