Early Rocky Mountain Road frame.

[NigelFinnighan]

From what I understand Vitus had arrangements with many bike manufacturers Peugeot, Motobacane, Mercier, French-Loire, Gitane, Bertin, Cilo, Bertoni, and a bunch of others.

Here's a decent resource if you're interested. https://on-the-drops.blogspot.com/2016/12/the-peugeot-px-10du-vitus-979.html?m=1

I'd have to assume that there would have had to have been some sort of licensing agreement, especially because they were co-branded.

I'm located in southern Alberta, I picked this one up out of Calgary.

 

[MattiThundrrr]

I'm fascinated. Obviously, the bikes existed, quick google search provides multiple examples

 

[MattiThundrrr]

This one clearly shows both Rocky and Vitus graphics

(SIZE 50cm) 1980's VITUS 979 ROAD BIKE - SHIMANO 600 - LIKE NEW

Available for sale here is Vitus Road Bike 1980's Vitus 979 Road Bike 50cm Seat Tube, Center to Center 52cm Top Tube, Center to Center A one-owner bike in SENSATIONAL all-original condition with very little use. Slight sticker loss / peal. Cleaned and serviced to the highest level...

mylittlebikeshop.com

 

[Takmanjapan]

maybe they had a commercial arrangement with RM?

This is the most logical explanation. Vitus would have benefitted from RM's Canada-wide distribution network for their product. Putting the RM decals on the HT & ST was likely part of the distribution aggreement. While one of the above links had RM on the downtube you'll see the others only limit it to the HT & ST decals. My own recollections at my LBS also match - just HT & ST decals.

 

[vtwinvince]

Very interesting, it's all news to me.