I have recently purchased a new (old) Motobecane frame. As you can see in some photos, it had Italian Columbus stickers, which were obviously fake (and the seller was upfront about that). According to the seller, the frame is Reynolds 531. He bought the bicycle 10 years ago, so I'm guessing that's what he has been told by the previous owner (and not much else). I have no idea if it's 3 R531 tubes or 9 and can't see any obvious markings. I also don't know what Motobecane model or year it is, so I'm hoping the wealth of knowledge of this forum members will be able to fit the gaps. Any help will be much appreciated
So, let's start with things I know.
1. Head badge seems to be original to the bike. Haven't removed it yet (I've built a bicycle on the frame the day I received it to be able to do work on my previous one and still have something to ride on), but it looks as legit as any I've seen so far. As far as I know, this type of head badge was used from 1978 onwards (no idea if they stopped using it at some point, judging by the catalogues they kept using this one until the bitter end in 1984).
2. Headset is a mash-up of Motobecane's cones with Stronglight V4 Competition locknut. So I'm guessing it was Motobecane one originally and the old locknut got damaged or was looking natty (Stronglight one is in a very good condition). In itself, it's not that important, but I think it would suggest it was a bicycle for the domestic market possibly?
The reason I'm thinking that is the lugs (Bocama Professional cut-out?), which suggest higher tier model (they used simpler lugs on mid range and lower end) and that would mean either Shimano or Campagnolo headset. Then again, the whole headset doesn't have to be original to the bike.
3. Lugs look like Bocama Professional with cut outs. I understand Motobecane used Nervex lugs in early - mid 70's and in late 70's they used non-cut out ones for lower end / mid range models and cut-out ones for higher end of their range. This would point to a Grand Jubilee, Grand Record, Le Champion or Team Champion range of the bicycle (or C range in continental Europe)
4. First thing that puzzles me. Ending of seat stays, sort of wrapped around the seat tube lug. Not completely, just a bit. I think this would rule out Team Champion (which is fine, these are great bicycles anyway)
5. Second thing that puzzles me is a seat stay bridge. It's sort of plain. Again, that would seem to rule out Team Champion.
6. Speaking of seat stays, there is no brazed on chain holder (???) and no sign it was damaged or removed.
7. Next puzzling thing. Mudguard eyelets on chain stays and font fork. Surely they wouldn't put them on Team Champion on Le Champion (racing models). Did they put them on Grand Record or do these mean I have Grand Jubilee or European equivalent?
8. Bottom bracket shell had originally two cable guides brazed onto it (one is missing).
9. It has several holes at the bottom, these look like they were there from new. Though the bottom bracket itself (aluminium protective shell) had indents (maybe 0.5mm deep and concave) in corresponding areas looking like someone did use a drill.
10. No braze on bosses for shifters (so needs clamp-on downtube shifters)
11. Paint is genuine (not sure if inside the lug cut-outs and on the BB shell as well)
12. Rear brake cable guides are braze-on.
13. Seat post appears to be 26.8mm
14. Dropouts are Huret
The date might be sorted. I had a closer look at the bottom bracket and there is J?9 stamped in there. This might not correspond with anything at all, but could it mean it was assembled in 1979?