Bike Forums - Super Vitus 980

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Quote:

Originally Posted by Chombi1 (Post 20767387)

Actually, I still kinda see the straight section on your fork right below the curve. I think it is like what is on my PSV, but maybe just a bit less....
Most Italian 80's bikes like my Pinarello and Bottecchia have nicer curves on their forks that extend ll the way to the dropouts, with less rake:

https://cimg8.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...966bcf7fd1.jpg

My Davidson, also built with Columbus tubing has a very nice consistent curve, going down to the dropouts.https://cimg1.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...528d6d1e1c.jpg

My Gitane TdF that is built from Supervitus 983, deems to have the same kink/straight thing, going on with its lower fork legs. So it must be a Supervitus thing......
https://cimg8.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...bbd8e4a352.jpg

Fork legs do not change in design as size goes up.

Alex Wetmore wrote about this. I believe if a fork is raked with a "kink" instead of a "curve", it will have a longer axle crown. So unless your French bikes used custom drawn fork legs, they may have wanted to conserve fork length when raking the fork.

French bikes with of that period often have steep head angles, so keeping the fork legs longer makes some sense.

Also, more rake has less of a "racy" look, but it will actually make steering quicker and more responsive.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bianchigirll (Post 20759688)

Most all frames are subject to flex of some degree. I think rider weight and style has more to do with flex than just frame material and of course size. A slender smooth spinning rider may find a 56cm 980 980 tubed frame to be stiff enough for them where a rider the same height but say 3-40 pounds heavier with a tendency to push a bigger gear and struggles to climb may find the same 56cm 980 tubed frame to be flexxy.

Bravo that you totally avoided the word, "planes".
I have one of this tubing, another mfg. It was decaled as a Reynolds 753...
I don't care, the French play fast and loose with tubing claims.

I have the exact Davidson frame with Campy Rally components. Do you have more information on it? Like, what year the frame was built (Bill Davidson replied to me that it was "early 80s"). Everything is stock and given to me by a family member.

Quote:

Originally Posted by socorunner (Post 22210781)

if you are talking about my Davidson in the pic, it was supposedly custom built by Bill Davidson in 1983. That was when he was still mostly doing the building, himself.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Luis Ocana 1973 (Post 5721266)

My 980 frame is a 56cm. Would you expect the flex to be minimal on this size of frame?

You tell us?

I rode a 1980 531 Peugeot competition for over 30 years, stock. Riding a super vitus 980 Peugeot 86 for 5 years, 60cm. I'm 212lbs. Whippy ****, stronglight 200 crank 126mm rear stays (7sp america) No problem!