jyl

Hi everyone. I am looking at getting a road bike again. This will be my first road bike since my old Raleigh Grand Sport was destroyed in a crash back when I was in grad school, an embarrassing number of decades ago.

All my other bikes are Bridgestones so a steel frame like a RB-1 is a possibility. But back in the day I lusted after a Vitus, so I'm also looking at those. I've been doing a lot of reading here and have learned a lot about the glued Vitus frames, the 979 and 992.

Here's my questions, that I hope you can help with.

1. Did they ever make a Vitus 992 with carbon fiber tubes? I talked to someone who claims to have a 992 with carbon tubes. This interests me, but as I've never heard of such a thing I'm trying to see if it's worth pursuing.

2. I gather the parts for the 992 that are non-standard and possibly hard/expensive to get are the headset, the derailleur hanger, and the seat post and grub screw. The headset is simple enough - I won't buy a 992 frame with bad headset bearings. The derailleur hanger worries me - I don't want my frame to be one accident away from becoming trash. So:

A. Has anyone found a source for the 992 hangers, found another hanger that can be modified to fit (assume basic tools like files and a drill), or had a machine shop make a new hanger at a reasonable cost?

B. On the seat post, I am still confused on what diameter seat post is required - seems this changed over time and is also different for the aluminum vs carbon frames. Can you tell me about the availability and cost of the seat posts?

3. Finally, what's a reasonable range of prices to pay for a 992 frame in sound condition. Assuming cosmetic wear and tear but the tubes are solidly glued. I figure I won't buy one that needs rebonding. Are the carbon ones worth more than the aluminum ones?

Thanks!

T-Mar

I believe the equivalent of the 992 with carbon fiber main tubes was called the 997.

jyl

Well, I now have a Vitus "OCT" frame and fork, plus stem and handlebar. And the two pieces of the dropout, which I guess I or a machinist can use as a pattern if I can't find an original hanger.

The frame is straight and clean. The oval carbon tubes are cool, Decals okay. Standard 130mm rear dropout spacing, which almost makes up for needinh to find a 25mm seat post. Grub screw is fine. Joints are solid and no signs of corrosion. Headset feels okay, though I'll take it apart and grease it.

Anyone have a line on a Vitus 992 hanger . . .

Bianchigirll 

I think you need to post some pics. personally I would not have paid money for a frame with a broken dropout unless the seller had the correct replacement in his hand at time of sale.

jyl

There's several options to replace the hanger, I think at the end of the day it'll cost <$100 (net). If I hand make one from bar stock, $5.

Pic of frame

Bianchigirll 

there is not alot of detail in that pic but it doesn't look like that has a replacable hanger.

jyl

It is not a good picture, but the hanger is replaceable, and the screws are present and their threads are intact.

Let me check an assumption here. The location of the hole on which the derailleur mounts is not a "critical tolerance" point. That is, if the hole is 1/8" forward or rearward, or 1/8" to the right or left, is not critical, since a typical derailleur has sufficient adjustment to compensate for a 1/8" difference. Is that right?

jyl

Well, I learned a little more, which I'll add on here in case someone someday is searching for information about these frames. This model of 992, the OCT (ovoid carbon tube) variant, was produced from ? until about 1997/1998, it was a professional racing frame, used by Team Lotto and possibly others, although clearly not this one as it doesn't bear any team colors. In 1999 Team Lotto switched to GT bicycles. Some Team Lotto 992 OCT frames come up for sale now and again. The derailleur hanger looks pretty simple to make/get made. The seat post is 25.4mm, not 25mm as I was told.

pinch1967

Here is my Vitus Carbone ....very light !

jyl

That's a pretty bike for sure. I was looking for a 979 type Carbone, but this one showed up and it was unusual so I bought it. The CL ad didn't mention it being carbon fiber.