Iowhat

I recently purchased this 1988 Peugeot Chorus from the original owner. It's 100% original. Reynolds 753r tubing, size 60cm. Obviously consumables have 'been consumed' by the Sonoran Desert. I'm trying to get a good idea of the value (USD) of this bike in its current condition. The bike obviously needs to be cleaned and relubed, a new chain likely, perhaps some new hub bearings, but otherwise has very minimal wear, very few marks/scratches, some fading of decals and some areas of paint, but the paint shines with light waxing. I researched over the past week and can't find too much online or too many other Chorus models that have sold in the past 10 years. I've looked at other brand 753 bikes to get an idea of value. This one is complete with full 1st gen 7-speed Campagnolo Chorus groupset (from hubs to pedals, shifter to derailleurs, brakes, levers, seat post and even has a Campy seat post clamp) and Mavic GP4 rims (minus tires and in need of new bar tape). Thanks in advance.

1988 Peugeot Chorus

1988 Peugeot Chorus drive side

1988 Peugeot Chorus cockpit

1988 Peugeot Chorus downtube business

Paul Waque 

I will start this with a wild guess of $700. The main treason that I am responding is to make a request to see pictures of the bike after a good cleaning up.

SurferRosa

I think $700 in that condition would be a good buy for someone like me ... but taller.

Would be a really fun project to rebuild with new consumables. But then, you wouldn't want to sell.

Iowhat

Thanks Paul. It's tough to come up with an estimate; the bike is great overall and the 100% completeness including Campy Chorus groupset will probably add some 'desire' for people. I'll definitely post some sort of update in the coming months. Cheers!

Iowhat

SurferRosa - thanks! Taller? Peugeot did make this in a 62cm, but that's as big as they can be! You may be correct about cleaning up and rebuilding - I polished a small bit of the blue and it's captivating....

79pmooney

Have you ridden it? (I'm guessing the ride/feel is sublime and fast. Fun combination.)

59cm? My size? Drooling here.

SurferRosa

Yeah, taller than ... me! I'm not quite 5'11" and shrinking fast.

Iowhat

79pmooney - nope I haven't ridden it (no one has in years) - right now it's not rideable. I suspect it'll be a quick feeling bike. It's a 60cm

Chombi1 

I cringe a bit when I see the not-so-good quality of the lugwork at the head and down tube area. The edges on that lug point looks a bit ragged.
One would think that Peugeot's frame builders would have put a little moe effort on quality for their top of the line bike for that year.​​​​​​​

Iowhat

Chombi1 - it's certainly not custom-built quality, but it's not too shabby. I wonder who many 753-certified frame builders were working at/for Peugeot at that time? Owners claim they love the ride feel still 35 years later.

Chombi1 

Yes, but it could have been a bit better. The quality I see is what you would have seen in a mid level Peugeot like the PGNs. One would think that having invested on hiring or training Peuple that can properly braze 753 tubing, Peugeot would have raised the QA/QC just a few notches up to help with boosting the marketing for the bike and satisfy their owners. The lack of quality just pervaded throughout the Peugeot line in the 80's. Case in point, in 1984, it took me multiple visits to a Peugeot dealer going through their stock to finally find a PSV with decent enoigh lug and brazing work (No gaps or bubbles at the lugs and even shaping of the points.). I even had to return the first one I found because of some weird tempering problem with the head tube that caused it it accordion after a few miles of riding the bike.Otherwise, I was always a fan of Peugeot bikes and their Pro racing teams. Just wish they made their bikes better, for the sake of their customers.
My mid 80's Gitanes have much better craftsmanship than contemporary to them Peugeot, and they certainly weren't considered a custom or artesinal maker...​​​​​​​​​​​​​​

georges1

Having a Raleigh in Reynolds 753 and a Peugeot in Reynolds 708 Classic the quality of ride is legendary. Use of 753 by Peugeot was stopped in 1991 they then switched to the 708 classic tubingin 1992.

georges1

Gitane were using mostly entry level Reynolds 453 tubing in the 80's, sometimes 531 and very rarely 753. They weren't better than Peugeot who offered 531c ,slx and753 in the late 80's to early 90's. Gitane started to be interesting in the 90's when they offered their columbus elos lugged frame and their columbus genius tig welded frame, besides that they were always a notch under Peugeot regarding quality of tubing.Peugeot 1987 catalog, Peugeot 1990 catalog, Peugeot 1992 catalog,later in 1998 appeared thePeugeot Team line series of bikes which were made à la carte and where you could choose your groupset and wheels ,something Gitane didn't offer.

JulesCW 

I'd say putting a few hours of effort into cleaning it will be likely to pay dividends -- might be hard to get $700 as is -- you need someone who really wants it and can see past the neglect. In my experience buyers looking at sadly neglected nice bikes (including me) tend to be bottom fishing... even cleaning it and removing that sad chain (rusty stiff chains don't add value!) without replacing tape, putting on tires, etc. will help.

Chombi1 

Higher model Gitanes were made from Supervitus 980/983 and 531 tubing in the 80's Their top of the line Pro model was done in both 531, 531C and Columbus SL, depending on what year it was made
I'm not sure, but I think they issued SLX tubed frames in the very late 80's too. The difference was, the brazing and lug shaping was much better than Peugeots, even compared to Peugeot's top of the line bikes back then, unless you maybe get a special ordered PY frame from Peugeot's factory racing department.

georges1

Peugeot with the team z offered a 653 frame but also a SLX frame in the late 80's. I can tell you that the professionel 1000 one of peugeot top of the line models back then in reynolds 708 was very well made, I have one peugeot prestige from 1992 withthe 708 tubing which rides well and compared to the Gitanes of the same era it beats them regarding the paint quality and the overall finish. The Peugeot brazing system was a computer assisted design and I do like higher end peugeots from the 90's early 00's.

Jeff Neese

Some of the value will be determined by how long you roll it around the garage and garden without tires protecting those rims. Those rocks on bare rims make me cringe. People usually don't pick a bike up to move it even if it doesn't have tires - they just roll it around on the bare rims anyway.

Iowhat

JulesCW - thanks and no doubt about putting a few hours of effort. My question was what's it worth in its current condition. I have no problem putting time and some money into this bike, and there is a market for a complete/original 753 bike outfitted with full Campy Chorus, and it would pay dividends for sure.

Iowhat

Jeff - well the answer to your question is Zero time rolling it around the garage and garden. Hopefully that was not a serious question.....the bike was transported wrapped in blankets and squishy cushioning to my house and then hand carried to these rim-destroying rocks for a 10-minute photo shoot. I doubt anyone would roll a tireless bike anywhere, especially if they went out of their way to buy it. People who appreciate bikes pick 'em up and carry them like they would a newborn baby.

SurferRosa

Love