digitalbicycle

Now that the build is pretty much complete, I wanted post some photos of the 1990 Schwinn Voyageur that Blank Crows and Bigbossman found for me (see this thread).

There are a lot of hours in this bike, most of them spent carefully scraping off the fluorescent green paint that somebody had splattered all over the frame in an attempt to give it a bad 1980’s Jackson Pollack theme. I used several tools with varying success, including a razor blade, my fingernail, and a screwdriver. There are a few areas where a little bit of residue is left and I put a couple of scratches in the paint but overall it came off pretty easily, albeit slowly.

When that was done and I’d sprayed Framesaver inside the tubes, I added Nitto bars and stem, old Shimano Deore XT brakes (which are the nicest-looking cantis around, IMO), and a new Sugino crankset. The wheelset is an old one that I had laying around, and will someday be replaced with a new one along with a 9 speed drivetrain. For now, the 7 speed indexed system on there will do just fine.

I’ve taken it out on a few extended errand runs and it handles really well and is very comfortable. I’ve still got to dial in the indexing (had it flawless last night, cables must have stretched) and adjust the front brakes a bit more. I have a Jandd Expedition front rack to match the rear, but it simply wont fit this setup and maybe that’ll be the excuse I need to get a set of Surly racks. I need to do a few other things as well, like cut the kickstand to the proper height, and replace the pedals, which were pulled out of a bin at the local co-op so I could test ride it. All in all, I’m really pleased with it.

triplebutted

Is that a Brooks swallow?
Nice bike!

digitalbicycle

Selle An-atomica Titanico, watershed version.

bigbossman 

Hey - don't I get any love on this one? I was the one that tripped over it first, ya know...

How hard was it to remove the green paint?

This one belongs in the "Before and After" thread.

stringbreaker

BBM: read the first line you get your props bro.

JunkYardBike

Very nice. Are you planning a loaded tour? If so, you should definitely consider some high quality racks.

And in the event you run into splattered paint again, I've had very good luck with non-acetone nail polish remover. Of course, results may vary.

High Fist Shin

Your Voyageur looks great. Nice job!

Looks like you spent a little time shopping at Velo-Orange.

KLW2

Beautiful job!!! The Voyageur is one of the best riding bikes I have had the pleasure to ride....here is mine.

screaminDOHC

I love it, looks great!

BlankCrows

Great job on that splattered paint removal! Lots of work that took for sure -- I scraped a couple flecks off of it myself when it was in my care. It looks great. Congrats on getting it together. It looks sharp.

Good find on that one BBM. I remember I didn't pay much attention to it when we came across it as it wasn't complete, and you know how good my wrenching skills are. I walk by them for a reason. (If I touch them too much I am liable to break 'em. )

Brad W

Nice Voyageur! Here's my Dad's old Voyageur, I think it's a '88. I love it they're great bikes

Brad W.

stronglight

I couldn't agree more - Fantastic bikes!

I've had mine (a 1986) only since this past June and it is always a delight to ride. You would think that with the long chainstays it could be a bit "whippy" but even with heavy panniers loaded on it is the nicest bile I've ever ridden. The pump on Brad W's Dad's bike looks like a Zefal HP. I have the latest version of that pump - now with a pump head which accepts either Schrader or Presta valve stems without any switching required... and the longest size (HPX-4) fits perfectly from the brazed-on pump pin behind the head tube.

I'd switched over some components and fancied mine up a bit (definitely leaning in the vintage French mode) but that's what makes them such great bikes - a perfect platform for any sort of build-up you could want or imagine!

digitalbicycle

I'm curious about how the geometry of the Voyageurs has changed throughout the '80s. It's my observation that the the chainstays on my '90 are shorter than the '80s models that I've seen, which seems to be born out by looking at the other bikes posted in this thread. Stronglight's '86 looks like it has longer chainstays than my '90, and Brad W's '88 has chainstays that look just a hair shorter than the '86. But when you look at overall wheelbase, the '88 (42.25") was an inch longer than the '86 (41.25") , and the '90 (41.3") was a hair longer than the '86.

