Re: [CR]Info needed on '73 World Voyageur (imported by Schwinn)

(Example: Production Builders:Peugeot)

From: "Ed Braley" <edbraley@maine.rr.com>
To: "Jerry Moos" <moos@penn.com>, "Bob Hufford" <bhufford@mail.orion.org>
Cc: <classicrendezvous@bikelist.org>
References: <Pine.GSO.3.96.1010115142412.19221B-100000@lesche.missouri.org> <3A645D3B.B493D530@penn.com>
Subject: Re: [CR]Info needed on '73 World Voyageur (imported by Schwinn)
Date: Tue, 16 Jan 2001 10:30:11 -0500


I bought a bone-stock orange '73 World Voyager last year. It still had the original tires, orange handlebar tape, cables, chain, leatherette seat bag - and dirt. The frame finish and plating are very nice, as is typical of many Japanese bikes from the period. I'd bet that the Japanese outsold the Europeans based on finish alone for many customers. The tubing is butted 4130 chrome moly. It's a heavy frame, though.

The only "Dura Ace" part was the crank which had the chain protector. The other parts were as follows:

-Crane long cage rear derailleur -Titleist front -Diacompe centerpulls with 'safety' levers -"Schwinn Approved" SunTour power ratchet bar cons -Shimano high flange hubs, 27" alloy rims -SR seat post, two bolt -Brooks B-15 saddle -Diacompe stem, unmarked randonneur handlebar -steel rattrap KKT pedals -Tange headset

As it came, there was no way I'd ever be happy riding it. I put aside the stock components and reconfigured it with nicer stuff; XC-Pro crank and pedals, sealed bearing hubs with 700C rims, a wider Nitto randonneur bar and Technomic Deluxe stem, long reach Royal Gran Compe sidepull brakes and new cables, tires, tape etc..

The bike still hasn't found it's niche, I don't ride it that often because I don't care for the handling and feel. I think it'll make a great fixed gear; even with 700C wheels the bottom bracket is fairly high. You have to push the bike over to make it turn - it feels stubborn.

Ed.


----- Original Message -----
From: Jerry Moos
To: Bob Hufford
Cc: classicrendezvous@bikelist.org
Sent: Tuesday, January 16, 2001 9:39 AM
Subject: Re: [CR]Info needed on '73 World Voyageur (imported by Schwinn)



> I think I've mentioned the World Voyageur before. In about that 72 to 74
> era, Arnie Nashbar, then running the business out of his garage, got a
> good deal on World Voyaguers for several members of the Outspokin
> Wheelmen of Youngstown, OH, a club Arnie had cofounded a short time
> before. (I was a member but didn't buy a World Voyageur.) These were
> very nice Japanese CrMo frames, butted I believe, and the buyers were
> very pleased with them. All the ones I saw were the same orange as in
> the photo. My recollection was that the ones Arnies got were full
> original DuraAce, including DuraAce CENTERPULL brakes, which predated the
> sidepulls. However, the photo seems to show DiaCompe brakes and SunTour
> derailleurs, though the crank and pedals in the photo could be DuraAce.
> So either my memory is faulty (wouldn't be the first time)or Schwinn
> reduced the quality of the components after establishing a market. The
> initial price was an incredible bargain for full DuraAce, so such a
> change wouldn't be unexpected. Of course, the owner of this one could
> have changed equipment, but I doubt it, as the stuff is all period
> correct and would have been a downgrade from full DuraAce.
>
> Regards,
>
> Jerry Moos
>
> Bob Hufford wrote:
>
> > CR,
> >
> > I need all the info I can round up on the late-'72 to early-'74 World
> > Traveler and World Voyageur models imported by Schwinn prior to
> > introducing the Schwinn Le Tour and Volare models. Access to any
> > literature would be great!
> >
> > Pics at:
> >
> > http://www.geocities.com/deluxe64/73wrltrv01.jpg
> > http://www.geocities.com/deluxe64/73wrltrv02.jpg
> > http://www.geocities.com/deluxe64/73wrltrv03.jpg
> > http://www.geocities.com/deluxe64/73wrltrv04.jpg
> > http://www.geocities.com/deluxe64/73wrltrv05.jpg
> > http://www.geocities.com/deluxe64/73wvoya001.jpg
> >
> > Thanks!
> >
> > Bob Hufford
> > Springfield, MO
> > bhufford@mail.orion.org
> >
> > _______________________________________________
>
>
>
> Bob Hufford wrote:
>
> > CR,
> >
> > I need all the info I can round up on the late-'72 to early-'74 World
> > Traveler and World Voyageur models imported by Schwinn prior to
> > introducing the Schwinn Le Tour and Volare models. Access to any
> > literature would be great!
> >
> > Pics at:
> >
> > http://www.geocities.com/deluxe64/73wrltrv01.jpg
> > http://www.geocities.com/deluxe64/73wrltrv02.jpg
> > http://www.geocities.com/deluxe64/73wrltrv03.jpg
> > http://www.geocities.com/deluxe64/73wrltrv04.jpg
> > http://www.geocities.com/deluxe64/73wrltrv05.jpg
> > http://www.geocities.com/deluxe64/73wvoya001.jpg
> >
> > Thanks!
> >
> > Bob Hufford
> > Springfield, MO
> > bhufford@mail.orion.org