gitaneusa.com Forum Index » Vintage Gitane » My old 80's Gitane racer just found in the garage! Goto page 1, 2  Next    View previous topic :: View next topic  My old 80's Gitane racer just found in the garage!   Posted: Sat Jun 13, 2009 12:23 pm GITANE80 Joined: 13 Jun 2009 Posts: 8 Hello, my name is jason and I found this great site surfing, I was wondering if anyone can help me with some information on a my child hood bike? My child was asking what that was in my garage so we took it out and found my old beloved racer! Its a small racer for kids and I remeber getting this about 10 years old around the 1984-85 circa. So about 24 years old I think? I've looked at the catalog and the closest one was back in 83' same colour and thats where the simularities end. This was for sale in the European market in the UK. Hope you can help me restore this bike via suggestions as I would love to give this to my son on his 10th birthday. Here are the pictures enjoy much fun on this as a kid! I still have the front wheel took it before I took the pictures the forks are not bent at all, but do they come off so I can re chrome the wheels?   Posted: Sun Jun 14, 2009 1:18 pm Gtane Joined: 14 Sep 2007 Posts: 681 Location: UK Jason, Welcome to the forum. Nice bike and great to find it again. The bike looks to be in good condition, and original too. My thoughts would be to simply give it some love and attention, polish and then a ride for all those memories to come back. I'm sure it will clean up well. The saddle looks to be too low on the frame, perhaps it's crushed over the saddle bracket. I'm not sure from the shot. Thanks for the post. Tim _________________ Everything has a cycle   Posted: Tue Jun 16, 2009 10:39 am GITANE80 Joined: 13 Jun 2009 Posts: 8 Gtane wrote: Jason, Welcome to the forum. Nice bike and great to find it again. The bike looks to be in good condition, and original too. My thoughts would be to simply give it some love and attention, polish and then a ride for all those memories to come back. I'm sure it will clean up well. The saddle looks to be too low on the frame, perhaps it's crushed over the saddle bracket. I'm not sure from the shot. Thanks for the post. Tim Hello Tim thank you for the welcome happy I'm not alone here LOL. My plans are to clean her up the best I can and chrome up any bits that has pitted. Then give this to my lad (8 old) as it’s a junior ride and hence the seat looks low as I had very small legs back in the early 80's. I'll update this thread as I go along. I felt it was time to bring back some memories from the past. Thanks again for the welcome mate. Jay   Posted: Tue Jun 16, 2009 2:23 pm sandranian Site Admin Joined: 27 Feb 2006 Posts: 2701 Location: Southern California What a neat bike. I would love to give one of those to my kid... Before you plan on getting all of the chrome redone, look into the costs. It can be expensive. You can clean most of the chrome very well using copper wool. Then put some car wax on to prevent further damage. Works well, and won't cost you a ton! _________________ Stephan Andranian Costa Mesa, CA www.gitaneusa.com   Posted: Tue Jun 16, 2009 10:56 pm Gtane Joined: 14 Sep 2007 Posts: 681 Location: UK Great idea to pass on your bike son. Lucky guy. Enjoy refurbishing and do post shots when complete. Tim _________________ Everything has a cycle Need some help to source a part!   Posted: Sun Feb 16, 2014 12:42 pm GITANE80 Joined: 13 Jun 2009 Posts: 8 Hi guys I'm just about to start restoring the bike for my 8year old she is old enough to ride this now, but I've got some problems I having difficulty sourcing a chain guard its a three bolt piece and center bore is 3" apart and outer diameter can be 6" or 7". Hope someone has one just lying around? Long shot! Thanks Jay PS second to last pic above my post! By the way the bike is a Junior Grand Prix 1980. Parts ordered already Lyotard 136R pedals NOS 2 x Schwalbe 20X1 1/8-1 3/8 (500A) Tube Presta SV7A - Black Michelin 500 x28 A tan wall tyres NOS Might have to chrome the rims not to great! Nos 1982 Weinmann Brake Pads Blocks Vintage Huret Rear Derailleur NOS Weinmann brakes TYPE 73 model 730's NOS Izumi 1/2 sliver chain new Still looking for Sella junior Itallia seat Possibly two rims 2 X 20" rims 28x 500A RIGIDA SUPERCHROMIX   Posted: Fri Feb 21, 2014 2:17 am GITANE80 Joined: 13 Jun 2009 Posts: 8 I'm getting there and she cleaned up quite nicely! Rebuilt the derailleur and brakes. Except for a few parts she is getting there!   