Another observation is that although my '90 is a 25" frame size, the head tube is almost an inch shorter than any other 25" frame bike I've owned, including my '81 Voyageur 11.8. I would imagine this is due to a lower bottom bracket, but that's substantially lower to make the head tube an inch shorter, and the 25" Voyageurs I've seen from '84 to '89 all had the longer head tubes in the 25" model.

GlennO

You guys have some great Voyageurs! Once upon a time I had an 84 Vouageur SP, but sold it a few years later, really miss it. I just picked up an 85 Voyageur SP frame and need advice on where to start rebuilding. It is a bare frame only, not even forks so I would also like everyone to keep an eye open for a set of Voyageur forks that will take a rack. It is a 25 inch frame, dark blue, and has some deep scratches in the paint so I will need to repaint. The only thing I have found for it is a new set of decals. I plan on using my brooks sadle I have on a mountain bike. I need everything for it! I am new to turning a wrench and will look into someone local to help me. I need to know things like bottom bracket threads; are they french or english threads? Do I need some sort of adapter to make the BB work with new clipless peddals? I also am thinking about spreading the frame to take an 8 gear setup on the rear wheel. I have looked into Sheldon Brown's site on how to do this, but it scares me a little. I do not want to ruin the frame before I even get started. Any help will be appreciated.

abarth

Mine was a 84 SP. Pretty light for a touring bike. I think it was a little over 24lbs. I sold it recently. I was impressed by its handling and built quality. The paint on the chromed fork and stays chipped easily though.

Barchettaman

A lovely job on what looks like a really practical bike. Great work.

KLW2

[QUOTE=GlennO;10093261 I need to know things like bottom bracket threads; are they french or english threads? Do I need some sort of adapter to make the BB work with new clipless peddals? [/QUOTE]
English and no adapter is needed. Just pick up a new square taper, cartridge bottom bracket. Take the frame to your LBS so they can match it with a triple crank set and get the correct size BB.

GlennO

Thank you Keith for the info. Now at least I have a starting place. But I guess I should see first about cold setting the frame to accept a wider rear hub with more gears.

badger_biker 

A nice Voyageur build and nice photos. I just got delivery on a 1986 that I purchased on eBay and am wondering if there is a source for decals for that year of Voyageur. The paint job is pretty badly scratched and nicked and some prior touch up has been attempted. At this point I'm OK with covering any exposed steel just to protect it but in the event I ever want to paint or powder coat, I'd like to restore the decals.

custermustache

Best saddle ever.

Nice bike.

treebound 

Nice job. Gets me motivated to get going on my 1973 version.

akcapbikeforums

For reference purposes, here is the catalog page for the 1986 Voyageur, and here is the 1986 spec page.

Here is an overall comparison chart of Voyageurs by year, starting in 1980.

lawrencemflynn

Ihae a 1980 black 11.8 I am rebuilding. Any suggestions on how to repaint? I have been told so msny types of paint. Is powder-coating going to look as glossy as lacquer? Can I clear coat over it? How shold I paint it if I dont want to spend too too much, but am willing to spend maybe $75 or $100 total? I have decals coming, and want it to be mostly stock appearng, but wil do he lugs in red with gold pinstiping around the edges. I wwill post pics as I go. I am also looking for a set of nice weinmann ridged rims with eyelets so I can polishthe hubs and rims before I lae and build. I have polished much of the alloy stuff, seat post, stem, brakes, etc. Any advice on reanodizing vs laquering to preserve the shine? Any one know who anodizes inexpensivesly and without takinga month or so to do it? Thanks

superslomo

I have an older voyageur, which I've ridden in good health since around 1995 (bought it used). I have a standard road double, and would love to switch it out for at least a compact. Any recommendations on compact doubles with a square taper?

superslomo

FWIW, mine is a uniglide 6 speed rear...