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Old 01-26-06 | 08:53 AM
  #3  
T-Mar
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I agree with the CardiacKid on the timeframe and level. The Grand Touring seemed to be constantly downgranded over it's lifetime. Originally, it started out with a Reynolds 531DB frame. By the late 1970s, it was Vitus 172. In the early 1980s, it was appearing with Vitus 888 plain gauge.

Assuming circa 1983/1984, other components should be Stronglight 99 triple crankset, Weinmann centre-pull brakes, 6 speed Maillard Helicomatic hubs laced to 27" Weinmann concave rims and the excellent Huret Duopar derailleur combined with ratchet shifters. Bars, stem and post are aluminum.

The bicycle is quite nice, but missing some of the touches of the better grand touring models, such as triple bottle bosses, bar end shifters and 40 spoke rear wheels. Catalog specs indicate a rear rack was included, but the pictures don't show one. Advertised weight was 27 lb and original cost was in the range of $350 - $375 US.

(Edit 01/27: The earliest imported GT models, circa 1972/1973, used 1020 hi-tensile tubesets. The 531 version came later. Thxs to CV-6 for prompting me on my error.)

Last edited by T-Mar; 01-27-06 at 11:05 AM. Reason: error in information
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