Can you ID this old motobecane?
 

Time is of the essence. He said it was shimano drivetrain, it was french made, and that it was lightweight competition bike.

http://i673.photobucket.com/albums/v...Motobecane.jpg

If you know the bike, could you give your opinion on if it is a decent bike, and how much it is worth please?

The picture's too small and it's not blowing up.

Ask him what kind of tubing the frame is made of and what type of components including wheels it has.

Also make sure it's a good fit for you or else you'll hate it.

I tried, the guy doesnt know anything about it.
The only way I can look at it is by driving an hour and a half, which isn't really an option.

He doesn't even know the size, except that it is a larger size.
I'm 6 foot, and the picture looks about right.

Few if any sellers know anything about their bikes, and cannot use a tape measure either. Sometimes this can lead to a really good deal, other times, its just frustrating. I picked up three bikes last weekend: two were 22 inch frame size, the other was a 24 inch frame size. Seller insisted they were all "27 inch" frame size bikes.... Typical.

Shimano drive train means nothing as well. Almost every bike at Walmart has a Shimano drivetrain. Shimano made good stuff, and they made cheap stuff. Its all about what model Shimano.

I try to get as much out of them as I can, even if I have to respectfully suggest instructions for measuring the frame, and I also ask what it says on the components rather than what type are they.

Frankly, it looks OK, you probably would do fine if 1. it wasn't broken, and 2. if it fit you. You just got to get the size.

It's impossible to tell what the bike is by the photo. It's either an 80's or early 90's Motobecane road model, but the seller's description is scant, and the non-driveside blurry photo doesn't give us much to go on.

That said, if it doesn't say Shimano 105, 600, or Dura Ace on the Cranks and deraileurs, it's probably not worth your time. I'd say anything over $200 you shouldn't even bother with. A Dura Ace or 600-equipped bike in spectacular condition for under $200 might be a good deal - it really depends on the bike itself. Any rust, dents, or dings in the frame, TAKE YOUR MONEY ELSEWHERE.

I love non-drive-side photos!

And *tiny* non-drive side pictures are even more special. :bang:

Weren't Motos being made in Taiwan by this time? I agree with Maddox about the 1990-ish vintage (based on the fade paint job), and if that's the case $200 if it's in great shape, and your size, seems about right.

Not sure about the model (other than that it is late 80s-90s, as other have said), but the frame size does not look that large to me. If you are 6", it might be too small.

Too small for someone 6' tall. Move on.

I am not saying the bike is a good fit, only that I wouldn't rule it out without getting better measurements.

See if you can get the guy to tell you if it's a 56 or a 58. A 58 would be on the lower side of OK.

I did some online fit calculators and they seem to support my preference for 57-58cm bikes, as a six footer. So apparently, I am not alone in thinking so.

BTW I don't know if moto went to an off-the-shelf Taiwan frame but traditionally, French bikes are longer for their height so it is good especially if you have shorter legs and a longer torso.

I have a Taiwan-built Motobecane made in 1981, so, yeah, they're definitely out there, but the Taiwan frames were nice lugged designs, albeit constructed of 2040 tubing. I'd be freaked out about the fact that this bike doesn't appear to have many of the original components, appears to have been repainted, and is probably going to be impossible to identify. Oh yeah, and I'd be willing to bet the frame is a 54.