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| 1981 Schwinn Super Le Tour Restoration After Restoration |
This week I also started work on the restoration of this 1981 Schwinn Super Le Tour in mean looking red and black. Everyone knows what I think of Le Tours, they are fantastic and very underrated bicycles. The Super Le Tour is even nicer. The Super Le Tour is lighter with alloy wheels and rims. I don't believe this Super Le Tour has its original rims, however it current wheels are even nicer! The Super Le Tour has a chrome fork crown compared to a chrome fork crown cap on the regular Le Tour. The Super Le Tour also has an upgrade in brake levers and brake calipers, however on the brake calipers I kind of like the center pull brakes over the side pull brakes on the Super Le Tour. The Super Le Tour also has an upgraded drive train.
This Super Le Tour is fantastic in the black and red paint scheme. It doesn't get better then black with polished chrome and alloy! The Super Le Tour has a cheap 1980's drive side crank replacement and the original non-drive side Super Maxey crank arm. The replacement crank will be replaced with a very nice crank but that is not a Super Maxey. One of the brake levers is broken off so the brake levers will be replaced with some super nice Shimano 600 levers, very cool to go with the Super Le Tour.
One thing that is ... well we will say is interesting is on the non-drive side of the frame someone a long time ago covered up the Schwinn decal with reflective letters that say Schwanz..... Those will be removed and I am hoping I can do it with out damaging the original decal underneath.
Along with the replacement crank and brake elvers the Super Le Tour will receive a total restoration along with new cables and cable housings, new bottom bracket and headset bearings, new handlebar tape, new tires and tubes and a new saddle.
I can't wait to see the Super Le Tour finished and on the road. It has been a while since I have restored a Super Le Tour and can't wait to see the results!
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| 1981 Schwinn Super Le Tour Restoration - Bicycle Before |
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| 1981 Schwinn Super Le Tour Restoration - Bicycle Before Handlebars |
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| 1981 Schwinn Super Le Tour Restoration - Bicycle Before Handlebars |
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| 1981 Schwinn Super Le Tour Restoration - Bicycle Before Broken Brake Lever |
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| 1981 Schwinn Super Le Tour Restoration - Bicycle Before Stem |
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| 1981 Schwinn Super Le Tour Restoration - Bicycle Before Head Tube |
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| 1981 Schwinn Super Le Tour Restoration - Bicycle Before Head Badge |
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| 1981 Schwinn Super Le Tour Restoration - Bicycle Before Front Brake Caliper |
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| 1981 Schwinn Super Le Tour Restoration - Bicycle Before Front Wheel Hub |
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| 1981 Schwinn Super Le Tour Restoration - Bicycle Before Front Wheel Rim |
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| 1981 Schwinn Super Le Tour Restoration - Bicycle Before Stem |
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| 1981 Schwinn Super Le Tour Restoration - Bicycle Before Head Tube |
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| 1981 Schwinn Super Le Tour Restoration - Bicycle Before Front Wheel Hub |
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| 1981 Schwinn Super Le Tour Restoration - Bicycle Before Top Tube |
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| 1981 Schwinn Super Le Tour Restoration - Bicycle Before Shift Levers |
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| 1981 Schwinn Super Le Tour Restoration - Bicycle Before Down Tube |
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| 1981 Schwinn Super Le Tour Restoration - Bicycle Before Saddle |
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| 1981 Schwinn Super Le Tour Restoration - Bicycle Before Chicago Decal |
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| 1981 Schwinn Super Le Tour Restoration - Bicycle Before Bottom Bracket |
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| 1981 Schwinn Super Le Tour Restoration - Bicycle Before Cheap 1980's Replacement Crank |
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| 1981 Schwinn Super Le Tour Restoration - Bicycle Before Front Derailleur |
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| 1981 Schwinn Super Le Tour Restoration - Bicycle Before Front Derailleur |
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| 1981 Schwinn Super Le Tour Restoration - Bicycle Before Seat Lug |
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| 1981 Schwinn Super Le Tour Restoration - Bicycle Before Rear Brake Caliper |
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| 1981 Schwinn Super Le Tour Restoration - Bicycle Before Rear Derailleur |
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| 1981 Schwinn Super Le Tour Restoration - Bicycle Before Rear Wheel Hub |
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| 1981 Schwinn Super Le Tour Restoration - Bicycle Before Rear Wheel Rim |
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| 1981 Schwinn Super Le Tour Restoration - Bicycle Before Strange Schwanz Decal |
I stripped the Super Le Tour down and found the frame to be very dirty, crusty and dull but hardly a chips or scratch. Some of the decals are in fantastic condition and some of the decals are very rough. The red Schwinn Decals never held up. Overall I think there is one pristine frame in there that I can't wait to see polished out!! I love this stuff!! I am already saying I love this stuff and the frame has not even been cleaned yet.....It is one nice frame under the crust!!!!
