Classic & Vintage - '72 Schwinn World Voyageur 650B - Finally!

I finally finished up the '72 Schwinn World Voyageur I've been slowly working on since about December. There was a lot of rust cleanup, much sanding and polishing and a goodly amount of swearing. Everything is hunky-dory now though.

so shuddup and get to the pictures already.

as purchased, looking rough
https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-yJNpztCH6tI/TOcVkFjIgYI/AAAAAAAABpw/_p_Ycb_Jc7M/s512/IMG_2113.JPG

I was determined to keep as much Orange as possible....athough as you can see a lot was lost.
https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-MYyr6VsXVvE/TT76FjmQn7I/AAAAAAAABwQ/zD4eDTJmI7Q/s720/IMG_2214.JPG

in the end its a sexy lookin beast. Just lookit the size of that front hub!
https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-SDpweKI0OHg/Tg93KY86pZI/AAAAAAAACdg/x4h1XJuaSnE/s800/DSC_0411.JPG

Deore SP in lovely condition.
https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-h7EIYNCQ8CU/Tg93Nrif6aI/AAAAAAAACds/9W7vnCk4BUE/s800/DSC_0414.JPG

https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-X7YNzZwsPo4/Tg93R5gbRII/AAAAAAAACeE/LrihGma_19U/s512/DSC_0421.JPG

Sugino Super Mighty with a little drillium
https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-3bb8ya4n884/Tg93P9bwtXI/AAAAAAAACd4/j0Fno_VS1Rw/s512/DSC_0419.JPG

old butchered Wrights
https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-a0b9y93f77M/Tg93OFix_8I/AAAAAAAACdw/8i1dXJ5S5T0/s800/DSC_0415.JPG

Time for a ride :)

https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-NM-mveNg4T8/Tg93LqI7O6I/AAAAAAAACdk/2p2bzOPMZzw/s800/DSC_0412.JPG

here's the full rundown:

Panasonic Made Schwinn frame
Velocity Synergy rims (Offset spoke bed in the rear)
Double Butted Spokes
Rear Shimano FHR-700 hub, Miche 7 speed cassette 16-22
Front Sturmey Archer XL-FD hub
Grand Bois Hetres 42mm x 650B tires
Sugino Super Mighty Crankset 52-42
Wrights Saddle unknown model
Cane Creek SCR-5 Brake levers
Shimano Deore SP derailleurs and shifters.
MKS Track pedals.
Schwinn Approved Stem

Killer!

Ack! That's all I need- more inspiration. Curse you!

Oh, and it's really cool.

That is pretty damn cool.

Very cool! I'll be it rides like a dream.

Neal

Nice! How about a ride report??!!

What kind of clearance do you have with those fatties? How do the roller brakes work? How do they feel with road levers?

just got back from the first ride. Just a quick 10 or so miles.

It certainly does ride like a dream. I think I've gotta put a little more pressure in em than 50psi though. They definitely stretched a bit over the course of the first ride just as Anton had mentioned in an earlier thread. I've got about 3-5mm clearance at the chainstays, which is close but I've cut it closer on other bikes.

The drum brakes take a bit of time to brake in (<--see what I did there? ;) ) so the rear is grabby right now and the front needs to be adjusted tighter.

The gearing is very nice. I really like the 16-22 (7 speed) straight block. Pairing it with the 52-42 Crankset is a bit ambitious for me though so I'm gonna swap it out for a TA Cyclotouriste 48-28 until I can get my hands on a set of triple chainring bolts and a 38T ring and make it a 48-38-28. I still havent ruled out swapping the 22T big cog for a 26 or 28T. There's big hills around here.

The Deore SP drivetrain is a work of engineering perfection. No lie. I freakin love it and its not just new gear lust. The RD has the same capacity as a Cyclone GT but Its smoother operating and has a cool mechanism built into it that eliminates the need to overshift and then trim the derailleur back on shifts. Its a little spring loaded arm that attaches to the derailleur cable. When you shift you shift until the gear changes and just let go of the shifter and you feel it spring back a tiny bit in your hand as it releases a tiny bit of extra slack it took up, thus trimming your shift for you and eliminating the need to overshift and trim it back. I dunno if that just made any sense so I'd just recommend going and getting a Deore SP derailleur and trying it out. Its super cool.

How was it getting those Hetres on the synergies? I practically tore my skin clean off getting those suckers on.

I can't remember how long it took mine to stretch out a bit and settle in, but I'm finding that 50psi for road use is on the high end for me, but I'm only 160lb. I've found the "sweet spot" at about 45 rear, 40 front for road riding. Higher than that, and the ride approaches that of narrower 700C tires (still not bad, just firmer), and lower than that I begin to feel a little drag, and the front end feels heavy. But for gravel and woody tails, I've found 35 rear, 30 front just about perfect. How do you intend to ride this bike, primarily?

actually the tires were quite easy to mount. I was surprised.

