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-   -   Schwinn Voyageur SP (https://www.bikeforums.net/classic-vintage-bicycles-whats-worth-appraisals/749193-schwinn-voyageur-sp.html)

AaronAnderson 07-05-11 08:01 PM

Schwinn Voyageur SP
 
imgur gallery of a bike I just picked up. Finally found something big enough and with braze-ons.


http://imgur.com/a/LXtfR#bNHsG

Worth the 175 I paid for it? It's in pretty good shape. Shifters need adjustment. Tires and brakes need to be replaced.

Anyone know what year this is? 1983? Comments etc, all welcome. I'm going to tear it completely down and polish everything up. Maybe a fresh powdercoat.

brian3069 07-05-11 08:59 PM

Nice bike, you did fine at $175. The paint looks pretty good, I think powder coating would be a mistake. The only change I would make is to add bar end shifters.

http://i584.photobucket.com/albums/s...3069/bNHsG.jpg

sathor 07-05-11 09:05 PM

I wish my Voyageur (2007) had drops on it. Don't know the year, but happy to see that it isn't a 1 piece crank.

I have an opportunity to buy a old Schwinn Varsity, if I do, I'll probably get a conversion thing to put a 3 piece crank on it, and it needs new tires, but its just $25.....

AaronAnderson 07-05-11 09:07 PM

I love the way the crankset looks on this one. They look super sharp when they're polished up. I'm excited about this find.

TugaDude 07-05-11 09:29 PM

1983. Tange 2 tubing is excellent. Very nice touring bike. Agree on the bar-end shifters, that would be a plus if you are going to tour or commute. I wouldn't do anything to the paint except touch up any small rust spots with some nail polish or Testor's in a "matching" color and then wax the frame. By the looks of it the paint is very nice. Powdercoat is o.k., and if you are going to ride it, then please yourself. Personally, I wouldn't. Unless there is something wrong with the paint that I can't see in the photos.

Nice components on the bike also. Ride it and enjoy!

AaronAnderson 07-05-11 09:31 PM

Awesome! Glad I got a good deal. I can't wait to buff and polish all of the little parts :) There's a shop in town with an ultrasonic degreaser that will make some quick business of the bigger parts.

TugaDude 07-05-11 09:34 PM

BTW, that is a half-step plus granny set up. Works great, I loved mine. Also, it appears that the previous owner might have dipped the downtube shifters in rubber, the kind you dip tool handles in. Scrape that off and clean them up with Mother's polish. Ditto for all the aluminum bits. I looked at the photos again and saw one bad spot in the paint on the downtube, near the bottom bracket. Clean off the rust and paint with Testors, that's all I would do to it. Looks well worth $175.00 to me.

wrk101 07-06-11 06:00 AM

Powdercoating that bike would be very foolish. First, you lose all of the original decals and labels. We often see postings by people asking: "Hey, I painted my bike, where do I get reproduction decals?" That's a question better asked before the original stuff is removed. Secondly, the bike is only original once. Third, powder coating tends to be on the thick side, and details around lug work and so on is lost. Fourth, you spend money to do all of this, money that could be spent on tires, needed maintenance, or another bike!!

AaronAnderson 07-06-11 06:01 AM


Originally Posted by wrk101 (Post 12886641)
Powdercoating that bike would be very foolish.

OK! No coat! - why not? because it's in good shape? It's not the most pretty color in the world, although it is in good shape.

AaronAnderson 07-06-11 08:14 AM

Is that computer thing up on the front wheel anything worth keeping?

Are the wheels worth tearing down, cleaning, and paying someone to reassemble? Or should I just get a set of rebuilt 27" wheels?

Beach Comber 07-06-11 08:22 AM

Yep, an 83 SP. And looks in good condition. First year with all the good amenities. $175 is a very good price. Nice find!

Whats mounted on the front fork dropout, drive side? Is that an old odometer, or some reflector/light?

EDIT: Doh - never mind. Just saw the photo link. :o

Iowegian 07-06-11 10:34 AM


Originally Posted by AaronAnderson (Post 12887185)
Is that computer thing up on the front wheel anything worth keeping?

I'd ditch it but if it works and you like it, then keep it.


Originally Posted by AaronAnderson (Post 12887185)
Are the wheels worth tearing down, cleaning, and paying someone to reassemble? Or should I just get a set of rebuilt 27" wheels?

Depends on their condition. If the hub bearings are in good shape then just clean and re-lubricate them. If the rims are round without damage then just tune them up by re-truing and tensioning.

In general, I'd just make sure everything is clean and lubed up and then ride it. You can always upgrade later if you find something that bothers you or if something breaks but give the old parts a chance first (except for the rubber bits you mentioned).