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| 1981 Schwinn Super Le Tour Restoration - Frame Before |
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| 1981 Schwinn Super Le Tour Restoration - Frame Before Head Tube |
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| 1981 Schwinn Super Le Tour Restoration - Frame Before Head Tube |
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| 1981 Schwinn Super Le Tour Restoration - Frame Before Head Tube |
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| 1981 Schwinn Super Le Tour Restoration - Frame Before Head Tube Lug |
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| 1981 Schwinn Super Le Tour Restoration - Frame Before Down Tube |
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| 1981 Schwinn Super Le Tour Restoration - Frame Before Top Tube |
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| 1981 Schwinn Super Le Tour Restoration - Frame Before Down Tube - Decal is in fantastic condition!! |
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| 1981 Schwinn Super Le Tour Restoration - Frame Before Seat Lug |
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| 1981 Schwinn Super Le Tour Restoration - Frame Before Chicago Decal - Fantastic condition!! |
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| 1981 Schwinn Super Le Tour Restoration - Frame Before Seat Tube Decal - Typical Red Schwinn Decal |
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| 1981 Schwinn Super Le Tour Restoration - Frame Before Seat Tube Decal |
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| 1981 Schwinn Super Le Tour Restoration - Frame Before Bottom Bracket |
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| 1981 Schwinn Super Le Tour Restoration - Frame Before Bottom Bracket |
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| 1981 Schwinn Super Le Tour Restoration - Frame Before Bottom Bracket |
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| 1981 Schwinn Super Le Tour Restoration - Frame Before Seat Lug |
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| 1981 Schwinn Super Le Tour Restoration - Frame Before Chain Stays |
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| 1981 Schwinn Super Le Tour Restoration - Frame Before Chain Stays |
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| 1981 Schwinn Super Le Tour Restoration - Frame Before Drop Outs |
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| 1981 Schwinn Super Le Tour Restoration - Frame Before Strange Schwanz Decal |
Check back for more soon!
The frame polished amazingly, just amazing! The Schwanz decal even removed and the original decal underneath was in good condition. (I am mad because I forgot to take a photo of the decal removed.) The frame polished just beautiful! The black paint has a very deep shine. The paint chips are not to bad at all and the decals are amazing! The top tube Super Le Tour decals did not survive along with the seat tube bands, but they where very bad. I am extremely stoked about how the frame polished!
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| 1981 Schwinn Super Le Tour Restoration - Frame Polished |
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| 1981 Schwinn Super Le Tour Restoration - Frame Polished Head Tube |
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| 1981 Schwinn Super Le Tour Restoration - Frame Polished Head Tube |
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| 1981 Schwinn Super Le Tour Restoration - Frame Polished Head Tube |
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| 1981 Schwinn Super Le Tour Restoration - Frame Polished Top Tube |
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| 1981 Schwinn Super Le Tour Restoration - Frame Polished Sown Tube Decal - Amazing! |
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| 1981 Schwinn Super Le Tour Restoration - Frame Polished Seat Lug |
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| 1981 Schwinn Super Le Tour Restoration - Frame Polished Seat Tube |
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| 1981 Schwinn Super Le Tour Restoration - Frame Polished Bottom Bracket |
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| 1981 Schwinn Super Le Tour Restoration - Frame Polished Bottom Bracket |
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| 1981 Schwinn Super Le Tour Restoration - Frame Polished Bottom Bracket |
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| 1981 Schwinn Super Le Tour Restoration - Frame Polished Seat Lug |
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| 1981 Schwinn Super Le Tour Restoration - Frame Polished Seat Stays |
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| 1981 Schwinn Super Le Tour Restoration - Frame Polished Chain Stays |
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| 1981 Schwinn Super Le Tour Restoration - Frame Polished Drop Outs |
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| 1981 Schwinn Super Le Tour Restoration - Frame Polished Fork |
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| 1981 Schwinn Super Le Tour Restoration - Frame Polished Fork Crown |
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| 1981 Schwinn Super Le Tour Restoration - Frame Polished Fork Crown |
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| 1981 Schwinn Super Le Tour Restoration - Frame Polished Fork Blade |
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| 1981 Schwinn Super Le Tour Restoration - Frame Polished Fork Chrome |
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| 1981 Schwinn Super Le Tour Restoration - Headset & Bottom Bracket Before |
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| 1981 Schwinn Super Le Tour Restoration - Bad Headset Bearings |
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| 1981 Schwinn Super Le Tour Restoration Bearings Packed |
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| 1981 Schwinn Super Le Tour Restoration Headset Complete |
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| 1981 Schwinn Super Le Tour Restoration Headset Complete |
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| 1981 Schwinn Super Le Tour Restoration Headset Complete |
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| 1981 Schwinn Super Le Tour Restoration Bottom Bracket Complete |
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| 1981 Schwinn Super Le Tour Restoration Bottom Bracket Complete |
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| 1981 Schwinn Super Le Tour Restoration Headset & Bottom Bracket Complete |
One of the front brake levers was broken off. I replaced the brake levers with very nice Shimano 600 levers. I think the Shomao 600's go very well on the Super Le Tour but then what do Shimano 600's not go well on?
