'93 Peugeot Team Line 2000 autopsy

[foxb13]

Dear RBers,

Please find in the following posts the autopsy of my 100% catalogue specs (including the tires and inner tubes!) '93 Peugeot Team Line 2000 MTB. As usual, since English is not my mother tongue, feel free to correct my sentences, spelling, grammar, etc. Thanks!




Frame: Peugeot TL2000F3, 46cm size

Fork: Marzocchi XC 400, 1 1/8" (5.5") threaded steerer/crown

Headset: Stronglight X15, 1 1/8"
Stem: Ritchey Force Comp Mountain, 130mm 10° rise
Handlebar: Ritchey ProLite, 560mm
Grips: ProGrip 745 MTB
Barends: None

Brakes: Shimano XTR BR-M900-F (front), Shimano XTR BR-M900-R (rear)
Brake Pads: Shimano XTR BR-M900
Brake Cables: Shimano SLR
Cantilever cable hangers: Shimano A/73
Brake Levers: Shimano XTR ST-M900

Shifters: Shimano XTR ST-M900 Rapidfire Plus
Front Derailleur: Shimano XTR FD-M900, 28.6mm
Rear Derailleur: Shimano XTR RD-M900 (Middle Cage)
Derailleur Cables: Shimano SIS
Cassette: Shimano XTR CS-M900-8P (8-Speed, P-Group, 12-32 teeth)
Chain: Shimano Dura-Ace CN-7401, 108 links
Cranks: Shimano XTR FC-M900, 175mm
Crank Bolts: Shimano Crank Arm Fixing Bolt Units
Chainrings: Shimano SG-X F-26/36/46
Chainring bolts: Shimano Double Gear (M8 x 8.5) and Inner Gear (M8 x 13.5) Fixing Bolts
Bottom Bracket: Shimano XTR BB-UN91, 68 x 107mm English thread
Pedals: MKS MXP-110

Hub Skewers: Miche
Rims: Mavic M 231 Ceramic, 36 holes
Hubs: Shimano XTR HB-M900 (front), Shimano XTR FH-M900 (rear), 36 holes
Nipples: ?
Spokes: ?
Tyres: Hutchinson On The Rocks II, 26 x 2.10
Tubes: Hutchinson Butyl

Saddle: Selle Italia Flite, titanium rails
Seatpost: Ritchey Comp Mountain 26.8 x 330mm
Seatpost Binder: Miche

Weight: 12.2kg, including pedals

 

[foxb13]

While chasing my first real MTB (a '92 Peugeot Team Line 1000 "Grisley" stolen in 1997), I stumbled across an ad for the top-of-the-range and rare 2000 model. Though not the bike I was looking for, it was only a few kilometers from me, so I couldn't resist. Even better, it finally appears to have been hardly used. On closer inspection, it even seems to be in original condition, including the tires, with only a few paint chips. All it really needed was a good TLC and service. And also some adjustments to make it 100% catalogue specs: removing the extras (water cage bottle, non-stock barends and computer support), adding the missing clipless pedals and replacing the grips, cut to let the barends fit the handlebar.

 

[foxb13]

Team Line by Peugeot was somewhat similar to Raleigh's Special Products Division: race-oriented bikes with carefully selected components and competitive prices w.r.t. USA-made equivalents. In 1993, the Team Line range is comprised of the Easton E9 1000 "Grisley", and Columbus Nivacrom 1500 and 2000 models [1]. The pictures in the '93 catalogue however depict the '92 models. You have to look at the '94 catalogue [2] to find pictures of the actual '93 bikes, though the model references and specs are highly folklore with a total mismatch between the listed components and pictured bikes.

 

[legrandefromage]

 

[foxb13]

The Team Line 2000 frame was made in Peugeot's second largest plant at Romilly-sur-Seine around Columbus reinforced special Nivacrom steel tubeset, dubbed MAX EL (Extra Leggeri) by Peugeot in its later catalogues. That is, the frame is built with Columbus OS (OverSize) EL steel tubeset, except for the down tube that comes from the MAX series, showing oriented ellipsoidal sections at both ends to increase frame stiffness, vertically at the head tube junction and horizontally at the bottom bracket junction.

 

[foxb13]

The frame construction is awesome. Though not advertised on the frame by contrast with other models, I think this frame was welded using Peugeot Direct Brazing System, a.k.a PBS (Peugeot Brazing System) or Internal Brazing System [1]: "1982 - Peugeot cycles introduced the brazing technique for manufacturing its frames, which means the join or welded seam cannot be seen".

 

[foxb13]

To my knowledge, the 2000 model was only available in the satin purple livery in 1993. Some paint chips here and there allowed me to see that the frame is in reality painted in purple color with a bright finish and then a satin clear coating is applied above.

 

[foxb13]

The 2000 model was suspended by a Marzocchi XC 400 air-oil fork providing ~50mm of travel, IIRC. I was a little bit anxious while cleaning the bike, as the left leg was entirely oil-smudged. Much to my surprise, the fork still operates and holds air, with only a minor leak of the right leg.

 

[foxb13]

The fork is fitted with a somewhat unusual Stronglight X15 headset with needle bearings.

 

[foxb13]

As the top model of the Team Line range, the 2000 sported a near-complete Shimano XTR M900 group.