Posted: Tue Feb 25, 2014 9:52 am GITANE80 Joined: 13 Jun 2009 Posts: 8 Well I decided not to powder coat the bike or re-chrome as this cleaned up nicely so far waiting upon a few parts but essentially she is almost finished! Lost some fine threaded bolts to mount the wheels, but through hard digging found one bag that had two nuts that fitted well pitch was probably 0.75 [img]http://i202.photobucket.com/albums/aa51/Clipperjay/Gitane%20racer/P1030980.jpg [/img]   Posted: Tue Mar 18, 2014 8:04 pm mountaindave Joined: 22 Jun 2010 Posts: 75 Location: Flathead Valley, MT Glad to see you back after all these years! Nice job restoring your bike, too!! Want to come over and clean mine Can't wait to see the finished product! MD   Posted: Wed Mar 19, 2014 1:52 pm GITANE80 Joined: 13 Jun 2009 Posts: 8 Thanks Dave its nearly finished, but currently at a pro builders getting the once over for tweaks as its being set up for my daughter. But she looks like this at the mo!   Posted: Mon Mar 24, 2014 7:58 pm sandranian Site Admin Joined: 27 Feb 2006 Posts: 2701 Location: Southern California Awesome rebuild! Great job! _________________ Stephan Andranian Costa Mesa, CA www.gitaneusa.com Sehr Gut !   Posted: Mon Mar 24, 2014 8:59 pm smilingroadrunner Joined: 10 Aug 2007 Posts: 278 Location: Salina, Ks. I'd like to Echo Stephan's comment: Nice job with all the time and "elbow grease" to make this recovery. Looks Great !! I Like Steel !!! __________________ C.A. Salina, KS.   Posted: Tue Mar 25, 2014 9:04 am sandranian Site Admin Joined: 27 Feb 2006 Posts: 2701 Location: Southern California I am sure you know this, but that saddle doesn't look like it will work. _________________ Stephan Andranian Costa Mesa, CA www.gitaneusa.com Finished got emotional my daughter rode it and loves it!   Posted: Sat Apr 05, 2014 1:33 pm GITANE80 Joined: 13 Jun 2009 Posts: 8 Thanks guys for the comments I struggling to work out what length bike pump to fit you can see the picture something used to be there. Would it sit on the two lower bars and just hook at that tip end because I'm struggling to work out the size and diameter that will fit correctly the question is 11" or 12" bike pump its 11" from the crank bar and 12" from that lower flat end with the circle? Between the two frame bars is about 20mm apart! Kickstand ???   Posted: Sat Apr 05, 2014 2:08 pm smilingroadrunner Joined: 10 Aug 2007 Posts: 278 Location: Salina, Ks. My guess is the metal between the stays is to mount a kickstand----I like using TOPEAK brand "master blaster" road frame pumps----they spring load to fit in front of the seat tube ----at least that is were I place mine. I Like Steel !!! _______________ C.A. Salina, KS. Oops---see next post !! Last edited by smilingroadrunner on Sat Apr 05, 2014 2:19 pm; edited 1 time in total My old 80's Gitane racer just found in the garage!     gitaneusa.com Forum Index » Vintage Gitane You cannot post new topics in this forum You cannot reply to topics in this forum You cannot edit your posts in this forum You cannot delete your posts in this forum You cannot vote in polls in this forum All times are GMT - 8 Hours   Page 1 of 2   Goto page 1, 2  Next All Posts1 Day7 Days2 Weeks1 Month3 Months6 Months1 Year Oldest FirstNewest First  Select a forum Gitane USA----------------Vintage GitaneGitane RacingModern GitanePro Racing - Classics/Giro/Tour....Owner Gallery   Powered by phpBB © 2001-2004 phpBB Group Designed for Trushkin.net | Themes Database.