Motobecane Mirage Sport - Need More Help
09-15-05, 03:09 PM
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Motobecane Mirage Sport - Need More Help
Hi, all:
A few weeks ago I had a question about dating my Motobecane Mirage Sport. T-Mar advised me to check the date codes on the hubs or the cranks for an approximation. I did so (thanks again, T-Mar!), and subsequently found date codes all over the components, and they all match - 1981. The hubs have a week code as well, and they're very late (48 and 49th week), so we figure the bike to be a 1982.
So now I read that Moto's "Inexternal Brazing" came out in 1983, and that no bike built this way can be earlier than 1983.
I also read that in 1983, they started using 2040 tubing on all the low end bikes.
Here are some photos of the bike with decals, and a closeup of the head tube so you can see the fabrication method used. Also, the 1020 tubing decal is visible in one shot. Components are: Weinmann 600 brakes (sidepulls), Huret Rival FD and RD, Huret DT shifters, Selle Italia saddle with Moto logo, SR Custom cranks 170mm, Pedals say only "Made in France" with an 81 date code, BB is Japanese, looks like the Tange BB on my GT. Stem has no marks, but the handlebars and seatpost both have the "M" in a laurel wreath engraving. Headtube badge is a decal (square M).
I know the guy who is the original owner of this bike, and I'm positive all parts are original (other than brake cables and such), so here are my questions:
Is this an "Inexternal brazed frame" or am I missing something?
We've discussed the anomalous tubing before, so I'm now assuming the decal is wrong if I'm right about the inexternal brazing.
Why does the cable guide under the BB say "Vitus Modle Depose"? Would the low end tubing have come from Vitus?
Is there any significance to the weird seatpost/clamp combination (note the grubscrew in the back), and is it possible to put a conventional seatpost on this bike?
Also, does anyone have a Moto catalog from 1982 or 1983 they can refer to? I have an '84 and this bike looks older than the models shown there, plus all the components are different.
Any suggestions?
Motofan
A few weeks ago I had a question about dating my Motobecane Mirage Sport. T-Mar advised me to check the date codes on the hubs or the cranks for an approximation. I did so (thanks again, T-Mar!), and subsequently found date codes all over the components, and they all match - 1981. The hubs have a week code as well, and they're very late (48 and 49th week), so we figure the bike to be a 1982.
So now I read that Moto's "Inexternal Brazing" came out in 1983, and that no bike built this way can be earlier than 1983.
I also read that in 1983, they started using 2040 tubing on all the low end bikes.
Here are some photos of the bike with decals, and a closeup of the head tube so you can see the fabrication method used. Also, the 1020 tubing decal is visible in one shot. Components are: Weinmann 600 brakes (sidepulls), Huret Rival FD and RD, Huret DT shifters, Selle Italia saddle with Moto logo, SR Custom cranks 170mm, Pedals say only "Made in France" with an 81 date code, BB is Japanese, looks like the Tange BB on my GT. Stem has no marks, but the handlebars and seatpost both have the "M" in a laurel wreath engraving. Headtube badge is a decal (square M).
I know the guy who is the original owner of this bike, and I'm positive all parts are original (other than brake cables and such), so here are my questions:
Is this an "Inexternal brazed frame" or am I missing something?
We've discussed the anomalous tubing before, so I'm now assuming the decal is wrong if I'm right about the inexternal brazing.
Why does the cable guide under the BB say "Vitus Modle Depose"? Would the low end tubing have come from Vitus?
Is there any significance to the weird seatpost/clamp combination (note the grubscrew in the back), and is it possible to put a conventional seatpost on this bike?
Also, does anyone have a Moto catalog from 1982 or 1983 they can refer to? I have an '84 and this bike looks older than the models shown there, plus all the components are different.
Any suggestions?
Motofan
09-15-05, 09:43 PM
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Vitus was the model name of many lines of tubing, Ateliers de la Rive was originally the manufacturer of Vitus tubing. The tubing originated from Ateliers, most likely. See the content at this link for the history of the mark.
https://www.classicrendezvous.com/Fra...us_history.htm
The Vitus plastic cable director seems to turn up on just about everything French from this vintage, most notably the Vitus aluminum bikes.
https://www.classicrendezvous.com/Fra...us_history.htm
The Vitus plastic cable director seems to turn up on just about everything French from this vintage, most notably the Vitus aluminum bikes.
09-16-05, 05:03 AM
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Thanks for the link - tells me a bit about the Vitus 172 tubing on my Grand Touring bike, too!
Motofan
Motofan
09-16-05, 09:19 AM
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I have an '83 Mirage Sport (at least it was bought new in '83). There are some differences between mine and what I can see in your pics:
- Headtube badge on mine is a raised plastic emblem
- My fork is chrome with no lugs
- My frame carries an "Inexternal Brazed" insignia
- The headset looks different on yours -- mine has a collar with ribbed edges, like a dime
- Mine doesn't have the same "1020" insignia on the seat tube
- My seat tube doesn't have the same collar, and mine is cut at an angle
The downtube logo looks the same. I can't read the top tube insignia on yours, do you have a picture of that? The plastic cable guide on the bottom bracket looks the same. The vertical "Motobecane" sticker on the seat tube between the stays looks the same.
Mine has the original front & rear Huret alloy derailleurs. I recall the original brakes were Weinmann center-pull which I replaced with Suntour side-pulls a long time ago. Hubs were Maillard (both since replaced). Cranks are Nervar alloy. The original pedals were alloy cages. I'll take some photos tonight and put them into this thread.
- Headtube badge on mine is a raised plastic emblem
- My fork is chrome with no lugs
- My frame carries an "Inexternal Brazed" insignia
- The headset looks different on yours -- mine has a collar with ribbed edges, like a dime
- Mine doesn't have the same "1020" insignia on the seat tube
- My seat tube doesn't have the same collar, and mine is cut at an angle
The downtube logo looks the same. I can't read the top tube insignia on yours, do you have a picture of that? The plastic cable guide on the bottom bracket looks the same. The vertical "Motobecane" sticker on the seat tube between the stays looks the same.
Mine has the original front & rear Huret alloy derailleurs. I recall the original brakes were Weinmann center-pull which I replaced with Suntour side-pulls a long time ago. Hubs were Maillard (both since replaced). Cranks are Nervar alloy. The original pedals were alloy cages. I'll take some photos tonight and put them into this thread.
09-17-05, 06:56 AM
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Here are some photos of my '83 Mirage Sport. I bought this new in 1983. You can tell it's seen better days. It's doing duty now as a trainer bike, but someday I might clean it up and get it back on the road.
09-17-05, 04:37 PM
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Hey, thanks for the pix. I can see quite a few differences between your '83 and my (apparently) '82. I can see now that the construction of my frame is different also. My head tube has a different look, and the seat tube is definitely different. So, maybe they just brazed the 1020 together without lugs? Seems strange, but I'm not gonna chop up the frame to find out.
Motofan
Motofan
