Hi guys

I am new here and in the past couple of months Ive been getting back into riding and working on a bike after 20yrs.

I came across a frame and matching forks the other day that has never been used, Ive read a thread on here that was all about the later frame type from Vitus, but I was unable to ascertain any further details that would help me identify this frame I have.

The frame is a Vitus 787 and has matching forks. It is what I would call new old stock, its never been assembled since it was new. I have established that it was made after 1987 and before 1992 because of the frame designation but thats about it. Its White and NOT anodised which based upon the post I read appears to be rare.

The frame number is A09**** This if anything would lead me to suggest that it could have been made in 1989. I have searched all over the internet for a picture of a similar frame and drawn a blank. It only has one mounting for a bottle holder.

I wondered if anyone here knew anything more about this frame.

Thanks
Cougar

Not that familiar with the Futural 787 as I don't think they really sold them in the US. I have seen them before and they are interesting as IIRC, they have the cool looking wishbone style rear seat stays that merge into one tube before it hit the seat cluster. Not sure if the lower model number (787) means it's a lower spec/grade tubing used than the 979s. As that's how Vitus usually denote tubing spec hierarchy. It could mean that the tubing is just thicker gauge or seamed, if that's even possible with aluminum. I suspect the difference would be minimal anyway.
I would think that the tubes are bonded with glue, but this bike also came out around the time when Peugeot was experimenting with "dry" bonding methods called "Pechiney" where they did not use any glue at all on the frame and the tubes were mechanically locked into the lugs with pressure. So it is good to confirm whther the 787 did not use this same method as Peugeot had to recall all their bikes made this way (Peugeot models Comete and Galaxie) and Vitus and Peugeot shared bike building technologies/methods at that time.
What's good is, like the 979's I have not really heard of 787s suddenly falling apart, so most likely you are safe as long as the frame does not look to have been abused.

the 787 is pretty much the same as the 979 except for the wishbone seat stay. The 87 signifies the year they were first made.
979->1979
787->1987
992->1992
I find it odd that your bike has only one set of bottle cage bolts, as the 979 went to have two sets in 1986. My '85 979 had the single set.

I dunno,.....So, the why didn't they call them 987's then? Where did that first "7" come from? Doesn't the tubing decal on the frame and fork say 787? So it's most likely that the tubing on the 979 and the 787 could be different in some way.

Unlike a tradition steel frame where there is the builders name and a separate tube makers decal, Vitus was both the builder of the frame and manufactured the tube set. So the small tubing decal also reflected the model number, and it was really just there to give the bike more of a traditional look. All of the frames were made with the same Futural aluminum. It was the "FUTURe of ALuminum". At least until the mid 90's and Cannondale showed up.

As for the numbering scheme, who knows. They were French. But the last two digits were the year the frame first hit the market. I always thought the 992 should have been the 292 in keeping with the palindrome like scheme. At least they stopped making French and Swiss threaded frames by the early 90's. It was a real pain dealing with those bikes.

Vitus can be really weird with their model designation, as my Vitus Carbone 7 is totally identical to later issued early Carbone 9. All I can think of is they decided to just count the four seat stay tubes separately on the Carbone 7 to come up with the "9" carbon tubed frame designation for the Carbone 9. I guess better to have a bigger count of CF tubes to sell them....
The Vitus Carbone 3,7 and 9s also used the identical fork as the 979s, so they have the same 979 aluminum tubing decals on them.

Thanks guys, thats helped alot, however looking at how much it will cost to put it together as its supposed to be, I may sell it or put it in storage. Im not decided Ill take some pics soon and post them so you guys can see it. It certainly is strange that it doesnt have 2 drink holders because I read that they were supposed to have 2 from 85 so I agree it is pretty rare.