Add me to the Motobecane Le Champion SL List...
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Just bought a Motobecane SL (with porn pics)...
NOTE: Before claiming I'm a shill, please look at my post count and/or do a search on my forum history.
Ok. I have been wanting to buy a new bike for about a year now. When I first got into cycling last summer I borrowed one of my dad's bikes (a Giant OCR1). At the end of the summer I bought an old Trek 5200 for $1000 on eBay with the idea that I wanted a decent bike but didn't want to buy a brand new Madone if my interest was going to wear off. In the last year I've upgraded the Trek somewhat but I always planned to buy a new bike if I was still "in to" cycling a full year later. Well, a year later I'm more interested in cycling than ever.
I really thought I'd buy a full carbon fiber bike--perhaps a Pedal Force or a top-of-the-line used Giant/Trek/Felt on eBay--and I've enjoyed lusting after all kinds of different bikes but at the end of the day I realized that I really want TWO bikes: a road bike and a TT bike. So rather than spend $2k-$3k on a road bike I decided to spend about half that on a road bike and put the rest toward a set of Mike Garcia wheels with a PowerTap SL. I'll buy a TT bike next summer if I'm still cycing a lot (gotta keep those carrots out there as motivation!!) and I can use the PowerTap on both bikes.
After looking at the Motobecane Le Champion SL for quite some time I finally took the plunge. I didn't think I'd buy an aluminum bike but the compact carbon crank, carbon fork, and optional full carbon bars seemed like enough carbon for my comfort and the amazingly light weight of the bike was a real bonus because my two most important events for the coming year are a couple of epic hilly century rides.
Anyway, the bike arrived last Wednesday and I completed the assembly myself (which means it's not too hard). I had already purchased and gotten used to a carbon fiber seatpost and a lightweight seat I got from Performance a few months ago so I moved those from the Trek to the Motobecane. Obviously I need to spend a few weeks/months with this bike before I'm absolutely positive it was a good buy but I've done rides of 35, 22, and 80 miles thus far and I'm extremely happy with the bike. Yesterday's 22 mile ride yielded a new best time for that course by nearly 1mph (yeah I know it's the placebo effect but still)!
As pictured, this bike is at least as comfortable as my Trek (which is old enough that it doesn't have a carbon fork) probably due to the fork and the extremely comfortable carbon bars. The bars are absolutely fabulous. It's a sweet bike at any price and an unbelievable value for the price.
Still to do:
- Put on my new Look Keo Carbon pedals when they arrive from probikekit.com.
- Swapt out the Ultegra 11-23 cassette with a DA 12-27 cassette I got a while back on eBay (less weight, better for monster hills)
- Swap the AC420 wheels with the Mike Garcia wheels and PowerTap SL (I already have these wheels but I didn't include them in the picture because my PT is being serviced right now due to having been caught in a horrific rain last week--by the time I made it home the water level on the side of the road was above the level of my pedals. I should have just called my wife for a ride home.)
- I might switch out the 110mm stem with a 120mm stem because the 58cm Motobecane has a top tube length that is a bit shorter than the 58cm Trek, but to be honest the bike is extremely comfortable as is.
--Steve
Oh yeah, I know I'm gonna get some "flip it" comments and I'll probably do that at some point but if you look you'll see that the drop from the seat to the tops of the bars is already significant (over 4 inches) due to the "ergonomic" slope on the carbon bars.
...
Ok. I have been wanting to buy a new bike for about a year now. When I first got into cycling last summer I borrowed one of my dad's bikes (a Giant OCR1). At the end of the summer I bought an old Trek 5200 for $1000 on eBay with the idea that I wanted a decent bike but didn't want to buy a brand new Madone if my interest was going to wear off. In the last year I've upgraded the Trek somewhat but I always planned to buy a new bike if I was still "in to" cycling a full year later. Well, a year later I'm more interested in cycling than ever.
I really thought I'd buy a full carbon fiber bike--perhaps a Pedal Force or a top-of-the-line used Giant/Trek/Felt on eBay--and I've enjoyed lusting after all kinds of different bikes but at the end of the day I realized that I really want TWO bikes: a road bike and a TT bike. So rather than spend $2k-$3k on a road bike I decided to spend about half that on a road bike and put the rest toward a set of Mike Garcia wheels with a PowerTap SL. I'll buy a TT bike next summer if I'm still cycing a lot (gotta keep those carrots out there as motivation!!) and I can use the PowerTap on both bikes.
After looking at the Motobecane Le Champion SL for quite some time I finally took the plunge. I didn't think I'd buy an aluminum bike but the compact carbon crank, carbon fork, and optional full carbon bars seemed like enough carbon for my comfort and the amazingly light weight of the bike was a real bonus because my two most important events for the coming year are a couple of epic hilly century rides.
