slshrflck

Gorgeous bicycle, that Thomas Rosset is!

VintageSteelEU

Anything with Super Vitus 971 tubing is definitely worth restoring. Shame about the size, because it looks great.

Manu431

Just in case, Vitus 971 is same as Durifort, durifort 888. ...
Same tubes, many brands.

VintageSteelEU

I'm no expert on bicycle tubes, by any means and I'm sure there are many people around who will know better or for sure, but I understand that Durifort and Vitus 888 is plain gauge whilst Vitus 171, Vitus 172 and Super Vitus 971 are double butted. Not that plain gauge is necessarily bad, I would certainly not mind Motobecane with Vitus 888 and made for touring (I think that was the Grand Touring model of the late 70's).

ehcoplex 

Posted previously, but now a few changes/additions...

Manu431

You are right !
I made a mistake between vitus 172 and Vitus 971.

Vitus 172 is identical to durifort (888), not Vitus 971

https://forum.tontonvelo.com/viewtopic.php?t=12213

Classtime 

your link clearly points out that 172 is higher quality than durifort. This is also my perception of two Moto G. T.. one with 888 and another with 172.

motogeek 

I seem to recall Vitus 971 as being an aluminum material.

Lattz

I met my hero the other day again. This Peugeot Neuilly was left to its fate acually in this bike rack for like 2 years unti the city gave it the red card (meaning straight to dump, no second chance at the co-op program). As time started ticking I did what the city does waited excitedly a few weeks if the owner picks it risking that the city will be faster so one day I saved it. To my surprise under the years of dirs and surface rust it was like new so it got saddle and tires from the parts bin. I never even heard about Shimano Positron before and even if I had I could not care less, but I would take it anytime again, it ran like a swiss watch but it was really harfly ever used. We lived happily ever after until someone cut it from the lamppost by my office. Besides braking both orig lamps and the chrome and paint started to show surface rust again in the newly obtained scars its still in one piece..


Second free Peugeot I posted in some threads i got on the street from a neighbor I didn't know. He was about to load the frame without wheels in the trunk of his car as he was cleaning his garage. I said well thats a nice one and he asked if I want it. Like new condition again. He said he brings tires and brought out a pair of NOS hand built soldered NOS SUP ceramics, I almost fainted. Got cut from my house when i brought lunch home for Comrade Wifey from the office and left outside for 15 mins.


Third and last French is a free Peugeot again. Peugeot Prestige. Someone moved out from the house next to us and left it in front of the dooor with the furnitures for the trash company. Columbus Cromor OR frame full STX or STX RC. Well worn but still going strong and shifting accurately. This was my comfy carry all here picking up supplies for preparing new apt before moving in. The Dutch front rack was added by me. Gave it to my neighbor when i moved out from the apt, one less to take with me.

I also street picked a gitane tandem in turquise. was in good shape minus the fork what someone rear ended in the garage and I guess the derailleur was either not installed properly or the limiting pin was broken off. I guess it might be common with Allvit since i found pins on ebay. As it was 650b everything should be ordered from France i couldnt bother plus the French classifieds are also not loaded with 650b tandem forks and wheels at least not for reasonable prices. I gave it to a friend with a 26"normal fork but he doesnt ride it and also doesnt order the things from France. I have a feeling it might get back to me at some point although I told him to throw away if he doesnt need it I know myself that I wont let that happen Cant find pics though.
edit: found a pic

brixxton

Please somebody buy this before I break my promise and find myself in the "merde"
I know it should be in 'the wacky world" but think this is it's place
Gitane Inter Marque 60cm - $80 (San Francisco)
https://sfbay.craigslist.org/sfc/bik...610537381.html
Nice large frame French road bike. Good enough to get around.
Fits someone over 6 feet tall.

JohnDThompson 

You're thinking of Vitus 979

motogeek 

You're right, this is the one I used to have. My bad. .

georges1

extremely rare and very valuable frame

VintageSteelEU

That's Taiwanese / Japanese, not French though, isn't it? Or is it Danish now?

georges1

It used a to be French brand until 2003-2005 and that frame was made in the mid90's in France, I have seen the same one in Reynolds 753 for sale in my local former bikeshop 28 years ago before it closed in the early 2000's. Brand is owned by a Dane but all of the frames are built in Taiwan either with Kinesis Aluminium, Kinesis Titanium and carbon. I was told that by the other local bike shop who is one of the very few distributors of Motobecane nowadays in France.

VintageSteelEU

I understand they stopped making bicycles at St Quentin in 1981 (and possibly Pantin near Paris, though maybe they stoppoed making bicycles there by the end of 70's) when Yamaha bought the brand, closed the French bicycle factory and moved production to Taiwan (and changed the name to MBK in 1984). I think mopeds were still being made in France. But who knows, other than Motobecane and later MBK employers? There isn't much info available about the history of the brand after 1984.

Kilroy1988 

Bonjour!

​​​​​​​Jean Paul Routens has confirmed the age of my randonneuse as among the earliest frames built by his father, perhaps sometime between 1948-50. I just placed the order for an appropriate replacement head badge from Jean Paul and am excited to begin tearing the bicycle down during the summer to refresh everything... For now, I've acquired a few little bits and roll up and down the quiet country road every few days wondering what it will be like to spend all day in the saddle.

-Gregory

merziac

So fantastic, no surprise to me that you acquired such a significant and wonderful example.

I have plenty of bikes that are very special to me but most all of your bikes make me quite envious, your taste and style are impeccable.

Andy Antipas 

The roads have cleaned up enough for me to give the winter builds a try. I have a couple of rides in on this late 80s 979. So far so good.

VintageSteelEU

How does it compare with steel bikes of the era? I was thinking about doing a 979 based, late 80's build at some point.

Andy Antipas 

I have two rides on the bike and need more time on it, but so far I would characterize the ride to be a little more comfortable and the BB a little more flexible than some of my steel bikes, but not objectionably so. For this old guy more comfort is always welcome. The Simplex/Stronglight drivetrain shift well and the CLB pro brakes are light and work pretty well too. Wheels are lightweight Super Champions with 25mm Veloflex tubulars. This bike weighs in at 18.5 pounds as shown. The frame measures 53cm ctc with a 54 cm ctc top tube. I have a Vitus Carbone+7 and a Peugeot PY-10FC all with the same size frame, drivetrains, and wheels. All three bikes have the same geometry but ride differently.

Kilroy1988 

Thank you, sir. I look forward to riding this one. I'm trying to trim my stable down to five bicycles before the end of the year in preparation for receiving the custom Hetchins frameset and will try to bring the number down to four total after its arrival (selling two more to fund the parts for the Hetchins in a sustainable fashion). Choosing which of the last few will have to go has been a hard process, and in the case of this Routens there is no decision made yet - I need to restore and enjoy and appreciate its qualities before I let it go, or else I'm sure to regret it.

-Gregory

1simplexnut

A recent French arrival with a Kiwi accent .
1983 by the decals . I dont recall ever seeing one of these in green .
Vitus 980 tubing
Sticker on bottom of seat tube proves the Kiwi connection
I would be interested to hear opinions on saddle and bar tape colours






Healing industries sticker

DQRider 

Black Ideale saddle, black bar tape, black wheels and drivetrain components. With a bike painted like that, the contrast would be awesome!

Something like this:


*
*
*

OTS 

I would go black saddle and I think Newbaums has a cotton bar tape that can match the color of the Peugeot decal on the down tube.
I would go that route for bar tape.