It's nothing special, we all see lugs and chrome and decent paint and think it was something amazing. I'd keep it as is because it's in decent condition, not because it was some super rare Schwinn (it's pretty generic TBH).

I believe that's a shifter cable, but yes, it is quite intimidating.

To the OP- Do whatever you want, but make sure you'll actually ride it for a significant amount of time in that state. I converted my old Trek and will be keeping it fixed for a long, long time because I greatly appreciate its simplicity and live in an area that's conducive to fixed riding. If you're converting it because you actually want to ride fixed, do it. If you're converting it just cuz, that's unfortunate.

From the headbadge, its early 70's. By the chrome stays, it could very well be a paramount. I can't read what it says on the down tube, but if it IS a Paramount, there is no way question what you should do with it.

clean it up a bit, keep it as original as posible and sell it to a collector. Paramounts were top of the line hand made bikes . all Reynolds 531. You'll get a bunch of money for it which you can then use to build yourself a proper conversion with.

I'm going to see what the folks over in C&V say about this.

Tim

Greetings from C&V. It's not a Paramount for sure. The headbadge says "World" on it which was a different Schwinn model. Depending on the year it was a good model.

Date the components over at vintage-trek.com and then look here or here to try to find out info on it.

I don't know where the World fell in the Schwinn pantheon. While it may not be a Paramount, it wasn't a cheap throwaway bike like most of the Schwinns people run across.

boat anchor.

Troll post. The photo of that early Schwinn World Voyageur (a darn nice machine, incidentally) has been circulating for a year or two now.

-Kurt

send it to me. Then you don't have to lose sleep over these tough decisions.

just a schwinn?!?!?!?!!? you ass-hat! that is a panasonic made schwinn that was only made for one year because people were buying those instead of the paramounts due to the fact that the bike was cheaper in price but the same in quality. no where does it say schwinn on it except for the suntour bar-end shifters, they say 'schwinn approved'. if you convert this bike the bike gods will kill you for sure. sell this bike to someone who can appreciate it please!! there are many yahoo groups that deal in selling old and classic bikes, sell it on one of them best one i can find is a yahoo group called BobishBikes

but u gotta admit it wood look p. dope with some deep vs

it's a schwinn world voyageur made in japan for schwinn. one of the very few bikes that doesn't even say schwinn in the paint job.

hahahaha!! just took the air outta my balloon with that one. it is a bike that deserves a better life than a conversion

It's a 1987 or 1989 schwinn voyageur, went ahead and stripped the paint and it's fully chrome underneath with no rust. I'm a bike noob so I know nothing else about the bike

you stripped it?!?!!? someone somewhere is fainting onto an old fashioned couch. and no, it's not a 1987 or 1989, it's from the 70's. you are not a bike noob, you are dumb. there i said it

You asked us for advice and it was a pretty unanimous "don't do it."
and then you do it and have the nerve to tell us. I should stop reading this thread before my heart breaks.

what a dip ****

Ruh roh, bust out the ban stick.

Pics or it didn't happen. I dare you.

depends why you want to convert. is it for utility purposes in the city? is it to improve your pedal technique?

if it's for barspinz, don't bother. however, i do think some of the other people are being harsh. keep in mind, converting a bike without any components/tools lying around may require about $300, less if you keep a bunch of the old components and rotafix the rear cog in lieu of getting a hub or wheel made for fixed gear. if you're going the deep-V route, that'll up the price, and will pretty much just mean that you should just buy an off-the shelf bike for $500 anyway. then, you'll have a fixed gear and a nice older bike.

EDIT: WTF? it looks like it's already a singlespeed in the top right picture?

It is very clearly a 23" '73 World Voyageur. It appears to have all original components on it as well - deraillers, shifters, brakes, freewheel, chainring, cranks, brake levers, seat. I doubt it very much that you actually stripped the paint on it.

there is a reason here to be harsh. and it's not a single speed. you have no idea what your talking about when it comes to this bike, sorry. there were not to many of these bikes made and converting it would be stupid

thanks kerk, the dura-ace cranks alone are fantastic and those are my favorite bar end shifters