Vitus bikes

free

Hi guys,

I'm looking at getting my first road bike and i'm on a bit of a budget after just buying my first house - scary!

Anyway, whenever I've bought a new bike I've always tried to buy last years sale stock as you seem to get a lot of bike for relatively little money.

I've seen some vitus bikes at CRC - the Vitus Alios Triple 08 for 450 quid rather than 800 quid and the Vitus Zenium 08 for 550 rather than 1000!
http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/Cate ... =PRICE_ASC

I like the look of both, does anyone have any knowledge or info on these bikes. I'm not an expert on road bikes so any info would greatly help.

Cheers.

STEFANOS4784

Dont know about them sorry mate, i did notice that they don't have a description of spec on CRC though :?

I also googled it and couldn't find anything so i wouldn't expect miracles. What is the frame materia/ group-set/wheels etc on the Zenium?

Barkiesnake

From a french web site but makes sense. This is for the zenium
CADRE


Tailles
51 / 54

Cadre
Aluminium Xenal 7005 avec haubans carbone, Prism, direction intégrée, soudures plates

Fourche
VITUS carbone F400, droite, pivot alu, intégrée




ROUES


Roues
Campagnolo khamsin

Pneus
VITTORIA Zafiro Pro 700x23c noirs tringles souples 250gr




TRANSMISSION


Manettes de vitesses
CAMPAGNOLO Mirage 10

Dérailleur av
CAMPAGNOLO Race

Dérailleur ar
CAMPAGNOLO Mirage 10

Cassette
CAMPAGNOLO Mirage 10 13x26

Pédalier
STRONGLIGHT Impact 30x40x50, 3 plateaux alu (entre axe 110 mm), manivelles noires, plateaux champagne

Chaîne
KMC DX10SC 10 vit. avec missing link

Boîtier
TH axe carré




COMPOSANTS


Selle
ITALIA C2

Tige de selle
VITUS light aluminium noire, tête alu poli 300x27.2 mm

Guidon
VITUS Ergocinetic exclusif par ITM

Potence
VITUS light aluminium noire 2 vis avec capot poli

Guidoline
Eva noire

Jeu de direction
TH N°23cc 1 1/8 intégré

Freins
CAMPAGNOLO Mirage

Pédales
Livré sans

Poids
9,25 Kg

Hope it helps

STEFANOS4784

I wouldn't even look at that for a grand :shock:

Seems like a very good deal for 550, though not the most tremendous bargain i ever saw :? IMHO


P.s still loads less than an equivelant Bianchi etc etc but then hmmmmm, surely someone on here has ridden one :?:

free

Didn't Vitus make bikes many years ago?

I saw an ad in cycling mag in WHsmiths yesterday for them. A full carbon road bike. Didn't say much in the ad other than 'they are pleased to introduce Vitus bikes into the UK' and ' for the full range check out Chainreaction'.

Sounds like CRC have some sort of deal with them.

I was trying to find a bargain basically. I can't afford anything like a grand for a new bike so was hoping to pick up an 08er for around the 500 mark. I liked the look of the Trek 1.2 for 550 from Evans but it's an 09 and that's it's current RRP.

Any suggestions?

peanut1978

Where do you work?

worth while seing if your employer does a cycle scheme

free

Yeah, already looked into that. Sadly they don't..not at this stage anyway.

Stone Glider

Will the pedals screw in the "continental" way? This could be a problem sourcing pedals but CRC should be able to help you there.

balthazar

Vitus were well known in the 80's for making desirable and expensive lugged aluminium frames, from an alloy of their own description "duralinox". They were a staple on club runs around the country, much cooed over, but ultimately as famous for fatigue failures at the joints as for looking lovely.

Some pics here

Those new bikes look like the standard 'off the shelf' alloy frames, made either in Italy or the far east, which surface under various brand names. If so, they are probably good enough quality and value, though without any link to the characteristic and quirky Vitus of old except in the name.

free

Thanks for the info guys.

I think I may steer clear of the Vitus.

