C&V Clunker Challenge 100
07-18-16, 07:25 AM
#351
Senior Member
Okay, I'm in with a 1975 Motobecane Grand Touring nabbed for $45. Guy I bought it from said it was given to him by a neighbor who pulled it out of the "dry" crawlspace under his house. There is a LOT of rust, including shift cables frozen into housings to the extent that energetic shifting attempts just snap the badly corroded cables.
https://goo.gl/photos/2tFcW4oQ5vLFuGa18
For all of the surface corrosion and rust and fading, getting into the bike it looks like it wasn't ridden very much. The headset was very dry and stiff but works well now that it has been repacked. The Tange BB has been cleaned and packed full of fresh grease, and before I got ready for work this morning I repacked the rear Normandy Sport hub. My next session I will tackle the front hub and take some sort of Nevr-Dull to the hub shells and rims. I have already removed the kickstand, chainguard ring and turkey levers, which is the first thing I did with my new bike back in the '70s, too!
Current plans are to build it up with its original parts as much as possible - the old SunTour VGT Luxe, Compe V and plastic-handled power-ratchet shifters all work well, the Weinmann centerpulls are their usual near-indestructible selves, the ancient pseudo-suede Selle Italia saddle has rusty rails but feels okay for now, and the Pivo randonneur bend bars are just wide enough to work for me. I plan on sanding down the quill of a Nitto Technomic stem from my used parts stash and shimming the Pivos with suitable beverage can shim stock, just to make the bike work for me.
At least at first, I think I will try the stock wheels with some used 27-in tires I happened to have lying around. I rode all around mountainous southwestern Virginia on a similar bike 40 years ago, and I could treat this challenge as an opportunity to revisit 1976.
https://goo.gl/photos/2tFcW4oQ5vLFuGa18
For all of the surface corrosion and rust and fading, getting into the bike it looks like it wasn't ridden very much. The headset was very dry and stiff but works well now that it has been repacked. The Tange BB has been cleaned and packed full of fresh grease, and before I got ready for work this morning I repacked the rear Normandy Sport hub. My next session I will tackle the front hub and take some sort of Nevr-Dull to the hub shells and rims. I have already removed the kickstand, chainguard ring and turkey levers, which is the first thing I did with my new bike back in the '70s, too!
Current plans are to build it up with its original parts as much as possible - the old SunTour VGT Luxe, Compe V and plastic-handled power-ratchet shifters all work well, the Weinmann centerpulls are their usual near-indestructible selves, the ancient pseudo-suede Selle Italia saddle has rusty rails but feels okay for now, and the Pivo randonneur bend bars are just wide enough to work for me. I plan on sanding down the quill of a Nitto Technomic stem from my used parts stash and shimming the Pivos with suitable beverage can shim stock, just to make the bike work for me.
At least at first, I think I will try the stock wheels with some used 27-in tires I happened to have lying around. I rode all around mountainous southwestern Virginia on a similar bike 40 years ago, and I could treat this challenge as an opportunity to revisit 1976.
That's a clunker alright! Should be pretty cool when it is done though.
07-18-16, 07:26 AM
#352
Senior Member
I've got my clunker relatively complete but not quite rideable (only one gear works, front brake needs adjustment):
My investment so far is about $75 ($65 for the bike and $10 in various used replacement parts, all of which I had on hand). I hope to get it ready to ramble this week.
My investment so far is about $75 ($65 for the bike and $10 in various used replacement parts, all of which I had on hand). I hope to get it ready to ramble this week.
I really like this one!
07-18-16, 07:28 AM
#353
Senior Member
I'm 52.5km into my distance challenge. The flexy rear wheel has lost true again. blegh. While climbing a pretty steep hill yesterday I had to listen to the spokes pinging the whole way up, then watched the wheel wobble around after I got to the top...
07-18-16, 11:52 AM
#354
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I'm out. The frame I found is just to small. The seat post is super long, but I just dont have a long/high enough stem, and even if I did, it would not be good for me. Rode it for possibly 10 kilometers, and the nerves in my left foot told me to stop.
Now I have a problem of what to do with it. There is no one here to give it to. Ive given bikes away that I poured lots of time and grease into only to eventually get them back unridden and in worse shape than I got them in.
The suntour freewheel is in good rebuildable shape, and since the freewheel on my Ute bike came apart under load a couple days ago, I am sort of thinking about swapping the bigger cogs over to this freewheel body.
Congrats everyone on their beautiful bikes. finding good bikes in the Ozark hills has always been a challenge, I'm envious.
Now I have a problem of what to do with it. There is no one here to give it to. Ive given bikes away that I poured lots of time and grease into only to eventually get them back unridden and in worse shape than I got them in.
The suntour freewheel is in good rebuildable shape, and since the freewheel on my Ute bike came apart under load a couple days ago, I am sort of thinking about swapping the bigger cogs over to this freewheel body.
