Chrome Schwinn Voyageur 11.8 update
#1
Newbie
Thread Starter
Chrome Schwinn Voyageur 11.8 update
This summer I posted about a 1980 Schwinn Voyageur 11.8 that I had purchased for $75 at a garage sale. I enjoyed it for a few weeks when I discovered a crack in the right seat stay where it meets the seat post. I had a frame builder replace the seat stays and extended them so that there is now more contact with the seat post. Before the repair the chrome was stripped. After the repair the frame was re-chromed. I just got it back form the chrome shop and am going to have the bike rebuilt.
I was going to rebuild it in the original design with down tube shifters, red cable housing and cloth bar tape. But now I am considering switching to bar end shifters. I have a second Schwinn Voyageur that is already equipped with bar end shifters. I ride that second bike almost daily. I am thinking it will be easier to ride with bar end shifters now that I am used to them. I am also thinking of going with Brooks leather-like bar tape to match the seat and to use black cable housing rather than the original red. Any thoughts on the way to go?
Here are some photos of the frame in the repair shop and after re-chroming. And a photo of the bike with red cables. Finally a photo of my second Voyageur.
I was going to rebuild it in the original design with down tube shifters, red cable housing and cloth bar tape. But now I am considering switching to bar end shifters. I have a second Schwinn Voyageur that is already equipped with bar end shifters. I ride that second bike almost daily. I am thinking it will be easier to ride with bar end shifters now that I am used to them. I am also thinking of going with Brooks leather-like bar tape to match the seat and to use black cable housing rather than the original red. Any thoughts on the way to go?
Here are some photos of the frame in the repair shop and after re-chroming. And a photo of the bike with red cables. Finally a photo of my second Voyageur.
Likes For kocour:
#2
Full Member
Wow! That's nice.
I have a paint over chrome frame I've been debating on stripping and polishing.
I think this seals the deal for me
I have a paint over chrome frame I've been debating on stripping and polishing.
I think this seals the deal for me
#3
Not lost wanderer.
Join Date: Jan 2013
Location: Lititz, Pa
Posts: 3,331
Bikes: In USA; 73 Raleigh Super Course dingle speed, 72 Raleigh Gran Sport SS, 72 Geoffry Butler, 81 Centurion Pro-Tour, 74 Gugie Grandier Sportier
Mentioned: 73 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 885 Post(s)
Liked 994 Times
in
524 Posts
Beautiful bike and well done resto. Who did your chrome work?
I have an 83 Centurion Pro Tour that is chrome and stripped of paint, a few rough areas but nice to look at.
I have an 83 Centurion Pro Tour that is chrome and stripped of paint, a few rough areas but nice to look at.
#4
Newbie
Thread Starter
The chrome work was done at "The Chrome Shop" in Rock Island, Illinois. The frame builder who did the repair work uses that shop. My advice would be to ask a classic car repair shop who they recommend for chrome work.
Last edited by kocour; 01-06-20 at 10:25 PM.
Likes For kocour:
#5
Mr. Anachronism
Join Date: Jan 2013
Location: Somewhere west of Tobie's
Posts: 2,087
Bikes: fillet-brazed Chicago Schwinns, and some other stuff
Mentioned: 29 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 526 Post(s)
Liked 256 Times
in
165 Posts
Bravo for having the persistence to bring the Voyageur back from the edge. Most people would have scrapped the frame, and spent that repair money on a Paramount.
__________________
"My only true wisdom is in knowing I have none" -Socrates
"My only true wisdom is in knowing I have none" -Socrates
#6
Sunshine
Join Date: Aug 2014
Location: Des Moines, IA
Posts: 16,614
Bikes: '18 class built steel roadbike, '19 Fairlight Secan, '88 Schwinn Premis , Black Mountain Cycles Monstercross V4, '89 Novara Trionfo
Mentioned: 123 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 10964 Post(s)
Liked 7,490 Times
in
4,189 Posts
Guessing Jeff Bock did the repair? A hunch based on your location and he uses the chrome company you mentioned.
That frame will blind people when its sunny!
That frame will blind people when its sunny!
#7
Senior Member
Join Date: Apr 2017
Location: Los Angeles, CA
Posts: 2,249
Bikes: 1964 Legnano Roma Olympiade, 1973 Raleigh Super Course, 1978 Raleigh Super Course, 1978 Peugeot PR10, 2002 Specialized Allez, 2007 Specialized Roubaix, 2013 Culprit Croz Blade
Mentioned: 68 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 741 Post(s)
Liked 818 Times
in
421 Posts
Great looking bikes! I dont have any chrome bikes to compare, but you can't go wrong with brown Brooks saddle and leather wrap.
This old Raleigh was a rescued frame, cracked seat stay braze, and missing cable guides. Lots of $$$ to restore, but worth it, to me. The rear chrome was salvageable, and I found a NOS chrome fork. How does re-chrome compare $$$ wise to paint or powder coat? I like the brown cable housings with this too.
Another alternative is Brooks honey brown saddle, and matching bar wrap. This is a way cheaper Chinese faux leather, but cushier, and has a better feel, at least to me than the Brooks. Also doesn't show sweat stains, but may not work with your chrome. Not too sure on the gold cable housings, should have gone with brown ?
This old Raleigh was a rescued frame, cracked seat stay braze, and missing cable guides. Lots of $$$ to restore, but worth it, to me. The rear chrome was salvageable, and I found a NOS chrome fork. How does re-chrome compare $$$ wise to paint or powder coat? I like the brown cable housings with this too.
Another alternative is Brooks honey brown saddle, and matching bar wrap. This is a way cheaper Chinese faux leather, but cushier, and has a better feel, at least to me than the Brooks. Also doesn't show sweat stains, but may not work with your chrome. Not too sure on the gold cable housings, should have gone with brown ?
