nielsonru

Picked this bike up, and despite my Googling efforts, its been hard to pinpoint the make and model of this bike. I would assume a lot of the parts are original but you never know, and looking at some of the old catalogs online, its hard to find one where the parts line up.

Here is a link to my web album of the bike

I am thinking it is a Motobecane, but am not sure.

Here are some of the parts I do know of. Most of which seem to be French made

Stem - Pivo
Frame - Motobecane?
Brakes - Weinmann 610 Vanqueur 999
Rims - Rigidia Superchromix 27x1 1/4 Made in France
Rear Derailleur - Huret Allvit
Front Derailleur - Huret
Pedal Arms - Aduprat Universal
Other clues: There is the ever so slightly "619" (9 is a little unclear) right above the Forks stamped into the frame.

Anyways, I am looking at fixing this bike up. I already have some of the parts soaking to remove rust. Its actually in pretty good shape.

nielsonru

It might also be a Mercier brand. I am looking hard at the fork "M" to see if I can find it on another bike in my searches.

juvela

yes to motobecane. nomade model most likely. originally blue.

bottom bracket may be swiss threaded.

eclair brand pedals.

not to be too pedantic but the crankset name is universel rather than universal. just wanted to let you know in case you do any searching on the name.

best wishes with it.

nielsonru

Google tricked me into putting "universal" . hehe.

Your suggestion has helped me narrow it down quite a bit. Its from the early 70' based on the hardware groupings I am seeing in these catalogs

1973 Catalog
1970-72 Catalog

I'm noticing when I google "Motoconfort" instead of Motobecane, I get more bikes whose fork tops look like mine with the "M" symbol cut out about the M profile.
Like here

juvela

that is some fine research you are doing there!

after posting i realized that i had not put in a date. was thinking somewhere between 1968 and 1971.

also forgot to mention to you that with these base level models the same machine could be badged astra, dynamax or orly as well as mb. they as well did private labeling of them for department store chains such as sears and roebuck. the sears ones always seem to be painted a deep flambouyant green. regardless of how badged they would still have the "m" logo fork crown cap.

if you were to go slow with paint removal you may discover some of the original transfers still present.

the "61" number you mention which is seen in photo nr. 8 refers to the angle of the lug and is not a serial or model number.

in photo nr. 9 a "72" can be seen in a diamond stamped into the wheel rim. this is a date. not positive about second digit as there is a bit of dirt obscuring.

was not able to quite see it in your photos but if the bicycle's fixed bottom bracket cup has eight flats its bottom bracket shell will be swiss threaded. the fittings are manufactured by a company called bardon and the spindle is probably stamped on the end "rewax md." would expect cups to be unmarked.

hope this assists you a bit.