I can't find anything out about them so I'll look to the main brands.

I've looked at quite a few bikes so far and like the look of these:

http://www.evanscycles.com/products/spe ... e-ec016020

http://www.evanscycles.com/products/tre ... e-ec016472

http://www.evanscycles.com/products/sco ... e-ec016351

Any thoughts?

I'm 6'3 tall and gangly with it so I intend to go to my local Evans to try a few for size.

buddha

For anyone who is interested in the zenium. I contacted CRC for info,as there was nothing on their site, and they sent this:

Vitus Zenium R Triple 2008

Specs are as follows: Weighs 9.525kg without pedals (54cm)
· Frame – Aluminium Xenal with Carbon Seat Stays
· Fork – Vitus Carbon F600
· Headset – 1 1 /8th inch
· Stem – Vitus light aluminium
· Handlebars – Vitus ITM Road Racing 300
· Shifters – Shimano Tiagra 9 speed
· Front Derailleur – Shimano Tiagra Triple
· Rear Derailleur – Shimano Tiagra 9 speed
· Crankset – Shimano Tiagra 9 speed 30.39.50t
· Bottom Bracket – Shimano Tiagra
· Chain – Shimano Tiagra
· Cassette – Shimano Tiagra
· Brakes – Shimano Tiagra
· Wheels – Easton EA50
· Tyres – Vittoria Zafiro Pro 700 x 23c
· Seat post – 300mm x 27.2 mm
· Saddle – San Marco Blaze Pro

Vitus Zenium 2008

Specs are as follows: Weighs 8.81kg – without seatpost, saddle or pedals (48cm)
· Frame – Aluminium Xenal with Carbon Seat Stays
· Fork – Vitus Carbon F600
· Headset – 1 1 /8th inch
· Stem – Vitus light aluminium
· Handlebars – Vitus ITM Road Racing 300
· Shifters – Campagnolo Xenon 10
· Front Derailleur – Campagnolo Xenon 10
· Rear Derailleur – Campagnolo Xenon 10
· Crankset – Stronglight Impact 28.38.50t
· Bottom Bracket – Square Taper 110mm
· Chain – LG 10v
· Cassette – Campagnolo Xenon 10 13-26t
· Brakes – Vitus Tektro Dual Pivot
· Wheels – Campagnolo Khamsin
· Tyres – Michelin Dynamic 700 x 23c
· Seat post – 350mm x 27.2 mm
· Saddle – Italia XO

Personally though, I'm going to save a few more pennies and go for a Focus Culebro, or similar.

free

Thanks for that info buddy, appreciated.

But for a complete road bike newbie, can anyone tell me whether that's a decent sounding spec or not?

Bearing in mind that it was orignally priced at £1000 and is now £550.

edindevon

The Zenium R Triple 2008 is now down to £490 for 48cm and 60cm frame sizes.

Edindevon

chevychiss

hi
if ytou have a slight niggling doubt do not go for it. You will always have that doub in the back of your head.

STEFANOS4784

Interesting point, if a little late.

Welcome to the forum

dennisn

balthazar wrote:

Vitus were well known in the 80's for making desirable and expensive lugged aluminium frames, from an alloy of their own description "duralinox". They were a staple on club runs around the country, much cooed over, but ultimately as famous for fatigue failures at the joints as for looking lovely.

I've got a couple of friends who still have, and ride once in a while, their old Vitus's. They were quite the rage "way back when". I, myself, developed an obcession over getting one, but it didn't happen.

blackhands

Vitus were a French tubing maker - the equivalent of Reynolds, Columbus or Ishiwata. They also made the Duralinox frames Denisn describes - I'm still looking for a cyclocross one. They have changed owners a few times since then and don't have the pedigree they once had.

Wokie

CRC claim the Vitus Zenium frame is RRP £600. Really? :roll:

juankerr

I think CRC are the only retailer of Vitus in the UK so they can more or less make the RRP up. I was looking at them last year and they are relatively popular in France so a Google of French sites is the best way to find out realistic prices.