Go Back  Bike Forums > Bike Forums > Classic & Vintage
Reload this Page >

Difference between Schwinn Voyageur and Fuji S-12S ride quality/efficiency

Notices
Classic & Vintage This forum is to discuss the many aspects of classic and vintage bicycles, including musclebikes, lightweights, middleweights, hi-wheelers, bone-shakers, safety bikes and much more.

Difference between Schwinn Voyageur and Fuji S-12S ride quality/efficiency

Old 11-28-14, 01:56 PM
  #1  
Little Darwin
The Improbable Bulk
Thread Starter
 
Little Darwin's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jul 2005
Location: Wilkes-Barre, PA
Posts: 8,401

Bikes: Many

Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 5 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 7 Times in 7 Posts
Difference between Schwinn Voyageur and Fuji S-12S ride quality/efficiency

I will finally bite the bullet next year, and start riding my late 80's Schwinn Voyageur (with modern components) on the gravel and crushed stone rail trails I usually ride, since I think my gut will no longer be an issue. This will be a treat, since the bike has about 10 miles on it since I bought it 5 or 6 years ago, and it is still in very nice shape... I hope for a little efficiency gain from the hybrids I have been riding.

I also have a Fuji S-12S that I have never ridden since I bought it at a garage sale. Since it has been decades since I have ridden a classic sports/tourer, I am curious about whether I would feel a difference between the two bikes, assuming similar wheels (sturdy 36 spoke wheels) and tires (Panaracer Pasela TGs).

I am especially thinking about gaining some efficiency when I am on paved roads, such as a metric century, charity ride, etc.

Would a casual cyclist even feel the difference between two vintage framed bikes if one was a touring frame and the other was a sports/touring frame?

I have put a Technomic stem on my Voyageur, but may stay with the stock on the S-12S for a more aero position.

This info will help me to pick my winter project.

On a somewhat related issue. Is there a noticeable difference in ride/feel between the Pasela TG and non-TG tires?
__________________
Slow Ride Cyclists of NEPA

People do not seem to realize that their opinion of the world is also a confession of character.
- Ralph Waldo Emerson
Little Darwin is offline  
Old 11-28-14, 04:15 PM
  #2  
oddjob2
Still learning
 
oddjob2's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2012
Location: North of Canada, Adirondacks
Posts: 11,620

Bikes: Still a garage full

Mentioned: 92 Post(s)
Tagged: 2 Thread(s)
Quoted: 847 Post(s)
Liked 66 Times in 44 Posts
I've flipped a few S-12S and just started riding a 1980 Voyageuer. It could be the tires, Paselas, but the Voyageur seems like a plusher ride than the Fuji IMHO. The Fuji never excited me as particularly quick or comfortable, even though I believe they were the same size frame.



oddjob2 is offline  
Old 11-28-14, 04:32 PM
  #3  
79pmooney
Senior Member
 
79pmooney's Avatar
 
Join Date: Oct 2014
Location: Portland, OR
Posts: 12,790

Bikes: (2) ti TiCycles, 2007 w/ triple and 2011 fixed, 1979 Peter Mooney, ~1983 Trek 420 now fixed and ~1973 Raleigh Carlton Competition gravel grinder

Mentioned: 125 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 4731 Post(s)
Liked 3,832 Times in 2,492 Posts
The two big differences - the Voyareur has butted tubing, the Fuji does not. (I could be wrong about the S12-S. The earlier S10-S certainly did not have nice tubing. Strong; the frames went decades but never with a nice ride.) Also, the geometries are probably significantly different. I would ride both with that in mind. Better fit makes for a better bike and better ride. Better tubing is nice but better ride upstages nice. (My opinion - fit rules!)

Ben
79pmooney is offline  
Old 11-28-14, 06:13 PM
  #4  
AZORCH
Senior Member
 
AZORCH's Avatar
 
Join Date: Aug 2010
Location: Liberty, Missouri
Posts: 3,132

Bikes: 1966 Paramount | 1971 Raleigh International | ca. 1970 Bernard Carre | 1989 Waterford Paramount | 2012 Boulder Brevet | 2019 Specialized Diverge

Mentioned: 23 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 129 Post(s)
Liked 76 Times in 40 Posts
I always felt like my Voyageur had a "dead" ride quality. I traded it for a a Shogun 2000 that worked much better for me; to be fair, I think the Voyageur rode better for the BF member it wound up with than me. As always, YMMV.
AZORCH is offline  
Old 11-28-14, 09:26 PM
  #5  
you
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Feb 2005
Location: San Francsico, CA
Posts: 324

Bikes: Schwinn Voyageur '89

Mentioned: 2 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 10 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts
I'll echo the 'fit is king' sentiment. That said, I've never riden a S-12-S but did ride a Fuji Sports 10 around for a while (lower end sport geo bike). It worked fine but if I remember correctly came with pretty junky parts, and while fun to ride (what bike isn't?) it was pretty unremarkable. I've found that I prefer my 1989 Voyageur to that Fuji and the other bikes in my stable (Centurion Ironman, B-Stone MB2) for everyday riding and longer all-day rides. It's stable without feeling unresponsive and is fun on fire roads too. I've swapped out the stock wheels for 700c wheels running a generator front hub and run 38c Continental Touring Plus tires. I upgraded the stock brakes to older Deore Cantis, which also was good. It may not be too different from the hybrids you've been riding, though.
you is offline  
Related Topics
Thread
Thread Starter
Forum
Replies
Last Post
NerdyMomB
Hybrid Bicycles
8
08-06-13 01:15 PM
RenoRattler
Classic & Vintage
2
07-22-12 07:03 AM
Axiom
Road Cycling
3
06-27-11 07:16 AM
lord_athlon
Classic & Vintage
17
02-20-11 06:42 PM

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off


Thread Tools
Search this Thread

Contact Us - Archive - Advertising - Cookie Policy - Privacy Statement - Terms of Service -

Copyright © 2024 MH Sub I, LLC dba Internet Brands. All rights reserved. Use of this site indicates your consent to the Terms of Use.