jyl

Hey guys, what do you think this bike is worth to buy? It is described as a Peugeot "PSVN" but I don't know if that is correct. The fork looks odd, but I've noticed forks often look bent in photos. It has "Super Vitus" decals on fork and downtube. "Brase a la Main" on top tube. The downtube shifters look like Simplex, the crank looks like Stronglight and all the rings are drilled (but I could be wrong).

I'm continuing to look for a Peugeot that is a "P" model that I can afford, which wouldn't include a "PX" absent the $30 thrift store discovery. So I asked earlier about PR10 and here I am asking about a purported PSVN.

My impression, from reading, is that a real PSVN has Super Vitus 980 tubing and is a pretty good, though flexible, bike that was below the carbon fiber model (PY10FC?) and below the Reynolds 531 models (PX10 or PRO10?) - so, at best #3 in the lineup. Is that right?

FastJake

I'd be interested to hear an appraisal on this bike. There's one exactly like it at a resale shop here for the insane price of $500 (needs quite a bit of work, incorrect parts.) I'm very tempted to make an offer on it. I was trying to find it in the catalogs and I think I found similar models around 1983, higher up in the line.

Chombi

PSVs had been a great bargain out there consdering how nice these frames ride, plus how super light a bike you can build from them with their top of the line Supervitus 980 tubing. It's also Peugeot's last real all French steel race bike.
I would say that $300 to $350 would be a fair offer for an all original mint condition one and you can work your way downwards depending on condition of the frame and components.
Be sure you are willing to take on the PSV with its French "quirks" though, as the compnent sizes are metric (mostly smaller diameter bars stem and seatpost) so replacements are not as easy to find.......and there's also that Swiss threaded BB........and that French style brazed-on FD......
BTW, that looks to be either an 82 or 83 model PSV in the pics

Chombi
84 Peugeot PSV
84 Vitus Plus Carbone 7

jyl

I got an email from the seller, who says

"Stronglight 103 crank, Sella Italia CX saddle, CTA Handlebars and Peugeot XA stem, Weinmann 605 brakes, Peugeot/Simplex SJ gear levers and front derailleur, a Shimano rear derailleur, Ambrosio rims. Tires are good and hold air for long periods"

So I guess the rear derailleur at least is not original. He claims it is a 1984 bike, but doesn't sound like he knows because he's had it from new or anything.

It looks clean from the photos I have, but they aren't high-resolution, more like a "six feet away" view.

I'm kind of torn. I've got what will be a cool, very light, performant, "racy" road bike in the project phase. Between collecting all the Campy bits, it is going to cost me near enough $1,000 to complete, assuming I don't cheap out on the wheelset. I don't really "need" another "racy" road bike. What I really "need" is a simple, speedy, not real valuable, but still interesting, bike for a daily commute, that doesn't need much money to be rideable. I think this Peugeot could do that, with some clamp-on fenders. But then again, so could a lot of pretty cheap bikes. The mid-70s UO8 I just bought my daughter would be a fine commuter for me, if it weren't a bit too small.

So I'm trying to figure out, what is a "gee, you shouldn't pass it up if you could get it for $X" price. If that makes any sense.

Also, I'm curious why the Super Vitus frames were ranked below the Reynolds 531 frames, when the little reading I've done makes it sound like the Super Vitus 980 is just as good as 531. I looked at some old 1983/84 brochures at www.peugeotshow.com and the PRO10 (531) was nearly triple the price of the PSVN10 (Super Vitus). That's huge.

FastJake

FWIW, the Peugeot I looked at had those same components, the RD was a Shimano 600. The "wrong" pieces I saw were the saddle and a stupid adjustable stem.

This bike didn't have all Campy originally did it? I wouldn't bother spending hundreds go that route. I'd say if you can get it for less than $300 that's a pretty fair price. But if you just want a commuter with fenders I'd look elsewhere. There are plenty of nice old "10 speeds" out there (like the UO8 you mention) with generous tire clearance and fender mounts that would probably serve you better than this racing machine.

zukahn1

I would feel comfortable saying this is far better than most Peugeot's offered if it is the right size for you and your not buying it flip just to ride you could go as high as $250-300 and be OK.

