Classic & Vintage - Can you help me ID this Schwinn?

I posted this within another post, so I thought I would let it be on its own, see what happens:

It's a large frame; it has a registration sticker- 'Minnesota 1982-1984', so it's at least that old. The serial number is D024682. Shimano Altus rear derailleur. The badge on the front says Japan - Schwinn Approved, which I understand means it wasn't made in Chicago (obviously) but licensed somehow by Schwinn. I can't use the Schwinn serial number lists I've found through Sheldon as they only speak to Chicago Schwinns.

Can anyone tell me the story of this bike? What model? Do you have any good or bad experiences with this bike? It rides well, if a little creaky. The first thing I'll do is rebuild the wheels, or buy new ones- these are kind of pitted by rust, and the cones may be damaged. Any help would be appreciated!

Wait for Scooper.

Looks to be a 1980 World Sport to me. Hard to be certain can't see what typ of components are on it from the pics.

Wait for Scooper.
Yep. Scooper's the man on old Schwinns-

Looks to be a 1980 World Sport to me. Hard to be certain can't see what typ of components are on it from the pics.
There's a good chance you're right.

I'm pretty sure it's a 1980, and based on my '79 catalog (and assuming the '79 and '80 model lines were similar) I believe the only "Schwinn Approved" models that year were the Traveler III and the World Sport, and both had 18 gauge carbon steel brazed lugged frames. The derailleurs on the Traveler III were Shimano 400, while the derailleurs on the World Sport were Maeda Suntour.

What makes me think it might be a Traveler III instead of a World Sport is the Shimano derailleur. One other distinction was that the fork ends on the Traveler III were chromed, and the World Sport fork ends were painted. I can't tell from the photo whether the fork ends are chromed or painted.

I'm attaching the first two pages of Schwinn Information Bulletin 23 (from 1981) on identifying Schwinn bicycles. On the lower third of the second page is the information you need to decode serial numbers for the Japanese bikes. The "D" indicates the frame was made in April, and the next digit, "0", indicates 1980.

oh man, you're the best, Scooter!

I have another bike, a Cannondale R500, which I want to save for the weekends and sometimes after work. But I want to condition this bike to serve as my commuter. I figure I'll start with the basic stuff, like cleaning everything well; then I'll think about rebuilding my wheels and my bottom bracket, as someone else suggested for the creaking sound I hear when I push it...more like have a shop do it- I don't have the tools.

Do these bikes have a good reputation?

Thanks!

Do these bikes have a good reputation?
You betcha! IMHO, well worth the trouble to fix 'em up and get many more years of pleasure from them.

HI everyone, in case you're still curious, here's some more info (and pics); there are two stickers on the bottom of the seat tube. One says Schwinn XTra Lite Bicycles and the other says Double Butted Chromoly Top & Bottom Tubes, and then a number, 4130. helpful?