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Is this a Gitane Super Corsa?

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Is this a Gitane Super Corsa?

Old 05-20-20, 08:58 PM
  #1  
retyred
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Is this a Gitane Super Corsa?

Bought this refurbished road bike in March. My research indicates it is a Gitane Super Corsa. Fork is a replacement as it has Shimano tips. Seat post is 26.4.

Am I correct?










Last edited by retyred; 05-20-20 at 09:04 PM.
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Old 05-20-20, 09:11 PM
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Yeah. Good luck. Repainted & missing all the original stickers it's pretty hard to figure out. I can see it's got a Shimano 600 headset & shifters on it. So, it's probably a mid-1980's manufactured bike. Looks JIS to me.
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Old 05-20-20, 09:18 PM
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Yes, looks like a Gitane Super Corsa to me.
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Old 05-20-20, 10:47 PM
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Definitely a 70's frame with the lack of water-bottle and cable guide brazeons. Bottom bracket shell and rear dropouts look just like my 72/73 Tour de France. I've heard the 'fishmouth' chainstay/seatstay treatment at the dropouts is a giveaway that it's a Gitane. The reinforcement at the seatstay bridge indicates it's a nicer frame than my Tour de France, which just has a piece of rolled tube with the weld clearly visible. The Tour de France also has Simplex droupouts versus the Campagnolo dropouts on yours.
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Old 05-21-20, 04:54 AM
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Looks like the only original bit is the DT guide. Could cost a packet to return to original, best left as a decent beater.
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Old 05-21-20, 09:57 AM
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The bike could be a Super Corsa or a Tour de France model, there is nothing I can see that would positively identify it as one or the other.
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Old 05-21-20, 10:32 AM
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Originally Posted by gbi
The bike could be a Super Corsa or a Tour de France model, there is nothing I can see that would positively identify it as one or the other.
In general, didn't the SC have Campy dropouts and the TdF have Simplex? (Yeah, I know it really depended on what was on hand at the time, but...)
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Old 05-21-20, 10:34 AM
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BTW, the non-OEM fork and the bulge below the top head lug are both indicators of a frontal impact at some point in time.
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Old 05-21-20, 01:30 PM
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retyred
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Originally Posted by rando_couche
BTW, the non-OEM fork and the bulge below the top head lug are both indicators of a frontal impact at some point in time.
I noticed the replacement fork at time of purchase but for $100 I knew I was still getting a deal. Had my eyes on the wheels for another bike. Also figured that the previous owner had invested time and money in the reconditioning process plus he had ridden it as well. I plan on checking out the head tube plus doing a few test rides.

Appreciate all your comments.
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Old 05-21-20, 01:46 PM
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Originally Posted by rando_couche
In general, didn't the SC have Campy dropouts and the TdF have Simplex? (Yeah, I know it really depended on what was on hand at the time, but...)
Some TdFs did come with campagnolo dropouts. But, neither Super Corsas nor campagnolo dropout TdFs were very common. This, and the fact that the original fork, headset and decals are missing makes it questionable.
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Old 05-21-20, 02:48 PM
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Originally Posted by retyred
I noticed the replacement fork at time of purchase but for $100 I knew I was still getting a deal. Had my eyes on the wheels for another bike. Also figured that the previous owner had invested time and money in the reconditioning process plus he had ridden it as well. I plan on checking out the head tube plus doing a few test rides.

Appreciate all your comments.
If the steerer turns smoothly and the head tube angle is OK, it'll probably be fine. gugie has a Raleigh with a head tube that developed a bulge like that while he was installing the headset. I don't think it has given him any trouble. I agree that yours is almost certainly from a front end collision, but the results should be similar.
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