Classic and Vintage Bicycles: What's it Worth? Appraisals and Inquiries - Peugeot Super Vitus

Hello Friends,

My grandfather William left me this bicycle. I have done some research. It is a Peugeot without a serial number sticker (but a number stamped into the bottom of the bike), so I don't know what model it is. I figured someone's expert eye could recognize something telling of the model and year (and value, of course)...

It has: a super Vitus 980 frame with a 979 fork
solid metal Simplex shifters
Specialized chainring
Look pedals
Campagnolo record wheels
Campagnolo brakes
Capagnolo rear derailleur, a starred S (simplex?) front derailleur
no idea about the cranks
Campagnolo headset
Cinelli 1r stem and Cinelli Colorado bars

Here it is:

http://s578.photobucket.com/albums/ss229/dddaviddawson/

When it was bequeathed to me, I got also a never-been-used campagnolo front derailleur with the bike, but it is not attached. Is it possible to replace the simplex with the campy, and if so, how, and is it worth it to replace it?

Third thing I want to say is that the bike has a 979 fork...I received also the original 980 fork, but he'd been using the 979 instead of the 980....is there a reason behind this? is 979 better? the only reason i can think of is that he'd written his name with an inscribing machine on the 980 fork...so it's kinda ugly...and i like not having a fork with his name on it....

- dave

That is one very nice looking Peugeot. I tried finding one for myself while I was in Europe but none were either my size or were not good models. I don't know what model you have there but it looks awesome! Jim should give you some info when he sees this thread. Take a pic of it with the drive side showing.

Going by the decals on the bike I believe it's a PSV10 from 1983. The original fork would be the 980 that is unfortunately engraved (do you have pictures of the fork?). One note about the bike itself is that many people claim the bike flexes quite a bit and more so at larger sizes due to the super vitus 980 tubing. From the picture it seems this bike is a 60cm+? This may or may not play a factor in the sell of the bike.

Just to give you an idea of my market... I live in San Jose, CA. Part of the Bay Area where bike prices are ridiculously high. I paid $140-$150 (can't remember if I haggled) for my frame, fork, headset, bottom bracket, and a random stem. All in great condition. The value will also be determined by your market. I'd definitely offer any bikes/parts to the C&V folk before trying ebay or craigslist. Easier to deal with, more than likely fair for both parties, etc.

The front derailleur is not replaceable to my knowledge. The front derailleur itself is not exactly sought after by the masses nor is it particularly high in value. I'd keep this with the frame to save you or the buyer any headaches in finding the right FD.

What are your plans for the bike? Are you looking to sell it or ride it? If you're selling parting it out would be the best idea. Campy is always an easy sell. I'm not campy expert so someone else will have to chime in.

As for using 979 vs 980... I'm not entirely sure why your grandpa chose to do that, but I'd like to think 980 is better since I use it on PSV10! :)

Here's the original catalog from Jim's site http://cyclespeugeot.com/images/1983_Peugeot_PSV10_PX10_PZ10D.jpg

done.

here are some more pictures:

http://s578.photobucket.com/albums/ss229/dddaviddawson/

It probably started out as you see in the link provided in post #3 by tigerprawn. Along the way everything except the front derailleur has been replaced. Your grandfather may have felt the 979 fork was stiffer but I'm going to venture a guess and say he swapped forks so it would have British threading.

I'd untape the bars and properly route the brake cables under the tape.

http://i578.photobucket.com/albums/ss229/dddaviddawson/DSC02890.jpg?t=1243454530

I'd untape the bars and properly route the brake cables under the tape.


I don't know, it looks kind of Dali-esque that way.

A very fine Peugeot! It makes me miss my 1983 PX10 which has gone to a better home(s). What size frame is it? Appears to be a 62cm or a 64cm. If it fits you why not keep it for a while and ride it? You shouldn't have any trouble selling it. Ebay would be the best venue, giving you the largest market place. I'm going to extend my neck and say that your Peugeot will bring $400+ on Ebay. The only problem could be frame size, especially if it is a 64cm. However, on the upside it does have the Campy and the RD looks like a Super Record. Finally, I sold my 1984 PSV10, 60cm for $280 on CL last year and your PSV10 makes mine look like a Huffy! :eek:

Thanks retyred. I like your fortune-teller style.

