Schwinn Traveler & Traveler III – Vintage Touring Bike Check – BikemanforU
The Schwinn Traveler and Traveler III, mid-20th century touring bikes built in Japan, get the once-over from BikemanforU. Free shipping on new bike parts for your old vintage bicycle at http://www.bikemanforu.com Featuring lugged carbon steel frames, Shimano gearing, they were part of Schwinn’s “X-Tra Lite” series from the late ’70s and into the 1980s. The Traveler was still being built as late as 1991. These two road models were brought into Bike ‘n Kite by different customers for tune-up and repair. Both Pearl blue models with randonneur handlebar, “dual-position brakes” with safety levers, and 27-inch alloy rims. Their components are very similar, featuring parts from Shimano and Dia Compe. BikemanforU notes the Traveler’s weighted pedal and Shimano 400 derailleur. These “Schwinn-Approved” bikes were built in Japan for Schwinn in Chicago, according to the head badges. These particular models are 10-speeds, though the Traveler III went on to evole as a 12-speed and even a 14-speed 700c touring bike with a Cro-Mo frame by the late 1980s. Have a look at more Schwinn videos http://bit.ly/1eW5ktT from YouTube’s award-winning guru of bicycle repair and maintenance. Thumb’s up if you like what you see. Subscribing’s free for how-to videos plus the LIVE Show http://www.youtube.com/bikemanforu Free Shipping http://www.bikemanforu.com on bike parts, tires, tools, and cycle accessories. BikemanforU is on google + http://bit.ly/1eJU6fR @bikemanforu http://www.twitter.com/bikemanforu Like http://www.facebook.com/bikemanforu and http://www.instagram.com/bikemanforu
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1975 debut year for this Traveler & on the Traveler 3 @ 32 + lbs it was released in 1980
Love seeing these older bikes.
I Like these ..dont even want to put a motor on them great show man!
Love the look of the chromed fork ends with the light blue. As delicate and thin as it looks, and Japanese, I was thinking it would be several pounds lighter. Steel cranks, steel bars, steel rims, it all adds up. OTOH it probably holds up better too.
Wow Bikeman, you've shed some pounds! Where's that belly? Hard to do in the Winter time, congratulations, lookin' good!!
Before I got my 2014 Jamis Quest Sport, I had a 1998 red Traveler III for two years as my main mode of transportation. That thing took me and my hefty commuting rack probably thousands of miles of sheer commuting and fun. Unfortunitely, the old steel wheels were starting to pop spokes, the fork had become bent either from me riding it or from a past impact, and the front of the frame had hefty rust damage at the fork tube to down and top tube welds, possibly from a past impact as well. I put a lot of time in to that baby and it was my first real bike past a crappy department store BSO from my childhood. It was nice to see this video.
Gotta love the old Schwinns, especially the Chicago days. Ahh, good times. Good times.
Thx BikeMan & the team.
My 1978 Raleigh Competition GS is 23 lbs. A very delicate and dainty bicycle.
I've got an identical Traveller III aside from a single speed conversion and whitewall tires.
Hey +BikemanforU ! Park Tools DS-1 check it out, works great for just about everything, I've found its somewhat annoying on full suspension mountain bikes, but hey… anyways its nice and cheap, and you might be able to make more use of it.
Those Red Wing boots are wearing nicely. Remember to keep them cleaned and oiled up. I believe the store will do that for you.
Question to the BikeMan fans: If next year one wanted to add a new bike to the stable, would it be;
A- a brand spanking new Rock Hopper or X-Calibur, w hydraulic discs, Rock Shocks, Deore components yada yada yada… or
B- a "mint" classic (antique) early/mid 70's Schwinn Sting Ray "crate bike" with all the bells & whistles…
If you wouldn't ride either one very much, just wanted the "cool factor", price was about the same and figuring on "resale/investment value… Well, what say you Sir???
Thank you all, but I think I already have my answer! Lol. the BikeSnobGuy.
good stuff
I have a red traveler, but I messed up the fork and now it always veers left.
I don't use ram handlebars BECAUSE they don't have the dual brake levers. Having a single lever on the down part means you are stuck in the down position all the time. Let's see how ride-able the new bikes today are in 35 years.
I just bought a beaten up 1975 Traveler today. Hopefully when I'm done with restoration it will look as good as the ones you have here.
These are great frames actually, in the mid to late 70's Panasonic made them for Schwinn and the 32lbs is due to the components being so robust and made with lots of steel parts, outfit one of these frames with more modern components such as my 75 Schwinn Le Tour with Shimano 600 and Araya Wheels and it gets down to about 23lbs and just comes alive! great bikes
Nice video. I have a the same pearl blue Traveler III (1978). Everything is original… I'm starting to ride again. If I were to update the wheels what would you recommend? Thanks.
Picked up a red schwinn traveler III today off ebay for $25!!! Deals for days
yeah i just picked up one, almost identical to this, except it was made in Taiwan except Japan. Seems to be a pretty solid bike.
Pretty sweet vintage Schwinn road bikes
Bet your neighbors enjoy your yelling.