The handlebars and stem cleaned very nice and after working through the polishing wheels they look fantastic! It is so hard to beat polished chrome and alloy and polished black paint!
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| 1981 Schwinn Super Le Tour Restoration Handlebars Before |
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| 1981 Schwinn Super Le Tour Restoration Stem & Handlebars Before |
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| 1981 Schwinn Super Le Tour Restoration Handlebars Before |
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| 1981 Schwinn Super Le Tour Restoration Stem Before |
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| 1981 Schwinn Super Le Tour Restoration Stem Exploded |
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| 1981 Schwinn Super Le Tour Restoration Stem Exploded |
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| 1981 Schwinn Super Le Tour Restoration Broken & Replacement Levers |
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| 1981 Schwinn Super Le Tour Restoration Replacement Shimano 600 Brake Levers |
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| 1981 Schwinn Super Le Tour Restoration Stem & Handlebars Polished |
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| 1981 Schwinn Super Le Tour Restoration Handlebars Polished |
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| 1981 Schwinn Super Le Tour Restoration Stem Polished |
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| 1981 Schwinn Super Le Tour Restoration Stem Complete |
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| 1981 Schwinn Super Le Tour Restoration Stem & Handlebars - Installed |
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| 1981 Schwinn Super Le Tour Restoration Stem & Handlebars Installed |
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| 1981 Schwinn Super Le Tour Restoration Stem Installed |
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| 1981 Schwinn Super Le Tour Restoration Stem & Handlebars Installed |
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| 1981 Schwinn Super Le Tour Restoration Brake Levers Polished |
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| 1981 Schwinn Super Le Tour Restoration Brake Levers Installed |
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| 1981 Schwinn Super Le Tour Restoration Brake Levers Installed |
Next was the seat post. The seat post polished very nice. The seat post shim was rusty like all of them. After cleaning and polishing the shim looks fine. Overall I like the seat post installed.
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| 1981 Schwinn Super Le Tour Restoration Seat Post Before |
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| 1981 Schwinn Super Le Tour Restoration Seat Post Shim Before |
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| 1981 Schwinn Super Le Tour Restoration Seat Post Exploded |
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| 1981 Schwinn Super Le Tour Restoration Seat Post Polished |
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| 1981 Schwinn Super Le Tour Restoration Seat Post Installed |
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| 1981 Schwinn Super Le Tour Restoration Seat Post Installed |
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| 1981 Schwinn Super Le Tour Restoration Brake Calipers Before |
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| 1981 Schwinn Super Le Tour Restoration Brake Calipers Exploded |
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| 1981 Schwinn Super Le Tour Restoration Brake Calipers Polished |
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| 1981 Schwinn Super Le Tour Restoration Brake Calipers Complete |
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| 1981 Schwinn Super Le Tour Restoration Front Brake Caliper Installed |
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| 1981 Schwinn Super Le Tour Restoration Rear Brake Caliper Installed |
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| 1981 Schwinn Super Le Tour Restoration Old Replacement Crank |
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| 1981 Schwinn Super Le Tour Restoration New Replacement Crank |
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| 1981 Schwinn Super Le Tour Restoration Crank Exploded |
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| 1981 Schwinn Super Le Tour Restoration Crank Polished |
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| 1981 Schwinn Super Le Tour Restoration Crank Complete |
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| 1981 Schwinn Super Le Tour Restoration Crank Installed |
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| 1981 Schwinn Super Le Tour Restoration Crank Installed |
The shift levers are nice levers. They look good and are pretty much bullet proof. I cleaned all the pieces, worked through the polishing wheels and lubricated all the pivot points. The shift levers look great installed!