You know, it is measuring (from top of top tube to middle of crank, right?) up to be ~61cm. Tried it five times. I know that can't be, since it was only built as 60 and 64, so I guess it's a 60.

I think I'm going to keep it. Jim, do you think the brake wiring is a serious issue or is it merely cosmetic? It feels a little (but not too) strange when I ride it.

I really want to take it apart and give it a deep cleaning, spend a day replacing the tires with touring-style tires and just get some of the deep grime off. Get some non-racing pedals (at least ones that don't require those cleats). Having, really, no experience doing this, I suppose I should try it first on a friend's throw-away before taking this bike apart.

Here's the 980 fork:

http://s578.photobucket.com/albums/ss229/dddaviddawson/?action=view&current=DSC02895.jpg
http://s578.photobucket.com/albums/ss229/dddaviddawson/?action=view&current=DSC02892.jpg

I think I'm going to keep it. Jim, do you think the brake wiring is a serious issue or is it merely cosmetic? It feels a little (but not too) strange when I ride it.


It's hideous and really wrong.

dddaviddawson - I'll trade you a Simplex SX 610 + cash for that Super Record RD.

-Kurt

That's a good proposition. The sx610 shifts real good.

That's a good proposition. The sx610 is a super lj and shifts real good.

I can attest to that as I have the SX610 on my PSV10 (same year as yours) and it's a great RD. Came stock on the bike matching the FD

I'll think about it after I ride the bike more. I'm not ready to take apart the bike just yet...

But does that mean you all think this guy is being unfair, or just wrong?
http://www.disraeligears.co.uk/Site/Simplex_SX610_GT_derailleur.html

he's very opinionated and very good at the written expression of same...but I see that he cuts-and-pastes paragraphs, so either his opinions are sort of an off-the-rack article, or he's lazy, or he's made a mistake by confusing one Simplex with another.
I think he knows his tastes.
I don't think the SX610 is so bad a RD, but I wouldn't go out of my way to find one when there are so many perfectly good (maybe better?) RDs going begging and...I'm no purist: a Japanese RD is just fine by me on any bike.

I'll think about it after I ride the bike more. I'm not ready to take apart the bike just yet...

But does that mean you all think this guy is being unfair, or just wrong?
http://www.disraeligears.co.uk/Site/Simplex_SX610_GT_derailleur.html

I read that too and was almost shocked that he didn't like the sx610. I can only speak from experience and I like the RD alot. Does exactly what it's meant to do and does a great job. So much so I went and bought another as a spare.

I read that too and was almost shocked that he didn't like the sx610. I can only speak from experience and I like the RD alot. Does exactly what it's meant to do and does a great job. So much so I went and bought another as a spare.

Note that he is discussing, specifically, the long-cage version of the SX-610, not the short-cage. The long cage looks as if it might have some pulley cage geometry issues, while on the other hand, the small cage is essentially a slightly less dooded up version of the top-end Simplex Super LJ.

That said, I'm not entirely surprised that the fellow from Disraeli Gears blasted the Super LJ and gave little in the way of a positive thought - unlike every Francophile on the forum here, who live and breath SLJ's. Mind you, this is the same fellow who points out all the glaring problems with Nuovo Record, Super Record, and C-Record - and then brushes them aside as if they were irrelevant, as if nostalgia and age has done something to sooth the pain. They haven't.

-Kurt

this is the same fellow who points out all the glaring problems with Nuovo Record, Super Record, and C-Record - and then brushes them aside as if they were irrelevant, as if nostalgia and age has done something to sooth the pain. They haven't.


I was wondering about that myself, but it seems that every RD has its fair share of critics. He acknowledges them, then disregards them. His quote from Frank Berto is probably the funniest thing I've ever read written about a bicycle: "the Campagnolo Nuovo Record rear derailleur shifted poorly, but was so well constructed that it would keep on shifting exactly as poorly - forever."

His quote from Frank Berto is probably the funniest thing I've ever read written about a bicycle: "the Campagnolo Nuovo Record rear derailleur shifted poorly, but was so well constructed that it would keep on shifting exactly as poorly - forever."

Funnier yet is that I have a 1981-dated Nuovo sitting here that can prove them wrong on that point too - the entire derailer is twisted by a few degrees :lol:

-Kurt