My 1981 Voyageur 11.8 Build
04-13-14, 10:23 AM
#1
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My 1981 Voyageur 11.8 Build
Hey gang,
Making some progress on my Voyageur build to share.
Bought it cheap in bad shape.
It has a ding in the top tube so ordered a leather top tube protector to cover it up:
New wheels and tires. VO Belleville bars and inverse brake levers. Cut ~1.5 inches off the Belleville bars. Today's progress:
Waiting on cranks and BB coming this week. Hope to have it all put together in 2 weeks or so. Will update this thread.
Making some progress on my Voyageur build to share.
Bought it cheap in bad shape.
It has a ding in the top tube so ordered a leather top tube protector to cover it up:
New wheels and tires. VO Belleville bars and inverse brake levers. Cut ~1.5 inches off the Belleville bars. Today's progress:
Waiting on cranks and BB coming this week. Hope to have it all put together in 2 weeks or so. Will update this thread.
04-14-14, 01:44 AM
#2
Grumpy Old Bugga
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Glad you told us it was in poor condition when you got her 
You've certainly tarted her up nicely, well done. Marvelous what a bit if effort can achieve.
Why the reversed brake lever? They always look as though the leverage would be all wrong. Mind you, I've never used one but ...
Not sure about just covering up the ding either. How bad it is? Just me worrying, it might be fine.
Keep us posted. Some growl about build threads but I like them.
You've certainly tarted her up nicely, well done. Marvelous what a bit if effort can achieve.
Why the reversed brake lever? They always look as though the leverage would be all wrong. Mind you, I've never used one but ...
Not sure about just covering up the ding either. How bad it is? Just me worrying, it might be fine.
Keep us posted. Some growl about build threads but I like them.
04-14-14, 05:56 AM
#3
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Thread Starter
The ding is very noticeable on the chrome finish, and not something I could live with staring at all the time.
Also, regarding the inverse levers, I thought they would keep the handlebars looking clean, but not so sure anymore. We'll see once the bars get taped. I might go another direction.
04-19-14, 12:14 AM
#4
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Thread Starter
Re:
She's rolling! Feeling pretty good about this build thus far. Should have gotten the 103mm instead of the 107mm bottom bracket for a better chain line, but that can be changed. Decided against the inverse levers and need to install the Paul E Lever. Front brake. Bars need tape. Otherwise ready to go.
Last edited by oouellette; 04-19-14 at 12:17 AM.
04-19-14, 12:27 PM
#6
Your cog is slipping.
Looks great but there is no possible way that saddle angle/position is the least bit comfortable. Ever.
04-19-14, 12:56 PM
#7
Clark W. Griswold
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Agreed with the Scrod! I am in major love with those bars for some reason.
04-19-14, 03:26 PM
#8
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Shot from today's ride.
04-19-14, 10:30 PM
#9
Grumpy Old Bugga
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That thing looks like a ferret - maybe that's what you should call her
Tinker with that saddle position. It looks pretty shiny so it's probably slippery. If so, you'll need to tilt the nose up a little to stop you sliding forward. The nose can be lowered as the saddle wears in. How quickly it wears in depends on all sorts of things - just riding it is the ONLY thing you should do after it's had it's first few coats of proofide. Whatever you do, don't get sucked in by the idiots who insist you have to soften the saddle, that just ruins it. You should be able to set it up so it's comfortable now (remember the nose up advice) and as you ride it more, it'll just get better.
Tinker with that saddle position. It looks pretty shiny so it's probably slippery. If so, you'll need to tilt the nose up a little to stop you sliding forward. The nose can be lowered as the saddle wears in. How quickly it wears in depends on all sorts of things - just riding it is the ONLY thing you should do after it's had it's first few coats of proofide. Whatever you do, don't get sucked in by the idiots who insist you have to soften the saddle, that just ruins it. You should be able to set it up so it's comfortable now (remember the nose up advice) and as you ride it more, it'll just get better.
04-20-14, 08:52 PM
#10
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i think that would look awesome with the brooks grips and for aesthetic purposes id go back to the b17. But love the bike, very clean!
04-25-14, 01:27 PM
#11
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Some finishing touches coming this week, stay tuned. For now, a shot from my ride today
05-03-14, 01:56 PM
#12
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Still waiting on those honey toestraps :/
05-05-14, 01:57 AM
#15
Senior Member
get out of single speed fixed gear.
He didn't hack up the bike and just because it doesn't have track ends doesn't mean it's not serving the same purpose as a geared bike setup as a single speed.
So tired of that garbage.
The bike looks good man, bet it rides sweet.
Last edited by GENESTARWIND; 05-05-14 at 02:00 AM.
05-05-14, 05:34 AM
#16
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05-05-14, 09:21 AM
#17
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Does "bad shape" mean it needed cleaning?
Anyways the C&V guys are dorks - if they'd pass on a bike because of a dent it just shows they don't know anywhere near as much as they think they do. My LBS' seatstay rig would make them piss themselves.
Anyways the C&V guys are dorks - if they'd pass on a bike because of a dent it just shows they don't know anywhere near as much as they think they do. My LBS' seatstay rig would make them piss themselves.
Last edited by Cute Boy Horse; 05-05-14 at 09:32 AM.
05-05-14, 09:39 AM
#18
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Bad shape = (to me anyway) surface oxidation, crumbling tires, tape, and hoods, gouged seat post, two different wheels, rusty componentry, few clear coat chips, rough bottom bracket and headset, and ding in the tube.
Not all problems are fixable.
Not all problems are fixable.
05-05-14, 09:43 AM
#19
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Clean. Beautiful The bars and saddle make it look like something from an 1890s catalog. Thanks for sharing this, keep going, and well done. DB
05-06-14, 11:36 AM
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Yeah that just means that it needs cleaning. Nasty looking tyres and tape doesn't matter one jot - it's like scrapping a car because the ashtray is full.
05-06-14, 11:57 AM
#23
Calamari Marionette Ph.D
