Does anyone know what the cost of a Peugeot PSV10 was new? I understand that for 1982, the px10 was 1.5 lbs heavier than the psv10. Did the difference in weight translate into a difference in price? Were bikes with Super Vitus less expensive than their Reynolds counterparts?

I don't have prices for 1982 but in 1984 it was $529 US. Hopefully Jim can narrow it down but my guess would be about $499 US.

In 1982 there was no PX10, only the PXN10 which used a clincher wheelset that was responsible for most of the weight difference. It was advertised at 22.7 lbs versus 21 lbs for the tubular equipped PSV10. The top model was the tubular equipped Pro 10 at 21 lbs.

In general, the Vitus models were lower ranked and priced that their counterparts with roughly equivalent Reynolds tubesets. The Reynolds models generally featured some upgrading on many of the components.

No can do.... Your price sounds right. His bike is an '82.

OK, thxs. In 1983 there a tubular equipped PX10 at 21.8 lbs versus 21 lbs. for the PSV10. There were some component differences, notably, cranks, brakes and handlebar/stem.

My bike is actually an '82, as identified with the info provided by miamijim. The only difference between the '82 and '83 seems to be the stripes on the top tube of the '83. Would either of you happen to know why Peugeot switched the Triathlon from Super Vitus to Reynolds 501 after '86?

Sorry Luis, I mis-typed, yours is an '82. The '87 Triathlon is Super Vitus. Idont know what the '88 or '89 lineup consisted of as I dont have info for those 2 years.

Jim

It is always about money.

It usually is about money, but in this case i'm not sure how. Wouldn't it have been cheaper for Peugeot to use a domestic French supplier rather than an English one? I don't know how strong the pound was against the franc in '87 but it would just seem more expensive.

It could be any number of reasons. I highly dought Reynolds 501 pushed Super Vitus out of tha market as both tubes were used simultaneously with SV980 being a higher end tube.

By 1990 Peugeot was no longer using Vitus tubes. They were using Reynolds 753 653 531 501 and their in house HLE tubing. It appears 653 or possibly 531 was used in place of SV980.

The Triathlon was definitely Reynolds 501 in 1988 and 1989. Reynolds 501 was almost certainly less expensive than Super Vitus 980. It was heavier and used less expensive seamed construction. Furthermore, Reynolds was a more recognizable brand in the US, which had the largest population of the targeted triathletes.

Another factor to consider is that by that time Peugeot had abandoned the French component manufacturers and jumped on the SIS banwagon, specifying Shimano 105 on this model, thus elminating the need to spec Super Vitus in order to keep the bicycle all-French.

Close to half of all SV980 models were spec'd with components other than Simplex and Stronglight.

Another example is 1989. Peugeot used Reynolds 653, Colombus SLX, Reynolds 531, 501 and their in house HLE tubing.....for the French market.

It seems like SV980 was bumped out as Reynolds introduced new tubings. Keep in mind the French economy was very bad in the late 80's. The entire French bicycle industry was on the verge of collapse.

I found the 1983 price - $495 US, so 1982 may be just a bit less.

Very good point about the French economy. Peugeot had been particularly loyal to most of its suppliers until the mid-1980s. Maybe the bankruptcy of Simplex opened their eyes to the drawbacks of single sourcing and the perilous financial state of many of their French suppliers. After 1985, when they were forced to go to with Sachs-Huret, they started using lots of new and foreign suppliers. Undoubtedly, Peugeot themselves were hurting and started having to following industry trends rather relying solely on their reputation.

Up until that time Peugeot had also been very nationalistic, with the exception of Reynolds, a long time supplier. It's my view that increasing prices in the early 1980s led to larger price jumps between models and created a need for new models to fill the gaps. The lack of variety of Reynolds tubesets created a opportunity to bring Vitus on board and at the same increase the French content on some models.

I concur that Reynolds 501 did not result in the demise of SV980. Reynolds 501 had been used as early as 1984 on the PGN10 and PH501. And as stated, SV980 was retained on models though 1990. However, 501 did appear appear replace Vitus 181, at least for Peugeot.

Very good points.

Shimano caught the entire bicycle industry of gaurd when they introduced indexed shifting in 1985. In a few short years they went from being a small player to absolute dominance. Peugeot, being very loyal to Simplex was slow to adapt to indexing. The shop I worked at sold Peugeots, Miyatas and Schwinns. It was a tough selling friction Peugeots over indexed Schwinns and Miyatas!! At one point Peugeot owned or had/has ownership of Sachs so I'm not so sure if they 'forced' to go with then versus trying to stay loyal.

Prior to around 1986 the bicyle division was heavily subsidized by the auto division. Without financial concerns the bicycle division didnt need to worry about being cost efficient. Peugeot withdrew from the U.S. market because they were losing money which can be attributed to lack of adapting (and subsidies from the auto division). A few years after that Peugeot sold of the cycling division.