Vitus 992 - 11 speed groupset

[FINNEY1973]

Seeing as it's that time of year when things get reborn I thought it apt to share my newly built Vitus 992. I had been after one for many a moon, so when Tarloone's frame & fork came up for sale I snapped it up. Must admit I thought the way way Tarloone had it was bob on (viewtopic.php?f=23&t=243897) and I did consider a full Mavic groupset for a while rather than just replicate the C-Record route but in the end I settled on a modern upgrade (to satisfy my need to get the Campagnolo 11 speed groupset). My own personal perspective is that this group may well become a bit of a future classic, it's the only set of components released in a decade that I like so there we are - Vitus 992 (de-badged) with Campagnolo Athena 11 speed groupset, Pro-Lite wheelset, Turbo Saddle, 3TTT stem, original Vitus seatpost & Mavic headset - a nice mix of old & new I think.

45 miles this morning and it's magic, here's a few photos...cheers.

 

[tarloone]

Re:

Amazing rebuild, that was a great frameset and it saw some pretty epic rides in my ownership.

Sadly, my selling of it to make way for a new project was largely in vain, but great to see its gone to a deserving home!

 

[mattr]

How was the rear wheel build? Would have thought that a vitus of that era would be 126mm, not the 130 of an 11 speed hub. So did you respace the axle or machine the dropouts?
(Springing a bonded aluminium frame sounds like a world of pain to me.)

Or is it 130mm anyway?

 

[Carabo]

Very pretty rebuild! Good inspiration for my own 992 frame. Be ready to lose all of the lettering on that Turbo once it get ridden regularly. The reissues aren't that high quality in that area.

I'm not sold on the Handlebar tape visually, too much going on with the stitching.

 

[tarloone]

How was the rear wheel build? Would have thought that a vitus of that era would be 126mm, not the 130 of an 11 speed hub. So did you respace the axle or machine the dropouts?
(Springing a bonded aluminium frame sounds like a world of pain to me.)

Or is it 130mm anyway?

All 992's are 130 dropouts, it was introduced in 1992 when everything was 8 speed.

 

[mattr]

Ahha. Makes sense. My vitus was ~3 years earlier.

 

[BigFoz]

Re:

Stunning.

 

[FINNEY1973]

Re:

Cheers Tarloone - I did feel a bit bad in posting this knowing that said frame had been flogged to make way for your peugeot - but your right, it has gone to a deserving home I've got 16 hours to decide what bike to take away this weekend - riding stockport to preston via the moors, alas the weather is looking a bit dodgy and don't really want to spoil a freshly built bike, but I really want to take the Vitus - bloody weather!!

Mattr - plenty of room, as stated it's 130 and the drive side spokes are virtually vertical from hub to rim so an ideal combination.

Carabo - cheers, and yes these new Turbo's are ok, but agreed the lettering is off after 100 miles - got a white one also and only the rear logos have survived - not great but such is life. The handlebar tape is perhaps a bit busy but I use this stuff on all my proper bikes, it's the comfiest and most tactile tape i've used and I can't be doing with anything emblazened with logos etc. For once with me, this is function over form btw - just checked your lo-pro out - that's an absolute stunner!! very envious.

Cheers Bigfoz glad you like it

One thing I should mention I suppose, by luck more than judgement I managed to build the whole thing for a few quid over £700 - nothing (bartape & saddle aside) was shop bought as new (only the ergo's are brand new and these came from a Retrobike member). I think that proves that if you keep your wits about you and your eyes peeled you can build something for a reasonable sum of money. Can't be many Campagnolo equipped 11 speed bikes out there for £700

 

[Pahorpe]

Please help

Hi, can you please help. I bought a Vitus 992 with a Edco competition bb (Square Taper ISO) which I would like to change. I was planning to fit a Campagnolo Centaur crankset (similar to your Athena) with a Campagnolo power torque cup set but the guy from the bike shop is telling me they do not have the proper bb. Can you help me with the details of you build - which bb have you used? Thanks a lot!

 

[martbaischful]

Re:

very nice build.... Athena (silver) does lend itself well to building up a retro bike with modern convenience.