Vitus

you'll find people who love vitus bicycles and people who hate them. i love my vitus 979. it's defintely a modern classic especially with an early 80's mavic ssc gruppo.

http://www.steventkim.com/vitus.html

for small and light people like me it's the perfect bike. they look great, and they can be found extremely cheap on the used market. the 979 was one of the most commonly used frames by pros in the 80's. sean kelly called the vitus 979 his favorite bike of all time. i've heard horror stories about these bikes coming unglued, or being flexy. i think the vast majority of the aluminum vitus frames are strong and should last a long time.

steve

Quoted post said:

Originally posted by dsw
Hi,
I am very new to road bikes. Can anyone tell me if the bike I have is a good bike. I did some trading and some work for this thing. It is a Vitus, not sure the model. I know I did my first century on it a few months ago and it was a blast. Looking forward to several more.
Thanks

Quoted post said:

Originally posted by stevekim
you'll find people who love vitus bicycles and people who hate them. i love my vitus 979. it's defintely a modern classic especially with an early 80's mavic ssc gruppo.

http://www.steventkim.com/vitus.html

for small and light people like me it's the perfect bike. they look great, and they can be found extremely cheap on the used market. the 979 was one of the most commonly used frames by pros in the 80's. sean kelly called the vitus 979 his favorite bike of all time. i've heard horror stories about these bikes coming unglued, or being flexy. i think the vast majority of the aluminum vitus frames are strong and should last a long time.

steve

Thanks for the info.🙂

I think that VITUS is french for wet noodle.

Here's a website featuring my Vitus 979 with full Mavic group. Everything is pretty much NOS. The site is a freebie template job, but it seems to work alright.

Here's a website featuring my Vitus 979 with full Mavic group. Everything is pretty much NOS. The site is a freebie template job, but it seems to work alright: comteche.usmavicvitus979Open ↗

Vitus 979 (1986)

I bought this last year for my gf for $100 Canadian. Shazaaam! The components are mostly original except for a few upgrades/repairs by the previous owner:

[INDENT]Frame: Vitus Anodized Aluminum
Fork: Vitus Anodized Aluminum
Front/Rear Wheel: Mavic/Araya (700c)
Derailleurs: Shimano 600
Headset: Shimano 600
Brakes: Shimano 600
Pedals: Shimano 600
Brake levers: Dura-Ace
Stem: Super Compe
Handlebar: Nitto Olympiad 115
Shifters: Shimano 600 (SIS index)
Chainwheel: Shimano 600 (52-42)
Cassette: 6-speed (13-24)
Crank: Shimano 600 (170 mm)
[/INDENT]

View the Vitus 979 and the Nameplate.

More information and larger pics are at my website.

ewitz said:

I think that VITUS is french for wet noodle.

I'm told its French for "swingset."

Seriously, though, Sean Kelly rode a significant portion of his career on Vitus frames, and he never looked like he struggled in a sprint because his bike was too flimsy. Granted, he might have gone through 6 or 7 frames in a season and we'd never know, but at least the marque has some racing pedigree behind it.

"Wet noodle" "Swing set" Blah blah blah!

I'm tired hearing these comments from those that have either not ridden a Vitus, or were too heavy to ride one in the first place, which leaves a bitter taste for them.

The 979 is a bike that is still relevant today, more than 16 years since its introduction. The bike is not made for everyone. What bike is? Some will still say that steel bikes are best; aluminum too rigid; titanium too expensive; carbon too fragile. Enough already! The comments are old and worn like last year's spandex.

PEACE!

bluebike said:

"Wet noodle" "Swing set" Blah blah blah!

I'm tired hearing these comments from those that have either not ridden a Vitus, or were too heavy to ride one in the first place, which leaves a bitter taste for them.

The 979 is a bike that is still relevant today, more than 16 years since its introduction. The bike is not made for everyone. What bike is? Some will still say that steel bikes are best; aluminum too rigid; titanium too expensive; carbon too fragile. Enough already! The comments are old and worn like last year's spandex.

PEACE!

A 979 was my first race bike. I loved it... was it too flexy? No. I only had three complaints:

- The sizing (I need a long top tube with the 979 didn't have, as a result the LBS put me on a 56... I ride a 54 now)
- A bad vibration in the front end but only at 40 km/h, downhill and if I sat up
- seatpost... 25mm (tough size to replace) and the set screw for tightening the post was scary... strip that and you've got problems.

