orcas island 

I just bought an early Motobecane Grand Jubilee on the 'Bay for my wife. The original owner didn't know many specifics about the bike, and I'm hoping that some of you Moto-philes can help me out. Sorry I don't have any photos, but he says it was purchased new in 1970. Silver and red color scheme, Stronglight 93 crank, Huret derailleurs front and rear, what appear to be Weinmann centerpull brakes. Would this frame be partial 531, full 531, or Vitus tubing? I'm assuming 27' rims rather than 700c? Any recommendations for new tires for this bike? How wide am I likely to be able to go with the tires here? I'm thinking of replacing the drop bar with something more upright to make it something a bit more of a comfortable bike for my wife. Trying to get her re-involved in cycling. Thanks in advance!

verktyg 

A lot of people have poor memories when it comes to what year they bought a bike. Maybe it was a sign of the times... SSSSssssT!

The Grand Jubile came out in mid 1973 in France in conjunction with Huret Jubilee derailleurs. The first bikes were called "Grand Jubilee". They didn't come into the US until 1974.

This link takes you to a 1974 Bicycling Magazine 2 page review:

<---------- Bike World 05-1974 ----------> Motobecane Grand Jubile


They came in 3 color combos: silver with red lugs, silver with black lugs and metallic red with black lugs. The cranks are Stronglight 49 not 93. The early Grand Jubiles had short arm Huret Jubilee derailleurs then they switched to the long arm touring version.

In late 1975 Motobecane started changing from French components to Japanese - likely due to delivery problems plus Suntour had a better reputation in the US than french brands. For a while they were coming from the US importer both ways.

The derailleurs changed from Huret to Suntour with the long arm version rear derailleurs. The cranks changed from forged alloy Stronglight 49 to "melt forged" (cast aluminum) SR cranks with Motobecane logos on the arms.

From 1973 through 1976 the frames were made with butted Reynolds 531 3 main tubes and carbon steel forks and stays, Even though they were not all Reynolds 531 tubing, they were nice riding bikes. Later they were made with a variety of tubes. My 1980 Grand Jubilee is all Vitus 172 tubing.


The US bikes had 27" wheels, the European bikes had 700c wheels. Panaracer Pasella tires com in 27 x 1 1/4 size which is a 32mm cross section. They're smooth riding inexpensive and easily available.

1974 Catalog



1975 Catalog



1976 Catalog




verktyg

Chas.

orcas island 

Thanks, Chas! As usual, you are a font of information. Great link to the test ride article. You are right about the seller's memory; I've been doing a little research on the forum and my money is on it being a 1974. It does appear to be a Model 49 crank, rather than a 93; the seller's photos were so grainy and distant it was hard to tell much from the ad. Really looking forward to the bike's arrival! I will post photos when it shows up...

CliffordK

Mom has a Mixte that I think is one of the Grand Jubilees. It is a nice bike. Very light for the women's Mixte.

Did you get the Men's or Women's style?

orcas island 

It is a Men's style bike; looks to be the smallest frame they offered at the time (21"). I'd imagine that the mixte models would be about as rare as hens teeth!

Velocivixen

Here's my 1974-1975 Moto Grand Jubile. I've added a Nitto Technomic stem (sanded to 22.0), VO Porteur bars with VO City Brake levers, Suntour thumb shifters and Dimensions Cork/rubber blend grips. Had to get new VO French threaded bottom bracket and some VO cranks. Went with MKS Sylvan Touring pedals, VO hammered fenders. Wheels custom made switched to 700C with Paselas.



Original stickers indicated Reynolds 531, but were coming off, so not sure if just main tubes or ???

Anyway, it rides great. Have fun and please detail your work on it.

eschlwc

they did offer them, i'm guessing in a 531 frame. it's gotta be worth a great deal. maybe close to $1k?

verktyg 

In 1974 Reynolds changed their decals. They added a gold address box at the bottom of the frame decals and top of the fork decals.

Pre 1974 French frame decal - 3 TUBES RENFORCE indicating the 3 main tubes were butted Reynolds 531.



1974 and later French frame decal - 3 TUBES RENFORCE



Cyclomondo in Australia has these Reynolds decals. They're about $10.00 USD each.

