My GR, which I believe to be a '74, has that '3 main tubes' decal, but also a 531 fork. However the MB catalogs in the early 70s list the GR frame as having 'Reynolds 531 tubing' that year, then in 1975 '531 tubing
throughout' and so on, probably until the tubing changed to Vitus. The Le Champion of 1974 has that 'throughout' note as well. So it could be the decals are (more or less) right.
Anyway, back to Steve's velo-mystere, the 531 tubing indicates a high quality bike, and I bet someone is going to ID the headbadge. There's obviously a gear in the lower center--but I don't think it's a Miyata!
Going through that vertically appears to be a caduceus. And I think I can make out a letter or two above it. I'll be back, as this gives me an idea.
Originally Posted by
verktyg
I've seen quite a few all Reynolds 531 Motobecane frames with Reynolds decals on the forks but CONSTRUIT AVEC 3 TUBES RENFORCES decals on the frames (indicating that only the 3 Main Tubes are Reynolds 531).
These were post 1974 through early 1980s bikes with the gold band at the bottom of the decal.
My 1977 Le Champion and my 1982 Grand Record are that way.
Le Champion
Grand Record
I suspect that either Motobecane ran out of all Reynolds decals or the were too frugal (cheap is such an ugly word) to get the correct French decals from Reynolds!
verktyg
Chas.