#8
Newbie
Thread Starter
Great looking bikes! I dont have any chrome bikes to compare, but you can't go wrong with brown Brooks saddle and leather wrap.
This old Raleigh was a rescued frame, cracked seat stay braze, and missing cable guides. Lots of $$$ to restore, but worth it, to me. The rear chrome was salvageable, and I found a NOS chrome fork. How does re-chrome compare $$$ wise to paint or powder coat? I like the brown cable housings with this too.
Another alternative is Brooks honey brown saddle, and matching bar wrap. This is a way cheaper Chinese faux leather, but cushier, and has a better feel, at least to me than the Brooks. Also doesn't show sweat stains, but may not work with your chrome. Not too sure on the gold cable housings, should have gone with brown ?
This old Raleigh was a rescued frame, cracked seat stay braze, and missing cable guides. Lots of $$$ to restore, but worth it, to me. The rear chrome was salvageable, and I found a NOS chrome fork. How does re-chrome compare $$$ wise to paint or powder coat? I like the brown cable housings with this too.
Another alternative is Brooks honey brown saddle, and matching bar wrap. This is a way cheaper Chinese faux leather, but cushier, and has a better feel, at least to me than the Brooks. Also doesn't show sweat stains, but may not work with your chrome. Not too sure on the gold cable housings, should have gone with brown ?
#9
Newbie
Thread Starter
#10
Newbie
Thread Starter
#12
Thrifty Bill
Join Date: Jan 2008
Location: Mountains of Western NC
Posts: 23,525
Bikes: 86 Katakura Silk, 87 Prologue X2, 88 Cimarron LE, 1975 Sekai 4000 Professional, 73 Paramount, plus more
Mentioned: 96 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1236 Post(s)
Liked 964 Times
in
628 Posts
What a recovery! Well done!
#13
Senior Member
Join Date: Dec 2005
Posts: 17,158
Mentioned: 481 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 3810 Post(s)
Liked 6,699 Times
in
2,611 Posts
Very shiny!
#15
Newbie
Join Date: Jul 2015
Location: Southern California
Posts: 60
Bikes: 1991 Schwinn 354, 1988 Schwinn Circuit, 1988 Schwinn Premis, 1987 Schwinn Tempo, 1987 Schwinn Super Sport, 1983 Schwinn Super Sport Custom, 1980 Schwinn Voyageur 11.8, 1974 Schwinn Sports Tourer and 2017 Niner RIP RDO
Mentioned: 7 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 28 Post(s)
Liked 38 Times
in
9 Posts
Very nicely done, you can get original frame decals at velocals.com to complete the project. Here is a pic of my 1980 Voyageur 11.8. It a wonderful frame that rides quite nicely.
#16
Newbie
Thread Starter
#17
Mr. Anachronism
Join Date: Jan 2013
Location: Somewhere west of Tobie's
Posts: 2,087
Bikes: fillet-brazed Chicago Schwinns, and some other stuff
Mentioned: 29 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 526 Post(s)
Liked 256 Times
in
165 Posts
Thanks for the clarification. Did you have to chase the BB threads when you got it back?
__________________
"My only true wisdom is in knowing I have none" -Socrates
"My only true wisdom is in knowing I have none" -Socrates
#18
Newbie
Thread Starter
I decided not to put decals back on - I like the clean look without. But I do hope to find a Voyager 11.8 that still has its decals in reasonable condition, or that I can restore to the original design. Since the two Voyageurs that I currently own have already been modified from the original design, I am not being a purist. I like your red model. I have seen a few in black but surprisingly not in red.
#19
Newbie
Thread Starter
#20
Newbie
Thread Starter
#21
Newbie
Thread Starter
Chrome Schwinn Voyageur update
Skunk River Cycles in Ames rebuilt my 1980 Schwinn Voyageur. I chose the shop because Ronn, the store owner, is very knowledgeable about vintage bikes, and they had a good selection of vintage components. They were able to supply a SunTour front derailleur and bar end shifters to match the SunTour rear derailleur that was on the bike when I purchased it. It now shifts very smoothly.
Before the seat rail cracked, the chrome finish was in pretty good shape, but there were two small dents in the top tube. The frame builder was able to smooth those out, but when the bike was re-chromed there were small flaws in those spots (areas about the size of peas where the finish was not as thick as on the rest of the top tube). There were also some small flaws in the finish on the seat tube. I used some reflective tape to create designs to cover those spots. I like the bike better without the tape, but it does add some reflectivity for riding at night - and I can remove them at any time.
Small flaws in chrome finish
Reflective stickers over the flaws
Reflective stickers
Schwinn Voyageur after frame repair
Both of my Voyageurs.
Before the seat rail cracked, the chrome finish was in pretty good shape, but there were two small dents in the top tube. The frame builder was able to smooth those out, but when the bike was re-chromed there were small flaws in those spots (areas about the size of peas where the finish was not as thick as on the rest of the top tube). There were also some small flaws in the finish on the seat tube. I used some reflective tape to create designs to cover those spots. I like the bike better without the tape, but it does add some reflectivity for riding at night - and I can remove them at any time.
Small flaws in chrome finish
Reflective stickers over the flaws
Reflective stickers
Schwinn Voyageur after frame repair
Both of my Voyageurs.
#22
Mr. Anachronism
Join Date: Jan 2013
Location: Somewhere west of Tobie's
Posts: 2,087
Bikes: fillet-brazed Chicago Schwinns, and some other stuff
Mentioned: 29 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 526 Post(s)
Liked 256 Times
in
165 Posts
Gorgeous bike. Nice buildup!
__________________
"My only true wisdom is in knowing I have none" -Socrates
"My only true wisdom is in knowing I have none" -Socrates