Congrats everyone on their beautiful bikes. finding good bikes in the Ozark hills has always been a challenge, I'm envious.
07-18-16, 03:09 PM
#355
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Okay, I'm in with a 1975 Motobecane Grand Touring nabbed for $45. Guy I bought it from said it was given to him by a neighbor who pulled it out of the "dry" crawlspace under his house. There is a LOT of rust, including shift cables frozen into housings to the extent that energetic shifting attempts just snap the badly corroded cables.
https://goo.gl/photos/2tFcW4oQ5vLFuGa18
https://goo.gl/photos/2tFcW4oQ5vLFuGa18
It's starting a little rough, but that has the potential to be a really good looking bike. I like what I imagine the color to have been.
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07-18-16, 03:09 PM
#356
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I'm out. The frame I found is just to small. The seat post is super long, but I just dont have a long/high enough stem, and even if I did, it would not be good for me. Rode it for possibly 10 kilometers, and the nerves in my left foot told me to stop.
Now I have a problem of what to do with it. There is no one here to give it to. Ive given bikes away that I poured lots of time and grease into only to eventually get them back unridden and in worse shape than I got them in.
The suntour freewheel is in good rebuildable shape, and since the freewheel on my Ute bike came apart under load a couple days ago, I am sort of thinking about swapping the bigger cogs over to this freewheel body.
Congrats everyone on their beautiful bikes. finding good bikes in the Ozark hills has always been a challenge, I'm envious.
Now I have a problem of what to do with it. There is no one here to give it to. Ive given bikes away that I poured lots of time and grease into only to eventually get them back unridden and in worse shape than I got them in.
The suntour freewheel is in good rebuildable shape, and since the freewheel on my Ute bike came apart under load a couple days ago, I am sort of thinking about swapping the bigger cogs over to this freewheel body.
Congrats everyone on their beautiful bikes. finding good bikes in the Ozark hills has always been a challenge, I'm envious.
Hmm... You've got 52 days left, so that's roughly 1.75km per day. I'd say you could go for the win by adjusting the seatpost to fit and riding with no hands the 1.75km every day.
07-18-16, 03:11 PM
#357
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07-18-16, 03:12 PM
#358
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I've got my clunker relatively complete but not quite rideable (only one gear works, front brake needs adjustment):
My investment so far is about $75 ($65 for the bike and $10 in various used replacement parts, all of which I had on hand). I hope to get it ready to ramble this week.
My investment so far is about $75 ($65 for the bike and $10 in various used replacement parts, all of which I had on hand). I hope to get it ready to ramble this week.
I'm sure it's at least partially the camera angle, but this was my immediate association:
That's a plus for me.
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07-18-16, 04:38 PM
#359
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^ Hey, if Mr. Natural approves of my ride, I'd be very happy!
07-19-16, 12:08 PM
#361
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Found my build bike...
Motobecane Grand Sprint. $50.00 on CL. Pictures to follow. I'll try riding with everything the bike came with except tires. They actually hold air but they're too dry rotted to trust.
07-19-16, 01:05 PM
#362
Senior Member
ok! I have spent all I will spend and took her for the first ride around the parking lot. from now on its just adjustments as she goes! so what we have is:
$50 off CL for 1-1/2 bikes, both sprayed head to toe black.
$17 from Urban Ore (a giant junk store) for bars and 9 ultegra speed brifters
$6 for super sale cables (I re-used the front brake)
$11 for chain
$5 for used 9 speed cassette
~$4 for two bottles of partially used spray paint i found in my paint closet.
Free: Tires from and inmate here! Bottle cages off a dented up rock hopper I found in the trash. bar wrap is re-used from original purchase.
total: $93 give or take a few bucks.
testing to make sure no explosions happen:
brakes still need adjustment. and you can see my awesome re-used tape job. yes, I am not great at tape wrapping. also I was in a hurry.
$50 off CL for 1-1/2 bikes, both sprayed head to toe black.
$17 from Urban Ore (a giant junk store) for bars and 9 ultegra speed brifters
$6 for super sale cables (I re-used the front brake)
$11 for chain
$5 for used 9 speed cassette
~$4 for two bottles of partially used spray paint i found in my paint closet.
Free: Tires from and inmate here! Bottle cages off a dented up rock hopper I found in the trash. bar wrap is re-used from original purchase.
total: $93 give or take a few bucks.
testing to make sure no explosions happen:
brakes still need adjustment. and you can see my awesome re-used tape job. yes, I am not great at tape wrapping. also I was in a hurry.
07-19-16, 01:28 PM
#363
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That might make for an interesting side challenge - who gets the most miles out of dry rotted tires. Seeing as I'm sensitive to broken bones and road rash, you'll forgive me in advance if I sit that one out, right?
Last edited by rustystrings61; 07-19-16 at 01:33 PM.
07-19-16, 02:01 PM
#364
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That looks great! Even the two-color handlebar wrap is kind of cool.
