jjhabbs 

Hey guys. Nobody else cares about my Vintage Schwinn World Voyageur. You may not also. But Im new here to this forum and I am excited to see some retro geeks like me. Its in excellent shape and I restored it to almost new.

Campy pedals, Ultra 6 suntour freewheel and Chain are not stock.

What does everyone think its worth?

CardiacKid

Nice restore. You don't want to sell that bike after putting all that work into it, do you? I imagine it is worth more to you than anyone else out there.

jjhabbs 

No..just curious. Im a slightly out of touch retro bike geek. Im sure its worth more to me. Someone offered me $1000 bucks..I think that is a little high but its worth more to me. I saw a couple at bike swaps and they wanted $600 and they are not in anywhere near as good of shape.

Beach Comber

Very nice!! Original paint and decals?

jjhabbs 

Yes. Purchased it 20 years ago from Budget bicyle in Madison Wi. for $150. Covered in dust I never got around to restoring it till last winter. I was totally surprised by its condition. Looks almost new except a couple of scratches.

that_guy_zach

There great bikes, I have one in that color. Value seems to be around 600 on the high side.

bikemanbob

Very nice bike! I have one, and I think it is great! I don't believe the saddle is original. I believe they came with a Fujita Seamless Saddle. Regardless, you have a very special bike.

I've seen the original documentation for my bike. I believe the MSRP was $250. The original owner paid $220. Depending on your market and demand, I would estimate between $400-600. Another Bike Forum member attempted to sell his restored World Voyageur in the Detroit area for many months without luck. If I recall right, he eventually sold it for in the low to mid $400. Location, condition, season, size, marketing, and luck determine the eventually value of the bike. It is only worth what someone is willing to pay.

Beach Comber

More than 20 years ago I think. Thats a 73?

mainstreetexile 

Nice bikes! Minor tangent here, but do you know the make of that rear rack?

skydog6653

https://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll...m=190634700232 This one was listed at least 3 times at $600 but never sold.

ColonelJLloyd 

Gorgeous! That's in fantastic condition; best I've seen. The paint is very fragile as the frame is fully chromed. I can't believe yours is in such good condition. Try messing with your camera's focus settings.

The Ultra 6 freewheel is not original, though it could have been a new, shop supplied upgrade. The origial freewheel was a Schwinn Approved (Suntour) 14-32 (or 34t - I don't recall) 5 speed with the largest two cogs being skip-tooth.

I purchased my World Voyageur last year in Oak Park. I suspect mine was a custom order job as I know of no other 25" World Voyageurs. I'm currently building an original Shimano high flange/Araya 27" wheelset for it as it came to me with unoriginal wheels. Yours should have a serial number on the BB.

If Budget Bicycle were selling that bike today they'd ask $1,800 for it judging by their eBay auctions. Ha!

Great bike. Enjoy it!

4Rings6Stars

Blasphemy around these parts, but that's prettier than any Paramount I've ever seen.

jjhabbs 

Beach comber..Yes..I purchased it used.

Colonel Lloyd. I have the original Freewheel. HUGE..wanted a gearing that would work for me. I do like to ride it.

Mainstreet. I believe that the saddle I have is original. So are the wheels. Just shined the living daylights out of the rims and hubs with Mothers Chrome polish. Then I relaced them with DT Straight G. spokes.

jjhabbs 

I love the activity of this forum! I cant believe so many responses so quickly. Making my sick day at home more fun. Im inspired to put my Paramount on here and see what you guys can tell me about it.

jjhabbs 

Colonal.. did you get yours at Barnards ? They used to be a client of mine.

ColonelJLloyd 

I bought it from the son of the original owner. He had recently passed away. He was an Austrian immigrant and bought it "in the early 70s" as his son told me. I'm in Louisville and drove five hours to collect it before the eBay auction even ended. I picked it up a couple of blocks from Frank Lloyd Wright's house. Here's the thread.

+1 Paramounts were made for decades and decades. The World Voyageur was available only in 1973 and was the first Japanese produced Schwinn. The WV was essentially Japan saying, "Look what we can build and the price for which we can build it."

bikemanbob

Sorry, I do not know. The original owner told me, but I didn't pay attention. It does have a sticker "made in England."

jjhabbs 

Honestly. I never saw a 25 inch WV ever. Ive been around a while too. That is a very rare bicycle! My father used to live in the frank lloyd wright area. He didnt have a FLW house but close by. The neighborhood changes every two blocks in that area.

ColonelJLloyd 

Indeed. There is a rough neighborhood between Oak Park and Chicago proper. I believe my WV was probably a custom order. I don't believe the paint is the exact shade of orange as the 21" or 23" models I've seen. I suspect it is likely a Voyageur II frameset perhaps painted in the Chicago factory, maybe for a Schwinn employee or the like. It has no serial number.

auchencrow

I guess I am the other Bike Forum member bikemanbob alluded to, and this was the bike. It was incredibly clean, but I still had a hell of a time getting $400 for it around here...
It sat for a long time as shown, reposting again and again until someone (obviously not from around here) drove 300 miles to get it.

mkeller234

We definitely do care about a great bike like that. Don't sell that one! Better yet, sell it to me!

bikemanbob

You are correct!

Before Auchen sold the bike, I saw it. It was incredibly clean and nice!

jbkirby

jjhabbs, your bike is gorgeous! So much so, that I am holding you responsible for the drool on my keyboard. Now to compensate for my anguish, just send that beautiful machine to me!

wrk101

+1 Add me to the list of current 1973 World Voyageur owners. I seem to have a budding collection of Panasonic built Schwinns right now, including the 1973 WV, two 1987 Prologues, and a 1992 Paramount Series 5. I also had a 1991 Paramount Series 3, but it has moved on to another home.

I really don't care for the Giant built Schwinns, but I really like the Panasonic built ones.

jjhabbs 

saw a prologue today. it was red and white fade. Full dura ace. the kid that got it paid 100 bucks for it and its almost mint! He said he just wanted a beater road bike and came across it..I educated him quickly on what he had.