Peugeot 708

[KeepItSteel]

Resurrection time - can I ask the OP how you've gotten on with the frame? Did you ride it?
I'm considering a local 708 myself, and as a heavier rider I'm lead to believe 708 is a degree stiffer than many good old 531 frames so could potetintially be a good match for me

 

[peetee]

Not the OP here but have some info that you may find useful.
I have owned or ridden bikes with each of the following tubesets.
708 was available in two incarnations; 708 Classic had standard sized tubes (25.4 top and 28.6 down). 708 Touristique had an oversized top tube (28.6).
As well as 708 you might want to consider 731OS and 725. Both these use oversized top (28.6) and down (32.4) tubes and are significantly less flexible when applying power out of the saddle in comparison to, say, 531c or 753. It follows then that they are very suitable for the heavier and/or more powerful rider.
FWIW, 531 Super Tourist started life with a standard sized top tube then adopted the oversized tube. My experience suggests 708 was the more lively ride however, my 708 frame was a bit of an oddity (possibly a development frame) with some non-standard tube profiles and it ultimately fractured - something I have not heard about from other 708 owners.

 

[KeepItSteel]

Not the OP here but have some info that you may find useful.
I have owned or ridden bikes with each of the following tubesets.
708 was available in two incarnations; 708 Classic had standard sized tubes (25.4 top and 28.6 down). 708 Touristique had an oversized top tube (28.6).
As well as 708 you might want to consider 731OS and 725. Both these use oversized top (28.6) and down (32.4) tubes and are significantly less flexible when applying power out of the saddle in comparison to, say, 531c or 753. It follows then that they are very suitable for the heavier and/or more powerful rider.
FWIW, 531 Super Tourist started life with a standard sized top tube then adopted the oversized tube. My experience suggests 708 was the more lively ride however, my 708 frame was a bit of an oddity (possibly a development frame) with some non-standard tube profiles and it ultimately fractured - something I have not heard about from other 708 owners.

Thanks for sharing this useful info, I needed a better understanding of Reynolds 700 series tubing.

 

[R0b]

Re:

The 708 was finished the other year but, with one thing and another, I never updated the thread – now plenty of time on my hands and decided to show the finished bike.

So, a Peugeot 708 frame from 1993, never ridden or built up before. The serial number is not a factory one so may have been built by the Prestige workshop, particularly because I was told the frame came from an old team and has an ex-pro`s name on (more upthread).

The groupset is Sachs New Success from early 1990s, with a Miche seatpost and Modolo handlebars and stem. For anyone interested in more about Sachs New Success, this link provides some fascinating information: http://lecycleur.com/parts/history-of-s ... w-success/

The gearing will offer some challenges, although I can lower the inner ring down to 38. Everything works beautifully smoothly. Assembly was easy: everything very clean and square, all the threads went together effortlessly (bottom bracket went in virtually whole way by hand). All I need to do now is get it out on a ride and feature in today’s road ride!

Here’s the spec:

Frame: 58 cm: Reynolds 708 1993 1901 g
Forks: Reynolds 708 715 g
Headset: Stronglight X 14 needle bearing headset
Stem: Modolo Q
Handlebar: Modolo
Bar Tape: Splash
Brake levers / shifters Sachs 8 spd (made by Campagnolo)
Brake Calipers: Sachs New Horizon (made by Modolo)
Brake Pads: Sachs
Front Derailleur: Sachs New Horizon
Rear Derailleur: Sachs New Horizon (8 spd)
Freewheel: Sachs 8 spd 13 – 21
Chain: KMC 8 spd
Chainset: Sachs New Horizon (made by Thun)
Chainrings: no markings, 53 / 42 – look original
Bottom Bracket: Shimano
Pedals: Look
Rims: Rigida
Hubs: Sachs New Horizon
Hub Skewers: Sachs
Nipples: Inox
Spokes: Bladed
Tyres: Byte Fiandre
Saddle: Turbo Special
Seatpost: Miche Prima
Bottle Cage: Cannondale GT- 40
Weight: 11 kg / 21 lbs

Hope you like it!

Fantastic build, sorry to resurrect an old thread....

I have this bike in my loft, raced on it, mine came off the shelf with Shimano Ultegra STI, got it in 1993 [from Swinnertons in Stoke for £600, was £1,200 RRP]. A second tier French team road the same model in the TdF in 93 or 94. I mean to get it down and try it out again, it was my favourite bike. for ride and comfort

By comparison I had the 653 frame in purple/burgundy that is still built up, this was my day to day commute bike. I also had two 753 Perthus Pro bikes [600ex models] but snapped both of these on the chainstays. Peugeot sent me a new from as a replacement [653 in lilac] and that is still boxed in my loft never been used. The 753's were sprayed up into Tunstall Wheelers colours and upgraded as time went on.

Sadly both of those frames are now gone, I still have many wheels from this time period, mainly Mavics I think, both tub and clincher [including Spinergy's].

Anyway, great photos and bike, hope you are enjoying it.

 

[georges1]

I have one but in the Prestige Variant, my original race bike from 1992 that I used in roadbike racing competitions from 1996-1999 before I had a very bad accident in 1999 which broke the original fork . From 1999 to 2005, I have avoided to ride on a road bike due to that accident. But in 2005 I have decided to rebuild this bike and ride it again , it had its ksyrium wheels and Ultegra 6500 equipment but a new time carbon fork, a year ago, I decided to upgrade with Dura Ace 7700/7800. The weight of mine is 9,9kilos.The 708 is a very good tubing for riding on distances and with great torsional rigidity, it is a recommended tubing for heavy riders, I am not as light as I am used to be and the frame like the Columbus Max even though less stiff than the Max is very easy to ride and is a very good descender and climber.