arfer1

I just got a 1980 Chrome Schwinn Voyager. I've seen some example of this bike in which the decals have been removed to highlight the chrome. Any thoughts or advice about whether to remove the decals?

gaucho777 

Keep 'em. People pay good money for decals, and Schwinn decals are not overly distracting. In nearly all cases, I think bikes look better with decals.

rhm

Depends on condition. Look at it this way: if someone wanted decals on your frame, would these be good enough? If so, then leave them. If they're already so damaged that they'd need to be replaced anyway, then what the heck.

randyjawa 

There are many things to consider when building up a vintage bicycle. Should I Paint My Bicycle? is, without a doubt, one of them. If you do take the time to look through the information, you will come to better understand why you should not remove the decals, unless they are already shot, meaning illegible.

arfer1

Thanks, everyone, for your input. The decals are in good condition, so I guess I'll be keeping them.

MrCoffee

I have heard of people removing decals and chopping off derailleur hangers from high-end classic steel bikes, and converting them to what is called a "fixie", a bike for hipsters. In hipster culture, a sawed off derailleur hanger will somehow elevate the status of the bike's owner. Unfortunately, both the frame and the rest of the bike will become worthless.

Keep the Voyageur the way it is. In fact, do a full restoration with period-correct components, and it will appreciate in value as long as it is kept clean, and as original as possible (that means keeping the "pie plate", "turkey wings" if that's what's originally on the brake levers, and the reflectors; front, rear, and on the tires!). Good luck, and be sure to upload some photos of your new find.

The Golden Boy 

Good call.

redscampi

Sounds like you made up your mind already, but I'd like to chime in if I could since I've thought about this for one of my bikes. The decals are the bike's pedigree and help tell it's story. If you remove them it becomes just another chrome bike to you, and anyone you might think of selling it to in the future. I think you made the right call.

arfer1

Thanks for your additional input, redscampi, I appreciate you taking the time to reply.

arfer1

Thanks, MrCoffee, for your thoughts, and I'll upload pictures soon. I got the bike from FedEx today, and I've just begun to examine and clean it. It needs new tires and bar tape, but other than that, it seems in good shape. Thankfully, someone replaced the original saddle, i.e., the man killer know as the Ariake Jaguar.

MrCoffee

Replacing wear items like saddles, bar tape, and tires will actually help maintain the bike's value. I looked at some of Schwinn's catalogs, and it appears that the original chrome Voyageur came with black on the handlebars, plus gum wall tires. With those, the bike will remain original, yet very much rideable. Make sure you store it indoors, not in the garage or on the patio!

The Golden Boy 

Exactly. How many "identify my mystery frame" threads to you see here? Even though the Voyageur is a Schwinn and relatively ubiquitous- without the decals and badge it could end up like this bike in the for sale area:

https://www.bikeforums.net/classic-vi...0-5-frame.html

MrCoffee

I wouldn't consider the Voyageur ubiquitous. In fact, is somewhat rare for me to come across one for sale. And if I do find one on Craigslist at a decent price, it's usually gone by the time I contact the seller. On EBay, it will usually go for $400.00 on a "buy it now", and that's usually on a frame that's 25" or larger; a size that would be unrideable for most people.

Most of what I see on Craigslist are Huffy bikes, rusted and worthless old mountain bikes, hipster "fixie" projects that turned out hideous, low-end step-through ladies junk bikes, old beat up department store cruiser bikes, and trashy-crusty abused kids bikes. Most people would rather sell their garbage than haul it to the dump. You have to be on the computer constantly, and respond in less than 3 minutes when something nice is offered at a decent price.

Scooper

Been there, done that; you're making the right call. Trust me, down the road you would have regretted removing them.

arfer1

In my neck of the woods, there are a remarkable number of motorized bicycles for sale on CL. People seem to be buying engine kits and installing them on cheap cruisers.

noglider 

There's no right answer here. I couldn't get decals when I had my McLean painted, so I didn't use or make any. I like the way the bike looks.

My Leader came with no decals, and I liked that, too.

I'd post pictures of both bikes here, but I'm on my iPad and don't have the energy. Sorry.

Amesja

I like stickers on my bike about as much as I like them on the side of my car, or my house.

MrCoffee

I like the original decals that came with a bike when it was new about as much as I like the original paint specifications, insignia, and markings on a P-40 Warhawk.

a77impala

I had a Randonee that I removed all decals including headbadge, when I sold it luckily the buyer believed me when I told him what it was, I should have left decals on.
It did look great without decals though, if you ever plan to part with a bike leave them on!

MrCoffee

That's exactly what I meant on my most recent thread post here, a77impala. Because if I saw something like the OP has, listed on Craigslist, and it had no decals, then I wouldn't know what it was. How would I know if it wasn't actually a chromed up Mongoose that would ordinarily be worth $50.00? The lack of identification will significantly decrease the value of any bike. So, if one MUST remove decals and specification stickers from a frame that's otherwise in excellent shape, then they are essentially stuck with something that's worth less than a quarter of its original value, or less. As the old saying goes: A bicycle is only original ONCE.

Amesja

See, I really don't care how much someone else will pay for one of my bikes, since I really have no intentions of ever selling them. When I'm dead my wife can sell them. They'll be pretty much used up by then anyhow.

Oldpeddaller

+1. I had a 93 Specialized Hard Rock in immaculate condition, flawless fuschia paintwork, all decals perfect including tubing label and supplying shop label. The frame was simply too big for me so I sold it, fully overhauled, all new consumables and pristine to a guy who'd been happy with the bikes I'd sold him before. I was astonished when he phoned two days later to say he'd 'taken the front off the bike and now the brake doesn't work'. Told him to bring it back and I'd have a look. The brake issue was simply that he had removed the cantis and not aligned the pads with the rim, fixed that in seconds. I didn't recognise the bike at first - he'd rattle canned the whole thing in matt black :-(

His bike, so he can do as he pleases but I did feel a bit deflated about all the care I'd taken with the finish during my period of ownership. Now it looks like every other junker in the High Street bike rack (which might have been his intention - there's an argument that this reduces attraction to thieves?)

Amesja

A heatgun make short work for all those My lil' Pony stickers the manufacturers like to put on bikes.