CYCLOMONDO - Reynolds frame and fork decals

verktyg

Chas.

verktyg 

Motobecane Grand Jubile mixties periodically show up on eBay. They were first shown in the 1975 catalog and were made in 19 1/2" and 21" frame sizes (50cm and 53cm). They weren't in the 1976 catalog but were offered in the late 70s with slight different specs.

I Imagine that only the down tube and seat tube were butted Reynolds 531 tubing the rest of it was probably straight gage seamed carbon steel tubing.

I've seen them listed on eBay for $400 to $700.



verktyg

Chas.

eschlwc

^ yeah, i've never seen a 531 moto mixte, and $400 sounds like a steal.

my '80 jubilé is made with vitus 172, which feels every bit as light and maybe even more lively than my 531 grand record.

'80 was the year moto introduced 126mm spacing to the jubilé, which is nice.

rootboy 

OK. Cognoscente. I note the Huret catalogs all show the name of the derailleur as "Jubilee", and Motobecane called their bike "Jubile".
I wonder if there was some sort of copyright issue, or Moto just used their own iteration of the name.

Also, I can think of only one other bike that came stock with Jubilee derailleurs. The Raleigh Competition. There must have been more, eh?

big chainring 

Its a Grand Jubile'. One of them fancy accent marks over the e. Peoples that speak merican dont use no fancy accent marks or them double dot dohicky things over dare vowels.

I have a 59cm GJ frame no parts on it, red / black, for sale. Cheap, PM me if interested.

eschlwc

depends on the year.



looks like post '81 bikes have the second 'e.' my '80 has only one with accent (jubilé).

repechage

My comment to the above is that I purchased a GJ frame set, silver with red and Prugnaut lugs that takes a 26.6 mm seatpost, as the seat tube still has the original paint inside visible... No one has reamed it. Thinner tubing than I expected.

rootboy 

Interesting, as it looks by that time they had ditched the Huret derailleurs.

eschlwc

looks like they made the switch to suntour cyclone in '76.

orcas island 

Velovixen - your Moto is a beauty! I'm hoping I can clean my wife's up to something approaching that once it arrives. Nice build too; I'm hoping to do something similar with the bars and controls. How do you like the Porteur bars on the 21" frame; enough clearance for knees, etc...?

bibliobob

Great looking set up, Velocivixen. The GJ is one of the nicest riding bikes that I've ever had. Unfortunately, I fall between their sizes. I picked up a 24" Grand Record frame set, and hope that it rides just as nicely. I'll run it with fat tubulars and a TA crank with gearing for hills....

Velocivixen

I don't have problems with my knees, however I had added VO half toe clips to the pedals and under certain conditions I had minor toe overlap, so took them off. When I bought the bike someone had already "upgraded" to 700c wheels as well as Shimano shifters & derailleurs. I found a damaged frame Moto for $10, took all the parts off & gave the frame to the coop for scrap. So the front & rear derailleurs on mine are at Least Huret, but not Jubile models.

rootboy 

And then to Campagnolo, apparently.

jimmuller 

Would that not have been called the Grand Record?

Lascauxcaveman 

Jubilee is how English speaking people spell the French word jubilé. I don't know if Motobecane marketed the same model in Italy as the Grande Giubileo, but it would be cool if they did. And it would be lovely to be touring the hills of Bavaria on your Großartiges Jubiläum, although the name doesn't quite roll quite so nicely off the tongue.

Jseis 

My '73 GJ as purchased new by me winter of 73-74 is dead on to the component discussion above including 3 main tubes 531, Stronglight 49D crank & comp headset, Normandy hubs, Wienman rims, levers, center pulls, Jubilee D's, Ideale Saddle, Pivo Randoneur bars. One odd thing...Campy rear dropouts. Of course....42 years laters...sorta modified. There's a pic in my album. The mods are C&V now! including Avocet (Omfega) hubs, Suntour bar ends, MaFac canti's, Wheelsmith gentleman comp wheel set. A great smooth ride.

oddjob2

Good to know, thanks. I have one hanging up at my parents house! Black and red. Bought it at the Joisey shore, from one of those flippers with a chain link fence and a beware of dog sign.

CliffordK

I think manufactures often like "foreign" sounding words as part of their names, so there is no need to translate.

For example, I ride a "Colnago Super" which was an Italian model (bought in Italy). And, don't forget the Colnago Mexico.