Chombi

FYI,
The crank on the bike is actually a Stronglight 104bis (very desirable for it's drilled rings), which was standard on the early PSVs. The bike is also not a 1984 model. The 84s had a metallic black paint scheme with the diagonal color banding. the 84s also had a grub screw seatpost anchorage system and fastback design seatstay. Here's my 84 PSV to give you an idea what the 84 PSV frames looked like:

The white bike in the pic you posted is definitely pre-84. As I noted, either an 82 or 83.
I can confirm that the rear derailleur was changed. It should be a Simplex SX610 to match the Simplex front derailleur. It would not hurt to switch it back to the Simplex RD as they are good, reliable shifters. It still looks like a very decent condition bike judging from the pics. You might have to just see it personally to confirm. If the paint is in great condition it will be a big plus as these Peugeots looked best IMO, in the pearl white paint color as I think this one is in.
BTW, I disagree that the SV980 tubing is below Reynolds 531 tubing. Most published tubing data lists show Supervitus 980 to fall somwhere in between Reynolds 531 and 753. Closer to 753 in terms of tubing thickness and tubeset weight. The SV980 tubeset even sports helical reinforced headtubes ala Columbus SLX, so Vitus really invested in the design of this tubeset. Reynolds 531 just have the higher name recognition.

Chombi

jyl

Thank you all. I'm checking with the seller on the size and when we can meet.

He says it is a "23 inch frame" with no info on how he's measuring (to top? to center?). If that means 58 cm center to center, then it will be about 2 cm longer in the seat tube than is perfectly ideal (it will fit me fine, just won't have quite as much seatpost exposed as I aesthetically prefer), but will have a nice long top tube (I have a long torso, prefer a long cockpit, usually have to get it with a long stem). Anyway, sounds close enough that I should go see.

I've done a bunch of reading on PSV and PSVN bikes this evening. I had no idea how often they are discussed. I'm sorry for not using the search. The plain paint scheme is my favorite, I think.

zukahn1

A 23inch is about the as a 58mm if that matter's.

jyl

I went to see and ride the bike today.

It is quite clean. Needs some polishing and cleaning, brakes squeal, there's a judder at one spot on the front rim, shifts nicely, rode nicely though I only took a short ride (night, raining).

The frame is just a tad larger than I'd ideally like, being a 58 cm when my ideal, I'd previously thought, has been a 56 cm. The seatpost is just a bit lower in the seat tube than I'd like - but it looks like plenty of bikes here. It fits me fine, plenty of room on the top tube, plenty of stand over.

I'm thinking about it, will make an offer. It is not a "must have" but would be a "nice to have".

jyl

The bike is in my basement, awaiting cleanup. I will post some pictures in a thread on the main C&V page later.

I emailed an offer and got it agreed last night, this morning I sold another bicycle to pay for this one, and I was at the seller's door by 10 am. By then he'd received four calls since waking up, including two "firm offers" at the price we'd agreed. I guess the weekend improved the interest, even a drenching winter weekend in Portland.

My wife and I took a little ride this morning, during a shortvspell of gray-and-cold-but-not-actively-raining. The bike fits both of us, although in both cases just a tad (1-2 cm) larger than ideal. She thinks it might become "her" bike. Well, if that happens, I'll have put wife and daughter on old Peugeots . . .

And will be still looking for my own "fast inexpensive commuter" Peugeot.

zukahn1

I have noticed the weekend thing on selling bikes on CL nearly all the calls and inquireries I get are on Friday night and Saturday.

juls

I have one like it. 1982 was the debutante model-in 83 stripes were added. Orig to it is the drillium crank-tubulars-and heliocomatic 6 speed drive. Very pretty bike with the pearl white paint. Show us some pictures of yours We LOVE pictures.

jyl

https://www.bikeforums.net/showthread...t-Peugeot-PSVN

I put pics etc there.