Classic and Vintage Bicycles: What's it Worth? Appraisals and Inquiries - Motobecane Vintage Road Bike
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Wasn't able to pick up the other bike from CL last time so here's another one I just found here and it's right size for me too.
Seller is asking $125, is it worth it? I did a bit research and some people say Motobecane is pretty bad in quality (frame). I am not sure, can someone please clarify about it.
http://img1.classistatic.com/cps/kj/090809/677r1/4497789_20.jpeg
http://images.craigslist.org/3n33m43p45O85Se5R299r96e561675379178a.jpg
From what I have seen from the Toronto market, that is a good deal!
mkeller234
09-28-09, 08:24 PM
It looks like the top tube might say Mirage. It looks like it's probably newer-ish because of the decals and tig welded frame.
Looks like a pretty good deal for a keeper though.
It looks like the top tube might say Mirage. It looks like it's probably newer-ish because of the decals and tig welded frame.
Looks like a pretty good deal for a keeper though.
Does this bike consider a decent road bike? Since I don't know the year of model, I can't find the specs. online.
Btw, thanks wrk101, as always.
Looks like that chain is kinked (simple fix but a symptom that the bike has not been well maintained). You might be able to talk the seller down a bit.
As an end user, looking for a decent bike at a reasonable price, this one makes good sense. Just make sure the seat post and stem are not stuck, the wheels are relatively true, and the bike is ready to ride.
Motofan
10-05-09, 09:09 AM
Motobecane never made TIG welded frames. That's what they called an "inexternal" brazed frame - essentially a fillet-brazed frame using special fixturing.
Anyway, if it's a Mirage, it's probably 2040 steel (fairly low end)
Higher end models of that era used Vitus 888 tubing (better, but not the best)
Top end models by then were made in Vitus 172 DB (really nice) or at best Reynolds 531 (Le Champions or Grand Records only)
Give us the model name and component info, and we can identify further. And what is that spot on the downtube above the shifters??
unworthy1
10-05-09, 10:47 AM
Just to pick a nit: the 1984 Team Champion, LeChampion and Grand Jubilee were built of Columbus tubing, and at least those last 2 also used the "inexternal" brazing construction.
Looks like there's a Vitus badge on this Mirage, but if as late as '84 it could be made from "Motolite" tubing (whatever that is) which was a notch above 2040 steel, according to the published specs.
Motofan
10-05-09, 12:13 PM
OOps! You're absolutety right! Reynolds tubing wasn't used by Motobecane by 1982 or thereabouts...
Motofan
10-05-09, 12:22 PM
Yikes! I'm really getting old - scratch that last comment. Columbus tubing was used by Motobecane on their top end bikes from 1977 on, because of the dustup with TI Reynolds over their shipment of some bike with 753 frames before the framebuilders certs had been issued. So its highly unlikely to find 531 on post-1977 Motobecanes.
It's got the seat collar typical of the early 1980s Mirage and Nomade. Still has downtube shifters so it should be pre-1984, which means it should also be 2040, as previously suggested. I believe inexternal brazing was introduced circa 1982, so that should put a pretty narrow range on things.
VegasTriker
10-05-09, 05:01 PM
The Mirage was the lowest end on the Motobecane scale. As the owner of a 1973 Motobecane Le Champion (top-of-line production model), it really irked me when the company issued the 1974 Mirage in exactly the same black/red color scheme the following year. I wouldn't pay $125 for it. The bike store I worked in sold them and they were probably less than $125 new in the mid to late 70s. I later bought a Mirage at a church sale just for getting between buildings at work and it cost me $20. Didn't want to use the old Le Champion as one bike had already gotten stolen from a locked bike storage area. The rub is that I ended up giving away the Le Champion and had a hard time finding anyone who wanted it because of the old-style 27 inch wheels and narrow tires with Phil Wood hubs. Wish I knew of this forum at that time.
The Mirage was the lowest end on the Motobecane scale...
While the Mirage was definitely an entry level bicycle, it was never the bottom of the line, even during the early 1970's boom, The Nomade was below the Mirage in the "racing bicycle" line and below that was the Nobly "city bike". Then, there was also the Riviera folding bicycle, which some people considered lower yet, though was not the least expensive.