SirMike1983 

I'm interested in learning more about vintage French bikes, as I might be interested in buying one in the future. I saw Sheldon's page and it was helpful. Does anyone here have thoughts on the old French bikes? I figured Gitane, Motobecane, and Peugeot would be the ones that could be found.

Blue Order

My '77 Motobecane Grand Touring is such a sweet ride, I wouldn't trade it for anything. No matter how many times some LBS employee tries to convince me to junk it and buy something new.

TheOtherGuy

I really like the early '70s Motos more than most of the other common French production bikes. Le Champion, Grand Record, and Jubilee were all pretty nice. A bit more cleanly built, and much better finished than Peugeot or Gitane.

Blue Order

True! Except for the few nicks I've managed to accumulate over the years, the finish on my Moto *still* looks new, nearly 30 years later.

spider-man

I would say one of each is your best bet.

italianbiker

yeah i agree w/ spider man. get one of each. in the peugeots i would look for a "P" model anything w/ reynolds. i come across a lot of U08/A0X and usually just pass on these, otherwise i would have more than 20 plus bikes, but for some reason everytime i come across one, i still stop and examine every bolt - just curious i guess.

go to retroraleighs and take a look at what type of riding you want to get into. if you just want to cruise then anyone will do. also maybe you might want to learn how to restore a bike, then try to buy one from a thrift shop. you will be learning a lot after the first one. you can get a grand prix raleigh mid 70's for 35-70 bucks. that might get you started. also the older the bike, the harder they are to come by

pinerider

I've just done a fixed gear conversion on a mid-70's Mercier. It's a very nice ride, with all Reynolds 531 tubing and forks. You might want to check out Merciers too, although I don't think a lot were sold in the U.S.
You could try searching whatever marque has your interest in the archives under "discussion area: vintage lightweights" at www.oldroads.com, there is a lot of info there...

Motofan

I have three Motobecanes and I love 'em all for different reasons. However, they have a couple of things in common: a sweet ride, nice paint and decals, and lighter weight than some of their peers. Even my 1020 gaspipe Mirage only weighs 26 lbs, which isn't bad for a low-end bike. More importantly, they're all in excess of 20 years old, and the wheel hubs, headsets, and BB's are in great shape. They're built to last.

Poguemahone

Mmm... Nervex lugs... half chromed rear stays... French threading... feel free will slipping away...

Some notes: By the eighties, Peugeot began to stick the "p" designation on everything, across the model line. It's probably best to stick with the 531 framed Pugs, the PX, PR, and PK, though there are some nice Vitus framed models and even a Columbus one. Motos are nice; I've never found a decent one in my size, however, but I've worked on enough of them. I recently got a Follis, very nicely put together, need to build it up and ride it, it's in the que, though. Acumulating parts as we speak. Actually, I have them all, it's just how I want to use 'em and on what bike that's giving me issues.

Prices on some of the well known French brands (peugeot,gitane,motobecane) seem to have exploded over the last year, so it's not a bad idea to develop an eye for the lesser known marquees if your budget is limited.

Parts issues are what befuddle most would be French enthusiasts. In particular, the bottom bracket and headset drive most newbies nuts. A healthy dose of patience is required, because all obstacles are easily overcome. The fixes aren't that tough. Also, it's best if you do your own wrenching; most every shop I've run into borders on clueless when it comes to French stuff. Actually, they're not even close to the border, they're well over onto the clueless side, mired in a swamp of half-knowledge.

SirMike1983 

Thanks for advice so far. I've restored several old 3 speeds and a 30s Schwinn but am new to French bikes. I went around the net some and found the really like the Le Champion model bike (I think it was a Moto) in silver (I've never seen such a nice silver finish). But still all the French Peugeots, Motos, and Gitanes from the early 70s looked nice. I am partial to the older line from the early and mid 70s rather than the 80s.

Anyone remember the price they got theirs for?

I am also looking into which components are preferable. I always thought Huret made some good parts.

