trainman999

Interesting on the kickstand not being factory. My original from the summer of 72 was delivered with a kickstand , the one i purchased this summer had the same kickstand on it , 2 out of the three on ebay now have the same kickstand, the ones on google images seem to all have the same kickstand if they have one. I would have thought if dealer or owner installed there would be some different models.

Metacortex

Schwinn dealers had access to an accessory kickstand listed in the dealer parts books and available from Schwinn so if a kickstand was dealer-installed on one of these bikes at or near when the bike was new I would expect it to be the same one that the Schwinn dealers carried at the time. I don't find it odd that those having kickstands all seem to have the same one any more than bikes of the same vintage having generator light sets seem to have the same one. Dealers loved to accessorize bikes as it added to the bottom line.

Scooper

That's interesting. Here's page 2 of the 1981 Bulletin 23 that clearly shows "J" is September in the serial numbers of Japanese made Schwinns, and I'm certain I've seen National/Panasonic made Schwinns with a month code "M". If "I" were used, December would be "L", no? What month would "M" be?

Scooper

Regarding the kickstand, here's the October, 1973 Schwinn Reporter announcement of the introduction of the new 1974 Schwinn-Approved Le Tour. In the write-ups on both page 1 and in Jack Smith's write-up on page 6, the point is made that the bikes "weigh only 30-to-32 pounds, depending on the frame size and whether or not the customer chooses to have the removable kickstand installed, which is provided as standard equipment by the factory."

While we're talking about the World Voyageur and not the Le Tour, it's not unreasonable to assume that since they're from the same time period and imported from Japan, they might have been similarly equipped with the removable kickstand.

Metacortex

So far I believe National/Panasonic was different than Bridgestone at the time regarding the use of "I", just as they were in the year month vs. month year serial number format. Here is another National/Panasonic built Schwinn with "I" in the serial number, in this case a '75 Traveler:



I have recorded many more National/Panasonic serial numbers with "I" as the month code, so that bulletin is obviously incorrect. Also note that it dates from 1981 and all of the examples I've seen are from the 1970s, so perhaps there was a later change.

Please post pics of said serial numbers. I'm always willing to learn more!

That information is for the '74+ Le Tour, which was a much lower-end bike and actually had a kickstand bracket welded to the frame in place of the normal chainstay bridge. This bracket allowed the kickstand to be bolted tightly without crushing the chainstays.



The World Voyageur and Voyageur II were much higher-end bikes that had a normal round chainstay bridge and did not include kickstands from the factory. To further the point you don't see one listed on the World Voyageur dealer parts list, which lists every other part including the owner's manual and toolkit:

MrK.

Here's mine the day I got it. Craigslist seller was asking $80. I texted him to see if he still had it. He texted back that he still had it and quickly talked himself down to $50 if I would take it that day. He was about 50 miles from me but 10 from my son so I paid him ten bucks to go get it. All original except the front tire and missing toe clips. Appears to be barely ridden. Saddle is toast but I picked up a pair of period correct kkt pedals w/ toe clips on ebay. It was in very good condition with just light rust on the chrome and a few nicks in the paint. I polished it up and lubed it, installed a pair of Kenda k35s and a seat from a Schwinn Voyageur and started riding it. Still has the original cables and chain.

Here is the day I got it and a few weeks ago hanging on the fireplace.

BicycleMonkey

That's awesome! I'd like to say I only paid $50!

trainman999

Two more questions for the experts. 1 what month did Panasonic start production of World Voyageur's? 2 what month did they become available at the delears in the USA

Metacortex

The first imported Schwinn was the World Traveler. I believe they began production in November-December of '71, with the first bikes arriving in January '72. The World Voyageur followed a few months later. The earliest serial numbers I've recorded for the WV are March 1972, they probably first arrived at dealers in April or May of '72.

seedsbelize 

I was under the impression that they were a 73 model only. Mine has a March 72 serial number.

Metacortex

That is what many originally thought, however both the World Traveler and World Voyageur were introduced in '72 and continued through '73. I have not seen an earlier serial number than March '72 on the WV.