What did I like?
- weight... pretty damn nice for 1988 tech.
- finish... that anodized finish was bulletproof
- handling... a very neutral bike.

bluebike said:

"Wet noodle" "Swing set" Blah blah blah!

I'm tired hearing these comments from those that have either not ridden a Vitus, or were too heavy to ride one in the first place, which leaves a bitter taste for them.

The 979 is a bike that is still relevant today, more than 16 years since its introduction. The bike is not made for everyone. What bike is? Some will still say that steel bikes are best; aluminum too rigid; titanium too expensive; carbon too fragile. Enough already! The comments are old and worn like last year's spandex.

PEACE!

I gotta disagree with you there. If you're looking to buy an old 979, it's important to know the frame's limitations under a heavier rider. If the previous owner is a clydesdale, then a Vitus won't be a good bike for anybody. I'm not saying it's a bad bike - it's not. But it is a bike with very finicky taste in riders.

cosmo_the_third said:

I gotta disagree with you there. If you're looking to buy an old 979, it's important to know the frame's limitations under a heavier rider. If the previous owner is a clydesdale, then a Vitus won't be a good bike for anybody. I'm not saying it's a bad bike - it's not. But it is a bike with very finicky taste in riders.

Cosmo Spacely the 3rd. We completely agree. I was only making the point that I am tired of hearing the little "wet noodle" snippets. For some this is a great bike, for most it is not.

I had one of these and it was my favorite bike of all time... for small guys... i was, 122lbs, 5'7" and it was perfect... white paint job with yellow decals... just awesome with the clear anodized head tube forks and rear triangle... it was stolen and i was never able to get it replaced... poor student at the time. can they still be found i would love to get my hands on one of these?

doctorSpoc said:

can they still be found i would love to get my hands on one of these?

Apparently yes. I have seen them around online but I am not sure where, possibly ebay. Also check out www.roadbikereview.com. There was also some talk about Nashbar having them in stock if you follow this thread, but that was in 2002. Good luck!

http://www.bikeforums.net/showthread.php?p=1187125

racersportif has a few brand new... that's actually where i got mine, back in the day... little bit of high price though.

http://www.racersportif.com/Products_Frames.htm

$695 CAD = $600 USD

dsw said:

Hi,
I am very new to road bikes. Can anyone tell me if the bike I have is a good bike. I did some trading and some work for this thing. It is a Vitus, not sure the model. I know I did my first century on it a few months ago and it was a blast. Looking forward to several more.
Thanks

I bought a Vitus 979 in 1984 and still have it today. I put 33,000 miles on it in four years doing single and double centuries and rides with lots of climbing (15,000 feet) like the Terrible two and the Markleeville death ride. I never found it to be "whippy" at all. When I clean it up it still looks as if it is brand new.
This is the only bicycle I will ever want or need.

Evenrude said:

I bought a Vitus 979 in 1984 and still have it today. I put 33,000 miles on it in four years doing single and double centuries and rides with lots of climbing (15,000 feet) like the Terrible two and the Markleeville death ride. I never found it to be "whippy" at all. When I clean it up it still looks as if it is brand new.
This is the only bicycle I will ever want or need.

Every mention of Vitus has been about the 979. Since 1987, I have ridden my 17lb bike equipped with a Vitus Carbone 9 frame with all carbon fiber tubing bonded to aluminum lugs, complete with a bonded aluminum fork, and it is a supreme climber. It also descends with confidence at 45 mph down an 8% grade mountain with hairpin curves.:eek: Albeit, I am 160 lbs and the frame is 49cm, but there is absolutely NO flex in this frame under hard pedaling. My only concern, (and this is a big one), is whether the bonded joints might come undone during one of these descents. The prospect is scary enough to make me go out and buy a new French frame, this time a Time all carbon,(no aluminum lugs), with a life time warranty. Hopefully, if this frame fails while bombing down the Trinity Alps in northern California, Time's life-time warranty will keep me alive. If not, I'll put in a claim with the company for a new frame. That will be a mesomorph, thank you very much!🙂