Blue Order

I bought my Motobecane new in '77 for $250. I still remember the day I bought it.

Motobecane was the first French company to make the switch from French to Japanese components. When everybody else was still using Simplex, Huret, or Campy derailleurs, Motobecane was using the SunTour VGT. It was priced cheaper than European components, and shifted better than any of them. I don't have any experience with Huret, but I did have a Simpex-equipped Raleigh before I bought my Moto. That Simplex was the reason I decided to buy another bike-- it was just a lousy-shifting derailleur. It derailed the chain alright-- usually off the chainrings, often between the chainrings. Motobecane's policy of using Japanese components was part of what helped them build exceptional bikes at a reasonable price. Within a few years, the entire industry was following Motobecane's example.

The other thing I found amazing about the GT when I was testing it was its weight. My Raleigh Record was pure gaspipe, while the GT used Vitus tubing (another way of keeping down costs while providing a high-quality bike) in the main triangle (yet another way of keeping down costs). The GT weighed in at 25 pounds-- not impressive by today's standards, but what a difference it was from my gaspipe Raleigh. And the test ride did it-- needless to say, I was sold, and soon in love.

The only thing I don't like about my Grand Touring is that I've never been able to ride hands-free on it-- sometimes it's nice to just sit up straight and stretch your back out. Can't do it on my Moto. It just won't track a straight line. I'm not sure if that's a problem that can be fixed, or if it's something inherent in the bike. I've run into other people with Motos who say they can't ride hands-free either (if anybody knows what's up with that, please enlighten me). Still, it's such a sweet ride...

The thing is, while there are lighter bikes built today, in 30 years, my Grand Touring will still be on the road, still providing a sweet ride. Nobody riding today's aluminum or carbon frames can say the same about their ride.

Grand Bois

I paid $120 for my '73 Gitane TdF last year. It only needed a headset. I bought a beautiful Stronglight A9 from Harris Cyclery for about half of what it would have cost for a replacement P3.

I think I paid $250 for my Peugeot PX10. I've had it since it was new.

I like the way the Gitane rides much better than the Peugeot. The LE model Peugeot I have has a steep head tube angle that makes it a bit twitchy. I have a theory that the LE model was built for American style criterium racing on smooth pavement, rather than the road racing on rough country roads that was popular in Europe.

I have never ridden a Motobecane, but from what I've seen, the build quality and paint is much nicer than the Peugeots and Gitanes.

nick burns

Right around this time last year, I scored a late 70's Moto Grand Touring in near mint condition for $85.00 on ebay. $50.00 for shipping if I remember correctly.

Oh, and I can ride hands free on it with no problems.

CV-6 

French bikes are definitely a small subcuture of the vintage bike scene. I saw a lot more French bikes in the Midwest than I ever did Italian when I was in college. My first decent bike was a Moto Grand Touring. Nothing great, but a nice ride and with decent derailleurs, it shifted well. Wish I still had it. I lusted after a Moto Le Champion or Team Champion and still do. To me Gitanes and Peugeots were not as exciting for some reason. Guess cause I saw so many low end version of these bikes. That is not to say I would turn down a PX-10 or a Gitane Pro if offered.

While not as well known as the Peugeot, et al, Lejeune was a prominent fixture in the pro pelotons in the 60s and 70s. I have owned a Lejeune Champ du Monde, aka F70 aka Pro, since the early 70s. Purchased one year old for $200. It is 531 frame, forks and stays with Simplex ends. The wheelbase is a little longer than popular now, but it is fun, responsive ride. Originally had Simplex Criterium derailleurs, Normandy Competition hubs with Super Champion competition rims, Stronglight 93 cranks. The Simplex were quickly replaced with Suntour derailleurs which I rode with until this fall. It is currently being refinished and will get all French components once again. The Simplex Super LJ derailleur is recognized by many as one of the best shifting friction derailleurs ever, superior to the Campy NR. But then alot of people will say alot of derailleurs are superior to the NR. The Huret Jubilee I believe is still the lightest rear derailleur ever.

