Originally Posted by
KLW2
Schwinn Voyageur....one of the best!
The 1986 Schwinn Passage, which was the touring model just below the Voyageur that year, is also pretty decent. I think 1986 was the only year it was made. It has a Columbus Tenax frame with braze-ons for 3 water bottle cages, front and rear racks, and a pump peg. Came with a 40-spoke rear wheel and Weinmann alloy rims, Dia-Compe cantilever brakes, and triple chain wheel (15-speed... 3X5). The Passage was made in the U.S.A. with imported components. It sold for about $310 in 1986 ... how quaint! My Passage was modified by a previous owner. The modifications include added Shimano safety levers (they are nice and snug, but move freely) to the brake levers, and stem shifters in place of the down tube shifters. For touring, I actually like these modifications quite a bit. I added the stainless steel fenders. They came off a very badly rusted Bridgestone Kabuki T-5 from the late '70s (?). The T-5 had 26" wheels, so I had to retrofit extenders on the rear fenders stays. I put a Brooks B-17 leather saddle on it, but kept the original Selle saddle for posterity. I have several sets of panniers for it to choose from, but like my old light blue Cannondales the most. I think the previous owner loved this bike as much as I do.