Best Gitane Road Bikes

Excellent – Fantastic bike overall. Have test ridden bikes two and three times the price and it compares favourably. Still feels fresh and tight after 2 years of… Read more

ownership and 4000kms later. Very comfortable, smooth operation, looks great, draws alot of admiration from owners of more expensive bikes. Reliable. Brake cables rattle against frame over bumps

Nice bike with STI levers do some basic upgrades – Picked up one recently second hand. Needed a good cleanup and some TLC. New bar tape, new tubes, new pedals. Good service on brakes and gears. Good entry level road bike. Not the lightest but would recommend for road riding.  Show details

Great but complicated – I would describe this bike as - Great but complicated I picked this bike up, used, on Gumtree a few months ago. I ride it about 24km a few times… Read more

per week for commuting as well as going for a few weekend rides.

I am a novice rider and got this bike for $500 used so it was a good deal for me despite the complications I have outlined below. Knowing then what I know now, I'd still have bought it, but knowing these things would have saved me a big learning curve (for better or worse) so hopefully others can benefit from this review.

Pros:

- Very light full carbon bike (lighter than my friends Azzuri and Cannondales which cost a lot more)

- FSA CF stem and seat post + Aluminium handlebars

- Full Ultegra Groupset and Wheels (see cons)

- Well put together

- Comfortable Geometry

Cons:

- Externally routed cables (not necessarily a con as it makes maintenance much easier)

- Ultegra Wheel Set:

- From 2004-2007 Shimano made deep spine free wheel hubs from aluminium (nice and light and on the whole a great technology)

- After 2007 they went back to standard splines due to complaints of incompatibility.

- As a result you will NOT be able to buy any new cassettes for this wheel set.

- So if you buy this bike as it was sold in 2007 you will need a new wheel set if you want different gearing (the factory set is 10 speed, 11-23T - hope you're in shape)

- Rear Wheel Frame Arch:

- this bike accommodates 23mm tyres ONLY and even then you'll need a lower profile tyre to sneak through.

- Consequently if you are buying used take the back wheel off and have a close look at the frame arch for wear.

- Provided it hasn't worn into the carbon you might still be able to patch it with epoxy but buyer beware!

Since buying it I have changed the wheels to Mavics (11 Speed) with Conti 4-Season tyres (25mm-front, 23mm-rear) and the 23mm barely squeaks through (1-2mm clearance). I have played around with putting a couple of very small washers in the dropout and locking it in tight to build another 1-2mm of clearance but this is a bit dicey and I don't recommend it.

Obviously changing to an 11 speed cassette meant changing out my rear derailleur and shifter. All of these changes/upgrades mean extra costs (value of changes ~ $500)

I'd recommend buying this bike used for <$800 if you can.

Hope this is helpful to people

Not Pertect – I have ridden my Gitane Mach 1600 ( Tiagra 9 speed ) for about 12,000 hard km in all wheather. It is almost cactus now, the free hub is noisey, the… Read more

shifters are getting stiff, it jumps between gears quite offten and the Shimano WH540 rear wheel is very fragile! I am 90kg and I need to carry spare spokes! Luckly you can change spokes by the road side with only a 4" shifter ( and tyre levers and pump of course). My Gitane was pre carbon (7007 aluminium) and weighs 9.85kg ( with out tools! ) and was prpbably the best handling and most comfortable road bike I have owned. Very well made frame and forks, with good handling and cost only $699 AUD in 2004 It was an entry level bike with cheap components with a limited lifespan. Rear wheel very fragile.