Schwinn Traveler Date Code Question
 

I obtained a 12 speed Scwhinn Traveler recently. It's in very good shape except for a few cosmetic nicks and chips and rides great after I replaced what looked like the original dry rotted tires. The serial number is D899864 and it was found under the bottom bracket. I read that this may be a Japanese import, it looks like late 1980's to me. I was thinking maybe the code meant April 1988 or 1989. It has 27" aluminum rims not sure what the frame is made of the but the whole bike is pretty light. I was thinking of using it for a triathlon, I'm not a superstar so it would probably perform just fine. Is this a decent bike? It rides fabulous, but again I'm not a serious cyclist or anything. Any info would help.
Thanks,
Bill

There are some on this board who may be able to date the bike by the serial number you list, but the easiest way is to look on the headtube badge and find four small digits stamped on it. The first three digits will represent the numerical day of the year the bike was assembled, and the last digit will reperesent the last number of the year. And since yours is a 12 speed Traveler, it's almost certainly an '80's bike. An example of the date code on the headbadge would be: 1558. This would indicate the bike was assembled on the 155th day of 1988. Hope this helps-

A 12 speed USUALLY means it was made sometime after the mid 80s, BUT if someone added a sixpeed freewheel or a new wheel set to their older Traveler, it could now be 12 speed. My '79 Traveler now has a 6 speed Shimano Uniglide rear cassette and a triple chainwheel making it an 18 speed. Post a picture and tell us about the components.

Bob

Sorry to sound ignorant, I've been picking the terminology up as I've been reading. Is that the Schwinn plate on the front of the bike? I dodn't think I saw a number on it. I'll have to check it closer tonight.
Thanks

Yes, the round plate on the very front. The numbers are stamped into the metal, and can be hard to see.

I'l post the components tomorrow. Hopefully you can see a picture here.

An '80's Schwinn. Were you able to find the date code on the headbadge?.......Also, there's a great site, vintage Trek, that has info on dating components. There are date codes stamped on most components, and the vintage Trek site gives you the info to date them..........Great looking Traveler- :)

Yes, your Traveler is a later 80s version. The paint and the decals give the biggests clues without knowing the the headbadge number. And some hack mechanic like myself hasn't modified it! :D Nice looking bike. I hope you paid a reasonable price.

Bob

I didn't even notice the headbadge number when I first looked at the bike. It has 1128 stamped on it very small. It has Sakae handle bars and cranks, Shimano light action, Dia compe brakes, and Wlinman 415X alloy rims. I traded it for a huffy mountain bike that I had owned for about 10 years. The guy overheard me saying I wish I still had my schwinn from the 80's and he offered to trade me since he said he would use my mountain bike more. I said sure site unseen because I figured I could fix it up. After I rode it I felt bad and offered him some money and he refused. So I basically got it for nothing because I was going to throw my old mountain bike to the curb!!! All I hav done to it is put new rubber to replace the rotted original tires.

I've got an 86 with the same components. It's a decent bike. My wife's lucky that its too small for me!

What a deal! A very nice guy indeed! We should all be this generous.

So is this bike built by Panasonic? Is there any way to tell?

From the numbers on your head badge, you have a 1988 model. My 88 has a Tru Temper made in USA sticker located on the bottom of the seat tube.

Yes, mine has the same sticker. I just thought that might be BS. If it was made in the US than where?

The Schwinn plant in Greenville, Mississippi.

So what is this bike worth if I was to try and sell it?

I'd say $50-$150, depending on where you are and what the market there is like. Or you could e-bay it, but the problem with relatively inexpensive bikes on e-bay is that the shipping has to be factored in, and when it is it's often as much or more as the bike's worth. My opinion is that you got a very good deal on a nice old bike that you would get a lot more "value" out of if you ride the wheels off it (not literally, of course), even if you get another bike and make this one your #2 bike.

Thanks, I think that's exactly what I'm going to do. This one is a 58cm frame and is realy too big for me but I can still ride it with the seat down low. I was going to get some clipless pedals and shoes but when I went to the LBS I fell in love with the new Trek 1000 and ordered it in my size. Now I have the best of both worlds. I offered it to a guy that is doing the triathlon this year and needs a bike. I asked $75 so I couls cover the cost of the new tires and tubes I just put on it. If he wants it I'll sell it, if not I'll just keep it. I new I was in trouble going to the LBS.

Sounds like a good plan, and you may find that the Traveler being marginally too large is a good thing. As long as you can stand over the bike without injuring yourself :eek: , a low saddle means it's easy to get the saddle/handlebar relationship at about the same height, and the Traveler would make a nice commuter/tourer, so this comfortable, fairly upright riding position might be ideal for this bike. Just a thought. :)

My wife's bike is identical to yours except that hers is a ladies frame. Compared to the Collegiate that she had as a kid, the Traveller is light as a feather. I put flat bars and a gel seat on for her, but everything else is stock.

I agree completely - unless of course you live near Dallas Texas. Which in that case the 58cm is completely the wrong size for you and should be sold as quickly and cheaply as possible - to me. :p

I had an older Traveler which was about two sizes too big for me (and indeed the standover was about to the point where it was nearly dangerous/painful) but all the same it was a very comfortable riding bike on which I did my first Metric Century last year. Your Traveler appears to be in pretty decent shape, especially for the price paid! I'd give the new bike a bit more time to get adjusted before you ebay it, best times to sell bikes are probably mid-April through mid-June or so depending on your location.