schwinnman67

Just picked up a Schwinn World Traveler frame, fork and handlebars at a small bike shop yesterday.
I think it's a 73, but since it's a Japanese import Schwinn, the SN doesn't fit the typical Schwinn info.

I have the following questions about this

1. What year is it? The SN is 2L05833
2. What wheels and hubs would be on it?
3. What derailleurs?
4. What freewheel?
and
5. What seat?

Can anyone shed light on this?

wrk101

World Traveler was an imported entry level bike. I believe it was made by Panasonic. Serial number would be theirs. As far as rebuilding it to original spec, best to find a donor bike, piece meal will be expensive. I saw a complete one two days ago I could have bought it for $50.

I've owned many Panasonic built Schwinns, all of them have had Panasonic serial numbers on them. "2L" = December 1972, which would fit with a 1973 model.

I have a lot of respect for Panasonic bikes, entry level or not, they made good ones!

Myself, if I was building one up from the frame, I would use the opportunity to upgrade. It came with five speed wheels with steel rims for example. I would put alloy ones on instead.

Metacortex

As long as it is a "World" Traveler (and not just Traveler), that would make it either a '72 or '73 model. In that case I believe the "2Lxxxxx" serial no. dates the frame to December '72 (unlike Schwinn, Panasonic used "I") so I suppose you could call this a '72 or '73. The model year is less clear on these as compared to domestic Schwinns as the World Traveler was actually announced in Oct. '71 with the first models being available in Jan. '72. It was produced throughout the '72 and '73 model years with no changes I am aware of (other than Opaque Green being replaced by Opaque Blue sometime during '72) and it never appeared in any Schwinn catalogs I am aware of. The World Voyageur was introduced about 5 or 6 months after the World Traveler.

The hubs would be Schwinn Approved Japan large flange and I believe the rims would be Araya chrome steel. I believe the same wheels would be used on the LeTour in '74.

The rear derailleur would be a Schwinn Approved GT-100 and the front would be a Schwinn Approved GT-150, both made by Shimano. The GT-150 would be the version with a 1-1/8" clamp, and that version appeared only on the World Traveler.

The freewheel would be a 14-28T Schwinn Approved Model J (Japan, made by Shimano) with nylon seals and a top protector (outer chain guide).

I believe the saddle was a Taihei with vinyl over a padded nylon base and chrome rails. It was similar to the Taihei saddle used on the Ladies' Super Sport, World Traveler and Varsity except without the chrome springs on the undercarriage.

Here is a picture of an essentially unridden original: IMAG0413.jpg Photo by coyoc16 | Photobucket

Here's a '72 with some good pics: Mike G?s 1972 Schwinn World Traveler | Old Ten Speed Gallery

schwinnman67

Thanks Metacortex and wrk101!

That sucks about the front derailleur, I have a few from 72-3 Varsities I parted out.
My thoughts are to try and put it back together as cheap as possible. I have a large collection of Varsity parts an a set of wheels from a Continental. I'm thinking about using those wheels, a GT100 that I have from a Collegiate, a set of Weinmann Q/R brake levers (to work with the q/r Continental wheels) and a early 70's Varsity saddle I have. I know I have a couple freewheels laying around as well as a set of side pulls.

Yes Metacortex, it is Opaque Blue and I also picked up a matching World Voyageur a few months ago...

Gene721

Hi.I have 2 W.T., yellow SN F323607 and blue SN E325896 all original in excellent condition, original equipment: speedometer, rack, reflectors... Differ only rudders, yellow with German, blue with Japanes. Detailed photos of all items will be.I cant believe SN 2L05833 ??? Sorry...

schwinnman67

Gene,
I went and looked again and the SN on the left dropout is 2L05833....

Gene721

I'm not sure that you have bought the frame from WT.Also Varsity and WT identical parts have almost no,same spoke protectors and brake levers only!

schwinnman67

It's still original paint with the World headbadge....

Gene721

Yes it is all original.Dont Know only about handlebar tipe,must be like Varsiti (black).But rudder is original made in Japan.

schwinnman67

Right now it has foam grips on it.... I will be using Black tape. The Varsities from 64-80's used color matching tape..

Gene721

Gene721

I have Varsity 1980 and 1972- brakes,pedals,crank,chainring are the same as in WТ,but from 1980 Varsity not the same.

sykerocker 

Crank is a Varsity/Continental/Super Sport. Bars would have been the same, and I seem to remember getting some in the shop with the Schwinn "S" branded stem on them. Unless you're determined to be REALLY anal in building the bike back to original (Metacortex's parts rundown is excellent), building it up with Continental/Super Sport parts other than the derailleurs (I wouldn't wish Schwinn Approved Huret Allvits on anyone) would be a really proper build.

schwinnman67

The original crank would have been a Japanese made version of the Varstity/Continental crank...

The plan with this bike so far...

I'm using a set of 70 dated wheels from a Continental that I picked up a couple years ago for $10
The crank, sprocket, brakes and freewheel are from some Varsities I've parted out over the years.
The rear derailleur is from a 71 Collegiate I parted (GT100-Shimano built) and I got a Shimano Thunderbird front
derailleur from Ebay.

The handle bars came with the frame, so I'm good there. I'll be using a set of q/r Weinmann levers since the wheels are also q/r.

The only new parts will be
tires, tubes, chain, bar tape and seat (I bought 10 Lycra Schwinn seats a few years ago).


I'll post pics when it's finished. I would post my bikes in my profile, but I have 100 in my basement...

The list includes

Varsities 63x2,65x2 and a 66
Sierra 63
Super Sports 64,66x2,69,70,71x3 and 72x3
Superior 76
Manta Rays 71x2 and 72x2
Continentals 61,62,64,70,75,79 and 80

and a whole lot more..

schwinnman67

New question....

What are the correct shifters? The ones on it are Shimano and feel like ratchet shifters (1 direction only).

Metacortex

According to the parts catalog the WT came with a stem mounted Shimano "Super Shifter" and looking at the parts breakdown it does appear to have a ratcheting function. From the description and the pic you posted yours appear to be original however they seem to be missing the rubber lever caps.

DanBF

This is an old thread but I thought I'd reply. I have a Green World Traveler (72 or 73) that I purchased new. My shifters never had the rubber caps but were all aluminum.