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Which "vintage" touring bike would you look for?

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Which "vintage" touring bike would you look for?

Old 03-27-15, 12:17 PM
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Which "vintage" touring bike would you look for?

I've been thinking about adding a touring bike to my "stable" although that sounds pretentious for a newb with two usable bikes (road and mountain).

I almost bought the REI Novara which was on sale for $600.00, but decided since there's no rush I'd spend more time investigating.

My inclination is to shop for a vintage sport-tourer (if that's the correct terminology). I don't anticipate doing any super-long, really loaded trips any time soon. I really like the idea of finding or doing a resto-mod on a distinctive frame--maybe adding modern components.

So far, the Schwinn Voyageur SP's from about '85-'87 have appealed to me, but mostly because I've seen some really nice builds using that frame.

Other candidates: Cannondale ST.

So I'm looking for ideas on what to keep any eye open for---and why. Obviously, no right or wrong choices or suggestions.

TIA.

STP
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Old 03-27-15, 02:02 PM
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Voyageurs fit the sport touring, and later versions came more equipped stock for more serious loaded touring.
I missed out on getting an 86 Fuji Touring Series III last fall. Always thought that was a cool bike.

Miyata 1000
Miyata 610
Raleigh Wyoming
Raleigh Portage
Univega Specialissima
Univega Gran Turismo


I have an 80 Voyageur 11.8 and haven't owned any of the others above, but have seen them all in the wild and they are very nice looking. Style and function.

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Old 03-27-15, 02:52 PM
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I got a Lot of Tours out of my Mid 80s Specialized Expedition.
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Old 03-27-15, 02:54 PM
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You don't need nor want a "true" touring bike if you want a sports tourer. Doesn't sound like your going fully loaded touring.
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Old 03-27-15, 03:21 PM
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You might want to pass this along to the C&V forum and see if there aren't more qualified opinions availible.
People here are inclined to tell you there are new options to be argued.


Marc
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Old 03-27-15, 06:27 PM
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Giant Excursion....

I ran across this Giant Excursion over in the C&V (eBay/Craigslist finds) forum.

I'd never even heard of this model, but the overall look really appeals to me as kind of an all-around bike. I've seen pix of this with drop bar conversion also. Don't know how/where it fits into touring.

STP
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Old 03-27-15, 07:00 PM
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I was in the same situation last year! We tour on our Surly LHT's but I wanted something "Vintage". Picked up a 1984 Miyata 610 on CL New Years Eve. I have switched from 27" to 700C wheels and am cabling it tomorrow! The barend shifters are installed along with new stem and bars. Going to run 32-38mm tires with fenders.
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Old 03-28-15, 09:16 AM
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1980's Lotus Eclair, has all the mounting points and rode well
I also liked the Cannondaale T-1000 but I'm not sure how well those held up over the past 20+years
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Old 03-28-15, 12:09 PM
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Thinking of the odds based on sheer production numbers over the many years, any of the Fuji Touring Series (III, IV, V) might be what you're most likely to trip over in your search and they are pretty nicely done. There was a Series V for about $400 on the local CL recently, definitely a good buy.

You'll need to catalog the various brand and model names for reference so that when one pops up in an ad you recognize it for what it is.
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Old 03-28-15, 12:12 PM
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Originally Posted by Porschefan
I ran across this Giant Excursion over in the C&V (eBay/Craigslist finds) forum.

I'd never even heard of this model, but the overall look really appeals to me as kind of an all-around bike. I've seen pix of this with drop bar conversion also. Don't know how/where it fits into touring.

STP
The Giant Excursion was a pretty neat bike and even had a remotely released BB generator with the lever on a braze-on on the seat tube. Bike came fully equipped but a guy I know who had one said it was heavy to start with and would only get moreso as you prepped it.
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Old 03-28-15, 04:27 PM
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Originally Posted by irwin7638
You might want to pass this along to the C&V forum and see if there aren't more qualified opinions availible.
People here are inclined to tell you there are new options to be argued.


Marc
Hi Marc,

Thanks for the input. The picture in your post led me to your blog to discover what the hike the pictured bike might be. A Hunqapillar! Looks like that bike could go just about anywhere. BTW, nice blog--very well done. I was raised in Michigan, have been to Kalamazoo, home of Gibson.

I probably should have named this thread "Show me your tourers".

STP

Last edited by Porschefan; 03-28-15 at 04:31 PM. Reason: Add'l mat'l
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Old 03-28-15, 05:09 PM
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Gibson¿ Former home .. They moved to Nashville(OMI The part that makes Mandolins ) vacated the old Parsons St Factory long ago.
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Old 03-28-15, 05:45 PM
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I heard about a guy touring on a penny farthing, you could try that.
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Old 03-28-15, 05:58 PM
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Specialized Sequoia, really really nice bike.
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Old 03-28-15, 06:43 PM
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Originally Posted by Porschefan
Hi Marc,

Thanks for the input. The picture in your post led me to your blog to discover what the hike the pictured bike might be. A Hunqapillar! Looks like that bike could go just about anywhere. BTW, nice blog--very well done. I was raised in Michigan, have been to Kalamazoo, home of Gibson.

