Hey there, I'm looking for some help identifying the model and hopefully the year of this Motobecane on craigslist.

• Campagnolo N.R. front and rear derailleurs
• Weinmann Carrera brakes
• Stronglight double crankset
• 3ttt 105mm Record Stem
• Campagnolo hubs
• Campagnolo dropouts with a serial # 1275403
• Blue and white accent

My guess is that it's an early 70's Le Champion, but I'm not sure. Hoping to find out some more info before picking it up tomorrow.

Thanks.

Update: The bike is now in my possession and looks to be a 72 or 73 Le Champion. Here's some pictures https://photos.app.goo.gl/JVkqXEzAAsp6DTp97

Alright confirmed it's a Le Champion from another picture the seller sent me. The paint and decals aren't in the best shape but it doesn't look like there's any rust which is good.
Hopefully going to pick it up tomorrow and post more photos to see if I can pin down the year.

Also been a reader/lurker here since 2016 but this is my first time posting. Excited to be a part of this community! Thanks.

Welcome to the forums. It's definitely a frankenbiked Motobecane Le Champion. That's almost certainly an incomplete 'zero', as opposed to a 'C', in the serial number. Based on the Motobecane serial numbers and data that I've collected, this one should be very early 1970s, circa 1971-1972. Notable are the Campagnolo Nuovo Tipo hubs with the kidney shaped holes that were reportedly custom ordered for the 1972-1973 Motobecane Le Champion, per Chuck Schimdt. Once you pick it up, there will be date codes on the rear derailleur and hub locknuts, that will aid in the dating, provided they are OEM. Partial photo assist, as they wouldn't all load for me...

The only thing that I can see in the OP's list that isn't OEM are the Weinmann Carrara brakes. It originally had Universal Mod 61 center pulls.

Here's a spec sheet of the original 1971 components. Note: earlier models would have had Nomandy Luxe Competition hubs instead of the special built Campy Nuovo Tipos with the kidney bean shaped cutouts.

1970-72 Moto Catalog Spec Sheet:


Most 1970-72 Le Champions were either teal with light ivory or white lugs or a deeper blue with white lugs. In 1972 there were a few LCs that came into the US in black with red lugs. My 1972 Le Champion is one of the black ones and the serial number 2299235 504.

verktyg

There's more replacements than just the brakes. Check out the headset and pedals, both which post date the frame by 12+ years. Pretty sure the wheels have been re-laced with relatively modern rims too.

Are those Weinmann levers as well? Original tires would have been sewups so rims probably not original. Little chrome cable clamps replaced as well.

Suppose it's not too surprising that some parts got lost/replaced over 45+ years. Still a wonderful and beautiful bike.

Thanks! Yeah I'll definitely share more info and photos once I have it tomorrow. Appreciate the info.

T-Mar, I didn't see any pictures from the OP. I was just going by his list and thought that what you posted some other Le Champion.

Some other minor nit picks: It looks like a 6sp FW. Should be a 14-26 5sp Atom FW. Newer chain. Half step chainrings with the outer one misaligned. The chain catching screw should be behind the crank arm. Also 53-42T was standard. The top tube brake cable clamps would have been Huret or Simplex because they were 26mm for metric top tubes whereas Campy clamps were limited to 25.4mm.

verktyg

Just picked up the bike earlier today and feeling super excited! They are indeed Weinmann levers. Definitely new tires as well. As far as the cable clamps, hoping to find some good replacements as they are currently just zip ties. It seems the cassette is Shimano so I'm assuming that's not original as well? Overall hoping to treat this as a little side project / restoration, but more importantly looking forward to enjoying riding it.

Anyways, I'll try to do a more thorough breakdown this week and hopefully we can pin down the year, thanks!

Also, I'd love any advice you all have on how to go about restoring this to it's original glory. Thanks.

The frame looks like it doesn't need anything but a bit of polishing, but be gentle, it's rather thin paint. Meguiars Cleaner Wax is what I use and it shines like glass. You can get replacement decals for $15.95 each for the toptube and downtube sets from Velocals, just choose the "Gold Metallic" option.
https://www.velocals.com/motobecane-script-down-tube-decals-1-pair-choose-color/

Other than needing toptube cable clamps, I'd replace the black brake cable housings with white, and route them behind the bars, and shorten-up the rear derailleur shifter housing. Other than that, it looks like just a normal clean-and-lube job to me. Beautiful bike.

This is great advice thanks. Any recommendations / favorite places to pickup new clamps and cable housing? There's a local bike shop down the street from me, but not sure if this is something I should order instead. (Sorry still new to all of this) I also found a small spot of rust under the top tube. Any recommendations for treating that?

p.s. I just took a bunch of pictures (now that I have the bike in my possession) so I'll upload those and link them here in a few.

Your original clamps would have been Simplex or Huret, and those are quite pricey these days, but here's some on ebay, generic, for $19.99.
https://www.ebay.com/itm/BICYCLE-OLD...IAAOxy0rZRFgWb
My local bike shop has rolls of white Jagwire brake cable housing, and I just buy enough to do one bike at a time. Seems like it's about 10 bucks for 10 feet. The housing has the Jagwire logo stamped on it, which I don't care for, so I just take a bit of steel wool and wipe off the logo. If you go to your LBS, maybe you can see if they have the toptube brake cable clips while you're at it.

For the rust spot, I use white vinegar. Just wrap the tube with a paper towel soaked in the vinegar, and maybe overwrap it with some plastic wrap, leave it overnight, and then it should just wipe off. Scuff the rusted area a little, then If the paint isn't too bad, just coat the spot with some fingernail polish.

Hey everyone thanks for all the advice! Tried posting this yesterday but hit the "5 posts in 24 hour limit"

Here's some pictures I took the other day: https://photos.app.goo.gl/JVkqXEzAAsp6DTp97

*This is pre-cleaning

There's a PAT 72 date on the rear derailleur which would make the bicycle a 1972 or 1973 model. That fits the original estimates and is in line with the time frame for the hubs.

Nice-looking bike, should clean up very well. Hey, now you've got 11 posts, so you can post all you want!

Thanks. And awesome, glad I'm free from restrictions now.

Yeah the owner of my LBS collected Motobecanes for a little while and he said 72 or 73 as well. Any way to pinpoint the exact year?

If you remove the hubs' locknuts, there should be a CAM YY date code on the back. What you find could increase your confidence level for particular year. Make sure to check all four locknuts.