wildjim

2006 Motobecane Messenger

What are your thoughts about the bicycle listed below?

Here is some additional specifications from the vendor as I asked about 52cm and 54cm sizes.

52cm has 90mm stem and 540mm top tube

54cm has 100mm stem and 550mm top tube


https://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll...DME:B:AAQ:US:1

Trike

looks great for the money!
+ lifetime warranty its hard to beat.
go for it!

dutret

it is most definetly not a track bike if thats what you want. Its probably nicer for around town then one though and the price is right. It would be nice if they where specific about the componentry.

wildjim

I purchased a Motobecane Fantom Cross bicycle from this vendor earlier this year and it was delivered fast and in perfect order. Also this bicycle performs perfectly and appears to be the same as the Fuji Cross Comp for better or worse.

I am considering another Bianchi Pista but the Motobecane Messenger seems as nice and less expensive; maybe a better deal. My concern is to get the proper size.

zelah

check out the Mercier fixed gears she sells, my friend just bought one without realizing i have the exact same one. we also have matching chromes (another accident)

wildjim

Here is some additional specifications from the vendor as I asked about 52cm and 54cm sizes.

52cm has 90mm stem and 540mm top tube

54cm has 100mm stem and 550mm top tube

Conventional style frame with track frame geometry.

flexo

what does that mean ?

CBBaron

This is the same ebay seller that was/is selling the Mercier Kilo TT. This appears to be a simliar deal except for $40 more than the Mercier you get brakes, levers and a free wheel. Geometry maybe a little more roadish as opposed to trackish but its hard to tell and there are no specs listed. I'm sure the components are all noname as is the one on the Mercier so component wise there's not much the seller can say.
Craig

wildjim

My concept of track geometry is that it's a bit tighter than a road bicycle and that is what I was trying to indicate for sizing purposes.

flexo

right so i dont get why it is 'conventional style' and also 'track frame'. it looks more like road geometry to me, but with no actual geometry chart it is hard to confirm. looks like a good deal, though i imagine some components will need replacing/upgrading before too long, as it is with economy bike packages.

dutret

it really doesn't look like track geometry but it may be a bad picture. The seat tube looks too relaxed and the top tube too long. Is that top tube length actual or virtual. Can you get the full specs on the geometry I'm curious now.

wildjim

I could say that it is not a compact "sloping" frame style yet "may" have a tighter track frame geometry; which is what I tried to indicate. . .

flexo

thx for clarifying, i get your point.

wildjim

It is actual with the additional stem length.

The full specifications are not available on the Motobecane website yet.

It is an interesting alternative to the Bianchi Pista that I was considering.

flexo

definitely better deal than the Pista, right? components are probably comparable, plus you get a lot of extras (brakes, freewheel) if you need/want them. in any event, its cheaper. ive always had a soft spot for motobecane, id probably pick this one up if i wasnt building something up right now. though i would need more geometry specifics, as my limited experience with fixed gear has taught me that frame fit is even more important for a comfortable ride when you are so connected to the bike as you are with a fixed.

wildjim

With the included brake setup and dual cogs it seems to be a great singlespeed bicycle for city cycling.

jessefive

For that price, it looks like a pretty decent bike. Even with shipping, its less that the Fuji track my friend just bought. And the geometry looks pretty similar. Tracklike or roadlike or whatever....

Besides, Motobecanes are awesome...

crust & crumb

motobecane decals on taiwanese frames are awesome, you mean.

jessefive

Come on, this is America. The brand name is all that matters. Ignorance is bliss...

filtersweep

What exactly does motobecane mean these days? The brand isn't even a shadow of its former self- that is NOT to say this isn't an incredible deal.

weed eater

from the Harris page on French bike mfrs.

Motobécane
One of the largest manufacturers of bicycles and motorcycles.
"Moto" is French for motorcycle; "bécane" is French for "bike".
After bankruptcy, the company was reconstituted as MBK (pronounced "em-bay-kah.")
The Motobécane trademark has been revived, but the current production "Motos" from the far east have no connection with France aside from the name.

==

I admit to a soft spot for Motobécanes as well. they could have hired a better typographer for the reviving, though. Jeez. Bad type on supposedly French bikes seems self-defeating.

weed eater

p.s. that said it does seem like a good off-the-shelf entry level bike. I like the fact that it includes a freewheel as well as 2 brakes. one without the other is just silly.

53-11_alltheway

It could very well have track geometry (steep seat tube angle and long top tube, high BB).

A lot frames being sold as track bikes (IRO frames for example ) are in fact more "road" like in the rider positioning than track.

I'd consider this bike (mainly because I want something with 120mm drop-outs so I can use genuine track parts with it)

They hype up the Motobecane name, but we all know this is a different company that just bought the rights to use the name.

So there is a mercier version too?

mikdes

I like the orange one.

53-11_alltheway

I did a search and the mercier is supposed to be a rebadged KHS 100. Someone claims this Motobecane is a Fuji Track rebadged.

Motobecane sold a bike called the "Le Champion" that was a rebadged 05 Fuji Team Super light so this might be true.

Notice bikestirect sells Fuji as well.

If you are someone who doesn't care about the branding this could be a great deal.