Thread: Motobecane
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Old 02-27-06 | 09:24 PM
  #9  
Blue Order
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Joined: May 2005
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Originally Posted by Motofan
Who has reference materials, such as catalogs and owners manuals? I just finished scanning a 1977 owners manual, which I'll be posting soon.
I was about to say... But looks like you've got one.

Some things to think about:

1) There should be an attempt to sort out the various models, both in terms of their design (i.e., sport touring, racing, Mountain, etc.) and in terms of their place in the lineup (i.e., for racing bikes, a Team Champion would be positioned above a Le Champion, etc.). Additionally, if a model is a European model (i.e., like the Super Champion, which may be/probably is a European model), it should be catalogued as a European model.

2) There should be some discussion of frame materials, e.g., 531, Vitus 172 etc., Motolite, 2040, "Motobecane deluxe," etc.

3) Sorting out the various models as far as their place in the lineup may be difficult due to the fact that specs changed from year-to-year, and thus the quality of a particular model may have varied widely over the years. Perhaps it will be necessary to sort out the lineup not only by frame type, and hierarchy, but also by year.

Here's a list of models that I can come up with off the top of my head. There may be some missing models, so feel free to add to the list. In particular, I think there was a Mirage Sport, which I haven't listed, but I'm not sure, so I left it out for now. Also, I listed the Nomade as "Nomade I," (saw one downtown today) but don't remember if there was a Nomade II. And I could swear there were some more "Super" designations, but can't think of which bikes those might be. Anyway, if I've left something out, please add to the list.

Nomade I
Mirage
Super Mirage
Super Touring
Grand Touring
Sprint
Sprintour
Jubile
Jubile Sport
Grand Jubile
Grand Record
Super Champion
Le Champion
Team Champion
Prolight (aluminum frame)
Mt. Becane (mountain bike)
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