ColonelJLloyd 

All the literature I've seen lists two colors; orange and yellow. And, two sizes: 21" and 23". However, I've seen one World Voyageur in blue. I've wanted one of these since I discovered them, but had no reason to believe I ever would because I ride 63cm frames.

Well, two states away and 10 hours in a car and I have one. Have you ever seen a 25" World Voyageur? Just how rare is this bike?

Pics? I'll post some tomorrow morning. It goes without saying, but I'm pretty excited about my new bike.

Edit: The catalog page below does indeed list "opaque blue".

Scooper

That's really cool. I can't wait to see the pictures.

ColonelJLloyd 

I thought of you, Stan, when I came across the auction. I know you're a Schwinn fan AND that's your size.

khatfull

Not even a crappy cell phone pic eh?

Zaphod Beeblebrox 

just picture the 23" with more headube.

I couldn't believe it when I saw it....its a non-existent bike.

Good luck finding white Hetres

ColonelJLloyd 

What has two thumbs and a 25" World Voyageur? This guy! (I have two thumbs; take my word for it).

Zaphod Beeblebrox 

You need a hot Schwinn branded stem for that baby and not that ugly thing it comes with. The kind with the big "S" on it. I've got a couple around if you need one.

khatfull

Ask and ye shall receive!

ColonelJLloyd 

The wheelset is obviously not original. Dark anodized 700c Araya clinchers laced to Suntour hubs and a 7 speed freewheel.

Zaphod Beeblebrox 

I call BS, i only see one thumb.

Is this like the opposite trip the Blues Brothers made? 106 miles to Chicago..

ColonelJLloyd 

The one-owner bike was one block from Frank Lloyd Wright's house. Cool!

ColonelJLloyd 

Other things I didn't expect to happen in 48 hours time on my World Voyageur quest.

- Eat sous vide French toast. I don't even like French toast, but this was great stuff. Spiced whipped cream, macerated pineapple and pink peppercorns. Nice.



- Go to an art gallery (free beer at 9:30am!) Oops, no pics on this one. I wish there was, there was weird hairless cat walking around the joint and all the art was made from reclaimed objects (yes, trash).


- Bartend a baby shower for 20 some-odd ladies while wearing a fake Tom Reingold mustache. I made enough money (the hard way) to pay off the bike in one day!

pastorbobnlnh 

Justin,

Great catch! Now don't you need a 25" Paramount?

ColonelJLloyd 

Thanks, Bob! Maybe one of these days, but had I not a) made it a near break even trip and b) sold a bike in Chicago, my wife may have poked out my eye. If I'm smart I'll cool it on the N+1 craziness. Problem is. . . .

Beach Comber

To the best of my knowledge, the 73 WV was a pre-run up for the 74 Voyageur II. Same colors, same sizes. I don't think it ever even showed up in the Schwinn catalog. Few were built, and only certain dealers got them. Original list price was around $250-$275. It is quite a find!

I may be mistaken on this, but I believe it was Shwinn's first real 10sp import.

tugrul

Cogs... too... close... to... down tube...


I'm so used to the World prefix being on the entry level riff raff in the catalogs, but you guys seem genuinely excited by these models.

Somebody with one should start a thread dedicated to them.

khatfull

TRULY the expression of a guy who just drove two states to buy a bike. Priceless!

Scooper

That is a great catch! Congratulations, Justin. ...and you're right; the 1973 specs list only model V21 (21" frame) and model V23 (23" frame). You've found a rare bird.

Every time I go to Chicago, I drive out to Oak Park to take the tour of Frank Lloyd Wright's home.

illwafer

cool blog you have here.

Bikedued

Now there's one I would have kept had I found a 25"! My orange one was as cool as a vintage Schwinn can get. If it was two inches larger it would have fit me perfectly! Congrats on the rare find!!,,,,BD

auchencrow

Congrats Colonel!
I never had any idea these existed! (QUITE a rarity though I'm sure - glad you got it!)

The house tour had to be very cool too. Could be worth a trip road trip all by itself

ColonelJLloyd 

That's how I understand it, but I don't think I quite agree with your characterization. I'd speculate that the '73 wasn't a pre-run, but rather the Voyageur II was produced because of the success of or interest in the World Voyageurs. They are very, very similar bikes for sure. Perhaps there were a few 25" World Voyageur "missing links" during the transition. This is the only one I've ever seen an haven't heard from anyone else who has laid eyes on one until now.


Yep. I think this was a bike with which the Japanese company was essentially saying, "here's the kind of bike we can build and this is the price for which we can build it".

Thanks, Auchen. I didn't have time to go inside, but will do so next time.

It's all good. She wasn't harmed.

-holiday76

so wait, you drove 10 hours one way to get this?

That beats me driving 4 hours round trip a few weeks ago to get a bike 14cm too small for me.

ColonelJLloyd 

I drove 600 miles round trip. My plan was just to win it and have a friend in Chicago pick it up. But, it worked out that I helped said friend with a catering event and in doing so paid for the bike.

In a seriously "small world" event, it turns out the guy who bought my '82 Voyageur 11.8 was the only other bidder on this World Voyageur. A great guy who's really into vintage stuff as well. I'm glad he bought my bike, but his bid cost me a hundred bucks.

Oregon Southpaw

Did you get rid of the chrome voyageur or the blue one?

Great bike. Great to know there's another red schwinn to look out for :/