justin10054

How much were you allowed to customize your order? I've heard he can be rather strict about what he will allow.

nlerner

Well, I believe Hiroshi has retired, so you'd be dealing with a family member. Not sure quite what that'll mean as far as customization. They worked closely with me to determine best fit as far as top tube and seat tube lengths, whether I wanted 650B or 700c, the color, the rear spacing. Frame angles and fork rake weren't up for negotiation.

jpaschall

That's the goods right there. Beautiful bike

Vonruden

Just completed Ebisu, heavily influenced by Nlerner's beautiful Orange ride. Ready for a weekend shakedown ride in L'Ombra, NJ 100.

gomango

That bike could be your friend for the next twenty five years or more.

Exceptional build.

nlerner

Very nice, Jason! I look forward to seeing it in the steel on Saturday.

pcb 

Yeah, nothing else to do but pile on with this one. Lovely bike, lovely build. Very simple & clean...

Vonruden

Thanks guys. I agree, this one is a keeper.

See you Saturday Neal.

PCB, any interest in joining the ride Saturday? We are starting in Lawrenceville with a nice ride through central Jersey.

pcb 

I have a Fuji Touring Series III (I think) stashed somewhere in the Bat Cave, with fugly paint, that I never built up. Nothing else that I'd qualify 100% as a tourer, more like "sport tourer that could be pressed into touring." Nothing new here:

'82 Katakura Silk, from TimmyT: this is back to being an unbuilt frameset. Might look cool w/650b, hammered Honjos and a rando build, all silvery-shiny.





'84 Cherubim/DIN Echelon

pcb 

Thanks for the invite! I've got lotsa interest, but I work Sats, already tried to get this Sat off but it's a no-go. Looking forward to a ride report and some pix...

Vonruden

Wow PCB, that Cherubim is sick!

I'll be sure to get some pics of the ride...maybe we'll see you on the next one.

Btw, thanks for the Paul components, they fit the build perfect.

T Stew

Nice looking bike! I'm actually thinking about checking out a '81 Voyaguer 11.8 from craigslist. Would like to set up a bike for possible touring, perhaps with racks and maybe fenders. Would you recommend the 11.8, so far I've been really happy with all my 80's schwinns so that is mainly what I'm looking at. But my LeTour, despite its name, I guess is not a true touring bike but they classify it as rec.

mstateglfr 

Thanks, it took a lot of work, but I love the character and ride it gives now.

An 81 is identical to an 80. It's a sport tourer and not a full on cross country handles anything and everything sort of bike.
I'll give the positives neutral and negatives as it relates to a touring bike.

Positives
- comfortable ride
- can swap 27s out for 700c wheels easily
- ride is stable with me plus 40# of gear on, so 270# total.

Neutral
- 32mm tires are about as wide as you can go. I'm good with that, but a lot of people like to roll on fats. The chainstays are narrow at the seat tube.
- rear rack needs pclips to attach to seat stays. Not a big deal to me, it's a $3 job. But it's for sure less convenient than brazed on rack attachment point.
-original brake levers are weak. I still use em, love the look, but even cheap XLC/Tektro Aero levers perform better.

Negatives
- side pull brakes aren't very strong. I stop with confidence, but it isn't cantilever fast.
- no water bottle bosses. You want water? You will need to buy some attachable cages.
- the stem size is unique. You are stuck with the stem. No rise stem, no quill converter for themselves headsets. No removable dace plate stem. That thing is it due to the funky size. I've made it work and it's comfortable, but I had planned for a riser stem.
- That stem size limits bar selection. I wanted to try some Nitto Noodles, but the diameter was too large for the stem. I am more than happy with the Nitto Randonneur bars I ended up with, but just be aware of bar diameter limitations due to the stem.
- fenders are tough to fit, from what I've read. If you google 'Voyageur 11.8 fender, bikeforums' you should come up with a thread where a poster documented his struggle. It's due to the limited space and tire clearance.