I have just scored another Lejeune that is the same frame save it has Campy ends. It will get period correct Campy NR and the 3TTT bar and stem that were on my original Lejeune. Lejeunes are out there, but a bit rarer to find.

I have Italian bikes, but my first love is my Lejeune.

TysonB

Mike,

I ride a Peugeot (Frankenbike) that I've had for years. I am sentimentally attached to this particular 1968-69 U-08. U-08's are common and easily found. Parts are reasonably abundant and to some degree are interchangeable with other Peugots and Frenchbikes. I recently bought a 'parts bike' on e-bay for 27.50 and 35.00 shipping. When it arriaved, it was too nice to use as a parts bike, so I cleaned it up and my twenty-two year old son absconded with it!

Most agree that Moto's are better finished. My bike weighs nearly 30 pounds with lightweight wheels, but with repair kit and water-bottle cage included. It will go 100 miles in a day with my fat butt on it. I have worn out a few sets of cogs. I have squeezed a 7-speed into the rear. (These steel frames WILL flex!)

I think you will find the geometry and flexi frames of these bikes make for a nice comfortable ride. You might think about getting a size a little taller than you are used to. They are a little 'short-coupled' compared to the geometry of modern road bikes. Mimi is a 60cm bike. If I bought a modern bike, I would be riding a 57 or 58 most likely. I'm exactly 6' tall. If you want to go fast, get down in the drops and pedal like hell!

Tyson

Blue Order

Hmmm... What is "short-coupled"? My Moto is a 58cm, and fits me just fine, but by modern fitting standards, I *should* be riding a smaller bike-- a 21 inch frame instead of the 23 inch frame I'm riding.

TysonB

"Short coupled?" Really that's sort of a term I've made up. It's just that the top tube of many of these bikes stays the same length, even though the vertical size increases. Particularly true with the lower to mid-ranged bikes (like my U08). (In those days, you bought bikes like snow skis . . . tall was good. You bought the biggest size that you could straddle without racking yourself.) My bike (nominally a 60cm) has a reach distance measured from the seat to the "hoods" that is a little shorter than my friend's modern 57 cm Bianchi. His 58cm Cervelo is the same.

WARNING! Others on this forum are MUCH more knowledgable than I. If they contradict this response or if they supplement this answer, go with what they say!

Tyson

Blue Order

And a very snug straddle it is.

TysonB

Oh, BTW, don't feel like the Lone Ranger re: hand free riding. NO ONE, in my circle of friends can ride Mimi for more than a few feet hands free. The raked out front fork sees to that.

I put her on a set of rollers the other day. First we had to adjust the rollers to their most stretched out setting. Second, we needed a 'sky hook' to stay ON the rollers. It was way too hard for me. That was a good idea down the drain. Get down the Schwinn Air-Dyne Martha!

Tyson

christoph1

>I was a huge non beleaver in steel frames.
> I had been riding the high tech alum whatever is hot bike my entire
> life, now in my mid forties.
> I rode those old steel frames as a kid so I guess I have now come
> full circle. I put a uo-8, uo-9 and then a Peugeot touring frame together and
> I love to ride these steel frames, they are awesome.
> I have the light alum frames for the wide open spaces, but
> they do not compare to the feel of steel.
> Besides newer materials Frames haven't changed much
> since the 70's, geometry and all.
> With some alloy componenetry on a steel frame (unless it is a
> Schwinn anchor) they can get pretty light.
> It takes someone who can appreciate these
> to buy them, there is a huge undercurrent that does. And the
> older they get the fewer that are out there which are not covered
> in rust.

luker

dude. ee cummings ain't got nothin' on you.

And...we need to see pictures of that '30's Schwinn!

number6

More votes for the LeJeune, I own four. My best all around performer, next to... I won't hurt the other 20's feelings.