Help identify this Gitane Vuelta (1978 possibly)????
08-29-17, 12:51 PM
#1
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Help identify this Gitane Vuelta (1978 possibly)????
Hi, very fortunate to have these forums going, anyway- last week I purchased a Gitane Vuelta ( year I think to be 1978 although I'm not so sure?! ) It has pretty much full Shimano 600 arabesque components, apart from the headset. I am having a great trouble finding this bike in any Gitane catalogs, only one close is the 78 French Gitane catalog (the same decals of the frame lead me to suggest this year). If anyone can shed any light on this bike it would be greatly appreciated. I have been scouring many forums but with no real luck. I am aware that Gitanes were made different for each market, French, US, UK, Japan. I am unclear regarding this Gitane as components are Shimano 600 Arabesque ( think they did this for the Japanese market ?) however I believe the frame to be a French frame. If anyone has some information on this period of Gitane and the bike it would be great.
I am currently restoring the bike to its former glory. Not upgrading components etc, only will change brake cables and bearings I imagine.
Here are some pictures. Thank you very much-glad to be a member of this
I am currently restoring the bike to its former glory. Not upgrading components etc, only will change brake cables and bearings I imagine.
Here are some pictures. Thank you very much-glad to be a member of this
11-15-17, 09:25 AM
#2
rmfrance
Join Date: Sep 2014
Location: SW France
Posts: 108
Bikes: 1968 Peugeot PX10, 1974 Peugeot PX10, 1964 Peugeot PX10, 1977 Peugeot PSN10, 1975 Gitane Super Olympic, 1978 Gitane Vuelta, c1958 Gitane Competition(?), 1983 Mercier?, 1981 Peugeot PF10, 1985 Peugeot PH501 Ventoux, 1965 Moulton M4 Speed
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Some clues for dating
Hi there,
I bought one here in France last weekend, so have since been stripping it a cleaning, etc. I'd say yours is mid-'70s.
First, the tubing: Vitus 971 (like yours and mine) was replaced by 980 in or around 1980.
Next I'd look at the Shimano date codes on the brake levers, BB shells, crankset and deraillieurs - you'll find lists here: Date of Manufacture of Bicycle Components can be used to date a bike: component dating
Parts on mine vary from May, 1977 to July, 88, so components obviously hung around for awhile. Maybe take the latest manufacture code and add a few months. You should also find a frame S/N below the BB on the frame.
I'm quite impressed with the bikes, although the light frame is offset by the not super-light Shimano 600 fittings.
Enjoy it!
I bought one here in France last weekend, so have since been stripping it a cleaning, etc. I'd say yours is mid-'70s.
First, the tubing: Vitus 971 (like yours and mine) was replaced by 980 in or around 1980.
Next I'd look at the Shimano date codes on the brake levers, BB shells, crankset and deraillieurs - you'll find lists here: Date of Manufacture of Bicycle Components can be used to date a bike: component dating
Parts on mine vary from May, 1977 to July, 88, so components obviously hung around for awhile. Maybe take the latest manufacture code and add a few months. You should also find a frame S/N below the BB on the frame.
I'm quite impressed with the bikes, although the light frame is offset by the not super-light Shimano 600 fittings.
Enjoy it!
Hi, very fortunate to have these forums going, anyway- last week I purchased a Gitane Vuelta ( year I think to be 1978 although I'm not so sure?! ) It has pretty much full Shimano 600 arabesque components, apart from the headset. I am having a great trouble finding this bike in any Gitane catalogs, only one close is the 78 French Gitane catalog (the same decals of the frame lead me to suggest this year). If anyone can shed any light on this bike it would be greatly appreciated. I have been scouring many forums but with no real luck. I am aware that Gitanes were made different for each market, French, US, UK, Japan. I am unclear regarding this Gitane as components are Shimano 600 Arabesque ( think they did this for the Japanese market ?) however I believe the frame to be a French frame. If anyone has some information on this period of Gitane and the bike it would be great.
I am currently restoring the bike to its former glory. Not upgrading components etc, only will change brake cables and bearings I imagine.
Here are some pictures. Thank you very much-glad to be a member of this
I am currently restoring the bike to its former glory. Not upgrading components etc, only will change brake cables and bearings I imagine.
Here are some pictures. Thank you very much-glad to be a member of this
Last edited by rmfrance; 11-15-17 at 09:29 AM.
11-17-17, 07:38 PM
#3
Senior Member
You're a lucky man. Most of the old Gitanes have incrediby clapped out paint jobs. That one is a beauty. I would just clean it up & leave it as - is. It's a perfect L'eroica bike. Maybe even worth a few hundred bucks or so. Be good. Have fun.
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