I'll corroborate John's sentiments. I have a very near twin of the eBay offering (Thanks, Scott). The only difference that I can discern is the bar stem. Mine has a steel Kipcim (like to know more about Kipcim; stems and seatposts only? where fabricated? etc.). Mine has an identical finish and the components as I received the bike are as follows:
CLB Racer brakes (old dry-ish pads give the screetchiest MAFACs you've ever heard a good run for the money) Nervar Star crankset Lyotard 460(?) pedals Huret svelto derailleurs and shifters Exceltoo large flange hubs (!) with (I think) Super Champion Record du Monde tubular rims unidentified steel seat pin w/o integral clamp
Mine came with a Schwinn plastice saddle, so I fitted an Ideale 45. I also put a different wheelset on to reserve the Exceltoo wheelset for another french bike. Typical bike boom-level french construction; no tubing transfers. Rides fine and, for those of you that get excited about foil transfers and obscure french marques, it'd be a fine acquisition for $39.95.
Mine gets regular use here at work by a coworker who rides with me over lunch.
Any other Yvars owners on the list?
Charlie Young
Honeybrook, PA
> Well, if M. Yvars was a constructeur in the Rene Herse/Alex Singer (et al)
> sense then this is not a good example of his work as it would seem only the
> frameset was built by him. Nothing the seller lists in the parts details
> sounds to be made by or modified by M. Yvars. Still, it's an interesting
> bike and if it goes cheaply it may be a fun project.
>
> Jan, I hope this doesn't come across as me speaking for you - not my intent
> at all. Just stating what I'm observing.
>
> John Price
> Denver, CO
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Bill Mattinson [mailto:billmatt@sonic.net]
> Sent: Wednesday, June 26, 2002 10:01 AM
> To: Jan Heine; classicrendezvous@bikelist.org
> Subject: [CR]Is this M. Yvars bike on eBay a constructeur?
>
>
>
> Following the recent discussion on CR about French bicycle constructeurs, I
> just noticed this bike on eBay:
> "M. Yvars Constructeur du Cycle Vite" - eBay item #1839545328.
>
> I couldn't find anything on a quick Google search other than a Richard Sachs
> statement that he bought thousands of Nervex lug sets from M. Yvars back in
> the early '70's.
>
> So Jan, was M. Yvars a wannabee or a first tier constructeur?
>
> The bike looks too small for me, so good luck if anyone wants to bid on it.
> The price is certainly not intimidating.
>
> Bill Mattinson
> Sonoma County, CA