Should I or shouldn't I?
 

Llong story short, I'm on the hunt for a touring bike for a good deal in good condition. This bike came up on CL and the seller is holding it for me. The size is on the top end of my range, and it looks to be in pretty bad condition.

http://lh6.ggpht.com/_ZFa6PmuC2ko/Sw...0/IMG_2708.JPG

The rust seems a bit over my head and I have some other winter projects that will be eating up my time. Should I bite the bullet and wait for another bike? That's what I am leaning towards, even though I dont have to like it :notamused:

I would say bite the bullet and wait. That looks to me like a low end Schwinn. Turkey Wing brakes are usually on low end stuff. I bet it is made of gas pipe steel and ways a ton. Not to mention the condition issues.

Hold out for a Univega or Nishiki at a good price.

I just picked up a good condition full bike, Univega Gran Turismo for $300.00, sort of high middle for that model.

Good bikes are out there.

For $20, yeah. How much is the seller asking? It is pretty beat. If you do go for it check for crash damage, measure the dropouts spacing to make sure everything is kosher there, and make sure the seat post and stem are free.

Supposedly the seatpost and stem are free. He is asking $80, but it would require alot of cash to make it looking pretty, let along rust free, again.

Some of those Schwinns were built with Columbus tubing and were vastly underrated IMO. The turkey wings could have easily been added at the dealership per customer request so I wouldn't count it out based on that. 700c's, 126mm rear spacing and ample braze-ons are what I would be looking for. A quick cheap powder coat takes care of condition. Might be a diamond in the rough! Can you verify the model name and look for catalog scans?

You should jump on it like nuts... esp if the price is right <$100. Turkey wings are not original

You got a 1989 Voyager. Columbus Tenax frame, total spec'd weight 24 lbs (not bad for a touring bike)

complete specs: http://www.trfindley.com/flschwinn_1...9_Ltwt_16.html
catalog page: http://www.trfindley.com/flschwinn_1...89_Ltwt_12.jpg

27 inch wheels...

Edit (just saw the price) : $80 is a steal any way you look at it. The bar end shifters are not original either and they alone might worth about $30-40...

Agreed. I bought my Fuji America with turkey wings and stem shifters. I quickly switched it back to barcons and a set of levers that came off another BF'ers wrecked America.

It is too bad that this might be too large for you. I have a 58cm Miyata 610 that I am debating selling.

The reason I was asking about your location earlier is that I live near Chicago and I will be driving down to the Peoria area for Thanksgiving. I can't drive too far to pick up, but if it fits into my trunk, I could consider transporting it partway to save you some of the cost.

Those Tenax frames are VG. if it's straight and if you're convinced of it ... well worth it. A good size too.

Ive ridden a Tenax Voyageur and like the ride, but I just think the double whammy of size and condition puts it on the hold list. Ugh, I say that grudgingly.

beech333, thanks for the offer! My lady actually lives just north of the city and occasionally partakes in my bike schemes :)

I would not be too concerned with the turkey levers (happy almost thanksgiving p.s.) and bar shifters, as beech mentioned, they are easily moved, especially when the entire frame needs to be torn apart and cleaned, haha.

http://go.bikeforums.net/?id=42X1295...89_Ltwt_12.jpg



Interesting touring attire. Shame I missed the late 80's touring scene.

Makes her more aero and lighter for those 100miles days, haha

You got to check the 00's Triathlon scene ;)

Ah ha, I knew no man could endure that kind of suffering without some sort of payoff.

No!!! Don't get rid of the barcons...or if you do, give them to me. I've got a set of stem shifters if you want them.:innocent:

I would wait. Just yesterday, there was a late 80's Swchinn Voyageur (51cm) at the Milwaukee CL that sold for $75.
Right now there's this Trek 520 for $500 in Racine http://racine.craigslist.org/bik/1474983148.html might be negotiable.

Edit: Check your PM right now!

Gee I wish my Voyageur S/P or my Passage were that nice of a color. Mine are a really ugly flat blue, due to get repainted soon.

But yeah, that's a good deal, you should get it.

DVC45, Ive been debating that kodiak for a couple days! It looks in really good condition and a good size! The real problem for me is having to save up cash for going back to school next year and climbing some big mountains before that, so most of my cash is tied up in those endeavors. :(

My lady does have an early miyata gran touring (pre 1000), but it is missing some of the braze-ons of a full touring model (only one water bottle, no rear rack mounts, single eyelets in the back, no mid-fork). In the big scheme of things, I could just get some P-clamps and have a hay-day, but that would steal the fun of hunting for a new bike, haha!

$500 for a Trek 520 is high, depending on the year. It would have to be just a few years old to garner that kind of price around here.

I have sold two Trek 520s and a Trek 620 this year.

if he is close I would go and atleast look. there are no wheels so I don't imagine people are clammoring over it. but for $80 you atleast get a steel frame, a nice looking triple crank (halfstep even) a set of cantilever brakes, a F & R derailluers and a bar and stem.

you can always haggle. show up with $50. tell him it is not quite what your looking for and say you'll give him $50. unless he has other people interested he will likely take it.

My kids and I sold a 520 two weeks ago for $325, down from $400. It was in fantastic condition, and we put a little too much into it. The new owner, a local college professor, is going to commute with this bike. That's great. I don't know about the op's deal though, as we just bought a nice Bridgestone T-700 for $125. Needs nothing.

bianchigirl, its about 3.5 hours away, but my lady is close but busy. There's just too many signs pointing to pass. I figure some one will pick it up and take care of it and pass some good karma to me.

gomango, thats the kind of deal I am patiently waiting for! Congrats!

The things is the bike is a garden variety Schwinn that usually shows up on CL quite often. If it came with wheels and if it was not going to be a major clean/remove rust project...Then *maybe*. But I would advise waiting.

Columbus Tenax framed Schwinn bikes:

a. Are not garden variety
b. Do not show up on CL for $80 very often

Its a wonderful bike. I have two identical ones sitting in my garage and basement, to build custom tourers for people. I emailed him about this one too, and he hasn't responded yet.

btw, this bike has all the touring braze ons.

I did a little looking but couldn't find much on Tenax. Rumor has it that it Schwinn bought up a bunch of factory seconds of Columbus (SP?) tubing and badged it as 'Tenax.' Can anyone confirm or refute this?