Bicycle Mechanics - '79 (?) Motobecane Nomade

Okay, I got my fixer-upper, and I'll probably be pestering you techy people constantly as I try to get this thing moving!

I bought a Motobecane Nomade yesterday. I liked it on sight, it has itty bitty short cranks and a step-through frame, and if I can get it working and upgraded, I may be able to resist the temptation of buying an expensive new touring bike next year. :D It also had the interesting history of having been stolen the day before--apparently someone hopped on it and rode away from the odds 'n' ends store where they had it, and managed to actually get some distance in spite of the rotted, flat tires, the rusty chain, and the frozen freewheel. I think it's a '79, or at least there's a 1979 bicycle license sticker from Milwaukee on it. It was marked $30, but they gave it to me for $5, as they are trying to clear out stock. (Makes me wonder why they chased down the thief!)

I found a couple sites with advice on fixing up French bikes, but could use some advice, if anyone else has experience with Motobecane.

For one thing, where would I find the serial number???:confused:

Any advice on how to know, when I order a part, if it will actually fit and be compatible? I may need/want to replace a lot of stuff. I'm wavering between the idea of pure restoration and the idea of customizing.

Any advice in general?

Have you found a source for French stems (22.0mm outside diameter) and French-threaded bottom brackets? Those would top my list of tough-to-find items for it.

The serial # will do you no good unless you want to report it stolen to the police and I would not waste my time. You are kidding yourself trying to mess with that junk,unless you can clean it up and ride it is is. There are plenty of old univegas,kabukis and others around that are not really bad bikes and at least have more standardized parts, that go begging for $20 or less.You can spend alot of time ,money, and frustration and still end up with junk.Get your headaches from cheap whiskey,not cheap,junk bikes with nonstandard sizes. Besides, this kind of stuff is for accomplished do it yourselfers,that know the ins and outs, and how to deal with it. This may come off as a bit anal,but sometimes reality BITES.

Originally posted by mechBgon
Have you found a source for French stems (22.0mm outside diameter) and French-threaded bottom brackets? Those would top my list of tough-to-find items for it.

Most of the parts seem like they'll be useable once they're cleaned up and adjusted. That freewheel is the only thing that's really concerning me at this point, and I'm also wondering whether it might be possible to get something a little better quality installed in the shifting department. In another thread, someone recommended Harris Cyclery http://www.sheldonbrown.com/harris/french.html for French parts, looks good if I need them.

And, pokey, Kabukis and Univegas may grow on trees where YOU are, but where I live, anything that isn't a Huffy is considered rare and strange. :p I'll take my chances, thanks for the warning. If it doesn't work out, I'm only out five bucks and some time, and I'll have had the fun and learning experience of taking a bike to pieces and attempting to remember how it goes back together.

And I need the serial number if I want to license it, assuming I get it running.

'License a bike'???....gotta be glad I live where I do and univega and kabukis grow on trees and one does not have to put up with that kind of revenue raising hassle.WoW! Serial # is most often on the bottom of the BB.If it does not have one does that mean you are exempt,or that the local authorities will be happy to engrave on on it so they can get your money? Am I correct that it has stem mounted sifters?? You can do barends or downtube shifters,but you will need cable stops and or clamp on mounts.Stick with friction shhifting or you will increase potential for headaches many fold.I'm not sure a Huffy would not be better.

The serial number would be on the bottom of the BB shell.
This bike sounds like a cheap, obsolete piece of junk. Why waste any time on it?

Nice find, Inkwolf. Motobecane was well known for producing very nice bikes. They were prized possessions in the '70's and are worthy machines.

You will be able to use it as a road bike very effectively. I ride my '70's vintage French bike (Peugeot) on many tours and big rides and hold up very nicely against people on new and "modern" machines.

Unfortunately, all my resource material is packed away, so I can't give you any information or original pricing. I guess your bike is from the mid 1970's and had a sticker price of around $600.

Go to oldroads.com for info and parts. Go to the vintage lightweights forums at http://oldroads.com/d_ltw_def.asp?rec_count=1 and ask the guys there what you want to know. Post for parts. Somebody can help you.

Also, I can usually get my hands on parts for you, so contact me for what you need. There is a neat guy in Neenah that has/had 700 great old bikes - he is owns a bike junkyard. He either has or can get what you need.

French bikes did have some odd sized parts like the bottom bracket, but if you need to replace the bottom bracket, pitch the bike and move on to your next big find. For the most part, however, you can replace parts with anything available.

Contact me direct if you need advice, parts, or info.

Thanks, Mike. :) I like the look and all the weird things about it. I'm hoping to keep most or all of the original parts, they seem in fairly good shape. I've read that the bottom bracket in the 78 Motobecane Nomade actually had Swiss threading, hope that isn't what I've got, it's complicated enough already. ;) The Nomade was their lower-end bike, but still supposed to be a good ride.

I'm off to check out the link!

