Classic & Vintage - 1980 Motobecane Super Touring

Picked up a decent 63cm example today for $40. Never ran into one of this model before. From what little I've found about it so far, apparently it's one rung below the Grand Touring. It's double-butted Vitus 172, Weinmann concave alloys, Suntour Cyclone derailleurs, 6-speed 14/24 freewheel, Shimano Biopace 42/52 crankset (not original), Weinmann centerpulls and -- get this -- Campy Record levers. At first I thought the levers were added on, but then I noticed the yellow Campy oval decals on the forks, and 'Campagnolo Equipped' decal on the chainstays. Now, I can't imagine a stinking pair of levers would rate the decals, so there must've been more Campy bits on it originally.

Anybody have any more info on this model?

The only one I've ever seen was a mixte model. That's about all I know. If I see it around, I'll check it out for you. With Campy components, wouldn't it be above the Grand Touring?

You'd think so, wouldn't you? The more I think about it, those levers must've been added by a previous owner who also added the decals (and did a professional-looking job of it, btw). The original crank must've been a Sugino. The only difference I can see between this and a Grand Touring is by '80 the GT was Vitus 880 and this bike is Vitus 172.

Pretty quick little snot, too. At 25 lbs. with that 14/24 cluster, it gets rolling pretty good -- even with a beat-up 51-year old motor.

Hmmm.... My '77 GT is double-butted Vitus 172. Sounds like they used the old GT specs for the Super Touring when they upgraded the steel on the GT. Is the ST Vitus 172 throughout, or main tubes only?

It carries the same decal as my '77 GT, but I've never known if it indicated main triangle or the whole frame.

On the GT, it's main triangle only-- at least for '77. Don't know what it is for the ST, or GTs in other years.

I just saw that mixte ST again, btw, but I didn't want to start crawling around under it looking at parts, if you know what I mean. At least not until I ask permission. :)