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| 1981 Schwinn Super Le Tour Restoration Shift Levers Before |
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| 1981 Schwinn Super Le Tour Restoration Shift Levers Before |
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| 1981 Schwinn Super Le Tour Restoration Shift Levers Exploded |
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| 1981 Schwinn Super Le Tour Restoration Shift Levers Polished |
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| 1981 Schwinn Super Le Tour Restoration Shift Levers Complete |
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| 1981 Schwinn Super Le Tour Restoration Shift Levers Complete |
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| 1981 Schwinn Super Le Tour Restoration Shift Levers Installed |
The derailleurs are very nice derailleurs, they restore beautifully, have a lot of alloy and function very nice. They are also pretty much bullet proof in function too. I broke down the derailleurs and cleaned all the pieces. I worked through a few aggressive polishing wheels and then the fine wheels and the derailleurs turned out beautiful. The Super Le Tour is really coming together!
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| 1981 Schwinn Super Le Tour Restoration Derailleurs Before |
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| 1981 Schwinn Super Le Tour Restoration Front Derailleur Exploded |
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| 1981 Schwinn Super Le Tour Restoration Front Derailleur Polished |
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| 1981 Schwinn Super Le Tour Restoration Front Derailleur Complete |
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| 1981 Schwinn Super Le Tour Restoration Front Derailleur Installed |
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| 1981 Schwinn Super Le Tour Restoration Rear Derailleur Before |
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| 1981 Schwinn Super Le Tour Restoration Rear Derailleur Before |
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| 1981 Schwinn Super Le Tour Restoration Rear Derailleur Before |
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| 1981 Schwinn Super Le Tour Restoration Rear Derailleur Exploded |
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| 1981 Schwinn Super Le Tour Restoration Rear Derailleur Polished |
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| 1981 Schwinn Super Le Tour Restoration Rear Derailleur Complete |
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| 1981 Schwinn Super Le Tour Restoration Rear Derailleur Installed |
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| 1981 Schwinn Super Le Tour Restoration Derailleurs Complete |
The wheels perplex me. The rims are in incredible condition, almost perfect but the wheel hubs are rough. I broke down the hubs, cleaned out the old grease and grim and polished out the hubs. The hubs polished very nice. With the bearings packed in new grease the hubs spin perfect. With just a little cleaning and polishing the wheel rims are perfect. New tires and tubes and the wheels are ready to roll!
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| 1981 Schwinn Super Le Tour Restoration Front Wheel Before |
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| 1981 Schwinn Super Le Tour Restoration Front Wheel Hub Before |
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| 1981 Schwinn Super Le Tour Restoration Front Wheel Rim Before |
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| 1981 Schwinn Super Le Tour Restoration Front Wheel Hub Old Grease |
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| 1981 Schwinn Super Le Tour Restoration Front Wheel Hub Polished |
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| 1981 Schwinn Super Le Tour Restoration Front Wheel Rim Polished |
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| 1981 Schwinn Super Le Tour Restoration Axle Pieces Ready |
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| 1981 Schwinn Super Le Tour Restoration New Tires |
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| 1981 Schwinn Super Le Tour Restoration Front Wheel Hub Complete |
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| 1981 Schwinn Super Le Tour Restoration Rear Wheel Before |
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| 1981 Schwinn Super Le Tour Restoration Rear Wheel Hub Before |
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| 1981 Schwinn Super Le Tour Restoration Rear Wheel Rim Before |
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| 1981 Schwinn Super Le Tour Restoration Rear Wheel Hub Before |
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| 1981 Schwinn Super Le Tour Restoration Rear Wheel Hub Old Grease |
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| 1981 Schwinn Super Le Tour Restoration Rear Wheel Hub Polished |
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| 1981 Schwinn Super Le Tour Restoration Rear Wheel Bearings Packed |
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| 1981 Schwinn Super Le Tour Restoration Rear Wheel Complete |
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| 1981 Schwinn Super Le Tour Restoration Wheels Complete |
The Super Le Tour needed a new chain. I love seeing an perfectly clean chain and freewheel!
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| 1981 Schwinn Super Le Tour Restoration New Chain |
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| 1981 Schwinn Super Le Tour Restoration New Chain Installed |
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| 1981 Schwinn Super Le Tour Restoration Chain Installed |
On to the last steps in the Super Le Tour restoration. Th only choice for cable housing color is the original red. Black, chrome and a little red, the perfect color combo!
