What is this blue bike?
08-07-23 | 11:04 AM
#1
Thread Starter
Senior Member
Joined: Jul 2019
Posts: 854
Likes: 510
From: Seattle, WA
Bikes: Cinelli SC, Cielo Cross Classic, Tesch 101
What is this blue French bike?
Hello!
I stumbled across this bike and can't figure out what it actually is! It looks like a Vitus 971/'980 frame but I'm not really sure. Lots of Simplex and Gipiemme parts....Campy pedals...sad chain
Any guesses on the manufacturer?
https://buycycle.com/en-us/bike/992-52579
I stumbled across this bike and can't figure out what it actually is! It looks like a Vitus 971/'980 frame but I'm not really sure. Lots of Simplex and Gipiemme parts....Campy pedals...sad chain
Any guesses on the manufacturer?
https://buycycle.com/en-us/bike/992-52579
Last edited by BertoBerg; 08-07-23 at 07:51 PM.
08-07-23 | 02:17 PM
#2
Crawlin' up, flyin' down
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 6,761
Likes: 4,415
From: Democratic Peoples' Republic of Berkeley
Bikes: 1967 Paramount; 1982-ish Ron Cooper; 1978 Eisentraut "A"; two mid-1960s Cinelli Speciale Corsas; and others in various stages of non-rideability.
. . . and missing one chainring bolt. 
__________________
"I'm in shape -- round is a shape." Andy Rooney
"I'm in shape -- round is a shape." Andy Rooney
08-09-23 | 08:37 PM
#7
Senior Member
Joined: Aug 2014
Posts: 540
Likes: 761
From: Los Angeles, CA
Bikes: None in ridable condition
The features on that frame are relatively generic so they're consistent with a few different builders. However, that serial number on the drive side rear dropout makes me think this is a Haral (La Motte-Servolex/Chambéry). Haral used to stamp numbers on the drive side rear dropout, either on upper or lower parts, in a really small point size.
Don't have a lot of good shots of the numbers, but here are two that'll hopefully illustrate the point:
Here are shots of the seat cluster, with slightly different points of attachment:
And here are some full on shots:
As for tubing, I suppose Vitus 971/980 is a possibility although, of all the Harals I've seen, it seems like Vitus is the least common type of tubing. Around the time this mystery frame was made, they were often built with Excell tubing, so that would be my guess here.
Don't have a lot of good shots of the numbers, but here are two that'll hopefully illustrate the point:
Here are shots of the seat cluster, with slightly different points of attachment:
And here are some full on shots:
As for tubing, I suppose Vitus 971/980 is a possibility although, of all the Harals I've seen, it seems like Vitus is the least common type of tubing. Around the time this mystery frame was made, they were often built with Excell tubing, so that would be my guess here.
08-10-23 | 07:51 AM
#8
Thread Starter
Senior Member
Joined: Jul 2019
Posts: 854
Likes: 510
From: Seattle, WA
Bikes: Cinelli SC, Cielo Cross Classic, Tesch 101
The features on that frame are relatively generic so they're consistent with a few different builders. However, that serial number on the drive side rear dropout makes me think this is a Haral (La Motte-Servolex/Chambéry). Haral used to stamp numbers on the drive side rear dropout, either on upper or lower parts, in a really small point size.
…..
As for tubing, I suppose Vitus 971/980 is a possibility although, of all the Harals I've seen, it seems like Vitus is the least common type of tubing. Around the time this mystery frame was made, they were often built with Excell tubing, so that would be my guess here.
…..
As for tubing, I suppose Vitus 971/980 is a possibility although, of all the Harals I've seen, it seems like Vitus is the least common type of tubing. Around the time this mystery frame was made, they were often built with Excell tubing, so that would be my guess here.
08-10-23 | 08:19 AM
#9
Strong Walker
Joined: May 2007
Posts: 1,407
Likes: 616
From: Black Forest, Germany
Bikes: too many
08-10-23 | 08:22 AM
#10
Thread Starter
Senior Member
Joined: Jul 2019
Posts: 854
Likes: 510
From: Seattle, WA
Bikes: Cinelli SC, Cielo Cross Classic, Tesch 101
Good to know that the frameset is “under 4kg”!
