1970s Motobecane Le Champion?
03-18-23, 06:47 PM
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1970s Motobecane Le Champion?
Can you please tell me what you think the value of this bike is?
https://www.flickr.com/photos/151903...57680196059426
and the best place/site to sell it?
I bought the frame as new old stock from a bike shop around 1998. So, supposedly it had not been ridden before i bought it.
it has a lot of used parts on it, but supposedly the frame was new at the time i bought it.
I don't know much about road bikes. (been mountain biking for 30+ years)
thanks for your help.
https://www.flickr.com/photos/151903...57680196059426
and the best place/site to sell it?
I bought the frame as new old stock from a bike shop around 1998. So, supposedly it had not been ridden before i bought it.
it has a lot of used parts on it, but supposedly the frame was new at the time i bought it.
I don't know much about road bikes. (been mountain biking for 30+ years)
thanks for your help.
03-18-23, 08:59 PM
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Can't give a specific value (I'm not too familiar with pricing for French bikes, frames, and bits) - but do understand that you'll take a final value reduction right off the bat as it lacks the original fork.
Perhaps it was wrecked once, and the original fork suffered fatal damage.
DD
Perhaps it was wrecked once, and the original fork suffered fatal damage.
DD
03-19-23, 06:03 AM
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+1. The replacement fork really hurts the value. Plus the parts mix is a bit of a mess. The bike will have more value as a part out as some of the parts have a value and you can sell them on eBay or here on this site if you are willing to become a member (the cost is low and you don't deal with eBay fees).
03-19-23, 09:02 AM
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Define "best site" for sale. Is best the highest $$, or is best easiest to sell, no fees, no packing.
The easier the sale, the lower the price. There is no free lunch. Replacement fork = lack of interest by many.
Selling here very likely still means packing and shipping. So I would not put it in the "easy" class.
Very odd mix of parts, screams part out to me. Someone paying up for a Le Champion would not want those parts. The more jumbled the parts, the more a part out WILL yield more $$.
The easier the sale, the lower the price. There is no free lunch. Replacement fork = lack of interest by many.
Selling here very likely still means packing and shipping. So I would not put it in the "easy" class.
Very odd mix of parts, screams part out to me. Someone paying up for a Le Champion would not want those parts. The more jumbled the parts, the more a part out WILL yield more $$.
Last edited by wrk101; 03-19-23 at 09:08 AM.
03-19-23, 10:01 AM
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I don't think I've ever seen a tubing decal placed above the shifters so torn up.
With the replacement fork and the parts collection this is a rider and not a collector, but I'm not sure I'd buy it.
With the replacement fork and the parts collection this is a rider and not a collector, but I'm not sure I'd buy it.
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“One morning you wake up, the girl is gone, the bikes are gone, all that's left behind is a pair of old tires and a tube of tubular glue, all squeezed out"
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03-19-23, 10:27 PM
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That bike is a real pile. But with a bit if work, you could make it much more presentable. The clown saddle has to go. Pull the stem out of the frame and move the rear brake cable over to the left side of the head tube. Remove the duct tape from the chainstay. Add some $20, period-correct pedals. Lower the stem. Familiarize yourself with how to photograph a bicycle to sell. And take it to a beautiful place outside for pics. Price it locally to sell fast ($200 obo!). And Fuhgeddaboudit!
03-20-23, 06:50 AM
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Thanks for the question. If you're looking to maximize what you have here, sales-wise, you'll probably want to part this one out. It's a mixture of parts that collectively don't add to the value of the bike, but have some value individually. The sales forum here is a good spot to sell parts. I'd sell the frame and fork separately on the bigger sale sites. As mentioned by several others, a replacement fork significantly brings down value. Get everything as clean as possible and take some really good, detailed photos. If you're looking to sell quickly, I'd follow SurferRosa's advice above.
03-20-23, 06:15 PM
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Originally Posted by SurferRosa
That bike is a real pile. But with a bit if work, you could make it much more presentable. The clown saddle has to go. Pull the stem out of the frame and move the rear brake cable over to the left side of the head tube. Remove the duct tape from the chainstay. Add some $20, period-correct pedals. Lower the stem. Familiarize yourself with how to photograph a bicycle to sell. And take it to a beautiful place outside for pics. Price it locally to sell fast ($200 obo!). And Fuhgeddaboudit!
Tell us how you really feel
DD
