Help ID'ing a beautiful bike!



biker11

New Member
Apr 21, 2010
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Hi all,

Walking through NYC, I came across the silver bike on the pictures. I was struck by its sleek lines, but it had no brand name, nor decals on the frame. I am kind of new to road bikes, and the maker might be a famous one. The joint between the lugs and tubes is almost seamless, and I've never seen lugs like these. I don't even know which goes into which, whether lugs into tubes, or vice versa. The headset tube also incorporates the lugs that take the downtube and top tube! If anyone will help me identify it, I'd appreciate it. It seems to have been bought as a frame and built with aftermarket components. I wonder if the fork is made by the same maker. Are the knobs in the downtube provisions for shifters levers, or just stops for the shifter cables? It had about 12 speeds (definitely 2 chainrings). The pictures here are the only ones I took (I should have taken more, I know)
b.
 

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If I am not mistaken this is a bonded aluminum Vitus from the 80's. And that there is the man himself...

 
Vitus. Alan looked similar, but utilized a different style seat stay cluster.

But had a somewhat checkered history in my area for the bonding epoxy being attacked by salt spray, turning to a white powder and the tubes coming out of the lugs.
 
Danfoz,
thank you very much for identifying it. It's so beautiful. Pity it's epoxied. For my bike, I would prefer brazed lugs. Let's hope some new maker brings it back in steel and uses silver brazing!
b.