TugaDude 07-06-11 06:18 PM

Painting or powdercoating will hurt resale value to most buyers. If the goal is to keep it original, then touch up the rust spots and just clean and wax the frame. I've also just used WD40 to clean a frame and let it air dry. It ends up super shiny and leaves a film that repels water. It doesn't' leave a dull film, it stays shiny. Otherwise, wax is great.

If the bike is a keeper that you won't sell any time soon and the paint bothers you due to condition or color, then paint or powdercoat it.

Personally, I would paint before powdercoat, but then again I've never had a bike powdercoated. Maybe it is the bomb. I've seen photos both good and bad. Like Bill said above, when the powder is applied too thick, it obscures all of the details such as lugwork. Maybe that isn't the end of the world if it is going to be a daily rider.

It is a Schwinn Voyageur, not a vintage Frejus track bike. Nobody is going to be making it into a wall ornament. If you want to coat it, coat it.

TugaDude 07-06-11 06:19 PM

Please don't misunderstand my comparing the bike to a Frejus. I don't mean to disparage Schwinns in general or that bike in particular. Actually, I am very fond of Schwinns and own several. I also think that particular bike is very cool. Just not going to make the hit parade.

TireLever-07 07-06-11 06:21 PM

That's an old Huret Odo / trip meter. When bike computer first came out they were expensive. And few places sold them.

AaronAnderson 07-06-11 06:47 PM

@TugaDude; I know what you meant. It's not really going to be a "restoration piece" for me. I really just wanted something that's my size (very tall) and in pretty decent operating order to begin with. I also needed a touring bike. I'm planning on some long trips and I thought this would be a cool one to do it on.

I've spent the past few hours cleaning all of the grime and grit off of it. The paint isn't in the BEST shape but it's good enough to sand through one or 2 little surface rust spots and then clear enamel over while I get the rest of it going. It needs new hood covers and bar tape. Rear wheel needs a little bit of straightening. Needs a lot of degreasing. :) I'll post a new much more shiny picture tomorrow afternoon!

Six jours 07-06-11 08:19 PM

I'd be happy with that bike for that money. I'd replace the consumables (tires, brake pads, chain, bar tape) overhaul the bottom bracket, give everything a good cleaning, and then just ride it. There's essentially no collector value for what is a small variation on a theme repeated millions of times by the factory (and hiding the unfiled lugs under a thick coat of powder might actually improve their appearance!) but the paint looks pretty decent to me, so why bother with significant refinishing?

Oh, and I have a Huret computer that I bought NOS and have since put many miles on. I really like the silly things, though the rubber belts break on occasion (I got a pack of replacements at Ace hardware; they're just O-rings.)

AaronAnderson 07-06-11 08:51 PM

I just took it on a maiden voyage. Pardon the pun....

Rides great. I don't think any of the bearings or bottom brackets will need any overhauling before putting some miles on it. I'm gonna ride it about 20 miles in the morning to the local classic bike shop guy and see what he says as well as pick up a chain and tubes. It felt so great to be able to coast! (I only ride fixed gear.. until now)

bent-not-broken 07-07-11 11:30 AM

If it needed shifter adjustment, new tires and a chain, it needs the bearings greased and adjusted. Do not assume they are OK or they will need replacement.

AaronAnderson 07-07-11 07:02 PM

Bearings do need to be cleaned out. Rear derailleur is pretty worn out as well as the cassette bearings and teeth. The rear wheel isn't doing a very good job of holding onto the tire in one place... not sure what to do about that.

Where can I find a rear derailleur for this thing?

AaronAnderson 07-26-11 04:10 PM

I cleaned it up and replaced some things. Here it is today.

http://i.imgur.com/pz6zhl.jpg

http://i.imgur.com/WGf43l.jpg

http://i.imgur.com/WXlmLl.jpg

http://i.imgur.com/ZQ9JLl.jpg

http://i.imgur.com/mexjCl.jpg

http://i.imgur.com/IM2QEl.jpg

bent-not-broken 07-27-11 12:20 PM

Very nice!

AaronAnderson 09-01-11 07:28 AM

Things are cleaning up quite a bit. I'm starting to actually like this bike. Put some Newbaums cloth tape on the bars followed by 5 coats of Shellac. I took this with my phone on the way out the door this morning. Going to try and get some good action shots this weekend.


http://i.imgur.com/cyeWnl.jpg

Otto Rax 09-01-11 10:11 AM

GAH! how come everyone finds the big schwinn tourers except me, the 6'6" giant! Anyone wanna throw a bone to a tall guy ISO an 80's schwinn tourer?

AaronAnderson 09-01-11 10:13 AM

I could part with a 1983 Schwinn Voyageur. :)


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