Here are some tips for dating a Schwinn Le Tour visually.
Fork
If the fork has a chrome tip the bike is 1982 or older.
If the fork is painted with no chrome, it is 1983 or newer.
Brake Levers
If the brake levers have a safety lever the bike is 1983 or older Le Tour. I don’t believe the Super Le Tour ever came with safety levers on the brakes.
If the brakes are combined with the shifters (STI) the bike is 2007 or newer.
Shifters
If the bike has stem mounted shift levers it is 1983 or older.
Down tube shifters – 1984 or newer Le Tour or Super Le Tour of any year.
If the bike has STI shifters (brakes and shifters combined on the bars), then it is a 2007-2011 model.
Speeds
10 speed – 1982 or older Le Tour, 1976-1978 Super Le Tour
12 speed – 1983-1989 Le Tour, 1979-1985 Super Le Tour
14 speed – 1995-1999 Le Tour
20+ speeds – 2007-2011
Stem
Standard quill stem was used from 1974 to 1999.
2007 and newer have a threadless stem.
Rims
1974-1988 bikes have 27” rims and tires.
1989 and newer models have 700c rims and tires.
Derailleurs
Le Tour branded – 1974-1978
Shimano 400 – 1979-1980
Shimano 600 – 1976-1978 Super Le Tour
Shimano Altus LT – 1979-1982 Super Le Tour
Shimano Altus ST – 1981-1983 Le Tour
Suntour ARX – 1984-1985 Le Tour
Huret Rival – 1986 Le Tour
Shimano L523 – 1987 Le Tour
Suntour Accushift – 1988.
Suntour Blaze – 1989
Color
Yellow – 1974-1976 Le Tour
Green – 1982 Super Le Tour
Frame
Lugged Steel – 1974-1989
Butted Chromoly – 1995-1999
Aluminum – 2007-2011
Reynolds 520 – 2010-2011
Carbon – 2010-2011
Decals
All the bikes came with decals stating the model. If still visible these are the date ranges:
Le Tour on down tube – 1974-1976.
Le Tour on top tube – 1977-2011
Le Tour II – 1977
Le Tour III -1978
Le Tour IV – 1979
Super Le Tour – 1976-1985
Super Le Tour 12.2 -1977-1978
Super Le Tour II – 1979
Le Tour Luxe – 1983-1985
Le Tour Tourist – 1981-1982
Le Tour GS – 2007-2009
Le Tour GSX – 2007-2009
Le Tour Classic – 2010-2011
Le Tour Sport – 2010-2011
Le Tour Super – 2010-2011
Le Tour Elite – 2010-2011
Le Tour Legacy – 2010-2011
Checking the serial number will often be the only way to know the exact year, but the above info should get you in the ballpark. I’ll add more tips soon.
Note: above is true for stock bikes. Your bike may have been modified from stock, so be sure to look at all the tips.
Check out the complete Le Tour guide for images and more info about all the years.
I have a Schwinn, not sure of the year. It has metric tires when I went to order a new inner tube.
Interesting. Do you know the model?
Do I need to work out before I head off on a long ride. So that I get my muscles used to pedaling.
Take shorter rides and get used to your bike.
Got ya 🙂 thanks