I have a nomad sprint, probably from the same vintage. The frame is about 52cm, conventional with flat top tube.

The wheels are shot.

Yell if there's a part you need and I'll see if we match. This thing is on its way to the junkyard soon.

Mike thanks for the website!! I have an 80's peugeot and We were running into troubles with swiss threads. So maybe it will be easier to get what I need.
I agree about how well my peugeot rides. I really enjoy riding it. It's quite smooth. Haven't taken it on any tours yet since I'm rehabing my knee.
Filark

Motobecane also made alot of junk,that typically goes from thrift stoe to recycle bin or landfill.

Originally posted by Inkwolf
It also had the interesting history of having been stolen the day before--apparently someone hopped on it and rode away from the odds 'n' ends store where they had it, and managed to actually get some distance in spite of the rotted, flat tires, the rusty chain, and the frozen freewheel.

If someone tried to ride it with flat tires, the and the freewheel is rusted tight, the wheels are probably shot.

Don't worry. You can replace them with any wheels from any old 27" wheeled ten speed. Obviously, the better the wheel, the better your bike will perform. Personally, I like to switch to Aluminum rims. HOWEVER, the older aluminum rims were sensitive to hard riding. You have to know how to weight correctly for rough terraine, or you will quickly ruin old aluminum rims. The good thing is that they are almost free if you keep your eyes open at thrift shops.

Any Motobecane bike that came standard with 27" tyres is low-end junk. It's worth maybe $50, if working properly. You will find that certain parts (Swiss-threaded BB's, french-sized headsets and stems, etc) are difficult to find, as well as expensive. Don't waste your time or money on it. It's nothing special.

Ah, Alex... how I missed you posts since I've been away.. Your soft-spoken, time honored thoughtfullness.. the quiet wisom of the ages that only a wedgie giving dinosaur such as yourself can dispense in the magical, almost lyrical way you do..

:D

Now you and I both know that the bike isnt worth squat to a collector or a racer or an afficianado of vintage lightweights such as yourself; HOWEVER, you cant possably deny the fact that its not useful as both a learning experiance, as well as practical transporataion. I doubt your own first experiance with unusual threading or weird french or italian parts sizing came in the form of a vintage Colnago or similar, no? Besides both of those facts, the bike might simply hold an appeal to its owner that cookie-cutter modern bikes dont have and it just might be (*gasp*) fun to ride.

Personally, I have a handmade '65 Schwinn and a '72 Gitane Super Corsa that have value to collectors and so-called 'serious' riders, but I like my Astra (which, by the way is basically a rebadged low end motobecane), and my Raleigh Grand Prix and my other old 'junk-bikes' for various reasons almost as much.. mostly because I fixed them up myself and I can leave them at the store with out worry.

One needs to consider the reality.It sometimes bites.

Ah. My main bike, before it was stolen, and I stopped cycling until recently was a Motobecane. It was a touring bicycle, around $300, I bought it around 1980, and rode it until 1986. I don't remember the model (I know it was not a Nomad or a Mirage which I have seen mentioned here. For some reason "Grand Tour" keeps coming to mind?) Having only ridden a Montgomery Ward 3 speed, and a completely forgettable 10 speed from a garage sale prior, whatever anyone else would have thought, I thought I had a great bike - I don't know if it was one of the "good" Motobecane's or not. I didn't know anything about bikes, I just liked to ride a lot (good thing, no car) and rode it in all conditions, rain, mud, snow. I can't remember ever having it in the shop, and "maintenance" was the occasional squirt of WD-40 on the chain. It got me to dreaming of a Roughstuff style world tour.

I think the Grand Tour was their high-end model, if I remember correctly.

sigh.....

Well, excuse my cynicism, but I'm familiar with Motobecanes, and, for the most part, they are mediocre. Sure, there were a few good ones, but that just gives every neophyte that finds one for $10 at a garage sale the idea that his one is valuable.

$5 is a great investment on a fixer upper bike. I'm looking to purchase a sub $15 bike to take apart, and put back together just to learn how to do it, I wont dare pull the BB on my current bikes!

Congrats with the purchase.

If I thought it was valuable, I wouldn't risk taking it to pieces with my own, incompetent, ham-fisted, non-mechanical hands. :D But the input is still appreciated.

No offence or anything, Alex! I've honestly missed your posts!



One needs to consider the reality.It sometimes bites.

So does my dog, but I still love her.

Does this Motobecane have stem mounted shifters and 27' wheels?

Yep, and cottered cranks. :p It turns out to be a '73, BTW.

To be charitable,they did not put that stuff on 'better' bikes.Had one like that myself.Was in perfect condition.Paid $5 at thrift store. Decided I did not want to waste my time. Had garage sale.Sold it to a lady in a big Mercedes for $30. She was happy. I had more money for cheap whiskey. I was happy for a long time too. Enjoy,but don't kid yourself. 73 was a good year for some whines,many of which age well. But low end bikes....another story.:p