girlyman

I posted this question in the road cycling forum befor I saw this forum. My 1st roadbike was a motobecane from around 1980. I didn't know anything about bikes back then so I couldn't say what model it was or even what components were on the bike. All I know is I walked into my LBS and asked for the best bike I could get for $700. Was that alot of money for a bike back then? Any ideas on what model it might have been. The reason I'm asking is I really loved that bike and I think it would be cool to find another one to restore.

ollo_ollo

Possibly a Grand Jubile or Grand Record? Somebody may have an ad from back then

Mhendricks

Go to this link.

https://www.classicrendezvous.com/France/France.html

Blue Order

$700 in 1980 would be equivalent to $1778 in 2005. You can read the 1980 Bicycling buyers' guide to get an idea of which Motobecane models were priced in that range. What's puzzling me is how you can say "I really loved that bike" and also say "I couldn't say what model it was." A bike you really loved, and presumably rode often, and you didn't even notice the model name silkscreened on the top tube? Seems a bit far-fetched to me.

girlyman

Geez, go easy on me. If I remembered the model name and components I wouldn't have posted this question. That was 25 years ago. And lets face it I was, shall we say, kind of a party animal in my youth. I'm lucky I remembered where I lived sometimes back then.

Blue Order

I looked at the 1980 Bicycling issues today, but they were'nt doing their buyer's Guide yet in 1980, so it's guesswork as to which model you had. The top 3 Motobecanes were the Team Champion, followed by the Le Champion, followed by the Grand Record. I'd ask you what color your Moto was, because that would help sort it out, but being a party animal, you prolly don't remember...

Motobecane also had an aluminum bike in the early eighties, the Prolight, but I'm not sure which year that was introduced.

stronglight

Seriously, This has to be the most fun of any inquiry I've seen lately... [Honestly, No offense].

Hmmmm, don't remember the model... or components... this is really going to push everyone's Bicycle Detective skills to the limit. A good challenge.

Actually, I had picked up a Frejus a while back and just out of curiosity, I looked up the name of the shop whos decal was still on the bike. Surprisingly, the shop was still in Denver, and the same store owner. He remembered the bike's model and original components just from the color combo I described over the phone... after 36 years!

So... Might you... uh... remember the color(s)?... Maybe?... Please?... [Whoah, Dude, that was some reeeaally goooood acid...}

I'll see if I can dig up a few old catalogs.

girlyman

Yeah yeah take your best shots. I probably deserve it. I believe it was black possibbly with red logos.

Blue Order

If it was black, chances are it was a Grand Record. Did it have fancy lugs or plain lugs (ah, who am I kidding. )...

Blue Order

Classic Rendezvous has a Motobecane page with pics of the Team Champion and the Grand Record. Check out the Nervex lugs on the Grand Record. If your Motobecane had those fancy lugs, and it was black, I'd say you had a Grand Record.

CV-6 

My thought also, but he dates it as 1980 and the GR did not look like that then. No telling what he has w/o more info.

girlyman

Whats a lug?....Just kidding

olderlearner

I am just finishing a restoration project on my old Motobecane, a Grand Record from 1973. It cost less than your $700, but has some very nice features. The grand record had vervex lubs, some campy parts, but Pivo stem, no name seat post. Campy NR changers. Mine is looking good. I was standing on the curb in front of my house, holding the newly painted frame in one hand, and a car drove by, stopped, and the two 20 something inside wanted to know what I wanted for the frame. That was a boost in my wife's impression of the bike.

ollo_ollo

My wife is somewhat annoyed at the number of sweet young things that "hit" on my candy red Grand Jubile! Not sure if its the Nervex lugs or the color but they frequently come up to ask about it, admire it, touch it etc!

olderlearner

Some pics of my Grand Record are located at my blog, Patent Pending Blog

https://patentpending.blogs.com