gitaneusa.com :: View topic - gitane mid-70s ID?

bcoog

Thank you lovely humans for all the great information on this site!

Calling all Gitane super sleuths to help me identify the model displayed here...

The decals suggest that it was made between '74 and '77 and it measures 24.5". Don't know if the location of the shift lever on the stem (currently only one b/c it lacks a front derailer) is a clue or not, but it seems like in pictures of all the higher-end bikes (e.g. the TdF), the design includes down-tube-located levers. The fork is not original as it crumpled in a wreck; frame and rider were thankfully ok.

Thank you in advance! Trés curieux!
Smile

bc

vanhelmont

Welcome, bcoog!
Since nobody else has answered, the stem-mounted shifter and spoke protector, as well as the brazed-on brake cable guides on the top tube, suggest to me a Gran Sport Luxe. Not one of the higher models, but probably the most common, and perfectly appropriate for commuting, which it looks like you are doing with it.

bcoog

Thank you, vanhelmont!
It has indeed been a great commuter bike.
(Other than the occasional flat occasioned by the copious potholes on the streets of New Orleans.)

verktyg

Modesty -Figure it out... Rolling Eyes

For extreme modesty: the bike burqa

Judging from the head tube decal it's a 1975 or 75 bike.

It's probably an entry level model but cant tell because modesty hides the most important prurient components on the right side of the bike... Evil or Very Mad

The crankset is from the 80s.

verktyg

Raison d'être for my nasty gram message above...

For the past 6-7 years that I've been reading and posting to online bike sites as many as 1/3 to 1/2 of the bikes pictured show the left side of the bike. All of the drive train is on the right!

This includes eBay and Craigslist.

Several possibilities for this:

1. Many people get on and off of the left side of a bike?

2. Who would want to look at the dirty greasy side of a bike?

A. To a non-bikey the mechanical stuff is just plain ugly...

B. Fear of mechanical things. Confused

C. Several generations grew up with plastic big wheels - nothing to take
apart like on the metal tricycle that I grew up with!

D. Just plain modesty like in this modesty skirt for a dog! Laughing

NebraskaGuy

OK, Chas has been on a bit of a rant about pictures of a bike's left side.

But I can see his point. Those of us who buy a car and insist on actually seeing the engine can relate to this. Why buy what you can't see?

And has anybody gone to a car show? You know, the friday night at the drive in with muscle cars and hot rods on display? Those hoods aren't up so the owner can check the oil . . .

Be proud of the mechanical stuff! Nothing like a well maintained set of drive parts on the right hand side!