1960-to 1996 Schwinn 10 to 15 speed lightweight bikes.

[John Gialanella]

Thank you for that information. I was wondering why it never sold. What is strange is that the 1976-78 Superiors were quality bikes. Plus the blue color is very nice. But I guess you have to have good knowledgeable salespeople.
John.

 

[Schwinn Sales West]

The collecting of prewar ballooners isn't generational or most of us would be 100 years old. Like others said there are Schwinn specific lightweight forums to discuss these.

Shawn, Not to argue, but maybe debate the Generational Point. I really respect your views and product knowledge.

I have no documentation to back up my points except 76 years of experience. In the car hobby it appears to me that the popularity of collectable cars/trucks/motorcycles follows the age of the participants. It seems like the most desirable model is the one that was just out of your reach when you were growing up, maybe starting your family, buying your first house, etc. For me it was 1957 Fords, so I now have a 1957 Ford Ranch Wagon. My wife wanted an "Early Bronco" to satisfy her burning desire, so we built a stock original 1970 Bronco with "three on the tree".

But my 56 year old son, has no excitement for any of my early Schwinn Balloon Bikes. He grew up during the beginning of BMX era and his burning desire is Early BMX bikes. He's not into just BMX imported bikes, they have to be original early USA built BMX bikes.

If my observations are correct, the resale value of those mint condition Schwinn Cycleplanes will be at "rock bottom" in another 50 years after we are all gone.

For consideration, John

 

[Schwinn Sales West]

Thank you for that information. I was wondering why it never sold. What is strange is that the 1976-78 Superiors were quality bikes. Plus the blue color is very nice. But I guess you have to have good knowledgeable salespeople.
John.

I fully agree with you. But just across the aisle we sold Peugeot PX-10's, Gitane's, Motobecane's, Mondia's, Alegro's at less money, less weight, and higher spec equipment. I love Schwinn's lightweights, but it was a hard sell, if fully compared.

John

 

[Freqman1]

Shawn, Not to argue, but maybe debate the Generational Point. I really respect your views and product knowledge.

I have no documentation to back up my points except 76 years of experience. In the car hobby it appears to me that the popularity of collectable cars/trucks/motorcycles follows the age of the participants. It seems like the most desirable model is the one that was just out of your reach when you were growing up, maybe starting your family, buying your first house, etc. For me it was 1957 Fords, so I now have a 1957 Ford Ranch Wagon. My wife wanted an "Early Bronco" to satisfy her burning desire, so we built a stock original 1970 Bronco with "three on the tree".

But my 56 year old son, has no excitement for any of my early Schwinn Balloon Bikes. He grew up during the beginning of BMX era and his burning desire is Early BMX bikes. He's not into just BMX imported bikes, they have to be original early USA built BMX bikes.

If my observations are correct, the resale value of those mint condition Schwinn Cycleplanes will be at "rock bottom" in another 50 years after we are all gone.

For consideration, John

John,
I think you prove my point though. There are a lot of us that collect prewar bikes and I wasn't born until 1962 and I know guys a lot younger than me that concentrate on these bikes as well. Heck look at the ordinary/safety/TOC collectors. Using that logic an Ordinary should be a couple hundred bucks and Aerocycles shouldn't be collectible either! I would argue that any of the more desirable stuff, and usually that means full deluxe bikes, will always maintain value if not appreciate. Using your car analogy I haven't seen the price of Dusenbergs depreciating rapidly and how many of us are old enough to have bought one new? Common stuff will always be common. There will be price swings--we see this when "investors" get into any hobby but that runs its course and things 'correct' themselves. As you mention when a certain generation comes of age certain things will get hot such as the BMX bikes--Stingrays are killing it now too. I am a collector of a lot of things and follow market trends. In any of these markets I see the 'good' stuff holding its value over time. Good discussion, Shawn

 

[Goldenrod1]

Le Tours were Schwinn Panasonics. I feel that they are under-rated but imported because they are fast and bulletproof, for 80s technology. The goal is to save bikes for posterity? Prices don't matter after you are dead. There are more bikes to save than collectors who want them?

 

[Schwinn Sales West]

John,
I think you prove my point though. There are a lot of us that collect prewar bikes and I wasn't born until 1962 and I know guys a lot younger than me that concentrate on these bikes as well. Heck look at the ordinary/safety/TOC collectors. Using that logic an Ordinary should be a couple hundred bucks and Aerocycles shouldn't be collectible either! I would argue that any of the more desirable stuff, and usually that means full deluxe bikes, will always maintain value if not appreciate. Using your car analogy I haven't seen the price of Dusenbergs depreciating rapidly and how many of us are old enough to have bought one new? Common stuff will always be common. There will be price swings--we see this when "investors" get into any hobby but that runs its course and things 'correct' themselves. As you mention when a certain generation comes of age certain things will get hot such as the BMX bikes--Stingrays are killing it now too. I am a collector of a lot of things and follow market trends. In any of these markets I see the 'good' stuff holding its value over time. Good discussion, Shawn

All good points. When I started watching the January Barrett Jackson Auction the big brass headlight cars like Duesenberg's and Cadillac's were the million-dollar sellers. Now it's the Muscle Cars with limited production big engines that are the million-dollar cars. I guess what I'm not sure of "is this a market change" or maybe Barrett Jackson made "a change in which market they wanted to draw" by only accepting certain cars? One of my other hobbies is Vintage Camper Trailers from the 1940's and 50's. I restore Spartan aircraft trailers. I see new players coming into this market that were "too young" to be around when they were new. Which confirms your belief.