Any idea what kind of bike it was before all the spray paint?
Any idea what kind of bike it was before all the spray paint?
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07-19-16, 02:12 PM
#365
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dual handlebar baby! one bar i had had black, the other had one side white and missing missing the other side. so i decided to combine to two to keep the purity of the build.
I think, if I like this bike, I will strip it down and give it a better paint job - or powdercoat it. but that would have blown my clunker budget, so for now.. this is it.
07-19-16, 02:29 PM
#366
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Did you weigh it?
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07-19-16, 03:49 PM
#367
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● 1971 Grandis SL ● 1972 Lambert Grand Prix frankenbike ● 1972 Raleigh Super Course fixie ● 1973 Nishiki Semi-Pro ● 1979 Motobecane Grand Jubile ●1980 Apollo "Legnano" ● 1984 Peugeot Vagabond ● 1985 Shogun Prairie Breaker ● 1986 Merckx Super Corsa ● 1987 Schwinn Tempo ● 1988 Schwinn Voyageur ● 1989 Bottechia Team ADR replica ● 1990 Cannondale ST600 ● 1993 Technium RT600 ● 1996 Kona Lava Dome ●
● 1971 Grandis SL ● 1972 Lambert Grand Prix frankenbike ● 1972 Raleigh Super Course fixie ● 1973 Nishiki Semi-Pro ● 1979 Motobecane Grand Jubile ●1980 Apollo "Legnano" ● 1984 Peugeot Vagabond ● 1985 Shogun Prairie Breaker ● 1986 Merckx Super Corsa ● 1987 Schwinn Tempo ● 1988 Schwinn Voyageur ● 1989 Bottechia Team ADR replica ● 1990 Cannondale ST600 ● 1993 Technium RT600 ● 1996 Kona Lava Dome ●
07-19-16, 07:07 PM
#370
Senior Member
nope. i confess i have never weighed any bike i have owned. actually I have not weighed any bike, regardless of owning it. but by the "pick it up and carry up stairs" method i'd call it a 5 out of 10. not heavy, not super light- exactly midrange. good for gravel I am hoping!
07-21-16, 10:33 AM
#371
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My entry
Motobecane Grand Sprint. CL find for $50.00 Not sure of vintage. I'm thinking of riding this almost exactly the way I bought it. Maybe with new tires.
07-21-16, 11:50 AM
#372
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Eager to see your pix! My Motobecane also came with seriously dry rotted tires that somehow still hold air - though I suspect they are the originals from 1975 that have spent most of the intervening years in a crawlspace in South Carolina!
That might make for an interesting side challenge - who gets the most miles out of dry rotted tires. Seeing as I'm sensitive to broken bones and road rash, you'll forgive me in advance if I sit that one out, right?
That might make for an interesting side challenge - who gets the most miles out of dry rotted tires. Seeing as I'm sensitive to broken bones and road rash, you'll forgive me in advance if I sit that one out, right?
07-21-16, 11:55 AM
#373
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Made some progress today on my entry! I feel like I passed an initiation rite to be a real member of C&V. Dry ice, apple cider vinegar, P'Blaster and a giant pipe wrench got this sucker right out.
07-21-16, 12:08 PM
#374
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My progress so far - I have cleaned the frame up about as much as I feel like doing, at least for now. Some Turtle Wax red polishing compound took off the remaining dirt and restored a little shine. If I feel really energetic I may try some sort of wax, but not right now. Also, the chrome on the fork blades and crown is compromised, but at least the remaining chrome is relatively shiny again. It probably looks good from 50 feet ...
I experimented with some 700C wheels, but I think I will stick with my original plan to use the stock 27-in Normandy/Weinmann hoops. The brake reach on the rear with the 700Cs looks suspect to me, and I might get a better ride quality anyway. Final point in favor - it would make for a more accurate revisit of the 70s cycling experience.
The manager of the LBS laughed and picked out some used tires for me to choose from when I told him about this challenge, which helps since I bought a new budget chain, brake pads and cable housing from him.
One of my colleagues graciously gave me her Coke can when I explained I wanted it for shim stock - and it was just exactly what the doctor ordered when I shimmed the original Pivo randonneur bars into the used Nitto Technomic stem I sanded down enough to fit the steerer. Next time I'll find a brake cylinder hone and see if I can just clean up the inside of the steerer tube!
I need to gently tweak the Tourney's chainring - there's some runout I hope to fit there. I need to repack the front hub and perhaps re-repack the rear, as it is noisier than I think it should be. I need to route cables and wrap bars and build up a better set of brake levers out of my pile of old Weinmann parts.
As of now, I am at -
$45 - 1975 23-in Motobecane Grand Touring
$10 - two pairs of Pyramid brake shoes
$10 - discounted chain
$10 - well-used Nitto Technomic stem from the parts pile
$75 current running total. We'll see ...
07-21-16, 01:03 PM
#375
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