Classic & Vintage - Voyageur 11.8? Great Big Bike

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Gravity Aided
01-19-13, 11:00 AM
I went past one of the pawnshops and bought for small coin what I think is a Voyageur 11.8 . The chroming on the chain and seat stays is different from the 1981 catalog,but the frame material( 4031) and the componentry ( Shimano Altus II)all adds up to a Voyageur 11.8 . Was this something that happened on larger frames? Or is it a different bike altogether ?
http://i1230.photobucket.com/albums/ee493/GravityAided/DSC00783_edited-1_zps1c0a81ca.jpg
http://i1230.photobucket.com/albums/ee493/GravityAided/DSC00789_zpsf9da0a78.jpghttp://i1230.photobucket.com/albums/ee493/GravityAided/DSC00790_zps03c081d6.jpghttp://i1230.photobucket.com/albums/ee493/GravityAided/DSC00791_edited-1_zpsd8daee74.jpghttp://i1230.photobucket.com/albums/ee493/GravityAided/DSC00795_edited-1_zpsb927cf21.jpghttp://i1230.photobucket.com/albums/ee493/GravityAided/DSC00798_edited-1_zps235d9f2c.jpg

unworthy1
01-19-13, 11:19 AM
it has been rattle-can painted (at least once) so the chroming has been affected.
What are your plans for this?
I ask cause a friend is looking for a large (like 63cm up) frame/fork...
Grim
01-19-13, 11:32 AM
That does look to be a 11.8. I had a 12.2 Super Le Tour and they were very close.

I believe these bikes are Panasonic built. Good riders! I regret selling my 12.2.

They didn't have great paint. Very easy to chip. The decals were easily damaged as well and were not sealed with a clear coat.

If the price is right it would be worth painting or powder coating. In my market I'd be making no more then a $50 offer because of the rattle can paint job.

Gravity Aided
01-19-13, 03:45 PM
I'm keeping her, cause a bike in my size is quite hard to come by, unworthy1 .
I may fix it up really nice mechanically and fix the paint chips and call it good, though.
Grim, I thought it was a 12.2 at first, but then I saw there was a 52-40
instead of a 50-38 chainring. I then finally noticed the tenuously clinging
steel sticker for 4030 and the brass plated cogset . I was well under 50.00
for the bike, and I guess I'll have another 20 or so in it. Not bad for a
Touring bike/Commuter.
Chris_in_Miami
01-20-13, 01:24 PM
That looks like a repainted 11.8 to me also. The fork crown should be chrome as well, I can't tell if that's rust or primer on your crown, hopefully the latter...

Here's my small one:

https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-8G6Q-RLUG1U/TiOAk9NCtpI/AAAAAAAAB04/O7F2A7wad0M/s800/vger_02.jpg
Gravity Aided
01-20-13, 07:04 PM
It's primer, more tuscan red than rust color . I'm currently trying to figure out whether to strip the paint and re-paint with small automotive gun, have it powder coated, or leave it natural metal with clear coat . There does appear to be a little rust here and there , but nothing problematic. A couple of dents in the top tube are not so bad either , so she may just get a better cosmetic look and clean-up . I love the look of your Voyageur, Chris . Very classy in all respects .