I'm not entirely sure what kind of duty this bike is gonna see yet. I'm kind of thinking its gonna be a comfy all-day rider kinda thing. It might displace another bike of similar purpose, or it might end up that I just really like the wheelset and drive train most and move it over to a different frameset. Time shall tell. The main purpose was to experiment with 650B, and to try out a straight block cassette. So far I like both.

I just finished switching the crankset around, gonna go try the 48-28 and see how it is.

Well done Sir!!!
I have seen one other World Sport/650b conversion, it had really long brake arms that just didn't look right...Your bike looks GREAT! (I have a thing for high-flange/big hubs) I've also seen lots of pics of Herse and Singers with straight block freewheels, and Triples up front, should be pretty cool! Is there room for fenders?

Cheers,
Chris

I am seriously jealous, Dan. Orange bike? White Hetres? I dream about that combo, man.

Where did you get that frame? There was a woman in Sparta selling an orange World Voyageur in that size a year or so ago. I was tempted, but left with her husband's Specialized Sequoia only.

sweet bike - looks like it b a good all round dual purpose bike

That. Thing. Is. Unbelievable.

Thanks folks :) Its nice to have something like this, warts and all where its a handsome thing and a bit of a head turner but not a showroom queen where I'm constantly worried about scratching it or whatever.

The frame came from ebay as a frameset w/headset and BB. I probably overpaid based on the condition (spent around a hundred bux on it) but, hey its a full chrome Panasonic.

Chris W, Cool to hear about the old constructeurs with the straight blocks. I can see the appeal. I can also see that a Triple crankset would be optimal on this.

There's plenty of room for fenders, and I do have a pair of stainless 650B fenders I'm considering putting on. Just not totally sure because I'm really liking it in its current, kinda minimalist splendor. Also its surprisingly not heavy. yer welcome to come ride it any time Colonel!

At first glance I thought the tires WERE the fenders, because they were so smooth and lovely looking. What a gorgeous bike! Nicely done.

Snazzy. I like the drum brakes to get around the pad-reach issue.

I like it! You have to put those chrome fenders on...they match the lugs & paint scratches! I had an orangerWV I put an Nexus 8 speed hub in, sadly too small for me but it did get a good amount of "nice bike" comments.....

I'm so torn about the fenders. Its funny too because I traded a Nexus 7 rear wheel to get the fenders :lol: and now I'm having doubts about using em :rolleyes: Its kinda silly but here's my thought process. I've got 3 bike with fenders. I've discovered that I have a love-hate relationship with fenders. I'm getting better at installing fenders but it seems my penchant for fat tires cramps (quite literally) the fender style. Tire rub is my mortal enemy. Before each ride I need to pick up the front and rear wheels one at a time and spin them listening for any tire rub on the fenders. It might change from day to day because I leaned the bike up against something or another and the fender stay bent ever so slightly, or a nylock nut has magically worked itself loose despite decades of engineering telling it not to.

Also I've got some kind of psychosomatic thing going on where when I put fenders on a bike it instantly feels 2mph slower. I dont ride with a speedometer so I don't really know but it was the case with my Super Course, my Austro Daimler and my Centurion Pro-Tour...they just feel slower to me with fenders. Oddly enough my Dawes feels great with fenders but those are plastic SKS jobbies....maybe there's something to be gleaned there, but I think that's more just validating that I am clearly insane.

I wish I could get past that, but its like a crazy mental block or something and I'm afraid to make it ride less awesome. I know it would look more awesome though. No doubt about it.

Its so surprisingly lightweight right now too.
I am very torn about the crankset as well. It needs a triple for around here, but I think i'm gonna go back to the 52-42 for now and just htfu.

I saw one of these yesterday--same color--for sale at the flea market in Fort Greene, Brooklyn. I don't know what the guy wanted for it. It had been converted to a single speed (or maybe fixed), and it was really very nice looking. If you're so inclined and in the area, the same guys are always at the flea market in Fort Greene on Saturday and Williamsburg on Sunday, so it's probably up for sale there right now as I type this. My guess is he would want $400 or so for it. I'd guess the size was 53 or 54.

Beautiful! With the orange frame, white tires, and white cable housing I think you should call it Dreamsicle, or maybe Dreamcycle.

far as I know they only made 2 sizes. Large (23") and small (21") :lol:so 53 or 54 like you said would be the small.

I've only seen em in Yellow and Orange. excuse me, International Danger Orange.

I gotta find an appropriate 26.8mm seatpost for this bike. I snagged the one on it from my Centurion.


:lol::lol: @scooper - I like it!


I want it to stop raining so i can go ride it more.

http://i32.photobucket.com/albums/d7/k4drd/Bicycles/Schwinn%20Publ%20Pages/1973WorldVoyageurBrochurepg1.jpg

http://i32.photobucket.com/albums/d7/k4drd/Bicycles/Schwinn%20Publ%20Pages/1973WorldVoyageurBrochurepg2.jpg

if that was my bike in the photo those striped shorts would be on the ground.

???

knowumsayin.

knowumsayin.

:lol: absolutely.

That bike is outstanding. This is your best work ever.

