jjhabbs 

So much for my bike buying diet.

To good to pass up.

Not a very valuable bicycle but in 1982 when I started working at a bicycle shop I purchased a 82 schwinn voyageur in Chrome. Now I get one back in the stable.

Ill be picking it up Saturday

Drillium Dude 

Those are great bikes! I found a black one a few years back for my brother. He had a Super Le Tour bitd and wanted another. I suggested he upgrade and located a Voyageur 11.8 - btw, what do the numbers stand for?

Yours looks almost all original but the brake levers and those pedals. A lovely addition to the stable.

DD

cb400bill

11.8 kg

jjhabbs 

11.8 KG = 26lbs... I think thats what it stands for.

I have the correct saddle in my inventory and simular..not exact quill pedals. I will look for stock Dia Compe G levers and hoods, Steve W said he has the levers. I need some NOS hoods

Drillium Dude 

Interesting; I wonder which size is right on the nose

DD

jjhabbs 

I had a 23 way back..it was 26lbs...we shall see when I get it.

Senrab62 

Niiiiiice! I've been eyeing that one on the Chi CL, but it's too small and I already have one I am working on now in my size lol.

You returning it to stock, or plan any upgrades? I feel that era Altus group gets a lot of grief, but mine worked well and quietly when I had it adjusted properly.

Oh yeah, if you find a cure for the bike buying diet let me know please. I think most of us here need the cure.

jjhabbs 

This bike will be as stock as possible. This is a bike that brings back memories. No need to enhance performance. I have plenty of bikes for that. Nostalgia is heavy when I see this bicycle. Especially with the red cables..First thing I did in 82 when I purchased one new was put on the red casings.

Senrab62 

Awesome. Close to stock, is a great ride in my opinion. Glad it brings back good memories. And yes, they look extra sharp with red housings. It goes so well with the decals.

Keep us posted with pics and wear sunglasses when you ride it in the summer. Something about chrome lugged bikes. So purdy.

jjhabbs 

It will sit next to these....

Fahrenheit531 

Seems like there's a bunch of these showing up lately. Enjoy it!

crank_addict

Goodness, John!

And now with all those chrome gems, you've got to get >>

RiddleOfSteel

As a Schwinn fan (like a buzillion others) and recent all chrome Super Le Tour 12.2 puchaser (and frame restorer), I very much am a fan of this bike! I'm in the same boat: so much for not buying another bike..

Steve Whitlatch 

Here is a picture of the original levers for the bike.

Narhay

Excellent. I know some like the Tektro aero levers but the lower end ones don't hold much aesthetic sway over me.

kpeex

That is a beautiful example of my favorite C&V bike! I hope this is not too rude of a hijack or diversion. But, my sentimental story is much the same as expressed in the original post.

I currently have a 23" 73 World Voyageur that I bought new two weeks before I graduated from high school. It is still a beautiful standout in my bike fleet.

Back in a time when I was much poorer, and unable to afford n+1, I lusted after a chrome Voyageur 11.8. I still do. These two chrome 11.8s have been calling out to me for almost a year on the local CL. I haven't called or looked at either because my bike stable is bursting at the seams. My willpower is non-existent. I do have a bad case of chrome n+1 spring fever right now, though. I think I can cull the herd to make room for one.

My 23" World Voyageur fits OK, but in my older self, it borders on large. I'm 5'10". My wife had a 21" WV years ago. I know that I could easily ride that frame again.

This one claims "54 cm". Can anybody tell if it's a 21" frame? The head tube makes it look like 23" to me. His original ad from last April had detail photos that made it appear to be slightly lesser condition than the 25" Voyageur below:

mint 1979 chrome schwinn voyageur 11.8

This beautiful 25" 11.8 is so big that it would only end up as eye candy hanging on my shop wall. There's no way I could add it to the rider rotation, but it sure is pretty:

Vintage Schwinn Voyageur Chrome 25" Lugged Steel Touring Bike

Could somebody comment on the bikes and prices or throw a bucket of cold water my way?

Thanks!

Senrab62 

N + 1 + 1,2,3.....

I am biased, but they are great riding bikes. And they are chrome!

Also, to me, the first one looks to be a 23"/58 cm. If they have been sitting a year, maybe you can snag one cheaper than advertised if not too big.

And I LOVE the 73 WV! They are such nice bikes. I had a 58 cm pass me by (too small for me) and still regret it.

Iowegian

Personally, I think the prices for both those listings is quite high. The chrome on these bikes seems to last forever and there must have been quite a few produced since they seem to pop up regularly. Of course, time is money and replacing original parts takes both time and money but for $400+ I would hold out for a bike that checked all the boxes with respect to condition, size, original equipment, etc.

bmthom.gis

Nice! My best friend found the touring model of the Voyageur at Goodwill for a grand total of $9. Magically, it fits him perfectly as well.

GusTheArtist

Just picked up this really nice Schwinn Voyageur 11.8 yesterday,



I'm going to see if I'd be able to keep it for myself, but being 25" inches I think I might have to trade it off. Hopefully I'd be able to trade it for a 21" frame.

oddjob2

I think you have the size right at 23".

kpeex

Thanks for the comments and the bucket of cold water on the prices. I suspected they were on the high side.

The guy with the 23" frame (ad claims 54cm) even raised his price to $444 from $410 at some point along the way. I think I'll go see the 25". I thought they were zombie ads, but they are regularly re-posted. I have some fairly reliable Craigslist saved searches within a 300 mile radius. In my experience, like new chrome 11.8 Voyageurs and 12.2 Super LeTours don't show up often in the Mid-Atlantic.

GusTheArtist, do mind me asking the price for the one you just bought? It looks OEM and like new. Beautiful bike.

Senrab62 

$444 isn't the worst considering brooks, frame pump, shorty fenders, rack, and aero levers (though I would want the originals personally). More than I paid, $290 with no accessories in pretty good vintage condition, but not the worst. They sell for $270-350 in the Chicago market with a handful a year. Unsure of the eBay market for these though.

Good luck and look around regionally. I find a decent amount of bikes out of market, and cheaper is I am willing to drive a bit. Gas is cheap and it's only time at that point.

@jjhabbs - moar pics pleez!!

jjhabbs 

Ends up this bicycle is about a 5 out of 10 condition. I didnt purchase it. It gone.

I didnt buy it.

Senrab62 

Boo. No wonder there weren't a lot of pics. Oh well, money better spent elsewhere. Keep looking, they pop up occasionally. Good luck man!