On Mon, 5 Feb 2001, Tom Hayes wrote:
> There's a 1974 Schwinn Volare being auctioned on Ebay. Does any know
> whether these are interesting bikes, unique? Anyone have some history of
> them? It seems early, 1974, for Schwinn to have had these made in Japan.
Tom,
I don't show the Volare model appearing until 1977. Schwinn was importing the Japanese built World Voyageur model as early as 1972.
Specs from the '77 Super-Lite brochure:
MODEL: Schwinn-Approved Volare. FRAME: Available 21", 23" and 25" frame sizes (53.3cm through 63.5cm). Schwinn designed diamond style of Reynolds 531 double butted top and bottom tubes, single-butted seat mast. Reynolds 531 tapered forks and stays. Fork crown and 6" of front fork tip chrome plated. FRAME FINISH: Scarlet and Pearlescent Orange. WHEELS AND TIRES: Araya aluminum alloy 700 x 28C rims. Dura-Ace large flange quick release hubs. 15-16 ga. double butted stainless steel spokes. Schwinn Super 700C tires (90 lbs. inflation). HANDLEBARS AND STEM: Custom road racing style aluminum alloy handlebar. Forged aluminum alloy stem with recessed bolt. PEDALS: Pro-Ace alloy pedals with reflectors, toe clips and straps. CRANKSET: Dura-Ace cotterless three-piece crankset, 42-52 teeth sprocket. 6-3/4" (170mm) crank arms. DERAILLEURS: Shimano Crane rear derailleur. Dura-Ace front derailleur. Dura-Ace gold 14-16-18-21-24 combination freewheel cluster. BRAKES: Dura-Ace side pull caliper brakes. Brake levers with rubber hood covers. Quick release tabs on caliper assemblies. SADDLE AND SEATPOST: Seamless racing style saddle with nylon base. 27.2mm seatpost. WEIGHT: Approximately 25 pounds (11.3 kilograms) depending on frame size.
Frame sizes 21", 23", 25". $495.00. Optional thorn-resistant tubes, $6.00.