acoffin 

I picked up this early 70's Le Champion at the regional swap meet today for a very fair price. I have always liked the blue with white accent color scheme of these, so it will be a fun build. Besides, I have been missing my Grand Record since I sold it last summer. My apologies for the crappy lighting, it has been nothing but clouds and rain here today.



Can any Motobecane experts give me some more information on the year and model? All I think I know is it's pre 74 based on the head badge and older italic like script on the down tube.

Do these have the same geometry as a Grand Record?

Were these sold as frame sets or complete bikes?

I'll take my time with this and build it as the parts come my way at reasonable prices. In the mean time I will have to decide how much patina I want to retain.

OldsCOOL

Nice find!

crank_addict

Looks super Anthony!
Smashing 70's color too. Probably right on being pre-74 (guessing '72 or '73). Download brochures available. Will share the links if I can only find them again..oops. My original '72 is all Campagnolo Nuovo Record der., hubs, seat post and h.set, Stronglight 93 crank, Lyotard pedals, 3ttt Record stem, Mafac Comp brakes, Campagnolo cable guides. Unknown brand bar. Unsure what the original BB was (mine is a replacement) but is Swiss threaded.

Not 100% positive, but believe the '73 MY is the same but the brochure mentions Universal centerpulls.

Paint on mine is original lacquer with clear top coat. In my case, suffers shrinkage and cracking (hah). The clear was atrocious especially on the chrome. Had to remove the clearcoat off the chrome but left in on the painted area. Waxed only.

bumbles

Nice snatch. At least one of us came home from that swap today with more than some bar tape

The paint has good potential. Have you considered polishing it with something like Meguires Ultimate Compound and then just waxing it?

eschlwc

here's some of the (c-c) geometry of my '76 grand record (in cm).
st: 56
tt: 58
chain stays: 42

kroozer 

I have one just like that, I'm pretty sure it's from 1971-73. Mine has a 58cm c-t seat tube with a relatively short 55cm c-c top tube. I'm not sure how that compares to the Grand Record, but my 1975 58cm Grand Jubile has a much longer 57cm top tube. The geometry is fairly relaxed compared to later racers but was typical for the early 70's.
They were sold as complete bikes and were the top-of-the-line model for the US market at that time. Original configuration was:
Reynolds 531 db throughout
26.6 alloy seat pin
3ttt bars & stem 22.0
Universal 61 brakes
Stronglight Competition headset
Stronglight BB French thread
Stronglight 93 cranks
Lyotard 65 pedals
Campagnolo Nuovo Record derailleurs
Campagnolo Tipo hubs
Mavic tubular rims

crank_addict

'72 / 73 LeChampion frame having a 55cm t.t. and 58cm seat tube
100cm wheelbase
head tube angle 74 degrees
seat tube angle 73 degrees
chain stay length 43cm
fork rake 53mm

kroozer 

A 74° head tube angle seems too steep, mine seems more laid-back, like 72° or maybe 73°. Either way, it's a great base for a sport tourer, with fender eyelets and huge tire/fender clearances. You'll need a long-reach brake for the rear such as a Weinmann 750, Mafac Racer, or the rear (extra long) unit of a Universal 61 or 68.

CV-6 

Congrats on a nice find. Refinish or keep the patina? There does seem to be quite a bit of patina, though.

kroozer 

Here's mine, refinished and set up as a sport tourer.

crank_addict

kroozer- Terrific looking machine! Paint looks excellent.
Anyhow, they are on the steeper h.t. angle and as noted in a period road test review. Some might heed caution in toe overlap. Apparently were considered the 'all-rounder' high performance of the day. Some used as a sporty tour and others raced. I've yet to fully complete mine and really can't comment on its handling. I'm looking forward to it mostly as a light tour / gravel grinder, will be traveling with it so switched to a clincher rim. Convenience for two types of tires (cross type and perf. road).

jeirvine 

Nice find, and thanks for the catalog pages. My '73 Grand Record does indeed have close tolerances on toe clearance. Wonder if the geometry is the same?

