gitaneusa.com Forum Index » Owner Gallery » 1990 Gitane 653 Goto page 1, 2  Next    View previous topic :: View next topic  1990 Gitane 653   Posted: Mon Jun 22, 2009 2:42 pm Peter S. Horn Joined: 15 Oct 2007 Posts: 144 The following is a test. The pictures might, or might not appear. If they do, they represent a team white 1990 Gitane 653. In 1989, Gitane U.S.A. imported three top line bikes; two Reynolds 653 models; a Replica ll equipped with a Campag. Croce d' Aune groupset; the Exploit with the same frameset and a Campag. Athena groupset. A 531 model with a Shimano 105 groupset rounded out this trio. However, for the following year, Gitane, U.S.A. imported said 653 and 531 framesets, only. The frames were equipped with Cinelli lugs and Campag. dropouts. I tried to set mine up as closely as possible to Replica ll specs . Incidentally, some updated information indicates that the 653 frameset was brazed up with a thinner wall 531 main frame and with 531 forks and 753 stays! Peter Horn Sacramento   Posted: Mon Jun 22, 2009 11:33 pm Wisey Joined: 19 May 2009 Posts: 631 Location: Brisbane, Australia Looks like:   Posted: Tue Jun 23, 2009 4:29 am sandranian Site Admin Joined: 27 Feb 2006 Posts: 2701 Location: Southern California That is a really nice bike. Uber rare as well, I would imagine. _________________ Stephan Andranian Costa Mesa, CA www.gitaneusa.com   Posted: Tue Jun 23, 2009 8:53 am Gtane Joined: 14 Sep 2007 Posts: 681 Location: UK Lovely bike Peter and super condition. You've done a great job with the build. Have you had it from new? Nice team shot find, Wisey. Thanks for that. Thanks for posting. Tim _________________ Everything has a cycle   Posted: Tue Jun 23, 2009 9:07 am Peter S. Horn Joined: 15 Oct 2007 Posts: 144 Stephan; Thanks. It'll have to stand alone as my only steel bike (I only ride Gitane) until we can convince Gitane France to reintroduce an 853 (or 953) framed Super Corsa. Wisey; Thanks much for the picture! I'm stumped as to who that is riding next to Fignon and his.... well, non-Gitane. Maybe Bouvatier? As far as I know, the following were part of the Toshiba squad in, I believe, '88-'89 (when the team was riding Gitane): Jean Francois (Jeff) Bernard, the German riders Remig Stumpf and Andreas Kappes and, possibly, the French riders Pascual Lance (sp?) and Laurent Bezault. More details to come on this interesting bike. Peter H. Sacramento   Posted: Tue Jun 23, 2009 9:20 am sandranian Site Admin Joined: 27 Feb 2006 Posts: 2701 Location: Southern California I remember getting a set of decals in 1989 from Gitane, which had some of the ones that are on that bike, like the "chevrons" on the seat stays. At the time, I had no idea where they were supposed to go, but noticed that they didn't fit very well anywhere...including on the seat stays! I find it amazing that Gitane would design decals/stickers that quite frankly, don't fit the bike. Just another example where finishing details were apparently an afterthought for the makers of these bikes. _________________ Stephan Andranian Costa Mesa, CA www.gitaneusa.com   Posted: Tue Jun 23, 2009 9:24 am Peter S. Horn Joined: 15 Oct 2007 Posts: 144 Hi Tim, Thanks much for the kind commentary! The frame was purchased brand new from Torsten at Gitane, USA. I was really lucky with this velo, since I was actually looking for a less expensive Gitane Cromor to be used as a commuter bike! He noted that he had a nice 653 frame in my size (57 cm.). Needless to say, I did not hesitate! Best Regards, Peter H. Sacramento   Posted: Tue Jun 23, 2009 9:25 am sandranian Site Admin Joined: 27 Feb 2006 Posts: 2701 Location: Southern California I bought my first Gitane at the same time. Probably from the same guy. _________________ Stephan Andranian Costa Mesa, CA www.gitaneusa.com   Posted: Tue Jun 23, 2009 12:19 pm Wisey Joined: 19 May 2009 Posts: 631 Location: Brisbane, Australia Gtane wrote: Lovely bike Peter and super condition. You've done a great job with the build. Have you had it from new? Nice team shot find, Wisey. Thanks for that. Thanks for posting. Tim Have a dig through the Delta threads, there is a pic of Madiot in Toshiba colours riding a Delta in Paris-Nice I think it was. Funny how they stuck with the yellow/black scheme even though they had finished with System U in 88, and were sponsoring the Toshiba team with it's "la vie claire" carry-over design.   