Sean Kelly’s special edition carbon road bike

[vismitananda]

What do you guys think of this new bike?

Sean Kelly's Special Edition Carbon Roadies

[Kuma601]

Interesting. I'd like to see an Alu model then it would go nicely as a companion to my 979 as a contrast of old-new. Would be nice to see them stateside. Depends on pricing.

[Creakyknees]

Smart move on their part... I honestly thought the Vitus brand was no more.
And for those who remember Kelly and his Vitus bikes, great association.

I just hope the modern ones are not the crack-prone noodles that the old ones were.

[BlueMasi1]

So I wrote Chain reaction cycles. Last year Chain Reaction purchased the rights to the name. It is now their house brand. The frames are produced and finished in Taiwan.

Back in the mid to late 80's I owned a Mavic equipped 979. in the late 90's the rear dropout broke and I retired the frame and sold the group to finance another bike.

While I have never see one in person the frames do appeared to be finished nicely.

[chirobike]

I think it looks like every single other entry level carbon frame in china. Other than the paint what is so special about this edition? I admire Kelly but if you look at his old pics, he's really not the best guy to talk "geometry" on bikes. His style and fit was very peculiar to him. Anyway, looks like a decent bike but what I remember about Vitus comes from when their frames were "screwed & glued" together and rode like wet noodles.

[stevesbike]

as a side note, anyone know what's the deal with Kelly's hair (look at about 37 seconds in on that video). It used to be coal black - it's not gray - looks more like he's dyed it platinum blond. Doesn't seem very Kelly like...

[BlueMasi1]

I think it looks like every single other entry level carbon frame in china. Other than the paint what is so special about this edition? I admire Kelly but if you look at his old pics, he's really not the best guy to talk "geometry" on bikes. His style and fit was very peculiar to him. Anyway, looks like a decent bike but what I remember about Vitus comes from when their frames were "screwed & glued" together and rode like wet noodles.

I agree that this is a generic carbon frame like hundreds of others out there on the market today and it's true that Vitus's frames were a bonded construction but my did not fail at that juncture. I know several people that have owned them and they too never had a problem with the bonding. Granted the frame wasn't as stiff as a steel frame of the time, but considering that Kelly (and many others) won a great number of races while riding a Vitus, I'm not sure if the "wet noodle" analogy is accurate.

[carlosflanders]

Kelly's been dying his hair for years. Presumably he doesn't like the gray. The latest blonde is a bit extreme though.

[Peter P.]

It's just another asian-made carbon bike. Ho hum. Nothing to see here; please move along.

I still respect Sean Kelly.

[atpjunkie]

1) get Chinese mfr to build cheap CF bikes
2) find old brand / rider to use to give your stuff street cred
3) RINSE REPEAT

is it the same Vitus or another 'buy the name?"

[bigbill]

1) get Chinese mfr to build cheap CF bikes
2) find old brand / rider to use to give your stuff street cred
3) RINSE REPEAT

is it the same Vitus or another 'buy the name?"

Go ride one and see if it flexes enough to shift the front derailleur. If it does, it's the real deal.

[danukgser]

They may be inexpensive, but they are designed here in the UK.

[takmanjapan]

Sure wish they would have bought the rights to the old logos. New bike with the older traditional Vitus type would have been more sexy....

The Kelly special edition does look a bit like the Chinese FM-028 frame.

[looigi]

Kelly's been dying his hair for years. Presumably he doesn't like the gray. The latest blonde is a bit extreme though.

This matters and is pertinent somehow?

[stevesbike]

This matters and is pertinent somehow?

I asked what the deal was with Kelly's billy idol look in the vid - personally, a trivia fact about Kelly is more interesting than speculation about a frame no one has seen in person or knows anything about.

[Mike T.]

Go ride one and see if it flexes enough to shift the front derailleur. If it does, it's the real deal.

My 979 was the rear derailer. The only bike I've ever had with an automatic transmission.

[Kuma601]

I still ride my 979 and enjoy it. Given that back then it was made in France and today China...dunno which might have the better integration of technology. Aside, the 979 frame of that past era was nice.

[minutemaidman]

My 979 was the rear derailer. The only bike I've ever had with an automatic transmission.

I second that comotion! Made it hell climbing.

[atpjunkie]

Go ride one and see if it flexes enough to shift the front derailleur. If it does, it's the real deal.

response Bill

[Ventruck]

Hype comments aside in the video, that particular bike they were exhibiting is 99% perfect for me. Size is perfect (offered with that stem)...there's just a bunch of "yes" parts. I know the frame is generic-looking, but I like the proposed colorway and I'd be pretty happy out the door if the price is right.

[vismitananda]

Since Kelly is a very good Sprinter. I think his design is also aimed for sprinters.

[vismitananda]

Interesting. I'd like to see an Alu model then it would go nicely as a companion to my 979 as a contrast of old-new. Would be nice to see them stateside. Depends on pricing.

I would also like to have it in Aluminum. I ain't that serious cyclist to use carbon, I don't even had the cash to buy one. So Aluminum works fine with me.

Also they should produce other colors than green.

[Ventruck]

Since Kelly is a very good Sprinter. I think his design is also aimed for sprinters.

Frame, no. Setup, arguably no as well. I could enjoy that as a climbing setup.

[CurbDestroyer]

My 979 was the rear derailer. The only bike I've ever had with an automatic transmission.

At 145lbs. using a 54cm frame I wasn't heavy enough is to get mine to autoshift. However I knew a few riders that rode the 60cm 979 that developed this problem. To bad they don't re-issue the old duraluminum frame with the flex problem remedied.

Since he was the last toe clip hold out I though the frame might look more traditional and might sport a horizontal top tube.

[AlexCad5]

They may be inexpensive, but they are designed here in the UK.

$5000 with DA is not inexpensive in my book.