Metacortex

That number indicates the bike was built on Dec. 21st 1985 as an '86 model.

ItsTimeToBike

I had a hunch you'd decipher that for me
now on to the clean-up...

mnmkpedals 

We have brothers (or sisters?) reunited…. Straight from Craigslist, here is my recent 1986 Voyageur purchase. Identical to yours with the same 3555 date stamp on the head badge!

This bike is a testament to the fact that you don't have to be a craigslist hawk to get a lucky deal even in a hot market (metro Seattle). I've been looking for this size tourer for my wife (to go with my 85 Raleigh Alyeska) and after being beaten to the punch on a Specialized Sequioa a week or so back, I saw this one pop on 5 days ago at $125. After no response to my call and text, I figured I was beaten out once again. Then last night it appeared again, marked down to $100. I likely would have paid around that just for the 36-40 spoked wheel set on it. So this time, after my third text, the owner wrote back and I went for it this morning.

He clearly had it set up for a commuter (it does have bottle racks, I just removed them to start cleaning) and for now I think I'll actually leave it that way for my wife's commute. Aside from the racks, this is how she sits farm-fresh, and I can't wait to get down to cleaning and serving it with some upgrades (saddle, tires, etc….) I took it around town earlier and I loved it immediately. I'm happy to join the Voyageur club.

ps-- sorry for the less than ideal pics-- doing this on the fly.

The Golden Boy 

Congratulations!

We should start a "Schwinn Voyageur" club here!

noglider 

This is the club.

The Golden Boy 

The VBulletin forum software allows for groups:

https://www.bikeforums.net/groups/

noglider 

Oh right. I don't use that feature. Is it well used?

The Golden Boy 

I don't know- there's a few groups that have many members- but I don't know how it would go.

I get very enthusiastic and very detail oriented about my bikes and bikes I'm interested in. While the C&V forum maintains a good "community;" the people here "know" each other, there is a sense of camraderie here, but I think a great majority like their old bikes, and like discussing their old bikes, but aren't particularly interested in the model year changes from the 1985 Voyageur SP and Voyageur bikes to the 1986 Voyageur. I think a group like that would allow for someone (like me) to really dork out about the minor stuff that comprises bikes we love.

Before I got my Trek 720, in the back of my mind- I imagined all 720 owners knew each other, met at a secret clubhouse, had secret handshakes to identify themselves and the second they mounted their Trek 720s, the clouds would part and the weather would become instantly sunny and 70 degrees.

I think a group for specialty niche bikes would serve as that secret clubhouse.

GhoulweTim

Here's a couple more; my around town grocery-getter, and my full-on pimp mobile ...

ItsTimeToBike

[QUOTE=mnmkpedals;17082638]

We have brothers (or sisters?) reunited…. Straight from Craigslist, here is my recent 1986 Voyageur purchase. Identical to yours with the same 3555 date stamp on the head badge!

Congrats on that Voyageur purchase! i had some time to clean up the brother but it may be its 30th birthday before I get him on an overnighter - which is why I bought it. The frame is in amazing shape but was VERY dirty so am detailing it currently and awaiting some parts. Am not sure what type of mudguards I'll go with - I like the alloy hammered style but the Planet Longboards in beige may match well. The sticker says it was from an Alaskan retailer where I believe the original owner was stationed while in the service. Your's had a conversion I see and appears to be well suited for pleasure cruising and commuting. If mine had that done I'd go with bar end tour shifters and drop bar but being that its got nice downtube shifters I'll be keeping them. My brake levers have the suicide style as well, and I'm considering removing them for a cleaner look.
...Ride hard!

OrangeOkie

Here is my 1980 11.8 fully upgraded with NOS Suntour Superbe Pro + other top shelf bits.

Gear41

Picked up this 1989 Schwinn Voyageur a couple of weeks ago. Here's a picture after my way-to-short commute to work. I have since installed a Brooks B17, and will soon be adding fenders and Surly rear and front racks to get it in touring mode.

The Golden Boy 

As much as I love my Voyageur SP in blue- GREEN is totally the Voyageur standout color.

Of course, I'm always a sucker for chrome as well....

Beautiful bike Gear41!

The Golden Boy 

Sweet Voyageur Collection!

What bags are on the World Voyageur?

GhoulweTim

Carsick Designs, locally made in Sacramento … really liking them.

Gear41

Thanks Golden Boy! The color has really been growing on me these past few weeks. I am a big fan of the forest green paint job, but I am liking this lighter shade just as much. (After searching for a decent touring bike for the past couple of years I am just happy to finally have something).

The blue Voyageur SP's a great looking bike as well.

willinorton44

Greetings to all,
I just joined and looking forward to all it has to offer.
Being a Schwinn bike rider from my childhood days, I had Varsity, Deluxe Varsity, & Le Tour bikes. I had always wanted a Voyageur 11.8 but never was able to afford one, and then I got my license and that was that for many years. Now in my golden years, I figure it was finally time to fulfill that dream, and after many month of search ebay, I finally found the one I wanted. Then it hung in the garage for the next six years. Finally sent it to my LBS and had all the work needed to get it up and road worthy. So looking forward to get out there and feeling the dream bike under me. What I bought was built in 1981, March 8 I believe from the date code (0671), if I am wrong, please let me know. From the serial number, I believe it is a Osaka-built Panasonic (Serial # 4E08827), again if I am incorrect, please let me know. Any information that anyone can given me on how to built a detailed spec sheet on my bike, please, I welcome any assistance.

Thanks,

Willi

badger_biker 

It is in a state of rehab right now but here are a couple crude pictures (thumbnails) of the triplet to your two with the same 3555 date stamp. It must have been a busy day at the factory on 12/21/1985! Mine is also built up with 1986 components and decals.

I have to ask you mnmkpedals and ItsTimeToBike do either of yours have any nicks up the seat stays or on the fork that expose chrome? Mine does and it also has Shimano FE-SP-22 dropouts which makes me think it may be an SP frame which has those dropouts instead of Tange specified for the standard 1985 and 1986 Voyageurs. What type of dropouts do yours have?

You can't see much of the green 1986 but here it is along with a couple pics of my 1987 as it sits today (thumbnails) and a two from a tour a couple years ago. I thought you may want to see what the tan Longboards look like on a Voyageur. It handles a load like a dream.

The Golden Boy 

Hi Willi!

Here's a link to the 1981 Voyageur catalog page:

1981 Schwinn Catalog

According to that the specs are:

Specs
Tubing: 4130 chrome-moly with double butted top and down tubes.
Frame Chainstay length: 16 3/18"
Head and seat mast angles: 73 degrees
Fork rake: 2"
Wheelbase: 40"
Bottom bracket drop: 2 3/8".
Rims: Araya alloy box (27" x 1 1/3")
Hubs: Shimaano low flange with quick release, free hub rear.
Spokes: .080 straight gauge.
Tires: Schwinn 300 gram Super record.
Front derailleur: Shimano Altus LT.
Rear derailleur: Shimano Altus LT.
Shift levers: Shimano Altus LT.
Chain: Gold Shimano Uniglide.
Crank set: Sugino Super Maxy, 170 mm arms, 40-52 chainwheels.
Freewheel: Shimano freehub (13-28) six speed.
Pedals: KKT Alloy quill with toe clips and straps.
Seat post: SR P3 (26.8 mm) with micro-adjust.
Saddle: Ariake Jaguar.
Handlebars: SR alloy.
Stem: SR alloy.
Brakes: Dia COmpe 500G.
Weight: 26 lbs.
Accessories: none.





Post some pix of your dream bike!

willinorton44

Wow! Thanks for all the information, the Shimano Gear system says 600 on it, the front sprockets have Takagi XT, and the cranks say Tourney XT, are these standard or have they be added? Not the best picture, but I will add more in the future.

willinorton44

Oh yeah, it is a fifteen speed not a 12.

mnmkpedals 

Sorry I missed this. Very cool, yes, these must have come down the line together. It would be interesting to compare serial numbers to see what that might indicate?

As for the chrome-- yes, Mine too. And ditto the shimano dropouts too. There is a big chip of paint off the fork that shows chrome on the crown on mine, and clear chrome heading up the seat stay. Not sure how high that part goes.

Anything besides the dropouts make you think they'd be SP frames?

Here's a couple pics. Still dirty bike. Haven't had time to get to it properly.

The Golden Boy 

Hi Willi,

Looks like an 83. The Takagi stuff would have been stock (and I think the Takagi Tourney XT stuff is great), but I think the 600 stuff is "upgraded" from the original Deore.

https://schwinncruisers.com/catalogs/1983.html#voyageur

The original Deore stuff was cool, the 600 stuff is cool.

All around it's a really great bike. I hope your out enjoying it!

badger_biker 

Thanks for the reply and pics - definitely a match to the one I have - nice bike. My S/N is 6B21274 and from a previous post ItsTimeToBike's is 6B21351. What is yours?

There isn't anything other than the dropouts that have me thinking SP. I would be very curious to find someone with a 1986 from late in the model year to see if theirs differs from ours. My 1987 has some definite changes including a more blunt seat stay end at the seat tube, S/N on the BB instead of head tube lug, drilled through fork rack mounts, and of course no chrome. The 1986 Passage resembles my 1987 in all those aspects with the excpetion of the fork mounts which the Passage lacks altogether.

I'm just thinking since the SP would no longer be offered in 1986 and our bikes were built at the tail end of 1985 that perhaps Schwinn was using up any SP frames for at least the first run of 1986 Voyageurs??

mnmkpedals 

Just like life, I think I'm the youngest child: mine is 6B21408.