Classic & Vintage - Vintage Schwinn Traveler

Hello, I am buying a Schwinn Traveler tomorrow, it doesn't have a sticker saying what metal it is made of it just says Made in Taiwan, and that it is an "X-Tra Lite" frame. All I am wondering is how heavy it is, can someone help me out please.
Thanks

To quote T-Mar's sig.............."a picture is worth a thousand words, but only if it's taken from the drive side."

My 79 Schwinn LeTour IV had a sticker that said Xtra Lite and 1020 steel. What year is your traveler?

Carbon steel (not cromoly) and the bike will be around 29 pounds or so. Light compared to one of the electoforged models (Continental, Varsity etc).

How sure are you about that?

The 63cm 1981 Traveler I started with weighed in at 34 Lbs if I remember right. Not at all a light bike, but it rode really nice.

Here is a list of Travelers. Find yours and check it out. According to the Schwinn brochure, the 1975 Traveler weighed 32 lbs.

http://bikecatalogs.org/SCHWINN/MODELS/Traveler.html

+1 Xtra Lite Traveler was high ten steel and on the heavy side (but not Varsity heavy). Xtra Lite branding was Schwinn marketing department at work, trying to convince buyers their heavy bikes were as light as the European and Japanese imports. It did not work.

How sure are you about that?

+1 I will second that yes these are heavy steel frame bikes with the tubes and tires this bike likely has on it I would guess it is 34/35lbs not at all light weight. Less than the Varsity's or Contenetials but still a fairly heavy steel bike.

1980 saw a Schwinn Traveler with an Xtra Lite frame AND it was made in Taiwan. Prior to that, the Xtra Lites were made in Japan. Catalog lists it at 32 lbs, give or take a little depending on size. With an upgrade to alloy rimmed wheels and modern tires, you might end up with something in the 28 lb range.

I upgraded rims, hubs, derailleurs, brakes, bottom bracket, headset, seat post, seat, handelbars, and added a Blackburn rack - basically rebuilt an '82 Traveller with modern (for 1984-5) sealed components (maybe upgraded is a better word-Suntour ARX and Shimano 600 v. the lower line Shimano that came on the bike - and steel wheels) and ended up between 28-29 pounds. (Worked in a Schwinn shop and got components at cost) The bike served me well for 25 years, including a couple of 100+ mile trips. I am still riding the hubs and sold the Traveller frame.

I weigh north of 200lbs - so don't get caught up in a pound or two difference in bikes.

Did a few 100k events on a Traveler X-Tra- Lite . Wasn't fastest , but I had a good time and respectable finishes. When you load a bike for touring,you can save weight in other areas and maybe mitigate the weight of the bike a little .

According to the catalogs, 1983 was the first year the Traveler had chromoly main tubes (it still had hi-ten stays and fork), and since it doesn't specify that the main tubes are butted, I'd assume they're straight gauge. Catalog weight is listed as 30 pounds.

In the 1985 catalog, the Traveler got double-butted 4130 chromoly main tubes, but still had a hi-ten fork. 1985 catalog weight was down to 26 pounds.

1982 was the last catalog to mention the "X-tra Lite" buzzword, and the Traveler that year had a 1020 carbon steel frame and steel rims. The catalog weight is listed as 31.8 pounds.

I had a 1980 Traveler that I rode as a fixed-gear commuter for a few years. I picked it up as a frame and a few parts. With low-mid end modern aluminum seatpost, wheels and handlebars it built up to something like 26-27 pounds, which is pretty good for a hefty commuter.

Eventually I picked up a nicer frame and moved over most of the stuff on it, but if I ever end up in a situation where I can't bring my bike into work, I'll build this guy back up in a heartbeat with lower-end components.