I probably should have named this thread "Show me your tourers".

STP
The Hunq will put up with nearly anything you might throw in his way. He is my all year all rounder.

Marc
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Old 03-28-15, 07:17 PM
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'84 Miyata 610 is a great bike. I have an '85. Suntour barcons, Cyclone MkII front and rear derailleurs. Switched to 700c just this past week.
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Old 03-28-15, 08:13 PM
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Centurion Pro Tour, or the '84 Centurion Elite Gt.
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Old 03-28-15, 10:53 PM
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Originally Posted by Porschefan

So far, the Schwinn Voyageur SP's from about '85-'87 have appealed to me, but mostly because I've seen some really nice builds using that frame.

Other candidates: Cannondale ST.

So I'm looking for ideas on what to keep any eye open for---and why. Obviously, no right or wrong choices or suggestions.

TIA.

STP
I asked this same question a while back in the C-V forum and this is the thread that followed-- a ton of good information.

https://www.bikeforums.net/classic-vi...-raleighs.html

As for me, I actually ended up with a couple. I have an 85 Raleigh Alyeska (gorgeous bike) that is build as my tourer (its not 650b like the Prortage, but have everything else you need) and also an 85 Voyageur that I use as my commuting bike. Both are great, different builds so hard to compare the two, but I love the Alyeska. I measured it and dimensions are longer even than the voyage.

Anyway, the thread I liked has a great list of pretty much all the great tourers from that era. Happy hunting and please post when you get one.
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Old 03-29-15, 08:22 AM
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The Trek 520s from the late '80s are nice. They were more of a sport tourer in '84/'85, which are also worth considering. The Fuji S-12-S came with a triple in the early '80s, and is a nice bike. The triple, if I remember correctly, is a 36-44-52. It would be nicer with a 24 or 28 instead of that 36. The Fuji America was also a really sweet bike, if you can find one.
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Old 03-29-15, 06:44 PM
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Originally Posted by mnmkpedals

As for me, I actually ended up with a couple. I have an 85 Raleigh Alyeska (gorgeous bike) that is build as my tourer (its not 650b like the Prortage, but have everything else you need) and also an 85 Voyageur that I use as my commuting bike. Both are great, different builds so hard to compare the two, but I love the Alyeska. I measured it and dimensions are longer even than the voyage.
Do we know what size the OP rides? Here's a tall Alyeska, very reasonably priced:
Raleigh Alyska touring bike Deore comp
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Old 03-29-15, 08:06 PM
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Originally Posted by mnmkpedals
I asked this same question a while back in the C-V forum and this is the thread that followed-- a ton of good information.

https://www.bikeforums.net/classic-vi...-raleighs.html
I read through this entire thread--thanks for the reference. Very informative (and entertaining too). You know a lot more about bikes than I do!

Originally Posted by thumpism
Do we know what size the OP rides? Here's a tall Alyeska, very reasonably priced:
Raleigh Alyska touring bike Deore comp
I seem to be a little "between sizes," at least as far as Trek bikes go. When I bought my Domane it was either a 56 or a 58. After consulting with my bike fitter, I opted for the 58. Since I also wasn't very flexible, we ended up fitting an 80 mm stem, and handlebars that moved the hoods a skosh in and it seems pretty good now--although I don't have much to compare it to. I've been told that when looking at vintage bikes I probably should get a 59 or 60, or the inch-equivalents: 23-24" (?). Also have been advised that touring bikes in general, have a bit more leeway as far as sizing goes.

I got started on this quest when I ran into what seemed to be an incredible deal on an 2014 Novara Randonee at the local REI store (thread HERE).
I passed on it when I decided that I wanted something with a little more of a "cool" factor. I have a local friend who has done a lot of touring and we've talked about him maybe showing me the ropes on some shorter/easier tours here in New Mexico.

Thanks for all the input so far!

STP

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Old 03-30-15, 11:04 AM
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Cool is as cool does, as far as touring on bikes goes. While it is neat to have all the whiz-bang specialty touring stuff, all you really need is a good fit from a bike in good shape, decent gearing for the terrain you anticipate riding, the right stuff packed on it securely, and the right attitude. My first extended tour was on a plain steel European 10-speed bought in Amsterdam when I arrived for that trip. I recall doing a lot of wishing on that trip for something fancier but it did not keep me from covering the ground I did. Wider range (and low, low) triple gearing would have been the only real advantage, and that primarily in the Alps and central Italy.
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Old 03-30-15, 11:44 AM
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Something more on the sport side you might want to consider is a Trek 400T from about 1987. They have nice Reynolds 531 tubing, mounts for a rear rack, and a triple but don't have a really stretched out wheelbase or cantilever brakes which you might find limiting factors for heavy loads.
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Old 03-30-15, 12:32 PM
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Old 03-30-15, 08:11 PM
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So badly wish I could get my hands on one of these in my size 1989 Bridgestone MB-1- Mtbr.com
Best vintage ATB ever.

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