Classic & Vintage - Sorry all, another one needing some info on.

This is for a friend's bike - a MBK Super Record. We did some digging around, but didn't find a whole lot on this particular model. Can anyone shed some more light on this model, possible value? Thank you in advance.

-Chris

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Hi Arclight,

Sorry to report this but Robert Millar reported on, in an article in Cycle Sport magazine at the end of his career, his worst and best of everything cycling list: Best bike: Colnago; worst bike: MBK. He stated that MBK bikes were, "Made by Klingons. If you want to cruse the universe look no further, if you want to race (ride a Colnago)."

I have never ridden an MBK bike so I can't comment. I have also seen Sean Yates on an MBK. They obviously sponsored professional teams over the years.

Your friend's bike looks to have a Campagnolo Victory groupset which dates to around 1986/7. They were a pretty good groupset but were restricted by a crank spider PCD of 116mm. It was hard to source chainrings - but that wouldn't matter if the chainrings were in good condition and you weren't using it for intense training.

Being labelled 'Super Record', I would guess that the frame was made during the Campy Super Record era and the Columbus decal on the frame was used on Columbus SL tubing after 1978. There are 2 sets of biddon mounts which would suggest a mid 80's build. The top tubing (Columbus) in the mid 80's was Columbus SLX and most top-of-the-range racing bikes would have been built with SLX. Columbus SL was superseded but remains a very good frame material - I think it was actually lighter than SLX. The seat cluster pinch bolt looks to be in an interesting position under the seat stays (if I am not mistaken). This is unusual and is an interesting feature.

The bike looks really nice. Forgetting David Millar's view, I would say that the bike looks like a pretty good racing machine.

Value??? I would guess at $500.

Best of luck,

Gary.

I think the crankset on yours is Triomphe, not Victory. I picked up a similar MBK Grand Record frame set this Summer, primarily because it was fillet brazed. All the earlier GR I had seen were of lugged construction. It is very light for steel, 3.8 pounds for the bare frame without the fork.

Mine had the same chromed fork & a good Campagnolo headset. The Columbus sticker was on the seat tube but almost obliterated, appeared to be a generic type but hard to tell. The seller said my frame was a 1988 based on a magazine review he had found on the net somewhere(I couldn't find anything when I researched). Paint on mine was in poor condition so I had it powdercoated. So far, I have installed a new BB & crankset.

I think the crankset on yours is Triomphe, not Victory.

Yes, it is Triomphe. The Victory crank doesn't have the small flare outs from the end of the spider arms.

Those campy parts ain't worth a continental. I'd rate those parts to be funky like Huret. The frame looks like a beauty. Did you powder coat it? I sort of liked the original 80's funky paint scheme.

A revised component group will make that bike very nice and just as good as any modern day steel bike from the store. Please post pics of the final build.

That crank is definitely Triomphe, but I think that rear derailleur is Victory, and those shifters aren't Triomphe either, they look like Super Record to me.

Wow, thanks all. Very knowledgeable group here - I'm learning a lot lately :) Again, thanks - this totally helps.

-Chris

I've ridden quite a bit on an MBK in France but i didn't realize they were sold in America after Moto morphed into MBK.