I ended up buying one of the Motobecane Jubilee Deluxe bikes. I was looking for a more upright bike than my old Jamis Coda due to some back and neck problems I've been having. I'm not unhappy with it although I see I paid Bikes Direct more than you did. Mine was $400. The bike seems to be pretty well made, but I don't think it's an exceptional deal at that price. The nostalgia factor is there--although who knows what Motobecane would be making now if they were still a real live going concern. I call this bike my "Psuedo"becane. I'm a graphic designer, and i think whoever did the graphics for the "new" Motobecane were pretty sensitive to the old corporate image.

I ended putting some wider rat-trap pedals on mine--the pedals that came with the bike just aren't sufficiently wide for the shoes I wear to work. By the time i put the pedals on, a bike rack, and the requisite fenders (this bikes suspension front fork DOES NOT have eyelets for fenders--this really should be on a bike sold in the comfort class).

Would i do this again--buying from Bikes Direct rather than my LBS? Probably not. Even though my local bike shops in Iowa City are not the most pleasant places to do business. This was a novelty item for me--i rode original Motos back in the 70s and early 80s.