Thanks for the response,
John

 

[Eric Amlie]

I fully agree with you. But just across the aisle we sold Peugeot PX-10's, Gitane's, Motobecane's, Mondia's, Alegro's at less money, less weight, and higher spec equipment. I love Schwinn's lightweights, but it was a hard sell, if fully compared.

John

Circa 1972-73 several of my friends bought the Gitane Tour de France model.
They were the "affordable" Reynolds 531 framed bike at that time.
It was a real eye opener for me comparing my '65 Varsity to those bikes.

 

[DrRumack80]

All good points. When I started watching the January Barrett Jackson Auction the big brass headlight cars like Duesenberg's and Cadillac's were the million-dollar sellers. Now it's the Muscle Cars with limited production big engines that are the million-dollar cars. I guess what I'm not sure of "is this a market change" or maybe Barrett Jackson made "a change in which market they wanted to draw" by only accepting certain cars? One of my other hobbies is Vintage Camper Trailers from the 1940's and 50's. I restore Spartan aircraft trailers. I see new players coming into this market that were "too young" to be around when they were new. Which confirms your belief.

Thanks for the response,
John

@Schwinn Sales West @Freqman1

I agree with both of you. Considering how well TOC and prewar bikes are holding their values, I believe they will continue to appreciate as the years march on. I was born in the mid 70's and got into collecting in the mid 90's with a 1960 Mark IV Jag that I found at my church's flea market. From there, I became interested in older bikes, moving into post war ballooners, then prewar and later TOC bikes. The prewar bikes were already old when my parents were growing up in the late 40's / 50's, but yet I find them to be desirable collectibles.

My collection now centers on early (pre '84) mountain bikes, which were new when I was growing up. Nostalgia for the 80's certainly drove my interest in these bikes, but the two hand-built Tom Ritchey bikes in my collection are works of art IMHO.

 

[Real1]

Le Tours were Schwinn Panasonics. I feel that they are under-rated but imported because they are fast and bulletproof, for 80s technology. The goal is to save bikes for posterity? Prices don't matter after you are dead. There are more bikes to save than collectors who want them?

I wish there was a separate thread just for the LeTours. I did a lot of research on them yrs ago. The original frames were Japan/Panasonic. After a yr or so(can't pinpoint it), they shifted frame manufacturing to Taiwan. Then Schwinn USA took a swipe at it, but back to Taiwan eventually.

What's always been unclear to me is the exact frame difference between the LeTour and the Super LeTour. Once you put alloy rims on the LeTour, you've shaved off a bunch of weight. I have the first yr '74 LeTour. I've posted pics of it before-red. I've thought of getting a Super for the weight difference, but the Panasonic frames are thought by many to be the best.

I did fit it with alloy rims and I ride it all the time. I have a 1980 Raleigh Competition GS that is bone stock, but not restored. I'm hoping it will blow the red off the LeTour, but I've kinda grown fond of the LeTour.

Having your frame built abroad was an easy/quick/cheap way for Schwinn to get into 'lightweight' 10/12spds when they got crazy popular for adults. They gave the illusion that the LeTour 'could' be a French-influenced bike....but in reality an Asian frame with Shimano running gear.

The LeTour bikes were kinda like an onion; the more you peeled back, the less there was. But then again, I can't stay off of mine. Must be something right going on.........

Kevin

 

[Real1]

@Schwinn Sales West @Freqman1

I agree with both of you. Considering how well TOC and prewar bikes are holding their values, I believe they will continue to appreciate as the years march on. I was born in the mid 70's and got into collecting in the mid 90's with a 1960 Mark IV Jag that I found at my church's flea market. From there, I became interested in older bikes, moving into post war ballooners, then prewar and later TOC bikes. The prewar bikes were already old when my parents were growing up in the late 40's / 50's, but yet I find them to be desirable collectibles.

My collection now centers on early (pre '84) mountain bikes, which were new when I was growing up. Nostalgia for the 80's certainly drove my interest in these bikes, but the two hand-built Tom Ritchey bikes in my collection are works of art IMHO.

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View attachment 1914873

I have a mountain bike from the early 90's....Yokota. On another forum, the actual guy who made and sold these appeared with some info. The 80's though, was the real start for MTB mania. The components on the Yokota are top-tier stuff....not the best Shimano had at the time, but close. I still ride it a lot. Tried to go inside one of those thumb shifters and broke something. Took forever to find a used one and it came from Romania!

Here is the guy posting responsible for the Yokota MTB;
"Hi, my name is John Harrington and I was the founder of Yokota Cycles USA in 1988. Back in those days, Mountain Bikes were the hot item but what’s a bike company without road bikes? The Legend was one of the top end models. There was one more expensive model called the Discovery, but it was more specifically a Tri Model with a curved top tube and upswept handlebars. So the Legend was really the top of the line road bike. The frame design came from my background as a Category One Road and Track racer as well as being a Custom Frame builder. I used the same frame geometry that I used when making Road Racing Models for Athletes. So I know the bike handles well. It’s very stable going straight but very quick in the turns. The first year that Yokota Bicycles hit the market was 1989. As I mentioned above, the market was really centered on Mountain Bikes so 1989 was the only year Yokota sold road bikes, so your Legend is pretty rare. I guess these days, it would be considered a Retro Bike. I left Yokota in 1993 and went to work for Easton Sports to create a Bicycle Division manufacturing Bicycle Components from Aluminum and Carbon Fiber. Yokota had a distributor on the East Coast (Owned by Reid Rowland’s) named Stricky Wholesale and he marketed a line of components called Dirt Research. Strictly Wholesale took over the distribution of Yokota Bicycles in 1993. Unfortunately I'm not sure the Bicycles survived past 1994 with Strickly Wholesale. I am very happy to see these models still exist and are being used. Please enjoy the ride and thanks for sharing the pictures!"

Kevin