Vitus 992? Help identifying please!
 

A buddy of mine gave me this bike before he moved cross country. It's been sitting at my house for over a year and I've finnaly decided to do something with it. I know little outside of mainstream brands so i'm looking for some info.

Year?
Good bike?
Trying to decide what to do with it.. finish building, sell. Any suggestions would be more than welcome!
Thanks!

What I know:
There is a label that says Vitus 992 - made in Europe.
The frame is aluminum and seams to measure about 61.59cm
Components say Shimano 600 with "Iltegra Flight Deck" on the shifters.
Bottom of the bike is stamped with E206217 and says "Modele Vitus Depose"
Shimano Pedals

Some Pictures:
http://members.cox.net/delfindle/p1.jpg
http://members.cox.net/delfindle/p2.jpg
http://members.cox.net/delfindle/p3.jpg

Looks like it could be a nice bike, handle bars are on backwards (you probably know that). Its bonded thin gauge aluminum. Said by some to be flexy but I have no first hand experience with it.

I don't think the year matters much. The FlightDeck .. & other stuff might indicate the year within a year or two, assuming they were installed when the bike was new. The point is that this model was widely sold from '87 'till the early-mid 90's and/or when the stock ran out. Not for everybody; a light, flexy, al.bonded construction. A cool bike for sure, ask Stepahan Roche, he road one extensively, won plenty of pro races then went on to win the tour in '87, on a different bike. Sean Kelly rode one for a spell, other high level pros also rode them. A mainstay in hi-end shops for years, some having the entire line; colors (6 or so) & sizes. though Different than modern AL.. bikes, they broke the ice back then in a much, much bigger way than earlier AL bikes. To get a bike like that is a fine gift. Seems these days anything old is a "classic". This one IS. Best suited to a sub 180 pounder, even less is even better suited.

If it is your size it will make a very nice rider. They are flexible, but there's nothing wrong with that, really. I had friends use them in Criteriums in the '80's, so they can't be that bad. Matter of fact, Sean Kelly rode one to very good effect in the late '80's as well, and he had enough power to win the green jersey more than once.

This is a later model judging from the "integrated" head set/head tube/fork combination; I really don't know their serial numbers. I have 2, a really early one and a Sean Kelly type (991?) and really like 'em both. The seatpost is a nearly unique size, so the aero seatpost is a real plus.

Thanks for all the input!

The bike is just too big for me and not 100% what I want.

I'll put it up for sale and see if it can find a new home where someone can enjoy it.

Thanks again!

Since it's already partially disassembled, you're likely to get far more parted out.

The Ultegra Flight Deck shifters would be 9-sp, probably, and worth $100 or so.
The Shimano 600EX polished version of the crankset is worth about $35 if rings are nice.
The downtube cable stops should be sold with the shifters but could bring up to $5.
Calipers look to be 600 tricolor, so they'd bring $25
The seatpost looks aero, so figure $15-$20.
Bar/stem looks a lot like Nitto, so figure $25 for the combo.
Saddle, $10
FD $15, RD $25, looks like Shimano 600 tricolor again.
The cassette looks like a full-block. $15-$25 based on condition.
Figure $50 on the wheelset.
Figure then $50-$75 on the frame. Looks nice.
In parts, figure $300 or more, but time-consuming and shipping headache.

In it's present state, maybe $200, and that person would undoubtedly be buying it for the parts.
Uh, where are you?