Vitus
Composite FCK 9
Vitus has
long been a major
French manufacturer of high quality tubing, but in the '80s they became
leaders in building frames from aluminum and later, carbon fiber
tubing.
The Vitus bonded aluminum frames are associated with Sean Kelly
who in the '80s won innumerable races pedaling his full-Mavic Vitus in
KAS emblazoned clothing.
This particular example is
a late '80s
early '90s Vitus Composite FCK 9, basically a 979 with a
carbon/kevlar
wrap. The 9 stands for all nine tubes being carbon/kevlar - seat
tubes are counted as four as the brake bridge splits them each one into
two, see picture below. Vitus also made a version where only the 3 main
frame tubes were carbon/kevlar. This Vitus is in pristine condition and
has a full complement of Mavic components, including Look pedals made
for
Mavic. Now how is that for a French bike!
TECHNICAL
Unlike
today's carbon
and aluminum (Al) frames, the ones made by Vitus (France) and Alan
(Italy)
were simply an extension of the traditional lugged steel frame. In the
case of Vitus they were bonded to Al lugs while Alan bonded and screwed
their tubes into their Al lugs. Guerciotti also marketed an Alan Al
frame
and still does so today in its cyclocross version. The early Vitus and
Alan frames were light and particularly smooth riders.
People
have commented
that this type of lugged Al frame is prone to failure at the tube/lug
interface
and that the carbon tube lugged frames are prone to galvanic action as
a result of two dissimilar materials being in contact with each other.
Although there is some truth in both, claims have been
exaggerated.
The
North American
Vitus frame facility is Harry Havnoonian [HH Racing Group, 801
NORTH
PROVIDENCE ROAD, MEDIA, PA. 19063 (610) 565-6023].
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SPECIFICATIONS
Components:
Headset:
Mavic 315.
Brakes:
Mavic 451 single pivot
brake calipers
and levers.
Derailleurs:
Mavic with braze-on
front derailleur.
Cogset:
8 spd. Ultegra and SRAM
chain.
Crankset:
Mavic 631.
Bottom
Bracket:
Mavic.
Pedals:
Mavic pedals made by
Look.
Wheelset:
Mavic Cosmos
wheelset. Michelin
Hi-Lite Supercomp H.D.
Stem:
Mavic made by Modolo.
Handlebars:
Scott LiteFlite.
Seatpost:
Rubis 983 EX.
Saddle:
Selle Italia Turbo.
Frame and Fork:
Frame:
Vitus carbon/kevlar wrap
tubes with 979
Dural lugs. 52.0 cm seat tube and 53.0 cm top tube (c-to-c).
Fork:
Sakae aluminum alloy
fork.
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