Schwinn Passage
 

http://fortcollins.craigslist.org/bik/3206146952.html

Looks like a 1994 or so....I'm waiting for a call back from the guy, but it looks like a great deal for $100. Any opinions? Everything I google sounds positive about this bike.

Fair deal at $100, but I would offer $75. Seat will need to be replaced. On the plus side, that looks like a Blackburn rack, which is usually worth at least $20.

Looks like an 86 to me: http://www.trfindley.com/flschwinn_1...986Ltwt17.html

I think it's a great deal at $100. I sold an 86 Voyageur frameset for $90 on craigslist a while back. The Voyageur was higher end than the Passage but the frame I had was a huge 25" size in fair condition. If you're looking for a touring bike I'd jump on that Passage before someone else does.

I got it...$90. It's a bit dirty, guy never really rode it, and besides that, it's in pretty good condition.

My initial hope is to flip it after cleaning it up and maybe some new cables. My first question, is how to use the serial # to determine exactly the year?

Edit: and of course, google is my friend. Next to the badge it's stamped 2117, which seems to indicate July 30, 1987.

Question: what is this loop thing? Both wheels have them, but I have no idea what they are other than they seem intended to "scrape" the wheel. Any help here?
http://bikeforums.net/attachment.php...hmentid=267495

Serial # is L619316 and also there's another number on the bottom of case: 840.
Other than that, some quick, shaky phone cam pics.
http://bikeforums.net/attachment.php...hmentid=267497http://bikeforums.net/attachment.php...hmentid=267498http://bikeforums.net/attachment.php...hmentid=267499http://bikeforums.net/attachment.php...hmentid=267500http://bikeforums.net/attachment.php...hmentid=267501

They are indeed intended to scrape the wheel. The idea is to scrape off bits of glass or other debris that could work into the tire and cause a flat. Some people swear by them, but I have no personal experience.

+1

They're called "tire savers" or "flint catchers"...

http://velobase.com/ViewComponent.as...14fef&Enum=103

L6 in the serial number is November 1986, and that's the manufacture date of the frame. The four digit date code on the head badge is the assembly date of the bike.

Flint catchers eh...learn something new all the time..thanks.

Also the serial/assembly. Where did you find this info? I googled all over and found nothing talking about the L6 date for these type of bikes. Is this bike an american bike...built in Mississippi?

Overall, I cleaned up the bike and it looks pretty good. Not a speck of rust, just some normal grime and cobwebs. It's got some nicks which look consistent with bike racks, but nothing of real concern.

Can't wait to get out tomorrow and give it a spin around the block and shake it down. My main idea was to try and flip it (a quick search of forums and CL show this bike going $200-$300) but I may just fall in love with it instead.

I believe it was made in Japan based on the serial number, but an article in one of the 1985 Schwinn dealer newsletters indicated the 1986 Passage would be one of seven lightweight models to be built in Greenville, so there's conflicting info.

From Schwinn Bulletin 23, "Schwinn Bicycle Identification Numbers":

Bicycles from Japan have a production month letter in either the first or second position and a production year number in the other (first or second) position. Examples J677123 = September, 1976, 6J77123 = September, 1976.

A=January, B=February, C=March, D=April, E=May, F=June, G=July, H=August, I=Not Used, J=September, K=October, L=November, M=December

http://i32.photobucket.com/albums/d7...Production.jpg

1986 Passage is quite nice, excellent score. Be thankful it is not a 1994 (I just picked up a 1995). By the 1990s, the Passage was pretty basic, nothing special for sure.

The 1980s Passage was a really nice bike in comparison.

As far as serial numbers, even though Schwinns had some usable serial numbers, I don't bother. Instead, I just read the date code off the headbadge, takes two seconds to date a Schwinn. I wish other mfrs did this.

Although the 1986 lightweight catalog showed the Passage, the 1987 catalog did not. If 2117 was stamped into the headbadge, I suspect it was mis-stamped.

I have the same bike. It is one step down from the voyagour of 1986. I would say it is easily worth $250+. I would say it stacks up well against the Trek 520 of the mid 1980's.

I noticed the same thing from looking at the catalogs. However, I also noticed the 1986 model didn't come in the color that mine is (Imperial Rose?), but the 1987 Voyageur does. I wonder if they had the extra frames and just decided to paint them up with the Voyageur color?

That wouldn't surprise me.

Mine is the rose color as well and I assumed the same thing, that I got a Voyageur in disguise. One intesting thing about mine is the 5 speed freewheel on a 1987 bike. The geometry is also a little strange with a fairly short top tube for the length of the seat tube. The bike has a full complement of braze ons, including three bottle cages. I rode mine to work today and will post the serail number when I get home.

From what I've read, the geometry being short like that is normal for this bike. I'm guessing that being a touring bike, you generally want to sit more upright. The guy I bought it from had the bars angled very low; I upped them a bit to what seems a more normal position.

I do think, unfortunately, the bike is too large for me. I'm 5'9", and have to lower the seat all the way to get my legs set correctly. The tube measures 23" and I probably need 21" or even 19". So....I'm gonna ride it a few days, but as much as I want to keep it, I have the feeling it's gonna wind up on CL this weekend. Make a little profit hopefully and keep looking for one that fits.

Wow, you must have short legs. What's your inseam? I'm also 5' 9" and have ridden frames as large as 25" without issue. But I fit best on a 22" seat tube.

I'm like 5'9" on a good day in shoes. I measured my inseam at 32". The standover on this bike is 32.5", and it's *just* a tad too high.

However, I finally got the seat adjusted just right, and with the bars being adjusted upwards, it's much better and probably rideable. I'm gonna take it out for a 10-12 mile tour off the town and see how it feels. I'll try to take a few pics along the way. It cleaned up pretty good and really is in great shape for a 25yr old bike.

The pedals on this bike are SP SR-250 - LINK shows in detail.

Are these supposed to have some sort of toe clips or straps? Some searching isn't turning up much for me.

They are. I have a pair from a Trek 310 and they came with plastic cages and nylon straps.

Catalogs are just a snapshot of time, I have a lot of Schwinns that did not show up in the regular catalog, like my two February 1987 Prologues for example (Prologue did not appear until 1988). Catalogs are a great starting point, but do not represent everything made for sure.

My rose colored passage is stamped 3257 - 325th day of 1987.

So much for my theory. :)

Well, I've got a dilemma. Rode just around the city roads tonight, and my initial thought is to just keep the bike. I've been wanting a road bike for a couple months now (I also have a cheap Xmart Schwinn MTB that I picked up for a song, just to see if I would get back into riding) and despite maybe being too large, after adjusting it to fit me it actually seems pretty good. I just need to be careful not to "rack" myself on the top tube when stopping. Hopefully the weather is nicer tomorrow and I can get out on the country roads and do some real riding and get a better idea of what it's like. But after riding that heavy MTB around, even with road tires on it, this bike is like a dream.

My real goal is to just ditch my car eventually, and this bike seems like a good balance between a utility/commuter that I need and the road bike that I want when I just go out riding. With the rack already there, I can eventually get some panniers as well. It really seems perfect.

But, is the fact that it seems too big going to bite me eventually? Should I just flip it and put that money towards another, maybe purer road bike that fits me better? And if I do flip it, is $250 or so a decent asking price (I know market will ultimately determine that)?

If you can sit astride the bike with both feet flat on the ground without your crotch touching the top tube, you can safely ride it. A more important question is whether the top tube is too long for you, but since the TT on the Passage - a touring frame - is shorter for the frame size than it would be for a racing frame you probably won't feel too stretched out.

I'd ride it for a while and work up to some 40 or 50 mile rides and see how you feel.