John's Bicycle Restorations: Justin's 1977 Schwinn Voyageur 11.8 Restoration

This is Justin's 1977 Schwinn Voyageur 11.8 In for restoration. I am sure I have aid this on many other posts but the Schwinn Voyageur is on of my all time favorite bicycles. I sold mine about 9 years ago now as I thinned my bicycles as I got into this full time. I regret it everyday and still have found the right one to replace it. Min was set up as a true sport touring bicycle with a saddle bag that fit perfect on the Voyageur. I miss it a lot.

Justin's is the red version that I really don't see very often. The Voyageur was in okay starting condition. The Voyageur revived a complete restoration along with new bearings, cables, housings, pads, cloth handlebar tape, brake lever hoods, tubes, Panaracer Folding PT, saddle and decals. I love these Sport Touring Voyageurs!

Justin's Schwinn Voyageur 11.8 Restoration
Bicycle After Restoration

Justin's Schwinn Voyageur 11.8 Restoration - Bicycle Before

The frame is in pretty good shape after tearing down the components. There are some chips and scratches that have the white primer showing through, those will be filled.

Justin's Schwinn Voyageur 11.8 Restoration - Frame Before

Justin's Schwinn Voyageur 11.8 Restoration - Frame Before
Fork

The frame really polished beautifully! I was very happy with the results! In the polished photos the old decals are still in place for reference later and I don't think I had done the touch up yet. Love this stuff!

Justin's Schwinn Voyageur 11.8 Restoration
Frame Polished

Some of the components where little rough some where pretty good. These are the photos that told me it was time to hand plane this shelf I use and put some clear coat over it. The nasty wood shelf makes everything look awful. Still working on learning the updated Google Photos app so a little out of order.

Justin's Schwinn Voyageur 11.8 Restoration
Headset & Bottom Bracket Before

Justin's Schwinn Voyageur 11.8 Restoration
Handlebar Stem & Levers Before

Justin's Schwinn Voyageur 11.8 Restoration
Stem & Handlebars Before

Justin's Schwinn Voyageur 11.8 Restoration
Levers Before

Justin's Schwinn Voyageur 11.8 Restoration
Handlebars & Stem Before

Justin's Schwinn Voyageur 11.8 Restoration
Handlebars Before

Justin's Schwinn Voyageur 11.8 Restoration
Stem Before

Justin's Schwinn Voyageur 11.8 Restoration
Stem Exploded

Justin's Schwinn Voyageur 11.8 Restoration
Brake Levers Before

Justin's Schwinn Voyageur 11.8 Restoration
Front Derailleur Before

Justin's Schwinn Voyageur 11.8 Restoration
Front Derailleur Before Exploded

Justin's Schwinn Voyageur 11.8 Restoration
Rear Derailleur Before

Justin's Schwinn Voyageur 11.8 Restoration
Shift Levers Before

Justin's Schwinn Voyageur 11.8 Restoration
Cable Guide Before

Justin's Schwinn Voyageur 11.8 Restoration
Brake Calipers Before

Justin's Schwinn Voyageur 11.8 Restoration
Brake Calipers Exploded View

Justin's Schwinn Voyageur 11.8 Restoration
Crank Before

Justin's Schwinn Voyageur 11.8 Restoration
Crank Exploded View

Justin's Schwinn Voyageur 11.8 Restoration
Seat Post Before

The components polished perfect!! I got a tip from a person that does industrial polishing around this time and it really showed well. I love how the crank and derailleurs turned out, actually I love how it all turned out!

Justin's Schwinn Voyageur 11.8 Restoration
Brake Calipers Polished

Justin's Schwinn Voyageur 11.8 Restoration
Brake Calipers Complete

Justin's Schwinn Voyageur 11.8 Restoration
Headset & Bottom Bracket Polished

Justin's Schwinn Voyageur 11.8 Restoration
Handlebars & Stem Polished

Justin's Schwinn Voyageur 11.8 Restoration
Handlebars Polished

Justin's Schwinn Voyageur 11.8 Restoration
Stem Polished

Justin's Schwinn Voyageur 11.8 Restoration
Stem Complete

Justin's Schwinn Voyageur 11.8 Restoration
Brake Levers Polished

Justin's Schwinn Voyageur 11.8 Restoration
Cockpit Complete

Justin's Schwinn Voyageur 11.8 Restoration
Front Derailleur Polished

Justin's Schwinn Voyageur 11.8 Restoration
Front Derailleur Complete

Justin's Schwinn Voyageur 11.8 Restoration
Rear Derailleur Polished

Justin's Schwinn Voyageur 11.8 Restoration
Rear Derailleur Complete

Justin's Schwinn Voyageur 11.8 Restoration
Cable Guide Polished

Justin's Schwinn Voyageur 11.8 Restoration
Shift Levers Polished

Justin's Schwinn Voyageur 11.8 Restoration
Shift Levers Complete

Justin's Schwinn Voyageur 11.8 Restoration
Crank Polished

Justin's Schwinn Voyageur 11.8 Restoration
Crank Complete

With each component installed the Voyageur looked better and better.

