Classic & Vintage - Motobecane find

http://i53.photobucket.com/albums/g68/gldnedge/DSC_0028.jpg

I found a Motobecane Super Mirage recently. Looks to be a late 70's and is in 9/10 condition. The only thing I did was replace the wheelset with some Salsa rims w/ Phil Wood hubs. Much to my surprise, the 5-spd freewheel worked on the Phil hub.

No issues w/ the bike whatsoever. It's as solid today as when it was new. I'm simply enjoying the ride.

I need some pedals, though. Just a matter of eBaying some. I may purchase an un-butchered Brooks as well.

Aaron

Score!

I think there's a problem with putting a French-threaded freewheel on an English- or Italian- threaded hub. Bike looks great though.

Gorgeous.....and to sced, looks like some japanese components already on the bike so perhaps it wasn't french threaded, making the freewheel swap safe?

I had the Grand Touring from 1980 and I swapped out the freewheel for a better grade Suntour. I forget what was on it originally, but we (a friend who had worked at Harris Cyclery) gave no thought to this possibility of French threading not accepting the Japanese upgrade. It fit just fine. I think Motobecane was well aware of it's audience and backed off the French-threading.

Let us know, please. That's a real nice vintage piece you got there!

I agree there seems to be a conflict of interest on the hub vs. freewheel match-up, however I can't dispute the obvious....it worked! I openly admit that it took some medium pressure to screw the freewheel on, but nothing outlandish.

The first three thread flights accepted the freewheel by simply spinning-on with a flip. After that I was mindful of thread stripping as the process became a bit tighter. In the end, it seems as though nothing was harmed in the process.

I'll post a few close-up pics in the near future. This find is good enough to warrant more descriptive pictures.

Interestingly, this bike is a local find, purchased originally from a bike shop not 20 minutes from my house (still in business). I called them to et them know what I had and they seemed to be a little less than interested. Oh well....

Real-time, reforming of the threads. The question is, were they stressed to the point that their strength or fatigue life will be affected?

If so....let's hope not.

I'll post a few close-up pics in the near future. This find is good enough to warrant more descriptive pictures.

Interestingly, this bike is a local find, purchased originally from a bike shop not 20 minutes from my house (still in business). I called them to et them know what I had and they seemed to be a little less than interested. Oh well....

I have an '81 Trek that looks like it is N.O.S. I had to drive a ways to pick it up from the original owner, but it came from a local shop near me that went out of business years ago. I remember going into that shop nearly 30 years ago and seeing Trek frames hanging on the walls and saying to myself...."what's a Trek?" ...and... "hey, where's the rest of the bike?" It's great seeing the original bike shop stickers on the bikes, especially when you can relate to them. One LBS date stamps their stickers, which helps in dating the age of the bike.

By the way, get a good deal on the Motobecane?

What the heck....here's a few more close shots of my bike.

It's a one owner bicycle that was apparently preserved by the first owner....for my benefit.

http://i53.photobucket.com/albums/g68/gldnedge/moto8.jpg

http://i53.photobucket.com/albums/g68/gldnedge/moto66.jpg

http://i53.photobucket.com/albums/g68/gldnedge/moto7.jpg

http://i53.photobucket.com/albums/g68/gldnedge/moto6.jpg

http://i53.photobucket.com/albums/g68/gldnedge/moto5.jpg

http://i53.photobucket.com/albums/g68/gldnedge/moto2.jpg

http://i53.photobucket.com/albums/g68/gldnedge/moto4.jpg

http://i53.photobucket.com/albums/g68/gldnedge/moto1.jpg

It was a swap deal.

My part of the barter was probably less than $100 worth of bike stuff.

Wanted to mention..... this Motobecane rides smoother than my Surly Cross Check. Not that I'm surprised, but it's quite nifty when you compare vintage steel to modern "steel is real" bicycles.

There's a big difference between my 73 Reynolds 531 Holdsworth and my 93 Columbus nivachrome Viner. The older bike seems to be less stiff / more springy, perhaps because the newer steel is stronger (higher elastic modulus) and the tubes are larger diameter and ovalized.

Wow! That's a beauty. I've been dreaming of one of those since I sold a black Grand Touring a few decades ago - maybe my dumbest mistake ever as far as bikes go.