Anyway, the bike arrived last Wednesday and I completed the assembly myself (which means it's not too hard). I had already purchased and gotten used to a carbon fiber seatpost and a lightweight seat I got from Performance a few months ago so I moved those from the Trek to the Motobecane. Obviously I need to spend a few weeks/months with this bike before I'm absolutely positive it was a good buy but I've done rides of 35, 22, and 80 miles thus far and I'm extremely happy with the bike. Yesterday's 22 mile ride yielded a new best time for that course by nearly 1mph (yeah I know it's the placebo effect but still)!
As pictured, this bike is at least as comfortable as my Trek (which is old enough that it doesn't have a carbon fork) probably due to the fork and the extremely comfortable carbon bars. The bars are absolutely fabulous. It's a sweet bike at any price and an unbelievable value for the price.
Still to do:
- Put on my new Look Keo Carbon pedals when they arrive from probikekit.com.
- Swapt out the Ultegra 11-23 cassette with a DA 12-27 cassette I got a while back on eBay (less weight, better for monster hills)
- Swap the AC420 wheels with the Mike Garcia wheels and PowerTap SL (I already have these wheels but I didn't include them in the picture because my PT is being serviced right now due to having been caught in a horrific rain last week--by the time I made it home the water level on the side of the road was above the level of my pedals. I should have just called my wife for a ride home.)
- I might switch out the 110mm stem with a 120mm stem because the 58cm Motobecane has a top tube length that is a bit shorter than the 58cm Trek, but to be honest the bike is extremely comfortable as is.
--Steve
Oh yeah, I know I'm gonna get some "flip it" comments and I'll probably do that at some point but if you look you'll see that the drop from the seat to the tops of the bars is already significant (over 4 inches) due to the "ergonomic" slope on the carbon bars.
...
Last edited by zimbo; 08-06-06 at 08:22 PM.
#2
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I have to admit, as soon as I saw these pics, I had to spring over to the thread Nemsis started, to check to see if they were the same pics. I remembered the Hardwood floors!
Congrats on the bike!
Congrats on the bike!
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Originally Posted by not2fast
I have to admit, as soon as I saw these pics, I had to spring over to the thread Nemsis started, to check to see if they were the same pics. I remembered the Hardwood floors!
--Steve
#4
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[Peter Griffin]Freakin' sweet!![/Peter Griffin]
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#5
Ride it like you stole it
DLH will have to add you to his list.
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The Reloutionaries @ Shapeways
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Originally Posted by zimbo
Look closely, though, and you'll see my Performance Forte seat and Forte bottle holders. There's also an August 2006 calendar on the wall (partially obscured by the bike).
--Steve
--Steve
#7
ONE DOWN, FIVE UP...
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That is a sweet bike, man! A great bike for a great price!!!
#8
It's not about the engine
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Those bars are very unusual. How do you like the design...it looks like it might not be comfortable with no tape and those finger grooves?
#9
Its Freakin HammerTime!!!
I like those bikes, alot of people knock them but hey, I ride a trek, they knock them too!
Haters!
lol, sweet ride!
Haters!
lol, sweet ride!
#10
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ive always thought about picking the dura ace version up because they go for a few hundred more than the group costs.. and those frames are so light.. rode the fuju team sl at the lbs and liked it a lot... it would make a good backup bike.
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#11
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Originally Posted by S_DOG34
Those bars are very unusual. How do you like the design...it looks like it might not be comfortable with no tape and those finger grooves?
--Steve
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I just put a 12/27 on my Le Champ Sat. and am very happy with the change, Performance had the Ultegra Cassette for $59 + 20% back so I took the plunge, I wasn't sure it was necessary but I am glad I did.
Oh, I also have the keo carbons and love them! much better on my knees than my speedplay x/5s...
Congrats on the new bike.
Oh, I also have the keo carbons and love them! much better on my knees than my speedplay x/5s...
Congrats on the new bike.
#13
Should be riding
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Written like a true shill!
Congrats on the bike.
Congrats on the bike.
#14
Used to be a climber..
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Nice bike...I like the American Classic wheels - will probably get a pair next year.
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Originally Posted by WheresWaldo
DLH will have to add you to his list.
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Keep us posted. These bikes are looking better and better to me all the time. Can't be worse than the 2001 Fastback I bought that I later found had been wrecked, beaten up, and generally mishandled.
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Nice bike, looks just like mine! I put Keo Carbons on mine as well and changed the bar tape to the Specialized Phat Gel Kit. Much more comfortable IMO. Other than that I love it. You'll be very happy with it.
#18
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I love those carbon bars, good call on getting those! I'd recommend putting better tires on there, while the stock ones are light, they aren't very puncture resistant.
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Looks nice! Any idea what it weighs? Those carbon bars are actually made by Token. They're sold under a number of brand names, including XRP and Winwood. I've heard they're some of the more comfortable flat top bars around....