PapaGanoosh

Wondering if anyone can ID this frame? It is a single speed with flip flop hub, but frame looks pretty neat (3t stem, FSA fixie cranks). Maybe a 992/979? Seller also says he has an 8speed Campy mirage/avanti mix group for conversion back to geared.

What are your thoughts on its worth as a singlespeed vs with the campy mix? Bike market is one of the hottest where I live...

Also, what considerations should I take into account for vitus frames in terms of maintenance/problems, being french and aluminum and all? Read that finding another rear derailleur hanger may be a problem, but if it already has one that should be no problem right?

Chombi

It's a Vitus 992 from the late 80's/early 90's, judging from the BB design, almost unicrown-like fork crown design, Integrated headset and top tube cable routing.
They usually go for a bit more than the previous 979 model, especially as the rear spacing on them can accommodate more modern hubs with more than 7 speeds, if geared..
For just the frameset in close to NOS condition, you might be looking at up to around $300+- for market value.
I don't remember if the 992s had an integrated or bolt on rear derailleur hanger, but if the hanger was sawn off, the value of the bike to C&V geared bike riders/collectors will obviously be affected negatively big time. I think easily 100 bucks or more off its value (if mint). An SS/FG rider might not care at all. and will only take of maybe half of that devaluation. Your bike's frame without graphics and hopefully intact anodized finish and maybe a sawn off derailleur hanger might only get $150 max. out there. So frankly, it might be worth more to SS/FG riders if the derailleur hanger was indeed sawn off.
Despite all the rumors since the Vitus Aluminum bonded framed bikes were introduced in the very late 70's/early 80's, Vitus aluminum bikes are actually quite reliable and the cases of them breaking apart on riders were mostly exaggerated. They weren't any worse than most other good bonded frames made out there, and most likely better in most cases.
What to watch out for with the 992 is the condition of the integrated headset. Replacement parts might be hard to find for them these days and I'm not sure if all bike shops wold know how to, or are equipped to replace the integrated races on the frame. Also, watch out for signs if the bike was "put away wet" to many times in its life, as corrosion can attack the glue at the bonds in the lugs and cause them to fail. Not really a failing of the design of the frames, but more of the owner not taking care of it properly as any bonded frame bike should be (keep it dry as much as possible).

jyl

As chombi says, a 992. Much rarer than the 979. The decals are available BTW.

I don't know if all 992s did, but at least some had replaceable derailleur hangers. Those are not available anywhere AFAIK.

I had some 992 derailleur hangers made, a couple years ago. I still have a few left, if you need to buy one.

PapaGanoosh

Couldn't have asked for more extensive information. Thanks guys. Do you guys have any idea of which groupset came original on these bikes?

Chombi

IIRC, these were mostly sold as framesets, so many might have been built up by the owners themselves to what they wanted, but also, the dealers might have built a good number of them up to a typical to their dealership spec when they got them to sell as bikes.
Typical groups used on these 992, 979 and Carbone series Vitus bikes were first gen Shimano indexed systems like what was found with the DA7400 series., But I have seen a good number of them built with Shimano 600 groups too, for maybe a more budget option. Campagnolo (Usually high spec SR or even C-Record/Delta spec) equipped Vitus 992s did come up once in a while but not as common as Shimano equipped bikes. Suntour equipped bikes rarely came up, as the company was pretty much dead when these 992's were sold. Many C&V riders/collectors today love to build these C&V Vitus bonded bikes with French Mavic, Sachs or Spidel groups too (A Mavic Mektronic group build would be awesome on a 992!), as strangely, such was quite rare to find when these bikes were new....

PapaGanoosh

Great. Really helped with my decision. Thanks again for the info. Ended up grabbing it in a trade. Rear Derailleur hanger still in tact. The frame is in decent condition. All the anodised tubing seems to be in decent shape, but the lugs seem to be a bit spotty/scratched. What do you think of the trade?

Traded my 2009 masi speciale fixed for the bike with all the single speed parts swapped for the following parts:

Mismatched wheelset (rear seems to be decent with shimano 400ex hubs, araya rims)
Shimano 600 tricolor group (missing brakes), not in the greatest shape, but should be serviceable
Mix of campy parts (centaur triple crank, mirage derailleur, veloce brifters)

Chombi

Great to hear that the rear derailleur hanger is intact! Makes it more worthwhile to restore it back to geared configuration ifyou want to. Only thing you need to do to that frame then is to locate the correct decals for it an install them and clean up the lugs and dropouts.
Vitus never anodized the lugs and head tubes on their bikes, At least I know they did not do so with their aluminum 979s and their Carbones. I'm not sure if they did the same with the 992's but if they did, it will be easy to polish up the lugs and BB shell with aluminum polishing compound. Stuff meant for aluminum car wheels work very well.
My Vitus Carbone 7 had very dull and scratched lugs, dropouts and headtube too when I got it and I was able to polish them to close to scratchless mirror finish using polishing compound and a drill mounted polishing bonnet.

If they are not clear anodized, The lugs and BB shell on your 992 should polish up nicely too with just a bit of elbow grease. Just make sure you protect the frame tubes with masking tape when you co the polishing, so you do not end up damaging the anodized finish on them. I think the trade with the modern Masi ss was a decent one,...... but then I am a geared C&V bike fan, so that opinion might be a bit biased....