I owned a Vitus frame for years years but never built it up. It was used & i never trusted the thing.

I agree that an all Mivic Vitus would be cool. At least on this side of the Atlantic they were almost never equipped that way.

That's curious. For whatever reason every vintage Vitus I've ever seen had Mavic kit on it. Maybe only the Mavic spec'd glued Vitus bikes were ever really imported to the States? Do the rest of you see a lot of Mavic/Vitus bikes?

I'd like some feedback on my latest acquisition. I picked up a pair of NOS 40 drill Mavic Module 4 rims in 27".

Now as far as I can tell these were the heavy touring/bombproof rim by Mavic back in the day. About all I could find out about them came from Bikepro:

http://www.bikepro.com/products/rims/mavicroad.html

How would you guys think the Mavic Module 4 rims compare to the modern A719 (T520) rims? I certainly would have just gone with the A719 (T520) if I could have found 'em in 27" (630bsd). I hope I didn't drastically overpay.

The biggest seller of Vitus Al frames in the 1980's was Performance mail order. Performance didn't offer Mavic groups. Most ended up with some form of Shimano.

Most 80's Vitus aluminum and carbon bikes I've seen here in the states are outfitted with Shimano groupsets.
My Vitus Carbone Plus 7 came to me with 7400 series DA compnenets which have seen some miles and are tired enough to warrant replacement.
For my resto project /"Tout French" buildup for it, the dissasembly/cleanup process that have already taken bout two months, revealed a frame that is still pretty solid with no sign delamination or looseness anywhere. The frame (52cm) and fork even "rings" pretty nice and even when you tap it all over. I think this one's good for many more miles but I will make sure to inspect it very carefully after every ride.
Just snagged an "erector" SSC rear and front derailleur and a NOS set of 500/550 32H hubs for my "Tout French" buildup for the bike. Didn't go all the way Mavic cause I don't really like the Modolo and Diacompe brakes that they used in the 80s (kinda strays away from the "Tout French" buildup effort). I decided to use my spare NOS Spidel/Mafac LS1 sidepulls instead.
Still looking for the proper BB, crank, chain, bars and pedals to finish the project. Trying to stay away from the "Patrick" style Mavic cranks. the lines on those just don't look quite right on classic bikes with traditional round tube construction IMO. The "Uber Aero look on those cranks will look more at home on monocoque CF frames or TT bikes.

Chombi
84 Peugeot PSV
85(?) Vitus Carbone Plus 7

Hi,

this is just in - and I thought it would fit here:

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2716/...80c250f3_o.jpg

I am itching to post up mine but Until I find a 3G rear or another 24hole GL330 it will remain moments away.
Also I cheating by using modern Mavic bartape, this project isnt even over and yet i'm already drooling over the next.
The Mavic curse is even worse than the general french curse.

Hey Cool Steve what are you going to do for a replacement cassette on that proprietary Mavic 571 rear hub? I've never even seen a Mavic shark tooth cassette for sale that wasn't paired with a Mavic hub...

I've been looking for a 36h or 40h 130mm rear Mavic cassette HG compatible cassette hub for a long time. I see Mavic 571/2 hubs come up from time to time but they are always 32 drill. I've heard that you can replace the hub cassette body, but I really doubt that you can use a modern Mavic hub body. Anybody know?

I saw a 40 drill Mavic 501 rear hub on eBay recently but it was a freewheel hub, and I already have a NOS 36h one. I'm not inclined to build it up as I'm currently too heavy for anything freewheel, save a Phil Wood.

Why don't you source some Mavic road drop handlebars for that bike instead of the TT bullhorn bars? They wouldn't be particularly safe (alloy bars shouldn't be used but a handful of years and then retired) though...

[QUOTE=mtnbke;10091133] what are you going to do for a replacement cassette on that proprietary Mavic 571 rear hub? I've never even seen a Mavic shark tooth cassette for sale that wasn't paired with a Mavic hub...[QUOTE]

i have a set of those 571's on one of my merckx commuters . i took off all the cogs but one , the 19Tooth cog is on . and i guess ill run it until it dies , i cannot find any replacements for the 571 .
im running a 53/19 on my commuter .
anyone have a 571 cassette or know where to find one ?

Thanks
/T

I saw 8 NOS mavic cogs on eBay last month sell for $140
Best bet would be finding some on hubs, or on a bike.

Has anyone here ever had any success with the Zap and Mechtronic derailleurs?

Not sure if this is true but, weren't they outlawed from sanctioned competition, thus Mavic discontinued them?
Otherwise, they go for lots of money at Ebay when they come up. I think they are more of a curiosity/conversational piece than something people would like to use everyday on their bikes. Specially being that maintenance and replacement parts, I would think, are now very expensive and hard to come by.

Chombi
84 Peugeot PSV
85(?) Vitus Carbone Plus 7