Another Kelly KAS Vitus Build - Carbone

Doubledee

rBotM Winner
Well it appears after a summer break I can't help myself and Im back for another build. I got hold of an old Vitus FCK9 (thats the successor to the Vitus Carbone 9) from the late 80's early 90's. Its in great shape apart from the horrid red lacquer that its covered in. I plan to build it as the sister bike of the Kelly KAS bike here viewtopic.php?f=23&t=246927 that was built to the 1986 Paris Roubaix bike spec. This one will be to the 1988 Vuelta spec that Kelly won that year (except he rode a Carbone kevlar 3 & 9). What I plan to do is build using the parts from the Blue Vitus 979 Paris Roubaix bike but get another headset, BB, and seat pin so I've got 2 bikes that I can easily change the parts between. One of the reasons I haven't done this earlier is that the frame needs a 23.0mm seat pin that are just not available...so for now I've got a straight steel one with no clamp ala BMX. If anyone has or knows anyone who has a 23.0mm seat post I'll gladly buy it from you. Sadly no pictures of mine yet, Im off to get the frame tomorrow along with the wet and dry paper to strip the frame. Decals are on order to replicate the Roubaix bike decals. I'll post as I go along.
 

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Quick question, here are a couple of pictures from when I purchased the frame earlier this year. The frame has a "braze on" type front mech holder that can be removed easily so I can fit my "band on" front mech. Im guessing that there isnt any issues doing that unless I vastly over tighten it? Should get down to some wet and dry sanding this weekend
 

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I've made a start, the lacquer does come off ok but it takes time and I have to be careful not to press on too hard. I'll work away a little at a time, very therapeutic! The gear bosses are staying put as the tiny flat screw won't budge, and at the moment the bottom bracket is in tight, bike shop for that, just my tools. Thankfully the chromed steel 23mm seat post goes in fine and I think it will look ok as the clamp will be disguised by the saddle, the Reydel saddle is wider than the new ones.
 

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Stripped! Since the pictures I've also polished the lugs with Autosol. Not my favourite job with wet and dry but Im happy with the results. Also apart from some micro red bits round the front mech screw holes there is no more red laquer hurray! I've got all the decals , and whilst I was at my local bike shop removing the bottom bracket we found a mint Mavic cartridge bottom bracket, mine for £25 bargain. I'll decal up and also fit a Stronglight roller bearing headset until I spend on a Mavic one.
 

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Can't wait to read sean kelly's book 'Hunger' his career must have been epic! longer than anyones.
 
oonaff":33uf1sse said:
Can't wait to read sean kelly's book 'Hunger' his career must have been epic! longer than anyones.

Yes super long, especially when most riders of that era retired in their early thirties (Zoetemelk excluded, he was 40!). Ive got the book too but haven't read it yet. Also worth a read is the Kelly book by David Walsh if you can get a copy, its out of print long ago but written when was still rideing. Should have said the main driver for this build was that I had the frame and it was just siting there unused, and being my exact size (52cm) I really wanted to ride it. The bike for me here is just as iconic as the man..... to a point. I like the fact that a rider had such a long standing association with a bike brand. I'm keen to see how much it weighs when built, the frame is super light
 
Yes, the other Kelly book worth getting is "A man for all seasons" again by David Walsh. There are some great photos of Kelly and the 80's pro. peleton in there (including the '88 Vuelta).

Pat
 
cloonaghpat":yt9b2wkf said:
Yes, the other Kelly book worth getting is "A man for all seasons" again by David Walsh. There are some great photos of Kelly and the 80's pro. peleton in there (including the '88 Vuelta).

Pat

Quite right Pat, I have that too, very useful for decal positioning! Great photography. Should get the frame stickered up in the next few days :)
 
That's a lot of patience to remove the lacquer! What will the finished frame look like? Bare carbon? And what are you going to use to protect the frame? Just new lacquer?

Sorry for the (dumb) questions (I've a TVT and can't decide whether I like the paint scheme so am interested in the process your employing here, I'd always assumed dealing with carbon frames was a specialist job and hadn't considered it can be done as DIY).

If this turns out anything like the blue Vitus then A) I wait eagerly to see the results and B) that'll be two top notch bikes you've got!
 
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