Go Back  Bike Forums > Bike Forums > Classic & Vintage
Reload this Page >

1980 Motobecane Grand Record

Notices
Classic & Vintage This forum is to discuss the many aspects of classic and vintage bicycles, including musclebikes, lightweights, middleweights, hi-wheelers, bone-shakers, safety bikes and much more.

1980 Motobecane Grand Record

Old 02-05-16, 02:06 PM
  #1  
Senior Member
Thread Starter
 
bikemig's Avatar
 
Join Date: Apr 2012
Location: Middle Earth (aka IA)
Posts: 20,505

Bikes: A bunch of old bikes and a few new ones

Mentioned: 178 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 5877 Post(s)
Liked 3,445 Times in 2,066 Posts
1980 Motobecane Grand Record

Do you ever just pick up a bike for no particularly great reason? I couldn't resist this Motobecane Grand Record when it popped up on my radar screen recently at a price I couldn't say no to.

I think it's from 1980. It is in immaculate condition. The paint job is a bit dirty but it has no scratches. It is primarily shimano 600 arabesque but the rear derailleur is a superbe pro and I also picked up 2 sets of wheels with the bike, both the original wheels (shimano 600 hubs, rigida rims) and a really nice set of replacement wheels (specialized sealed hubs, ambrosio elite durex rims, and fairly new continental tires).

I don't have any idea what I'm going to do with it. I've always liked the ride qualities, though, of vitus 172 tubing. I'll bet @verktyg can help me pin down the date on this bike:

Attached Images
File Type: jpg
IMG_0533.jpg (93.8 KB, 214 views)
File Type: jpg
IMG_0532.jpg (98.6 KB, 206 views)

Last edited by bikemig; 02-05-16 at 03:00 PM.
bikemig is offline  
Old 02-05-16, 02:30 PM
  #2  
Senior Member
 
exmechanic89's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2015
Location: Richmond VA area
Posts: 2,713

Bikes: '00 Koga Miyata Full Pro Oval Road bike.

Mentioned: 17 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 475 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 8 Times in 7 Posts
^Pretty sweet.
exmechanic89 is offline  
Old 02-05-16, 02:55 PM
  #3  
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Jan 2016
Posts: 67
Mentioned: 1 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 7 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 2 Times in 2 Posts
Awesome bike! I have an arabesque 600 rear derailleur kicking around if you want it to match, however that superbe pro is some awesome kit!
oldsmobum is offline  
Old 02-05-16, 02:58 PM
  #4  
Senior Member
Thread Starter
 
bikemig's Avatar
 
Join Date: Apr 2012
Location: Middle Earth (aka IA)
Posts: 20,505

Bikes: A bunch of old bikes and a few new ones

Mentioned: 178 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 5877 Post(s)
Liked 3,445 Times in 2,066 Posts
Originally Posted by oldsmobum
Awesome bike! I have an arabesque 600 rear derailleur kicking around if you want it to match, however that superbe pro is some awesome kit!
Thanks; yeah this was too good a deal to pass up. I'll keep the RD in mind if I decide to go all arabesque.
bikemig is offline  
Old 02-05-16, 09:21 PM
  #5  
Banned.
 
Join Date: May 2011
Location: on the beach
Posts: 4,859

Bikes: '73 falcon sr, '76 grand record, '84 davidson

Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 59 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 21 Times in 16 Posts
last fall, i saw a couple of these in perfect condition pop up on ebay for around $300 plus shipping. i almost pulled the trigger.

i'd love to ride a vitus 172 bike with a shorter wheelbase than my g.jubilé. that vitus tubing seemed lighter than my 531 g.record.
eschlwc is offline  
Old 02-05-16, 10:28 PM
  #6  
Senior Member
Thread Starter
 
bikemig's Avatar
 
Join Date: Apr 2012
Location: Middle Earth (aka IA)
Posts: 20,505

Bikes: A bunch of old bikes and a few new ones

Mentioned: 178 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 5877 Post(s)
Liked 3,445 Times in 2,066 Posts
I always thought that vitus 172 was roughly the same quality as Reynolds 531. This online article seems to suggest this:

*Vitus history by Norris Lockley

But then there is this post by Chas on gitaneusa where he writes that it is not quite as strong as reynolds or columbus tubing,

gitaneusa.com :: View topic - Vitus brochure, including Durifort

I'm excited by the bike; it will be a fun project to fix it up. My build queue runneth over though as I have 3 other bikes to get ready for the summer.

It also has that shimano 600 headset with the odd starfish design and I don't have the tool for it.

https://www.bikehugger.com/post/view/...-the-obscure-h

Last edited by bikemig; 02-05-16 at 10:51 PM.
bikemig is offline  
Old 02-06-16, 01:43 AM
  #7  
Banned.
 
Join Date: May 2011
Location: on the beach
Posts: 4,859

Bikes: '73 falcon sr, '76 grand record, '84 davidson

Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 59 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 21 Times in 16 Posts
^ i've never run into a problem using a standard adjustable wrench with that headset nut. maybe put a little washrag (or thin rubber coaster) around it if it's perfect, and you're worried about botching it.
eschlwc is offline  
Old 02-06-16, 08:27 AM
  #8  
In the right lane
 
gerv's Avatar
 
Join Date: Dec 2005
Location: Des Moines
Posts: 9,565

Bikes: 1974 Huffy 3 speed

Mentioned: 4 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 44 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 7 Times in 6 Posts
@bikemig Sweet ride... is it a 60cm?
gerv is offline  
Old 02-06-16, 09:16 AM
  #9  
Senior Member
Thread Starter
 
bikemig's Avatar
 
Join Date: Apr 2012
Location: Middle Earth (aka IA)
Posts: 20,505

Bikes: A bunch of old bikes and a few new ones

Mentioned: 178 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 5877 Post(s)
Liked 3,445 Times in 2,066 Posts
Originally Posted by gerv
@bikemig Sweet ride... is it a 60cm?
No, it's a 57 cm C t C or a 58 center to top. It's your size; you need a non-paint challenged French bike, don't you, ?
bikemig is offline  
Related Topics
Thread
Thread Starter
Forum
Replies
Last Post
jjhabbs
Classic & Vintage
8
04-18-18 08:08 PM
Fahrenheit531
Classic and Vintage Bicycles: Whats it Worth? Appraisals.
3
06-11-14 10:01 AM
n0rlander
Classic and Vintage Bicycles: Whats it Worth? Appraisals.
2
10-15-12 10:29 AM
Anthoswart
Classic & Vintage
41
09-04-12 03:00 AM
thurs
Classic and Vintage Bicycles: Whats it Worth? Appraisals.
4
11-01-11 09:00 AM

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off
Trackbacks are Off
Pingbacks are Off
Refbacks are Off


Thread Tools
Search this Thread

Contact Us - Archive - Advertising - Cookie Policy - Privacy Statement - Terms of Service -

Copyright © 2024 MH Sub I, LLC dba Internet Brands. All rights reserved. Use of this site indicates your consent to the Terms of Use.