My first road bike: 1987 Schwinn Voyageur
 

Wanted to share some pics of my first ever road bike, a 53 cm 1987 Schwinn Voyageur. Got it on Craigslist for $220, which I thought was an okay price, but maybe I overpaid because upon closer inspection I see I'll need new tires, cables, bar tape. Kicking myself for not bargaining, but I'm new to this, so, live and learn.

It seems to have all original components, saddle, and rack. It belonged to the seller's mother. It's a really handsome bike that I hope to have a lot of fun riding. Paint has some dings but nothing too awful. Seller told me that a bike shop had serviced the bike sometime recently and repacked the hubs but seeing how old the cables look I'm not sure I believe it.

If the bike fits properly, awesome!
I can't comment on the inflation factor of the DC market....so you may have overpaid slightly if it needed a complete tune up and consumables, but you may have overpaid for a great bike. Solid frame, solid components. Were it me, I would tune up w/new consumables, get rid of the turkey levers, re-wrap the bar with Brooks tape, address that saddle - maybe a cambium, nice tires, fenders, cages, bags and go!

I have put thousands of miles on my '85 Voyageur. Enjoy.

that's a fine price for a very good bike; you did well. You always have to factor in an overhaul and consumables on an older bike to make it road worthy.

Bit of an investment but that bike is super cool. Great find, especially for a first road bike. I say spend a little more on good used touring bits and hit the road.

That'a a good price. That would go for twice that here in SF.

Buying tires and stuff will make it yours. Those touring bikes are wonderfully flexible - - there's room for fenders and wide tires and they are comfortable if set up with upright bars. The Tenax is a good tough steel that lends durability. Congrats!

Inflated prices in the SF bay area make this hobby very difficult. Based on my skewed perception, it is a very good bike for the money.

Not overpriced at all in my opinion.
Where is the Biopace sticker?!
Nice bike.


p.s that may be the original saddle.

That was a good deal. That is a keeper bike.

I wouldn't worry about that price, not in this sport/hobby/lifestyle. That looks like a really nice bicycle there. Once you get the usual consumables replaced, and the little aesthetic work it needs, you have got a really nice rider. Very good looking paint on it, from your pictures, too.

Man, some new tires and tubes, bar tape, cables, and even a new chain, then a little grease and some cleaning touches, and you will be good to go.

Bill

You did very well, especially for here in the DC area. I paid more than twice that for mine, and still replaced all of the consumables.


That's a lifetime bike that you'll be able to pass on to the next generation if properly maintained.


Just make sure you lock it up when it's not in your house.

+1

Bell cable set $10(walmart by mail), 27 x 1 1/4 Panaracer PT tires $60/pr, Deda Mistral bar tape $15, bell $15, and allowance for a saddle $100, you're good to go.

If you don't mind the added weight from the springs, this is a great deal at $50.
http://store.velo-orange.com/index.p...g-touring.html

Nooooo, those Bell cable housings do not have an inner lining. I had them. Makes the brakes feel like crap. You can get a 50 foot roll of lined cable housing from Niagra for less than $11, then spend a few bucks on some good cables.

Thanks for telling me about the Panaracer tires. I'll get those.

Not sure I want the sprung saddle on this bike but might get one for my Linus to replace its lackluster stock saddle.

Thanks--makes me feel better. It seems like around here $150-200 is sort of Craigslist entry level for anything decent.I just wish I had bargained slightly/asked to pay 200 instead of 220 but oh well.

This bike blended in with the others and the decription wasn't well written but when I researched I realized it's a well regarded touring bike that people look for. Not the best of the Voyageur years but pretty nice I think. Maybe if I keep my costs down I could sell it without a loss if I needed to.

I had to trek out to the new Reston metro stop to get it and then endure the typical metro foolishness (random gas leak near a station) and delays to get home.

I always lock with two locks! A chain and a U lock. I hate the bike thieves.

Maybe someone along the way thought the sticker was ugly, I don't know. :)

It is the original saddle.

I think it fits. Not 100% sure yet. I've never done the bent over road bike posture thing before. It's 53 cm, I'm 5'6", and I can stand over it with barely a quarter of an inch to spare. I know it's in the correct ballpark. If anything it feels a bit cramped like I want the handlebars a little up and a little further away. I'm going to put a new stem on to try that out. And move the seat back a little. Pretty sure once I tinker with positioning a little, it will be right. :D

+1.
I bought one of those Bell kits based on a suggestion here. Ends of the cables were rusted, there was no liner, and the cables were not nearly as smooth as generic Sunlite stainless cables.
I kept the housing stops and tossed everything else.

Brake and shift cables cost $1.50 each at my co-op. stainless and smooth.
Housing is $1/foot for shift and brake. lined and smooth.

An LBS near me sells housing by the foot and cables individually. Basically $22 for lubed lined housing and stainless cables.



Funny- I was switching a down tube bike to STIs last night, looked up, and saw I dont have enough shift housing. Need to order more!

I think that is reasonable for a great ride.

That can be a lifetime bike.

Not sure what dinner and a movie cost in DC, $220 goes quick in the St. Louis area.

Good luck.

eom

I think it would be prudent to double check for fit compatibility issues between those tires and your rims before buying. ;)

Wow, that is a great deal, at 50% off, with honey and brown in stock. Thanks for the tip!

Double checking is always prudent, but what is the issue you are alluding about? We have a noob OP, don't cause unnecessary anxiety.

As far as the Bell naysayers, sure there are better and more expensive cables and housing available, but anything is better than 30 year old cables in 30 year old vinyl housing. :D You actually may want to do that at a coop, as you will need cutters and if your hands are small, a "third hand" cable tool. Even before you change cables, you might to make sure you can grab the brake levers. Just this week, 5'6" woman looking at a road bike I had for sale had fingers about 1 segment shorter than mine, making the grasp of standard Dia Compe levers tenuous. I recommended short reach Tektro RL341s.

I wasn't alluding to anything. I made a direct suggestion to check for fit compatibility before buying.

Cause unnecessary anxiety? I am trying to save MissMixte some grief.

I wanted to avoid directly calling you out on your error, and help MissMixte at the same time.

[strike]Her wheels have 700c rims.[/strike] No, I was mistaken, it has 27".

Sorry for trying to be friendly and helpful.

" The quality wil remain long after the price is forgotten." Henry Royce

Huh. My '87 Voyageur has 27" rims and I use those same Panaracers in that size. Pretty sure the OP's is an 87 based on color and equipment; I specifically searched for that model year due to my preference for late 80's Deore.

Open invitation to the OP: e-mail or text any time, happy to help out with advice, small parts, etc. I have a box of quality cables and housing (including some in a killer dark red semi-opaque) and all the tools to adjust, upgrade & repair. Even though I'm in Burke, my daughter lives in Petworth & we go there quite often, would make it easier for you than a trek out to the NoVA burbs. E-mail is rccardr@cox.net, cell/text is 7039873346.

I can't tell from the photos, but the Schwinn Catalogs 1981-1987 spec pages show 27" tires for all the Voyageurs. I've only had a problem with tire dimension changes between a 1987 Prelude and a 1985 Prelude.