Posted: Tue Jun 23, 2009 12:33 pm sandranian Site Admin Joined: 27 Feb 2006 Posts: 2701 Location: Southern California You have to wonder if they had designed that with Systeme U in mind, and then everything changed just prior to the season. The odd thing is that Gitane used stickers and didn't clear coat their designs, so they could have just had a new set made for the team bikes. Of course, it seems they didn't do that sort of thing back then, but you would think that it would be so easily done. It would be great if someone could find that sort of thing out. Nicolas: You feel like interviewing Guimard? _________________ Stephan Andranian Costa Mesa, CA www.gitaneusa.com Gitane colors and decals   Posted: Tue Jun 23, 2009 6:42 pm verktyg Joined: 14 Jan 2007 Posts: 2814 Location: SF Bay Area Maybe Giulio and Giuseppe only had one kind of Gitane stickers at their shop in Milan.... 86'd here I come. It's the plunk mate! Chas.   Posted: Tue Jun 23, 2009 7:51 pm sandranian Site Admin Joined: 27 Feb 2006 Posts: 2701 Location: Southern California Wow Chas. That is some serious drink you have going on there. I couldn't figure out that one at all! _________________ Stephan Andranian Costa Mesa, CA www.gitaneusa.com   Posted: Tue Jun 23, 2009 11:51 pm Wisey Joined: 19 May 2009 Posts: 631 Location: Brisbane, Australia OK, just a quick post before I go open a nice Victorian Caberenet Shiraz with my dinner. The pic is from the 1989 Amstel Gold Race. The break contained the Professor (LF) of course, Phil Anderson (TVM), Teun Van Vliet (Panasonic) and the Toshiba rider is indeed J F Bernard.   Posted: Wed Jun 24, 2009 12:55 pm Peter S. Horn Joined: 15 Oct 2007 Posts: 144 Who can be serious after the last few posts? Well, I will have to put on my "serious hat" for a time, as I have some dry information to be added re-this 653 in my next post. Best Regards, Peter H. Sacramento   Posted: Wed Jun 24, 2009 1:33 pm Peter S. Horn Joined: 15 Oct 2007 Posts: 144 Catalogues for 1989 must have been extremely rare or non existent in the U.S. However, the Buyers' Guides for Bicycling and Bicycle Guide for 1989 contained some information (albeit, no pictures) of the 1989 Gitane line. Per Bicycle Guide: The Gitane Replica ll was equipped with: Frame: Reynolds 653: Color: Team White: Sizes: n/a: 2 water bottle braze on: 2 shift lever braze on: Pump peg: Gruppo: Campagnolo Croce D' Aune, friction: Brakes: Campagnolo Croce D' Aune Delta: Handlebar and stem: n/a; ((Bicycling lists such (for the Exploit) as ITM)): Chainring sizes: n/a: Freewheel: Maillard: (ratios-n/a); Bicycling lists such (for the Exploit) as 12-18: Wheels and tires: Wolber/Wolber (t): Saddle: Selle Italia Turbo: Pedals: Croce D' Aune; quill type including clips and straps: Frame angles: n/a: Frame weight: n/a; However, such for the Athena equipped Exploit was given as; 22 lbs. Bicycle Guide's listed price for the Replica ll was: $2,380.00; that for the Exploit; $1,700.00. Peter H. Sacramento 1990 Gitane 653     gitaneusa.com Forum Index » Owner Gallery You cannot post new topics in this forum You cannot reply to topics in this forum You cannot edit your posts in this forum You cannot delete your posts in this forum You cannot vote in polls in this forum All times are GMT - 8 Hours   Page 1 of 2   Goto page 1, 2  Next All Posts1 Day7 Days2 Weeks1 Month3 Months6 Months1 Year Oldest FirstNewest First  Select a forum Gitane USA----------------Vintage GitaneGitane RacingModern GitanePro Racing - Classics/Giro/Tour....Owner Gallery   Powered by phpBB © 2001-2004 phpBB Group Designed for Trushkin.net | Themes Database.