Anyone interested in Vitus 979 and Carbone frame serial number list?
11-28-22, 02:04 PM
#26
Senior Member
Join Date: Jun 2010
Location: Medford MA
Posts: 2,035
Bikes: Ron Cooper touring, 1959 Jack Taylor 650b ladyback touring tandem, Vitus 979, Joe Bell painted Claud Butler Dalesman, Colin Laing curved tube tandem, heavily-Dilberted 1982 Trek 6xx, René Herse tandem
Mentioned: 76 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 935 Post(s)
Liked 1,373 Times
in
698 Posts
I see we've got series 1 (pinch bolt seat clamp) and series 2 (grub screw). I like this nomenclature.
Based on the spreadsheet, E, F, and I are clearly for English, French, and Italian threads, and A is likely for the earliest frames of 1980-81 which were all French threaded, as stated above.
Within series 1, I think we can go finer-grained, mainly by looking at forks. Earliest forks appear to have fender eyelets on the dropouts and an aluminum steerer, as seen on the PX10DU number F037938. Says it's from '83 but who knows how long the frame took to percolate through the distribution supply chains. Later forks have the aluminum steerer without the dropout eyelets, as seen on the Fraysse-badged 979 number E059271. I have no idea when they discontinued the aluminum steerer, but number E078918 came to us with a steel steerer, and that's still a series 1 frame.
I think the aluminum steerer might explain why a lot of ebay auctions are for frames without forks. E059271's original aluminum steerer broke at the threads just below the top headset cup, so we had to replace the fork. It wasn't super dangerous, as the stem still held things together. The steering got progressively wonky as the top part of the headset separated, but the bike was rideable home.
Since Ebay listings don't stay archived forever, it might be good if we get an ID of at least series 1 or 2, color, any possible year and threading information from seller description, and fork information from each listing, and add that to the google sheet. Having a list of serials is only as useful as the data associated with that list.
We might find some more details if we could get ahold of Mike Fraysse. Anybody know how to reach him?
Eventually, I think the aspirational goal should be to establish years based off of the different serials. Hopefully it is possible.
Based on the spreadsheet, E, F, and I are clearly for English, French, and Italian threads, and A is likely for the earliest frames of 1980-81 which were all French threaded, as stated above.
Within series 1, I think we can go finer-grained, mainly by looking at forks. Earliest forks appear to have fender eyelets on the dropouts and an aluminum steerer, as seen on the PX10DU number F037938. Says it's from '83 but who knows how long the frame took to percolate through the distribution supply chains. Later forks have the aluminum steerer without the dropout eyelets, as seen on the Fraysse-badged 979 number E059271. I have no idea when they discontinued the aluminum steerer, but number E078918 came to us with a steel steerer, and that's still a series 1 frame.
I think the aluminum steerer might explain why a lot of ebay auctions are for frames without forks. E059271's original aluminum steerer broke at the threads just below the top headset cup, so we had to replace the fork. It wasn't super dangerous, as the stem still held things together. The steering got progressively wonky as the top part of the headset separated, but the bike was rideable home.
Since Ebay listings don't stay archived forever, it might be good if we get an ID of at least series 1 or 2, color, any possible year and threading information from seller description, and fork information from each listing, and add that to the google sheet. Having a list of serials is only as useful as the data associated with that list.
We might find some more details if we could get ahold of Mike Fraysse. Anybody know how to reach him?
Eventually, I think the aspirational goal should be to establish years based off of the different serials. Hopefully it is possible.
__________________
Owner & co-founder, Cycles René Hubris. Unfortunately attaching questionable braze-ons to perfectly good frames since about 2015. With style.
Owner & co-founder, Cycles René Hubris. Unfortunately attaching questionable braze-ons to perfectly good frames since about 2015. With style.
Last edited by scarlson; 11-28-22 at 02:09 PM.
11-28-22, 05:47 PM
#27
Full Member
Join Date: Jan 2021
Posts: 204
Mentioned: 8 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 110 Post(s)
Liked 219 Times
in
88 Posts
Below is my Friend's 979, SN E131374.
I also picked up mine from the goodwill store. The bike I think has never been on the road, a NOS if you will. The wheels are mismatched, front one has durace hub with mavic open pro cd, back wheel has TNT hub, with mavic reflex.
picture of the fork:
seatpost - Douglas saddle, never heard of it.
stem - Is threadless or quill? can't really tell... I have disassemble to find out.
paper work:
inside the "Rouler facile et sur' carnet the SN does not match with the warrantee card and dated 6/6/1989 and has a Nashbar store stamp in it.
. The SN is not the same on the bike, may be a clerical error. However, the date and the SN on the brochure don't support the SN/date code scheme.
I also picked up mine from the goodwill store. The bike I think has never been on the road, a NOS if you will. The wheels are mismatched, front one has durace hub with mavic open pro cd, back wheel has TNT hub, with mavic reflex.
picture of the fork:
seatpost - Douglas saddle, never heard of it.
stem - Is threadless or quill? can't really tell... I have disassemble to find out.
paper work:
inside the "Rouler facile et sur' carnet the SN does not match with the warrantee card and dated 6/6/1989 and has a Nashbar store stamp in it.
. The SN is not the same on the bike, may be a clerical error. However, the date and the SN on the brochure don't support the SN/date code scheme.
Last edited by tmnguuyen; 11-28-22 at 06:52 PM.
11-28-22, 06:07 PM
#28
Senior Member
Join Date: Nov 2015
Posts: 4,155
Mentioned: 101 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1491 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 629 Times
in
416 Posts
Serial number on my Vitus Plus Carbone 7 is: E085321Serial number on my Peugeot PY10FC is: E099316
I might be wrong, but I estimated that both bikes were made in 1986.
