Steve Whitlatch 

I do not know much about Motobecane bikes other than a lot of the members here have them. The ones I see on craigslist sell fast and are more than I can spend. I do not see many woman`s versions on Craigslist. I would like to know what model and year this one is and a value when cleaned up as I was planing on flipping it? I have no clue as to the quality of the components from its day either? Any info on this bike would be helpful.

Motobecane Made in France
The frame sticker says "2040 High Resiliency Tubing"
Suntour Power Shifters
Suntour Comp V Front
Suntour V-GT LUXE Rear
Rigida Superchromix 27 1 1/4 rims with Normandy Hubs
Weinmann 610 Vainqueur 999 Brakes
SP APEX - 5 Chain rings with Motobecane Crankarms

Steve Whitlatch 

The rear rack is marked Made by PLETSCHER Switzerland. Is that original to the bike as well?

oddjob2

Rack is a common add on. Likely a Mirage model, no chrome sox. Early 1980's with Japanese components. In pristine condition, with VG paint, during the warm months, i can sell them for mid $200's in NYC or Ann Arbor. Here is an older Mirage. FYI, the upright handlebars are more desirable, unless the targer buyer is a college coed.

Steve Whitlatch 

My paint is not perfect. I will need to remove some rust spots and do a bit of touch up then see what I have. The bike is full of spider webs and the rims have some surface rust that is not to bad. It will be fun bringing it back to life. Another project. The front fork has about 6 inches of Chrome that does not show well in my pictures. That one you posted looks perfect.

oddjob2

That is the post reconditioning photo.

If it has chrome, it may be a Super Mirage, not a lot of difference in spec or value.

Invest in a decent camera, at least spend $70 for something with a high range OPTICAL zoom. The photos of the Moto and Univega were shot with a Nikon DSLR, but
I have recently been using a cheap Olympus VR-320. This is a good deal on a better Olympus.

Steve Whitlatch 

[QUOTE=oddjob2;16328570]If it has chrome, it may be a Super Mirage, not a lot of difference in spec or value. Invest in a decent camera, at least spend $70 for something with a high range OPTICAL zoom.[/Q

My camera does not do so good with flash on. I can try it in the daylight tomorrow. I want better pictures for the before and after anyway. The camera has so many settings. I guess I should read the manual?

oddjob2

Photos, I always shoot outdoors, never indoors!

Steve Whitlatch 

Should I clean up the original wheels or throw on a set of alloy wheels? Will I get more return with alloy or original?

oddjob2

+1 Prior to the prospective buyer showing up, set up the selling event just right! Marketing a mixte for top dollar requires a little French cabaret music in the background, a tilted beret perched on your head, a pencil thin mustache, a French accent and of course a wicker basket on the bike with a bottle of Burgundy and a baguette half sticking out of the bag. A backdrop of 4-5 rare and exclusive other French bikes adds to the ambiance!

juls

op's mixte does not have a cottered crank/that's a plus in my book. The super mirage came with alloy wheels-just sayin.

Steve Whitlatch 

I will put on my most outrageous French accent when I sell it. I shall watch Monty Python shows over and over until I get it perfected. LOL

oddjob2

Monty Python is British! You need to watch/listen to Pink Panther movies with Peter Sellers or François Berléand in the Transporter series of movies.

But then, here is the most famous icon of French Olympians, triple gold medalist. and my personal favorite pitching Schwinns.

zukahn1 

Nice basic little mixte for selling I wouldn't change anything that isn't broke bad. The key with these type bikes is they need to be supper clean and ready to ride no visuble dirt or rust good basics tires(new cheap is better than used on this bike) grease cables nice barwrap. Your buyers will mostly be young women looking for a stylish functional bike so perfamance isn't a issue but anything not working quit right or that looks bad will likely be value deal killer.. As for the wheels try and cean them up if you can bring the chrome back and get rid of the rust keep if not probably go with the alloys. As for value nicely cleaned up without spending a lot of money just OK realy clean French Mixte ready to go mixte should get $175-200 in most markets which is more than most of these are actually worth. Also I would lose the rack since it doesn't properly fit the bike and hurt's the look.

Steve Whitlatch 

Thanks for all the advice. I lost the rack and cleaned it up a bit. The paint had so many small and medium scrapes and small rust spots that I had to do something. Striping the paint and powder coating was out of the question as the end value would be break even. I mixed some silver paint with white to get what looks like an exact match but you can still notice the touch up from certain angles and light. I am hoping that when I wax it, it will blend better. It looks much better than a bunch of small black spots.
I removed the rust from the wheels and polished them with a high speed wheel to an almost mint finish. I removed the rust from the pedals and gave them a good high speed polish as well. The brakes neck bars and seat post will also get a high speed polish.

The cranks and chain rings look like they are a satin alloy finish. Should I put a high speed polish on them and make them shine or leave them be? They have no scratches.

oddjob2

Mothers aluminum polish for the aluminum bits, including the cranks and brakes, rd, levers, quill stem.

Steve Whitlatch 

Works better than professional polishing wheels and compounds? I took all the rusted and corroded screws and nuts off the bike and derailleurs and put a factory fresh shine on them with my polishing wheels and compounds. It takes seconds.

Steve Whitlatch 

My side business is buying and selling used flatware. I can take scratched up beat 40 year old forks and make them look brand new. All you need is the bench grinder, polishing wheels and the right compounds. High speed finish.

oddjob2

I'm sure your approach is better. I have will have to give it a try.

Steve Whitlatch 

I was using Neverdull for the bits that are not supposed to have a brilliant shine like this chain ring set. I will try Mothers. With the polishing wheels I could put a brilliant polished aluminum finish to it as well if anyone thinks that would look better? Here is a link to a good polishing outlet that I use. https://www.caswellplating.com/

Steve Whitlatch 

I did the brakes tonight. Here are some before and after shots.

Steve Whitlatch 

If your serious about trying it and have any questions, feel free to ask?

Steve Whitlatch 

Finished!! (still trying to figure out why it shifts great then it wont shift unless I say "please "?)

[URL=https://s951.photobucket.com/user/yesrocks2001/media/motobacane016_zpsc4e2e7a8.jpg.html]

Steve Whitlatch 

Should I put the reflectors back in the spokes?

browngw 

Sometimes, depends on the intended user. Or are you just stirring the C&V pot?

oddjob2

Excellent job Steve. That Moto looks great! I would turn the handlebars down just a bit so they don't look up and reshoot.

After you debug the shifting issue, which could be derailleur alignment, cable tension, limit screws, or chain too short, I would list at $275 and offer to deliver to Evanston too.