Justin's Schwinn Voyageur 11.8 Restoration
Pressing Headset Cups

Justin's Schwinn Voyageur 11.8 Restoration
Headset Cups Pressed

Justin's Schwinn Voyageur 11.8 Restoration
Bearings Packed

Justin's Schwinn Voyageur 11.8 Restoration
Headset Bearings

Justin's Schwinn Voyageur 11.8 Restoration
Bottom Bracket Bearings Packed

Justin's Schwinn Voyageur 11.8 Restoration
Headset Complete

Justin's Schwinn Voyageur 11.8 Restoration
Bottom Bracket Complete

Justin's Schwinn Voyageur 11.8 Restoration
Headset Complete

Justin's Schwinn Voyageur 11.8 Restoration
Handlebars Installed

Justin's Schwinn Voyageur 11.8 Restoration
Handlebars Complete

Justin's Schwinn Voyageur 11.8 Restoration
Crank Installed

Justin's Schwinn Voyageur 11.8 Restoration
Crank Complete

Justin's Schwinn Voyageur 11.8 Restoration
Front Caliper Installed

Justin's Schwinn Voyageur 11.8 Restoration
Rear Caliper Installed

Justin's Schwinn Voyageur 11.8 Restoration
Shift Lever Complete

Justin's Schwinn Voyageur 11.8 Restoration
Front Derailleur Complete

Justin's Schwinn Voyageur 11.8 Restoration
Rear Derailleur Complete

Justin's Schwinn Voyageur 11.8 Restoration
Main Components Complete

The wheels had some rough spots but over all turned out really nice. The new Panracer tires bring the wheels all together. Best of all the wheels spin for ever!

Justin's Schwinn Voyageur 11.8 Restoration
Front Wheel Before

Justin's Schwinn Voyageur 11.8 Restoration
Rear Wheel Before

Justin's Schwinn Voyageur 11.8 Restoration
Rear Wheel Old Grease

Justin's Schwinn Voyageur 11.8 Restoration
Front Wheel Old Grease

Justin's Schwinn Voyageur 11.8 Restoration
Axles Ready

Justin's Schwinn Voyageur 11.8 Restoration
Rear Wheel Hub Polished

Justin's Schwinn Voyageur 11.8 Restoration
Rear Wheel Rim Polished

Justin's Schwinn Voyageur 11.8 Restoration
Front Wheel Hub Polished

Justin's Schwinn Voyageur 11.8 Restoration
Front Wheel Rim Polished

Justin's Schwinn Voyageur 11.8 Restoration
Rear Wheel Bearings Packed

Justin's Schwinn Voyageur 11.8 Restoration
Front Wheel Bearings Packed

Justin's Schwinn Voyageur 11.8 Restoration
Front Wheel Complete

Justin's Schwinn Voyageur 11.8 Restoration
Front Wheel Rim Complete

Justin's Schwinn Voyageur 11.8 Restoration
Front Wheel Complete

Justin's Schwinn Voyageur 11.8 Restoration
Rear Wheel Complete

Justin's Schwinn Voyageur 11.8 Restoration
Wheels Complete

I really like Justin's choice to go with NOS Campagnolo white brake levers hoods and bar ends. The white goes so well with the red and white color of the Voyager and adds some class!

Justin's Schwinn Voyageur 11.8 Restoration
NOS Campagnolo White Brake Lever Hoods
Great Look!

Justin's Schwinn Voyageur 11.8 Restoration
Campagnolo Brake Levers Hoods Installed

Justin's Schwinn Voyageur 11.8 Restoration
New Cables & Housings

Justin's Schwinn Voyageur 11.8 Restoration
Voyageur Wired

Justin's Schwinn Voyageur 11.8 Restoration
Saddle Complete

Justin's Schwinn Voyageur 11.8 Restoration
New Panaracer Tires

Justin's Schwinn Voyageur 11.8 Restoration
Tires Complete

Justin's Schwinn Voyageur 11.8 Restoration
Reflectors Polished

Justin's Schwinn Voyageur 11.8 Restoration
Front Reflector Installed

Justin's Schwinn Voyageur 11.8 Restoration
Rear Reflector Installed

I don't know much history on the wheel that is on the Voyageur with the early cassette style. I have not seen one on an older bike so I kind of wonder if this was the precursor to modern cassettes.

Justin's Schwinn Voyageur 11.8 Restoration
Cassette Ready

Justin's Schwinn Voyageur 11.8 Restoration
Cassette Installed

Justin's Schwinn Voyageur 11.8 Restoration
Drive Train Complete

Justin's Schwinn Voyageur 11.8 Restoration
Voyageur Almost Complete

The Voyageur's paint was in descent condition and with some work it really didn't need a repaint but new decals will make all the difference and it did!

Justin's Schwinn Voyageur 11.8 Restoration
New Decals

Justin's Schwinn Voyageur 11.8 Restoration
Top Tube New Decal

Justin's Schwinn Voyageur 11.8 Restoration
Down Tube New Decal

Justin's Schwinn Voyageur 11.8 Restoration
Caution Decal

Justin's Schwinn Voyageur 11.8 Restoration
Seat Tube Decal

I finished the Voyageur 11.8 about the end of that brutal stretch of winter we had and really didn't get to test ride it much. Actually we had a lot of snow in April too so I don't know if we are out of the brutal winter yet. Dodging ice and snow the Voyageur does ride beautifully! Like I said I love this Sport Touring Voyageurs, they are not heavy but they are not to light that they don;t ride smooth. They are just well thought out bicycles.

Best of all is how the Voyageur looks! The red, white and gold trimmed decals are fantastic together! We went with the Schwinn color scheme lighter colored brake cable housings and darker colored shift cable housings. the cloth handlebar tape and white brake lever hood add a lot of classic style to the Voyageur and you can't beat the Panaracers! I LOVE this stuff!!

Justin's Schwinn Voyageur 11.8 Restoration
Bicycle Complete

Thank you!!
John Z

John's Bicycle Restorations

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Thursday, May 9, 2019

Justin's 1977 Schwinn Voyageur 11.8 Restoration - One of my all time favorites!

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