Today's CL pick up, 80s Schwinn Super Le Tour
08-01-20, 11:00 AM
#1
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Today's CL pick up, 80s Schwinn Super Le Tour
Good paint, very little corrosion, new tires, everything else looks like it was fitted by the shop that sold it new. Paid $100 in the Boston exurbs.
Just twist it harder....
Just twist it harder....
Last edited by jpc2001; 08-01-20 at 11:07 AM.
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08-01-20, 11:25 AM
#2
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Nice one. And in these times!!!
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I don't do: disks, tubeless, e-shifting, or bead head nymphs.
I don't do: disks, tubeless, e-shifting, or bead head nymphs.
08-01-20, 11:46 AM
#3
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Not sure what year this is. It weighs 25.5 lbs. The front hub has an "85" stamped on it. I'm surprised to see a Chicago head badge if it's that new? Didn't the Chicago factory close in '83 or so? There's no "Schwinn Approved" language on this bike.
The good news is, neither seat post nor stem is stuck so it should be an easier project than last year's Miyata 310 with its stuck stem. I love the Miyata and ride it daily but it has no room for fenders. At the rear brake bridge, clearance is like 4mm with 32-630 tires. Even if converted to 700C for a whopping 4mm additional clearance, I doubt the Miyata would support fenders. Maybe with 650-something wheels, if that doesn't change the steering geometry too much...
This SLT has more clearance. With 28-630 tires mounted it has at least 9mm clearance at both brakes, and far more at the chainstay bridge. So it'd be 13mm with new 700C wheels and 28-622 tires. Is that enough?
The good news is, neither seat post nor stem is stuck so it should be an easier project than last year's Miyata 310 with its stuck stem. I love the Miyata and ride it daily but it has no room for fenders. At the rear brake bridge, clearance is like 4mm with 32-630 tires. Even if converted to 700C for a whopping 4mm additional clearance, I doubt the Miyata would support fenders. Maybe with 650-something wheels, if that doesn't change the steering geometry too much...
This SLT has more clearance. With 28-630 tires mounted it has at least 9mm clearance at both brakes, and far more at the chainstay bridge. So it'd be 13mm with new 700C wheels and 28-622 tires. Is that enough?
08-01-20, 12:14 PM
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Chicago head badge does not necessarily indicate it was built there. There is, however, a 4-digit number stamped on the headbadge. Last digit is the year, and first three are the julian (ordinal) day within the year. From the lettering and components, it looks like an '85. Only anomalous thing is the cheap-ish turkey brake levers; original spec was drilled levers with hoods. That might well have been a change done at the shop for the original purchaser.
And +1 above, sweet deal, no "C19 tax".
And +1 above, sweet deal, no "C19 tax".
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08-01-20, 12:48 PM
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Nice, awesome score and without the bike boom tax. 
I have seen seat clusters like this on a few different cycles now. Is there any known disadvantage to this minimal design? Joining so little of the seat stay cap to the lug scares me!
I have seen seat clusters like this on a few different cycles now. Is there any known disadvantage to this minimal design? Joining so little of the seat stay cap to the lug scares me!
08-01-20, 12:52 PM
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Looks like my 84 LeTour which was made in Mississippi. It had the white/yellow lettering on silver but SunTour ARX derailleurs.
It did mot have "safety" levers; it was the cheapest Schwinn without them.
Sold it when I bought my 91 Trek 1400 thinking 3 bikes was WAY too many. (don't ask)
Sorry I sold it.
It did mot have "safety" levers; it was the cheapest Schwinn without them.
Sold it when I bought my 91 Trek 1400 thinking 3 bikes was WAY too many. (don't ask)
Sorry I sold it.
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Last new bike 1991
Last new bike 1991
Last edited by dmark; 08-01-20 at 12:59 PM.
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08-01-20, 02:14 PM
#7
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Overall, a very nice machine. If it fits this will give you plenty of fast, comfortable commuting miles.
Schwinn!
Schwinn!
06-19-23, 08:19 AM
#8
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Three years later: this has been my primary daily for commuting year round. It now has 700C wheels, suicide lever delete, a decent WTB seat, SKS full fenders, a rear rack, Tektro dual-pivot calipers, "half" toe clips, Gatorskins, and a 7-speed cassette.
Yesterday I rode a century on it.
Yesterday I rode a century on it.
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06-19-23, 09:21 AM
#10
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"You may not like it, but this is what peak performance looks like."
It's not much to look at, but here ya go.
Somehow bikes look 10x dirtier in photos.
Somehow bikes look 10x dirtier in photos.
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06-19-23, 11:27 AM
#12
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Is that an air horn?
06-19-23, 11:34 AM
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06-19-23, 12:25 PM
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Aw, man, I miss the turkey levers. 
Seriously, what's the point of removing them, unless you're mounting a bag up front that they're getting in the way of? I know it's a fairly common excision to make, but personally I like having more braking options, not fewer.
Seriously, what's the point of removing them, unless you're mounting a bag up front that they're getting in the way of? I know it's a fairly common excision to make, but personally I like having more braking options, not fewer.
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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 ●
Last edited by Lascauxcaveman; 06-19-23 at 02:50 PM.