With all that said, I have put a ton of miles on the bike and performed without issue.
Multiple times I have had it loaded down with both panniers full plus a trunk bag plus pulling a WeeHoo with a 40pound kid and the ride is smooth and steady for 20 and even 35mi rides. That WeeHoo plus kid is basically pulling 80pounds that is constantly shifting a little left or right at any given moment.


Not to talk you out of an 11.8 since I love mine, but a later Voyageur, one from 83 thru 91 may be more up your alley if you want a full tourer. There were some SP models from 83 thru maybe 86 which are really nice tubing too. The later models have canti brakes and lots of attachment points.

MauriceMoss

Very, very nice. Great build.

What crankset is that?

T Stew

Thanks for all the info. Yeah I'm definitely leaning towards the later 80's but that 11.8 sure does look nice, and I rarely come across any late 80's ones. I'd love to find an '88 just to match my other 3 '88 Schwinns but that doesn't really matter. I'm in no hurry, I've not really ever done any loaded touring but would like to try some time. For now if I need to go loaded I just take the back pack and hop on the LeTour.

Vonruden

@MauriceMoss - Thanks, the cranks are Sugino xd2, with TA chainrings.

justin10054

That's awesome! Two Ebisus in one thread... Now I'm really thinking about getting one.

Did you do the build or did you order the whole bike? How is the ride?

The Golden Boy 

If your heart's set on a Voyageur- the 84/85 Voyageur SP was the cat's pyjamas- it was all-out the nicest stuff around. The geometry is different than the other bikes- but it's a comfortable ride. Otherwise, I really like the 86-88 Voyageurs with the Tenax tubing and a really solid build.



The Voyageur Comparison Chart is REALLY good- it details the differences between the years:

https://sandro.knot.org/blog/wp-conte...comparison.pdf

T Stew

Wish there was a like buttons o I don't have to make a post just to say thanks, but thanks! Great info, hadn't seen that one before.

brandenjs

1983 Univega Specialissimo. Sorry for the fuzzy pic. This bike is so fun to ride.

The Golden Boy 

Do a Google image search for 1988 Schwinn Voyageurs. Some really stunning and classy looking bikes (@southpawboston). If you look for the 1986 Voyageur- you'll see Stronglight's Voyageur- outrageously sweet!

badger_biker 

I recently loaded up my panniers to compare the handling of 3 of my Japanese work horses and happened to take some pics.

1985 Specialized Expedition built up from a frame 22 years ago - my go to bike for longer tours.


1984 Miyata 1000 - recently acquired this summer and yet to take out on a tour.


1985 Panasonic Pro-ATB - built up this year for off road touring but just a fun bike for all around riding.


1987 Schwinn Voyageur



1984 Bridgesone 400. Though technically a sport touring model I've owned it since new and it has carried me well down the Oregon coast and around Glacier, into Canada, and back to Spokane. I recently changed it over to the Origin 8 bars.


1986 Schwinn Voyageur - this one is on the market by decree of the department of redundancy.


1986? Schwinn Passage - A beater I left with my son in Austin so I have wheels when I visit. The Imperial rose color was never listed in the catalogs for the brief period Schwinn made the Passage but the frame is identical to my 1987 Voyageur except for the fork.

Lascauxcaveman 

^Man, that's pretty heavy on the redundancy, alright. In a good way.

I hope someday to find a Voyager, exactly like yours, only in the 25" size. Also a Fuji Touring IV. Gotta get my own redundant backups. My only touring bikes are an American C-dale and a Canadian Peugeot. I guess I could be doing worse.

justin10054

Check out this one. I don't know if I've ever seen a more beautiful bike. Also, the component selection is interesting. Clearly, the Japanese have access to stuff we never see over here.

Cougrrcj

OK, I like the chrome socks, but to me a 'touring bike' has more than just ten speeds - or am I counting incorrectly? And no rear rack mounting capability? No bottle cage mounts? Cottered crankset??? Non aero (much less Brifters) levers???

These things (to me at least) scream that this is a mid- to late-'70s bike, and not a 'new' much less a 2005-model.