Classic & Vintage - Crailslist Find: Motobecane Mixtes

The local CL had a post last week where the seller was cleaning out her shed. For the asking price of $10, I was able to pick up a 70's Motobecane mixte in Champagne color with brown stripes, and additional mixte frame and fork stripped of its original paint, a set of 27" steel wheels, a new gum wall tire and a box of mics parts; several kick stands, some reflectors and several bells.

The bike's serial number on the bottom bracket is 7749062 followed by 702. The numbers stamped on the drop outs are 47917.

Cranks are Suntour Tourney with 40 and 52 tooth chain rings. The crank arms have the following numbers stamped on the backs, 76.7 on the left arm and and 76.11 on the right arm. I assume these are date stamps.

The rear derailleur is missing, the FD is a Suntour Compe V. The shift levers, which I believe were stem mounted, are also missing. Rear brake is a Weinmann 750 center pull, front brake is missing. Wheels are Weimann alloys with Normandy high flanged hubs dated 77.

Based on this information and the following pictures, can someone tell me exactly what year and model Moto I have? I'm guessing a '77 model year.

Score :thumb:

Cheers,
Chris

I think it's a Super Mirage from 1976. I'm fairly sure Shimano made the Tourney crank, not SunTour or Sugino.

I think it's a Super Mirage from 1976. I'm fairly sure Shimano made the Tourney crank, not SunTour or Sugino.

I dig some researching on line last night and came to the same conclusion; Super Mirage. Right, Shimano did make the Tourney. I found the info on those on VeloBase.com. Don't know why I typed Suntour. But I don't think it's a '76 since the hubs have '77 date codes.

OK, so then a 77 or 78.

OK, I'm jealous. Been looking for a Motebecane mixte for years. Sold a Grand Touring like a dumb ass when mt. bikes first came out.

Nice. Thats a good vintage with the cotterless cranks and Suntour derailleurs. I just picked up an older Moto mixte with cottered cranks and spent about 3 hours removing the driveside cotterpin. Destroyed the crank while I was at it. Oh well. Looking forward to building it up.

Nice. Thats a good vintage with the cotterless cranks and Suntour derailleurs. I just picked up an older Moto mixte with cottered cranks and spent about 3 hours removing the driveside cotterpin. Destroyed the crank while I was at it. Oh well. Looking forward to building it up.

The seller, who lives in Belleville, IL, was going to make a lawn ornament out of this Mixte but luckily changed her mind.

The extra frame I received had the drive side crank still on it. The threads were mangled so I couldn't use my crank puller. Had to resort to a hammer and socket extension to remove it. Needless to say, that crank is also toast. When I removed the spindle, it was obviou that a hack saw was used on the oppisite side in an attempt to remove it.

Yeah, the Motobecanes were some of the handsomest production bikes of normal prices. Fantastic choices of colors, and very tasteful graphics.

Your bike has the same color scheme as my 77 Grand Touring mixte...are the rims concave?

It may have had a Suntour VGT Luxe rear derailleur.

I'm looking for a light blue one for the missus, myself.

Your bike has the same color scheme as my 77 Grand Touring mixte...are the rims concave?

It may have had a Suntour VGT Luxe rear derailleur.

The rims, Weinmann alloys, have a rounded rise where they meet the spokes, so I would think they would be considered convex as you look at them from the inside diameter.

Based on the spec sheets I've found on line, the RD should be a Suntour VGT [Luxe?]. Luckily, I happen to have two in excellant condition in my parts stash.

The rims, Weinmann alloys, have a rounded rise where they meet the spokes, so I would think they would be considered convex as you look at them from the inside diameter.

Based on the spec sheets I've found on line, the RD should be a Suntour VGT [Luxe?]. Luckily, I happen to have two in excellant condition in my parts stash.


Perfect!

Maybe the concave rims were more specific to the touring models.

They were known as concaves because of the shape as you view it from the spoke. They are very durable but also pretty heavy. They built up quite nicely, too.

They were known as concaves because of the shape as you view it from the spoke. They are very durable but also pretty heavy. They built up quite nicely, too.

The rims on my Moto definitly curve out towards the spokes and hub, which would make them convex.
Rims curving away from the spokes and hubs would be considered concave.

http://amazing-space.stsci.edu/resources/explorations/groundup/lesson/glossary/term-full.php?t=concave_vs_convex

OK, I'm jealous. Been looking for a Motebecane mixte for years. Sold a Grand Touring like a dumb ass when mt. bikes first came out.

Here's one I'm going to sell. Interested? PM me.

http://i525.photobucket.com/albums/cc336/davidw56/Motobecane/20090829-bicycles047.jpg

Guys, you're wrong about the Tourney crank - it was made by Takagi. I have two of 'em. And the mixte looks nearly identical to my wife's '76 GT mixte. Is there a frame decal still legible? Sally's GT mixte has a Vitus 172 DB main triangle. It's a nice, light bike and rides great!

The rims, Weinmann alloys, have a rounded rise where they meet the spokes, so I would think they would be considered convex as you look at them from the inside diameter.

Based on the spec sheets I've found on line, the RD should be a Suntour VGT [Luxe?]. Luckily, I happen to have two in excellant condition in my parts stash.

I'd say Super Mirage, 77. Nice that you have the RD for it!

Guys, you're wrong about the Tourney crank - it was made by Takagi. I have two of 'em. And the mixte looks nearly identical to my wife's '76 GT mixte. Is there a frame decal still legible? Sally's GT mixte has a Vitus 172 DB main triangle. It's a nice, light bike and rides great!

Compare this photo from the Velobase Shimano crankset page to the photo I originally posted of the crank arm on my Super Mirage. Looks the same to me.

http://velobase.com/CompImages/Crankset/388CF4A6-00F5-4D23-9462-B687AF84FE93.jpeg

Zowie! You're right! I was totally faked out by the fact that the two Motos I've got with these cranks have Takagi dustcaps on them, but in fact, there's no other marking on the cranks except "Tourney" and "Japan". Live and learn..... I always thought that Motobecane didn't start using Shimano parts until the early to mid 80's.