I might be wrong, but I estimated that both bikes were made in 1986.
Last edited by Chombi1; 11-28-22 at 11:20 PM.
11-28-22, 06:32 PM
#29
Senior Member
Join Date: Nov 2015
Posts: 4,155
Mentioned: 101 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1491 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 629 Times
in
416 Posts
Below is my Friend's 979, SN E131374. I also picked up mine from the goodwill store. The bike I think is never been on the road, a NOS if you will. The wheels are mismatched, front one has durace hub with mavic open pro cd, back wheel has TNT hub, with mavic reflex. picture of the fork:seatpost - Douglas saddle, never heard of it.stem - Is threadless or quill? can't really tell... I have disassemble to find out.paper work:inside the "Rouler facile et sur' carnet the SN does not match with the warrantee card and dated 6/6/1989 and has a Nashbar store stamp in it.  post picks once i get a break from day job.
__________________
72 Line Seeker
83 Davidson Signature
84 Peugeot PSV
84 Peugeot PY10FC
84 Gitane Tour de France.
85 Vitus Plus Carbone 7
86 ALAN Record Carbonio
86 Medici Aerodynamic (Project)
88 Pinarello Montello
89 Bottecchia Professional Chorus SL
95 Trek 5500 OCLV (Project)
72 Line Seeker
83 Davidson Signature
84 Peugeot PSV
84 Peugeot PY10FC
84 Gitane Tour de France.
85 Vitus Plus Carbone 7
86 ALAN Record Carbonio
86 Medici Aerodynamic (Project)
88 Pinarello Montello
89 Bottecchia Professional Chorus SL
95 Trek 5500 OCLV (Project)
11-28-22, 08:07 PM
#30
Full Member
Join Date: Sep 2011
Location: Durango, CO
Posts: 470
Bikes: too many old steel bikes
Mentioned: 73 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 132 Post(s)
Liked 836 Times
in
162 Posts
more serial numbers
Here are the serial numbers off my bikes:
979 = E095679
Carbone-7 = E081536
Peugeot PY-10FC = E099516
979 = E095679
Carbone-7 = E081536
Peugeot PY-10FC = E099516
11-28-22, 11:47 PM
#31
Newbie
Thread Starter
Join Date: May 2014
Location: NE Ohio, USA
Posts: 66
Bikes: 2012 Litespeed C1R w/ 10spd DI2, 2005 Cannondale Six13, 1998 GT Forte titanium, 1989 Cannondale SR600 w/Shimano 105 group, Nishiki Pinnacle MTB, Vitus 979 w/Campag Veloce, Peugeot PSV10
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 20 Post(s)
Liked 12 Times
in
8 Posts
VERY early 979 Ser 1 frame in Gold but no serial numb
Here is a very early 979 frame looking really nice with gold tubes
I say it's early because it's got the horizontal pinch bolt for the seat post but it has external routing across the top tube for the rear brake cable and because the "Vitus 979" on the fork is a stamped in logo rather than a decal.
Unfortunately this bike sold on ebay and the seller did not include a photo showing the serial number on the bottom bracket lug.
The URL for the completed sale on ebay is https://www.ebay.com/itm/304679600255
I say it's early because it's got the horizontal pinch bolt for the seat post but it has external routing across the top tube for the rear brake cable and because the "Vitus 979" on the fork is a stamped in logo rather than a decal.
Unfortunately this bike sold on ebay and the seller did not include a photo showing the serial number on the bottom bracket lug.
The URL for the completed sale on ebay is https://www.ebay.com/itm/304679600255
Last edited by Lotus907efi; 11-29-22 at 01:12 AM.
12-15-22, 10:25 PM
#33
Newbie
Join Date: Apr 2004
Posts: 40
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 5 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 2 Times
in
2 Posts
I have been over the past day or two compiling a list of the serial numbers off of various Vitus 979 and Carbone frames I have in my direct possession here or ones I have found via ebay.
I thought this might provide some insight into any serial number coding vis-a-vis production dates.
But so far based on the list of 19 serial numbers along with bike or frame pictures I do not see any rhyme or reason to the numbering.
I have discovered that there seems to be a pattern of a leading single letter of either E, F, A, or I followed by 6 numerals. Then on some of the Carbone frames underneath this on a separate line there might be an additional code of "SC"
BTW, these are all stamped into a leading edge of the under side of the bottom bracket lug next to the cable guide.
Is anyone else interested in either adding their serial number to my list or seeing said list?
I thought this might provide some insight into any serial number coding vis-a-vis production dates.
But so far based on the list of 19 serial numbers along with bike or frame pictures I do not see any rhyme or reason to the numbering.
I have discovered that there seems to be a pattern of a leading single letter of either E, F, A, or I followed by 6 numerals. Then on some of the Carbone frames underneath this on a separate line there might be an additional code of "SC"
BTW, these are all stamped into a leading edge of the under side of the bottom bracket lug next to the cable guide.
Is anyone else interested in either adding their serial number to my list or seeing said list?
Serial # E099259
Grub screw seatpost
Bottle bosses on seat and downtube
Pump peg on head tube
Shimano 600EX SIS 6-speed group with 1986 date codes
It appears to have only had the VITUS decal with horizontal stripes on the top tube, and the 979 decals on the fork, and MAYBE on the down tube, hidden by a shop sticker
I hope this helps unravel the mystery in some small way.
Tim Fricker
Vienna VA USA
Likes For fricker61:
12-15-22, 10:35 PM
#34
Newbie
Join Date: Apr 2004
Posts: 40
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 5 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 2 Times
in
2 Posts
Oh, and for anyone on Facebook, there's a Vintage Vitus group that might be a good source of more info and serial numbers.
Tim Fricker
Vienna VA USA
Tim Fricker
Vienna VA USA
Likes For fricker61:
