'88 Trek 520 vs '85 Schwinn Le Tour Luxe -- impressions?
06-13-13, 03:10 PM
#1
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'88 Trek 520 vs '85 Schwinn Le Tour Luxe -- impressions?
I'm looking for an all-rounder bike for in-town use, and casual/group rides. I'm leaning toward a road/touring bike vs a MTB. I prefer the light weight and sprightly handling of a road bike over a MTB, and converting an MTB to my desires would be cost-impractical.
My top candidates (near me on CL):
'88 Trek 520
https://images.craigslist.org/3L43If3...4a946a103b.jpg
'85 Schwinn Le Tour Luxe
https://images.craigslist.org/3E73K83...bfef621cc0.jpg
They both have nice tubes (531 mains for the Trek, and Tenax for the Schwinn)
Both have 27" wheels
Both have canti brakes
Both have nice clearance for cush tires and/or fenders
The Trek is a one-owner original, tuned up to riding condition (but I think with mostly original components). The Trek also has mid-blade eyelets for a front rack or basket (remember, in-town bike).
The Schwinn has been rebuilt and repainted (by a lugged steel aficionado), with nice components (superbe rims, Brooks Pro seat, re-spaced rear to 135mm), but it's twice the price of the Trek.
I'm leaning toward the Trek, because then I can spend the price difference in customizing it to my use.
But do any of you have impressions/ideas on these two bikes?
Thanks,
Tim
FYI my main bike is a '97 Rivendell. It's to roady (28mm tires max) and too nice to lock up downtown.
My top candidates (near me on CL):
'88 Trek 520
https://images.craigslist.org/3L43If3...4a946a103b.jpg
'85 Schwinn Le Tour Luxe
https://images.craigslist.org/3E73K83...bfef621cc0.jpg
They both have nice tubes (531 mains for the Trek, and Tenax for the Schwinn)
Both have 27" wheels
Both have canti brakes
Both have nice clearance for cush tires and/or fenders
The Trek is a one-owner original, tuned up to riding condition (but I think with mostly original components). The Trek also has mid-blade eyelets for a front rack or basket (remember, in-town bike).
The Schwinn has been rebuilt and repainted (by a lugged steel aficionado), with nice components (superbe rims, Brooks Pro seat, re-spaced rear to 135mm), but it's twice the price of the Trek.
I'm leaning toward the Trek, because then I can spend the price difference in customizing it to my use.
But do any of you have impressions/ideas on these two bikes?
Thanks,
Tim
FYI my main bike is a '97 Rivendell. It's to roady (28mm tires max) and too nice to lock up downtown.
06-13-13, 03:21 PM
#5
Senior Member
trek is 531 = more sprightly. I'd go with the trek hands down.
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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
06-13-13, 03:24 PM
#6
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At half the price, the Trek is a no-brainer, unless there's something wrong with it (besides that ugly stem.) I don't like the idea of a repaint, unless it's done by me, and teh color and puffy foam handlbar padding on the Schwinn are a couple more strikes, in my book.
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● 1971 Grandis SL ● 1972 Lambert Grand Prix frankenbike ● 1972 Raleigh Super Course fixie ● 1973 Nishiki Semi-Pro ● 1979 Motobecane Grand Jubile ●1980 Apollo "Legnano" ● 1984 Peugeot Vagabond ● 1985 Shogun Prairie Breaker ● 1986 Merckx Super Corsa ● 1987 Schwinn Tempo ● 1988 Schwinn Voyageur ● 1989 Bottechia Team ADR replica ● 1990 Cannondale ST600 ● 1993 Technium RT600 ● 1996 Kona Lava Dome ●
● 1971 Grandis SL ● 1972 Lambert Grand Prix frankenbike ● 1972 Raleigh Super Course fixie ● 1973 Nishiki Semi-Pro ● 1979 Motobecane Grand Jubile ●1980 Apollo "Legnano" ● 1984 Peugeot Vagabond ● 1985 Shogun Prairie Breaker ● 1986 Merckx Super Corsa ● 1987 Schwinn Tempo ● 1988 Schwinn Voyageur ● 1989 Bottechia Team ADR replica ● 1990 Cannondale ST600 ● 1993 Technium RT600 ● 1996 Kona Lava Dome ●
06-13-13, 03:31 PM
#7
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The Trek is a nice bike. The made in Japan Schwinns were also pretty nice bike. Some of the le tour luxes took center pull brakes which means that they're good candidates for a 650b conversion. That would be pretty sweet for an all rounder town bike. If I could find the right high end bike with center pull brakes, I'd go for it to try out a 650b conversion.
06-13-13, 03:34 PM
#8
Senior Member
trek also has better components. shimano deore and probably indexed bar cons and slr aero levers... a 700 conversion is always possible with the right cantilevers.
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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
06-13-13, 03:42 PM
#9
Decrepit Member
Here's the '88 Trek 520 catalog page. I agree with the others; buy the Trek if it's still available. The fact that the Schwinn is twice the price and is a repaint makes the decision pretty much a no-brainer.
06-13-13, 04:16 PM
#10
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Bikes: 1997 Rivendell Road Standard 650b conversion (tourer), 1988 Schwinn Project KOM-10 (gravel/tour), 2013 Foundry Auger disc (CX/gravel), 2016 Cannondale Fat CAAD 2 (MTB/winter), 2011 Cannondale Flash 29er Lefty (trail MTB)
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cehowardGS- actually, I trust this guy's repaint. He had it sandblasted, painted with auto paint, and clear coated. A nice job. If he were asking the same price as the Trek then the Schwinn would be more tempting. And that stem will be among the first to go. I'll probably swap in a Nitto Technomic or similar.
bikemig- this schwinn doesn't take centerpulls, it has cantis. That makes it more difficult to go to 650B. 27" to 700C should be easy on either of these bikes though. Plus, I don't see what I'd gain with 650B. These both have clearance to run a 700C x 42mm, maybe bigger without fenders. I'm toying with a 650B conversion on my Rivendell though. I have the wheels and tires but the proper long-reach brakes are on order.
cyclotoine- The Trek has downtube shifters. But, I'm probably going to change the bars to Moustache (I have a Nitto set gathering dust) and bar-end shifters.
Apparently the deore canti brakes on the Trek are pretty easy to readjust to 700C. It's just 4mm down.
I'm going to check out the Trek this weekend, for sure. Thanks for the impressions.
bikemig- this schwinn doesn't take centerpulls, it has cantis. That makes it more difficult to go to 650B. 27" to 700C should be easy on either of these bikes though. Plus, I don't see what I'd gain with 650B. These both have clearance to run a 700C x 42mm, maybe bigger without fenders. I'm toying with a 650B conversion on my Rivendell though. I have the wheels and tires but the proper long-reach brakes are on order.
cyclotoine- The Trek has downtube shifters. But, I'm probably going to change the bars to Moustache (I have a Nitto set gathering dust) and bar-end shifters.
Apparently the deore canti brakes on the Trek are pretty easy to readjust to 700C. It's just 4mm down.
I'm going to check out the Trek this weekend, for sure. Thanks for the impressions.
