Originally Posted by
get low
Does anyone have a definitive answer on a model or year? It looks like Mirages arent mixte frames?
Also as a point of comparison.. would you guys say it is better or not as good a bike as a Schwinn Varsity
Year: The closest I can get, based on the round headbadge and the winged M on the seat tube, is somewhere from 1973 to 1976. My guess is 1976, but it's just a semi-educated guess.
if you want to be certain, you will have to date it by the SunTour, DiaCompe, and Weinmann date codes, available at
Vintage Trek's Component Dates Page.
Model: Almost certainly a Mirage (and yes, Mirages are available in mixte frames.).
Preference: I'd take a Mirage over a Varsity any day. That's just my personal preference. I think that the Mirage is probably lighter, and it's also French, vintage, and classic. Can't beat that for style, even if it is at the lower end of the Motobecane lineup.