acoffin 

Thanks for the comments, everyone. I would really like to touch the paint up, but being two stage blue over silver that might be close to impossible to match. One thing is for sure, there is rust that needs to be addressed while I decide what to do about the finish. If I were to do a full on restoration then I have to spend even more money on well cared for vintage components. Maybe I'll just go the "rat rod" route and ride it with spots of primer.

acoffin 

That is the same way my 72 Grand Record was, and the seat tube and top tube measurements from that bike are the same as this one. It all leads me to suspect that the geometries could be the same.

eschlwc

if one exists, i would try to find a perfect french or italian cycling decal for that spot on the top tube. you can't really fill that with paint.

acoffin 

Interesting thing about that spot. It is silver paint. I thought it was bare metal when I first looked at it, then I realized it was what makes the blue look pearlescent. The darker colored (rust) spots are where there is no paint. I am thinking that maybe I will meet someone who is really good at duplicating color and touching up with an airbrush. That would probably be the best solution for covering up the big spot on the top tube.

verktyg 

Greetings,

Your frame is probably a 1970 to 1972 model. They came in teal with cream colored lugs and blue with white lugs. The paint was called "flamboyant" (or candy apple) which was a tinted clear lacquer on top of a silver, white or gold base color. These paint jobs tended to fade easily, especially on Gitanes. Motos were better.

Teal color Le Champion



The black and red bikes dated to 1972. Read Richard Jow's very subjective 1973 review with a critical eye (I have a 1972 Le Champion - I don't know what he used for his measurements?). In 1972 the geometry on the Le Champion bikes changed to a more competitive design like Italian racing bikes from that era.

My 1972 Le Champion - eBay picture as purchased note 57cm top tube and shorter fork rake than in the 1970-72 catalog photo.



The earlier models had more relaxed geometries and longer fork rakes in the mold of classic French road racing bikes from the 1960s to early 70s.

1970-72 Motobecane Catalog



1970-1972 Spec Sheet



Should make a nice riding bike. Some clean up and very light polishing should bring out the patina. You can get replacement decals from cyclomondo on eBay or his website cyclomondo.com


verktyg

Chas.

SJX426 

@verktyg That first picture is mine! More here. @kroozer nailed the spec.

Unfortunately mine was victim of a car pulling in front of it when it was hauling its owner to work at 21 MPH. I don't think I put over 1000 miles on the bike before the accident. The parts are nearly pristine.

Yes the paint is a candy version and is stunning to see along with the detail of the gold accents. It was a good ride but not anywhere near like the Colnago that replaced it. The non French parts were loaded on a Trek 610 for kicks and trial run of the frame before painting.

I have looked for a replacement but have not found one in good enough condition and low enough price. Since the accident, the prices have gone up significantly. It may be a keeper. I still have the frame and fork.

eschlwc

airbrushing that spot sounds like an interesting solution and one i've never heard of before. i wish you the best.

- moto lover

rootboy 

An airbrush would be the proper tool for a bare patch that large. I have a good one, and know how to use it. But it would still be a daunting task, I think. Requires careful "vignette" masking, and a deft touch. Plus some tricky blending and, especially, color matching skills. Could be done though.

icepick_trotsky 

Beautiful frame. I saw that one, too. That seller had a lot of nice, reasonably priced frames. I'm kicking myself for not pulling the trigger on this King of Mercia in my size from another vendor.

inkandsilver

That's lovely, Anthony! I can't wait to see it built up.

rootboy 

That is a nice frame, Acoffin. Scars and all. Always liked the looks of those blue and white ones.

acoffin 

Yeah, I get excited when I first saw that, but quickly realized it was too small. I have the card from that booth. If you want to get in touch with them just drop me a pm.

The booth I purchased my frame from sold a nice complete Bates. I wonder if the buyer is a forum member?

icepick_trotsky 

I got got his card, too, thanks. He also had some really nice components at reasonable prices, too. I got some hubs and pedals.