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| 1981 Schwinn Super Le Tour Restoration New Cables & Housings |
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| 1981 Schwinn Super Le Tour Restoration Brakes Wired |
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| 1981 Schwinn Super Le Tour Restoration Rear Brake Wired |
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| 1981 Schwinn Super Le Tour Restoration Derailleur Wired |
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| 1981 Schwinn Super Le Tour Restoration Bike Wired |
New black handlebar tape and a saddle. Black handlebar tape I think is the only way to go for the Super Le Tour.
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| 1981 Schwinn Super Le Tour Restoration New Saddle & Handlebar Tape |
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| 1981 Schwinn Super Le Tour Restoration Saddle Installed |
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| 1981 Schwinn Super Le Tour Restoration Handlebar Tape Complete |
The pedals where way to rough. I did what i could, they spin great. The owner will probably replace them.
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| 1981 Schwinn Super Le Tour Restoration Pedals Before |
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| 1981 Schwinn Super Le Tour Restoration Pedals After |
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| 1981 Schwinn Super Le Tour Restoration Bicycle Complete |
I didn't think the Super Le Tour felt like it was tuned well on the stand. I got it out on the road for some road tuning. It surprised the heck out of me and was perfect on the road! It really is a great riding bike! Somewhat more nimble then the regular Le Tour. The shifting is spot on and feels very tight. I really like riding this bike! If it was only about 4-5 cm larger!
I think the looks are the best! Black, chrome and red are my favorite combination! The black paint has a very deep liquid shine! The chrome looks fantastic all around and the alloy is like a mirror. I really love this stuff and love this bike!
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| 1981 Schwinn Super Le Tour Restoration - Bicycle Complete |
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| 1981 Schwinn Super Le Tour Restoration - Bicycle Complete |
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| 1981 Schwinn Super Le Tour Restoration - Bicycle Complete |
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| 1981 Schwinn Super Le Tour Restoration - Bicycle Complete Handlebars |
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| 1981 Schwinn Super Le Tour Restoration - Bicycle Complete Stem |
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| 1981 Schwinn Super Le Tour Restoration - Bicycle Complete Head Tube |
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| 1981 Schwinn Super Le Tour Restoration - Bicycle Complete Front Brake Lever |
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| 1981 Schwinn Super Le Tour Restoration - Bicycle Complete Front Wheel Hub |
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| 1981 Schwinn Super Le Tour Restoration - Bicycle Complete Front Wheel Rim |
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| 1981 Schwinn Super Le Tour Restoration - Bicycle Complete Handlebars |
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| 1981 Schwinn Super Le Tour Restoration - Bicycle Complete Stem |
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| 1981 Schwinn Super Le Tour Restoration - Bicycle Complete Head Tube |
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| 1981 Schwinn Super Le Tour Restoration - Bicycle Complete Front Wheel Hub |
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| 1981 Schwinn Super Le Tour Restoration - Bicycle Complete Shift Levers |
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| 1981 Schwinn Super Le Tour Restoration - Bicycle Complete Perfect Schwinn Decal! |
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| 1981 Schwinn Super Le Tour Restoration - Bicycle Complete Saddle |
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| 1981 Schwinn Super Le Tour Restoration - Bicycle Complete Chicago Decal |
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| 1981 Schwinn Super Le Tour Restoration - Bicycle Complete Drive Train |
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| 1981 Schwinn Super Le Tour Restoration - Bicycle Complete Crank |
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| 1981 Schwinn Super Le Tour Restoration - Bicycle Complete Front Derailleur |
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| 1981 Schwinn Super Le Tour Restoration - Bicycle Complete Rear Derailleur |
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| 1981 Schwinn Super Le Tour Restoration - Bicycle Complete Rear Brake |
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| 1981 Schwinn Super Le Tour Restoration - Bicycle Complete Rear Wheel Hub |
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| 1981 Schwinn Super Le Tour Restoration - Bicycle Complete Rear Wheel Rim |
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| 1981 Schwinn Super Le Tour Restoration - Bicycle Complete |
John Z.
Awesome bike. I'm currently doing the same one.Mine was rough but all original when it was rescued. I'll send you a before and after when its finished.
ReplyDeleteLove this bike and what you did...Hopefully im picking up one tomorrow.
ReplyDeleteHave a friend restoring one. Can you tell me a place to get the decal?
ReplyDelete