I have the opportunity to trade for either a Schwinn voyager (no seat or post, needs chain and TLC) or a Ross sport gran touring (rides great, shimano 600 components, brooks saddle,araya rims etc. needs tires and bar wrap). Both frames are good and both are my size. Whadya think?

Knee jerk reaction by most would be the Voyager, it's a Schwinn. That Ross is most likely an '85 or 6 so if I knew more, I could respond. I have an idea but... some details are in order (don't need pics.)

What year voyager? If the voyager has Columbus Tenax frame go for it. The Ross is not a bad bike, but it is a bit less of a bike than the Voyager. Are they the same price?

Yeah, COLORS and whether they have index or friction shifting helps. Steel or Al. Alloy wheels, 27" wheels...

Ross is black w/ gold trimming around lugs. Al rims, stem, Sakae (I think that was the marking) on the bars. How can I tell if the shifters are index or friction? The lower fork is chromed on the Ross....

Schwinn is black w/ some red accents, Al rims, lower fork and rear most portion of rear triangle is chromed. Sticker on frame says "Hi-Lite" frames and it is made in Japan. The Schwinn also has 3 gears on the crank, if that helps w/ the age ID.

27" wheels both,

If the guy agrees to complete the Schwinn for me, that'll be the winner. But I don't want to trade something that currently works for a *** that I can't ride and verify functionality. I should've taken my digi cam w/ me, argh.

You can't go wrong with a Voyaguer. It was a fairly high end Schwinn (more or less so depending on the year), I don't know much about Rosse's, but the two I've seen have had pressed dropouts, and hi-ten steel frames (read: heavy)Where the Voyageur (my 11.8 at least) has cast dropouts, and a chrome-moly frame (read: not heavy at all).

There are friction if it is an 85 or an 86 Ross. All Voyagers had triple cranks up front. If the sticker says "Hi-Lite" it is probably either 4130 or 1020 double-butted. Pre-84. Ask the seller to get the Brooks saddle from the Ross (and the post if it fits), get a chain and call it a day

Goin' with the ROSS. The Schwinn, aside from not being operational, is quite regular; solid bike most likely NOT that SP model or the Col. tubing one. Black with a bit of red, 81,82 . Triples are nice but the better Voyagers were later and had gold in the front like the ROSS has. That ross is an '84 or '85. If you look at or remember it has sleek cranks, NO indentation, new type. The '83s have the sculptured crank arms. Either way, the 600 series was the secomd best Shimano on the second best Ross which had Ishiwata tubing. 84s called "new" 600; 85s ...EX but the 86s got the SIS, indexed, click shift. No matter.
This time, the ROSS prevails. You the OP rode it; the proof of the pudding is in the tasting. You can't ride that Schwinn. I may be wrong but I doubt it, I remember those Ross bikes with Gold accenting.
The damn Brooks 'll fetch forty to seventy five bucks.

Don't count on the seller to rob from Peter to give to Paul. I'd tell you to go ... if you asked me to.
No compelling reason for to wreck the Ross for that. Try it if you want but...

As far as transfering parts from the Ross to the Schwinn....not gonna happen. He DOES have other random brooks saddles on his shelves that I may be able to talk him into parting w/, but I'm not sure. I really can't remember if the cranks have indentations or if they are smooth. I'm going back tuesday to look @ it again and I'll check then. Either way, when I get one of them I WILL post pics. Thanks gents!

Here is a definitive Voyageur comparison chart, where you can ascertain the specs on the bike you're considering.

As the OP surmises, "black and red" indicates 80-82. Motobecane must have been breathing down everybody's neck with their handsome "black and red" color scheme in those days.

I don't think of Voyageur's as "regular." I think of 'em as very fine bikes from a "regular" company.

And then there's the World Voyageur!

Craigslist Voyageur 11.8 80-82 WDC $250

Ebay Voyageur 11.8 80-82 WI $239

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why chose? take them both!

All Schwinn Voyaguers were chrome-moly, and only the SP and later models had a triple crankset, the 11.8 just had a double, and a six in the rear.

+1 The Voyageur is a really good bike, not just your average Schwinn. I would be all over the Voyageur myself. And if you get tired of it, the Schwinn will have significantly better resale.

What designates (easily seen) a SP from a regular voyager? Maybe, just maybe, I can aquire both, but that might put me in a dangerous situation (3 roadbikes, 1 Raleigh "townie" and 2 mtbs). I had my mind made up on the Ross, but now the schwinn is nagging again. I gotta go back on tues and talk to the guy....

Of other interest, he has a silver Motobecane hanging in his barn.... no wheels and a smaller (53cmish) frame.

Every year is different. A lot of the differences migrated from the SP (the better bike) to the regular Voyageur. Of course, that also means the regular Voyageur was getting better. I would just look at the on line catalogs on the web, and make yourself a cribsheet. At the right (low) price, the Voyageur is a nice bike too.

https://www.trfindley.com/flschwinn_1980_1990/index.html

I had a Voyageur, and no triple. Did that start in the late eighties maybe, when it finally got canti brakes? My 81 was more
like a sports touring bike. Regular sidepulls, and a double.,,,,BD

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Again, you can see the exact differences between each year model, as well as the differences between the Voyageur and Voyageur SP (only offered 82, 83, 84, 85 -- varied each year as to differences) here, in this chart:

Click Here: Voyageur Comparison Chart, all years, by Sandro Fouché

But since you mention it, if your black and red Voyageur has bottle braze ons... it's an 82
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Thanks for the link wrk101. Pictures really help me.... Judging by the pics the schwinn might be either an 82 or 83. I appreciate the assistance!

Not likely it's 83, 83 weren't available in Sable Black with red accents. If has the water bottle braze ons it's an 82. Otherwise you can check the serial number for the year.

That Voyageur is really not special like the ones from 84 on. Its really just a sports tourer with sidepulls and chromed stays. This is not one of the touring bikes with full braze ons.

What kind of tubing is the Ross? Is is ishiwata 022? Are the dropouts stamped, or forged with adjuster screws? I'm leaning towards the Ross.

+1, Bianchigirl is right. If the prices are good, buy them both. You can flip the one you don't like after you'ver ridden both. It's not correct to look at these two bikes, and let's say the price is $100 each, as a $200 investment. It's more like $100 invested, with another $100 in assests to be recovered later. The only way to really know which bike is the one you like is to ride both for some distance, then decide. I promise, you won't regret it.

I had a 1981 Voyageur 11.8 earlier this year. I thought it was a very nice bike. It has moved on to its new home.

Great color combination IMHO, with the nice chrome touches.

Hey? Watch what bike you're calling "not special"? I happen to like the pre cantilever models just as much. All Schwinn finally did was put the face with the name, hehe. Besides, the 73 Voyageur is quite special indeed!!,,,,BD

Tuesday can not get here fast enough!