gitaneusa.com :: View topic - First post-need help identifying bike please

FORDSVTPARTS

Hi all, I just picked up my first Gitane and I think it's in pretty good shape but I don't know what model it is.

I believe it's about a 1975 but that's all I know except it's very clean,

I've currently got a 1972 Peugeot Ao8, a pair of early 70's Batavus 10 speeds a 1975 Motobecane Nomade and my main rider a 1977 Raleigh Super Grand Prix.

Anyone that could shed some light on this bike?

scozim

Interesting color - I don't know that I've seen a blue one that didn't have metallic paint. But, then, I've only been seriously paying attention to Gitane's for the past few years.

By the way - like the user name - love Ford SVT products

verktyg

Greetings and welcome to the Forum.

You have a 1974, maybe 75 Gitane Gypsy Sport or maybe a 1974 Gran Sport. After 1974, some/most Gran Sports came with 1/2 chrome forks and chrome fork crowns.

http://www.gitaneusa.com/images/catalog/1975_pg1.jpg

Both these models appear to be US only versions as there is no reference to them in the 1973, 74 or later French Gitane catalogs.

These bikes were entry level models. It looks to be in nice condition. With a tuneup and service by someone who know what they are doing will probably be as nice or even nicer riding bike that all of your others.

One note, the stem and seatpost need to be inserted at least 3 inches into the frame.

verktyg

Having problem posting longer messages... Evil or Very Mad

Having your seat with the nose tilted that far down throws a lot of weight onto your hands which will become uncomfortable after a short ride.

Scott,

The robin's egg blue was more common on mixties and small framed bikes. I've seen that color with both foil decals and the yellow plastic film decals.

FORDSVTPARTS · Last edited by FORDSVTPARTS on Mon Sep 27, 2010 5:01 pm; edited 1 time in total

Thanks for the responses, The seat post is very long so it's fine but I have not adjusted anything else on the bike and have not even touched it with a cleaning rag yet.

I'll be doing some more detailing as I grease the bearings and I'll see about the steering stem height at that time, I won't be riding it any more until I get new tires as they're splitting pretty badly after being aired up for a couple days.

I was thinking it was the Gypsy model but the pics I saw all showed stem mounted shifters but I've found that it can be a bit difficult identifying years and models of some of these old bikes.

sandranian · Site Admin

Just to be sure...the seat post and stem are two different components: The seat post holds the saddle...and stem holds the bars (handlebars). The Pivo stems on Gitane and other french bikes of the era must be properly inserted, or they risk failure (which translates to a LOT of pain for you!).

FORDSVTPARTS

Um yeah, I do know the difference between a seat post and a steering stem. It was a simple error in my last post.

BTW-I was going through the bearings today and noticed something I hadn't seen before.

This bike appears to have originally had "stem" mounted shifters and a previous owner moved them to the downtube, the original cable stays are visible in the first picture just ahead of the current shift levers.

verktyg

Many of the entry level Gitanes came with braze-on cable stops to use with stem mounted shift levers. A lot of the larger size frames had stem mounted shifters for easier reach.

In general, stem mounted shift levers worked poorly, especially the simplex ones.

My first Gitane Gran Sport had stem mounted shifters. After the plastic levers broke a few times the shop where I bought the bike put on standard Simplex down tube shifters which worked somewhat better.

The biggest problem was due to the really cheap derailleur cables and cable housings. These were assembled at the factory sans grease or any other lubrication.

Better quality cables were smoother and ran eisier through cable housing which also had a smoother ID. They were easier to use when the cables were well greased inside the housings.

Same things applied to brake cables.