lord_athlon

I dont have one, but its become my new goal. Until then, show me yours, tell me how they ride, what you think of them etc. Im a bigger guy, and im phasing out my race oriented C&V to move on to comfier bikes with tire and fender clearance. Thank you guys =)

ColonelJLloyd 

The Voyageur name was used on many different models. Are you looking for one specifically?

lord_athlon

World Voyageur, Voyageur II, Voyageur 11.8, Voyager Touring.

Me, the one I really want is a World Voyageur, or a chrome Voyageur II. I just love that era of Japanese Schwinn's.

ColonelJLloyd 

As you know, the World Voyageur was Schwinn's first Japanese built bike. Available for only one model year, it was a well built, 4130 frame with nice, upper mid-level components. I've never put a lot of miles on mine. It's not a light bike and I have other bikes that are better suited for most of my riding. This one I ride on short joy rides and use to haul a kid trailer. I have since replaced the wheels with 700c VO Raid rims, Sapim Race spokes, VO Grand Cru hubs and 32mm Paselas.


The only 25" World Voyageur known to exist. by ColonelJLloyd, on Flickr

lord_athlon

She is a beauty. I love the orange. I have an 85 Super Le Tour, and I find it to be pleasant. There is something about the voyageurs that does it for me. The chrome lugs and dropouts are something that I have always found appealing. At some point in my life, I became a big fan of Schwinn's. Not sure when it happened, but this is what I've set my sights on.

ColonelJLloyd 

Here's my '81 Voyageur 11.8. The frame/fork/headset/stem adapter are for sale.


Untitled by ColonelJLloyd, on Flickr

pastorbobnlnh 

'75 Voyageur II. ftwelder gifted me with this frameset. It has been in the possession of a church member receiving electrical work on the generator lighting system (in the black box on the front rack), so I've never ridden it. He's been very slow. Maybe next year.

wrk101

I have two 1973 World Voyageurs in the stack right now, a yellow 21 inch and an orange 23 inch. The 21 is too small for me, I might have to keep the 23 inch as part of my Schwinn"asonic" collection.

lord_athlon

23" is the one im looking for. I think you'd like it once its all cleaned up.

I'd make a 21" happen though

rhenning

These are 3 of the Voyagers I own. The yellow and orange are 1973 Worlds and the red is a Voyager 11.8. All are 58 CM or 23 inchers..Roger

lost_in_endicot

This is my '84. I've put Velo Orange half clips on it, and I asked my wife to get some retro bottle cages for it for Christmas. I can't wait to ride it to work this spring!

lasauge 

Here's my blue '73 World Voyageur:

redscampi

I thought you'd never ask!

Here's my just acquired 1974 Voyageur II. As you can see I'm having to cut the severely stuck seatpost out. Argghhh! The bike was a craigslist find and sat out in the weather for a while after having been stored well for a long time. I bought it from a gentleman who buys bulk home cleanout lots. I got two more bikes with it as well, all for a very reasonable sum. The shifters are stiff and the rear wheel and derailleur are not original. Other than that it's very nice. The bike appears to be all chrome beneath the paint so I'm torn as to whether I should strip the paint during refurb for an all-chrome look.

noglider 

If anyone can make a Voyageur look gorgeous, it's you, Colonel. Wow.

illwafer, your picture made you laugh. I won't tell Daddy.

Hoss Cartright

Mine's pretty close to NOS. Wrong saddle, missing the toe-clips. Too small for me, hangs on the wall in my man-cave. The odometer says 111 miles.

The Golden Boy 

I had some other pix... I think they kind of disappeared when ImageShack changed.

Anyway- this is my Voyageur- it's an 1986- I got it as a frame/fork+ a few extras.









Schwinn really did a nice job of selecting the components, but it was nice getting the bike in the way I got it so it allows me to pick the components.

Right now, it's built up like this-
3TTT stem and bars
Suntour Superbe slotted brake levers
Mirrycle mirror
DiaCompe 981 cantis
Sachs/Huret ratcheting downtube shifters (from the 620)
Suntour XC Comp front and rear derailleurs
Suntour 14-34 freewheel
Avocet Hubs- Wolber Super Champion rims.
Takagi Tourney XT cranks 48-38-28
Union Beartrap pedals
San Marco Touring Saddle

lord_athlon

That looks like a great bike. I think these are way underrated.

wrk101

This is my 23 inch World Voyageur, in as found condition. I picked it up from a guy that got it at a storage locker auction. Incredible condition for as found and very original. The non-original tires are pretty sucky. Note the original saddle.




Its hard to part with ones like this one.

It makes a good mate to the 1974 Sport Tourer I have (also in as found condition and very original including Brooks saddle, desperately needs gum walls!!! Those black walls look hideous on this bike). The color matched brake lever covers are pretty neat (a Schwinn sold accessory):




Typical not close by finds. One was in Walhalla, SC, the other in Charlotte, NC.

sykerocker 

Now you're bringing back memories. Add black Blumel Popular fenders, swap the wheels out for sewups, Brooks Swallow saddle, Pletscher rack, first generation Cannondale bags (dual panniers and that crazy handbar bag that was suspended from the brake levers) and you're talking the bike I rode all over the Lake Erie area and into Ontario back in the early 70's. I figure I put about 5000 miles on that bike in four years.

And I'm still looking for another opaque blue 23" frame to build it up again.

lord_athlon

Two amazing bicycles. I have a 23" Super Le Tour from 85, and its a great bike, but it doesnt pop the way these do.

wrk101

Outstanding!!!

Steve Whitlatch 

My winter project. My wife`s bike will have Shimano 105 shifters and derailleurs as well as new 700C wheels and tires by spring.

The Golden Boy 

I keep saying I don't have any winter projects- however touching up the paint on this bike is one thing I'd like to do this winter.

I'm not saying this rudely or accusatorily, I'm asking- How would one say these are underrated?

IMO, the Tenax Voyageurs are second to the Voyageur SPs. Nothing wrong with any other Voyageurs- but at the time these bikes came out, the concept of the "touring bike" had really been fully realized- the amount of braze ons is pretty much stunning. The function, gearing, componentry and style of these Voyageurs is the apex peak of touring bikes. While I think the old chrome Voyageurs look the best (because full chrome bikes dominate- it's just "fact"), these mid 80s green ones are the 2nd coolest looking. IMO.

I'd also like to get my filthy paws on a Passage.

lord_athlon

I feel theyre underated because the average bike snob looks at anything that says Schwinn and dismisses it instantly. Vintage guys are a whole different niche.

vonfilm 

Can someone knowledgeable school me on the hierarchy of the different Voyageur models, their tubing and original weights and desireability?