Calling all Motobecane fans
08-16-12, 01:13 PM
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Bikes: Raleigh triathlon 1985 (yellow), Raleigh Eclipse 89, Diamant .
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Calling all Motobecane fans
Comments removed thread restarted in C&V general forum.
Last edited by Anthoswart; 08-16-12 at 02:18 PM. Reason: Correction
08-16-12, 01:49 PM
#2
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Location: Chicago, the leafy NW side
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Bikes: 1974 Motobecane Grand Record, 1987 Miyata Pro, 1988 Bob Jackson Lady Mixte (wife's), others in the family
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Hi, Anthoswart:
I started a thread about my Grand Record with some of the same questions and thoughts as you:
https://www.bikeforums.net/showthread...ord?highlight=
We didn't get very far with the serial numbers though, and I think it's likely that there is no system to them at all.
You're right about the difference between the French and US/N-Am market bikes (and catalogs). It appears that the US importer, Ben Lawee, took a very strong hand in specifying what bikes he wanted for this market, going so far as to specify not just the components but the model names and color schemes, and the result was bikes that don't exactly correspond to anything offered in France. But we love 'em anyway.
BTW unless you have a specific value question, this thread belongs in the general C&V forum. Where it (and you) would be very welcome!
I started a thread about my Grand Record with some of the same questions and thoughts as you:
https://www.bikeforums.net/showthread...ord?highlight=
We didn't get very far with the serial numbers though, and I think it's likely that there is no system to them at all.
You're right about the difference between the French and US/N-Am market bikes (and catalogs). It appears that the US importer, Ben Lawee, took a very strong hand in specifying what bikes he wanted for this market, going so far as to specify not just the components but the model names and color schemes, and the result was bikes that don't exactly correspond to anything offered in France. But we love 'em anyway.
BTW unless you have a specific value question, this thread belongs in the general C&V forum. Where it (and you) would be very welcome!
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08-16-12, 02:17 PM
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Location: North Attleboro, MA
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Bikes: 2011 Steamroller; 1998 Cannondale F-400; 1981 Motobecane Jubilee Sport
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I have a 1981 Jubile Sport, that I bought off of a friend three years ago, and he had bought it brand new. He only rode it a couple of times, because he said "it was too much bike for him". It had less than 10 miles on it. I love that bike. It even came with the original brochure and owners manual from 1981.
I believe that was the last year that Motobecane manufactured bikes in France.
Off the top of my head, I can tell you a few things about it.
-The rims were steel Rigida rims. I destroyed one rim, due to a poorly marked construction area.
-The derailuer and shifter grouping at that point was Suntour. I WISH it was Shimano.
-Saddle is a Stella Italia with the classic 80's cheesy blue suede.
-The tires are gum walled Conti touring tires. They are great tires, there was not anything wrong with them, they still had the rubber tabs on them, and I still ride on them.
-The crankset was also Suntour.
-The pedals Christophe Specials, with toe clips and straps. I'm not a big fan of toe clips, but they are nice pedals.
-The stem is a one piece, quill stem. Unknown manufacturer.
-I have to check the manufacturer of the brakes, but they are centerpull cantilever brakes. Compared to modern brakes, their braking performance is horrifyingly bad.
-I also can't recall who the manufacturer of the handlebars, but they were big in the 70's and 80's. The angle of the drop is more aggressive than modern drop bars, which creates a really low tuck in the drops.
-My seatpost is also manufacturer unknown and it is a design I had never seen before. It has isn't a smooth cylinder like a traditional post, it has grooves or flutes around the circumerence. Not holes in the metal, more like channels.
I'd have to check my serial number.
I believe that was the last year that Motobecane manufactured bikes in France.
Off the top of my head, I can tell you a few things about it.
-The rims were steel Rigida rims. I destroyed one rim, due to a poorly marked construction area.
-The derailuer and shifter grouping at that point was Suntour. I WISH it was Shimano.
-Saddle is a Stella Italia with the classic 80's cheesy blue suede.
-The tires are gum walled Conti touring tires. They are great tires, there was not anything wrong with them, they still had the rubber tabs on them, and I still ride on them.
-The crankset was also Suntour.
-The pedals Christophe Specials, with toe clips and straps. I'm not a big fan of toe clips, but they are nice pedals.
-The stem is a one piece, quill stem. Unknown manufacturer.
-I have to check the manufacturer of the brakes, but they are centerpull cantilever brakes. Compared to modern brakes, their braking performance is horrifyingly bad.
-I also can't recall who the manufacturer of the handlebars, but they were big in the 70's and 80's. The angle of the drop is more aggressive than modern drop bars, which creates a really low tuck in the drops.
-My seatpost is also manufacturer unknown and it is a design I had never seen before. It has isn't a smooth cylinder like a traditional post, it has grooves or flutes around the circumerence. Not holes in the metal, more like channels.
I'd have to check my serial number.
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