I could help with installing fenders. Maybe you try to install them too close to the tire. I have a lot of patience, and when I install them, they stay put and don't give me any trouble. I can't help with the slowness feeling. It could be real, and it could be imagined. I haven't noticed it. We could do a downhill coasting test (no pedaling).

I just don't think you're sacrificing the right animal as part of the fender-mounting ritual.

Neal

Weight weenie w/drum brakes?????? Uhhh.....ok........

Hardly, but it is pretty light.

I eat cheeseburgers that weigh more than those fenders.

If the fenders are that tight, adding may not a good idea as small things can get caught between them and the tire.

Would long reach dual action cantilever brakes such as Tektro 800 have worked?

Would long reach dual action cantilever brakes such as Tektro 800 have worked?

possibly. Its a long reach though. Take a look...on this frame the brake bridge is sorta high anyway but you can see its quite a reach. I have a set of Shimano rollercam brakes that would have reached but they are possibly heavier than the hub brakes :lol:
https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-3bb8ya4n884/Tg93P9bwtXI/AAAAAAAACd4/j0Fno_VS1Rw/s512/DSC_0419.JPG

Dan, does it currently have a 26.8 post? All I've seen use a 26.6.

Dan, does it currently have a 26.8 post? All I've seen use a 26.6.

Yes; it should be 26.6. The spec sheet calls for p/n 58 820, described as "(7200-02) Chrome plated, 26.6mm O.D. 7" long, complete with all hardware as used on 'World Voyageur' models."

I've got a 26.8 in there now.

I recall it came with a factory-looking shim around the neck of the Seat tube, much like a Le Tour would have. I Tried a seatpost and shim from a Le Tour but it didn't tighten down enough. It doesn't appear to have been grossy stretched out or anything, and the 26.8 seems to be working ok.

ZB,

I've been too preoccupied with my own Schwinn thread to full digest your thread fully--- until now.

Fantastic and creative work! I like the fat tires, gears, and road bike geometry. It would be perfect for the rough roads, fire/logging roads, and packed gravel rail trails here in northern New England. The drum brakes would also make sense for winter riding because they are not impacted by snow and ice.

Yes; it should be 26.6. The spec sheet calls for p/n 58 820, described as "(7200-02) Chrome plated, 26.6mm O.D. 7" long, complete with all hardware as used on 'World Voyageur' models."

See this (http://www.bikeforums.net/showthread.php/747676-Criep-Rider-Seatpost?highlight=criep) thread. All the ones I've seen or heard of were equipped with this NR copy.

Dan, certainly if a 26.8 fits well, use that. A good 26.8 post is generally easier to find (and cheaper) than a 26.6.

knowing schwinn it was probably a standard 26.8 from Japan and they put a shim in it in Chicago so they could use up stock of some wacky sized seatposts they had sitting around.....or just as likely so that customers would come back to schwinn to get the harder to find size when they needed a replacement


bob, thank you. I've been follow your new Schwinn as well :)

knowing schwinn it was probably a standard 26.8 from Japan and they put a shim in it in Chicago so they could use up stock of some wacky sized seatposts they had sitting around.

Likely.


....or just as likely so that customers would come back to schwinn to get the harder to find size when they needed a replacement

Less likely. I don't expect any bike company or chain of dealers sells many aftermarket seatposts.

Anyway, my plan is to build a similar bike, as many of you might know. I have a Raleigh International frame. I have a similar Sturmey Archer drum brake front hub and a Shimano drum brake/cassette hub in the rear. It will have 700c rims, fenders, and probably a rack. I guess it's not too late to think about 650B if I can exchange the Sun CR18 rims I have for 650B rims. Then again, nlerner said the Raleigh's BB is too low for this conversion, so I guess not. The rim exchange would cost money, and so would tires.

Light weight is a priority but not the only priority. Drum brakes add weight but there's a benefit. It will be a light bike but not a weight weeny bike.

DUDE - awesome!

Light weight is a priority but not the only priority. Drum brakes add weight but there's a benefit. It will be a light bike but not a weight weeny bike.

I see a benefit in convenience but yeah there is a undeniable weight penalty, at least for the sturmey archer front hubs....the Shimano FHR-700 is surprisingly light. It might not weigh much more than a hub plus a brake caliper. Its a great piece of kit IMHO. This is my second wheelset i've built for myself with that model. I'm up to only about 100 miles on the wheelset now and the rear brake is no longer grabby.

I like to think that while the wheelset does weigh more with the drum brakes since that weight is non-rotational and at the very center of the wheel it likely has a minimal effect on performance. I could be smokin rope though.

Aaron, I think you'd dig this ride...although its no comparison in terms of quality or performance, its similar in size to your marnati....which is the undeniable king of orange bikes.

I tell ya what this wheelset really makes me want. It makes me want a weight weenie wheelset with the same tires and a stiff as hell frame with a short wheelbase and racy geometry that can take this wide tire....no doubt a custom request. What I'm saying is I want these wheels to fit my Team Miyata. :)

I hope to try the Miyata, too, one day. ;)