Mavic Vitus 979 - Rare French Collector’s Vintage Road Bike - 1980s - Full Mavic Components

History:

Mavic was founded in 1889 in Lyon and is one of the most established names in French cycling. Originally a metalworking company, Mavic evolved throughout the 20th century into a leading manufacturer of rims, wheelsets and later complete component groups. From the 1970s onwards, Mavic became a key player in professional cycling: high-quality aluminium rims, the famous neutral support at major races and continuous technical innovation shaped the company’s identity.

In the 1980s, Mavic expanded its expertise significantly. With the introduction of the Groupe Mavic, the brand presented its first fully self-developed component series – including cranks, brakes, derailleurs, hubs, cockpit parts and bearing systems. These components were known for their clean industrial design, high production quality and reliable performance. Alongside this, Mavic produced a small number of complete bicycles for trade shows, exhibitions and promotional events. These bikes were never intended for regular retail sale.

By the early 1990s, Mavic had firmly established itself as one of Europe’s most innovative manufacturers. Electronic shifting systems such as Zap and Mektronic, aerodynamic wheel designs and precisely engineered aluminium components shaped the brand well into the 2000s. An original Mavic complete bicycle from this era is therefore an exceptionally rare piece of French engineering history.

Description:

This extremely rare Mavic complete bicycle is built around a Vitus 979 aluminium frame and remains in its authentic original Mavic configuration. The bike has been carefully restored without altering any of the original components or specification.

The Vitus 979 frame is constructed from thin-walled Duralumin tubes bonded into precision-machined aluminium lugs. This bonding technique, characteristic of Vitus, offered low weight, excellent vibration damping and a responsive, agile ride quality that made these frames highly regarded in the late 1980s and early 1990s.

The combination of the Vitus 979 frame and the complete Mavic component group is both technically and historically remarkable. At the time, Mavic focused on clean, function-driven aluminium components manufactured to a very high standard. The fitted Mavic 2 CD2 rims are among the company’s proven aluminium models and complement the minimalist, functional design language of the era perfectly. The rear wheel features the original Mavic marking Roue Assistance, typical of wheels used by Mavic’s neutral race service and reserved exclusively for professional use.

Condition:

Used. The Vitus 979 frame is in very good and well-preserved condition – free of cracks, dents or misalignment. The original paint is exceptionally well preserved and presents a clean, near-flawless appearance.

During restoration, the bicycle was fully disassembled; all bearings were cleaned and regreased; all components were cleaned in an ultrasonic bath; and both shifting and braking systems were precisely adjusted. The wheels were inspected, accurately trued and run smoothly.

Technically, the bike is ready to ride and offers the light, direct ride quality for which Vitus bonded-aluminium frames paired with a complete Mavic group are known. A truly rare collector’s piece for enthusiasts of French engineering.

Details: