I was moving bicycles around the house and this Motobecane ended up on my stand…
I believe it’s a C5 from old research done…might be a C4 with the Huret dropouts…
Anyhow, the only numbers on the bottom bracket is J68.
I’ll be posting more pics and info as I get back to this bicycle…I’m working on other bicycles at other areas…


Thanx…

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WOW!

just look at this work station boys & girls!

looks like an exhibit one might see at a trade show

recall mention of all bikes not ridden cleared out prior relocation to St. Cloud

seems strange to receive a new thread from billnuke1 which does not include an image of our Massimilliano


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Check out, “Show me your cat.”

Soooooo…does anybody have any thoughts on this bicycle?

Please do not clamp it by the middle of the top tube. That is the thinnest tube, in the thinnest spot.

Clamp near the top of the seat tube.

Motos generally were the nicest bikes in their price point compared to Raleigh / Peugeot / others.

Definitely the nicest ride.

/markp

Can't help with the ID. I presume you've seen (or already knew) this, but just in case:

https://www.sheldonbrown.com/velos.html#bottom

There's a para near the end of this section concerning Motobecanes. Per the late Mr. Brown, apparently many Motobecanes used Swiss-threaded BBs instead of French-threaded ones.

I believe I've read elsewhere that the change from French-threaded to Swiss-threaded BBs on Motobecanes occurred sometime during the 1970s, but I don't think I've ever seen a specific year mentioned.

First year of cable braze on was 1978. Not sure when braze on shifters were introduced, 1980-81?

Columbus used from 1978. This was after the Reynolds 753 debacle where (so the story goes) they were refused tube from Reynolds because they didn’t submit two frames for destructive testing which Reynolds required from all manufacturers who were supplied 753 tubing to apply certification.

Sometimes you get a stamp inside on the fork tube, which might help.

Swiss thread can run to early 80’s I believe. If it is and you buy one, pop a photo onto this thread.
Swiss thread BB cup ID

Look for the thread Motobecane serial numbers.

Motobecane Serial Number Database

Brochures here.Look at ‘81 Le Champion, close?

bulgier.net - /pics/bike/Catalogs/Motobecane/

Motobecane C4 spec sheet

Motobecane C4

Motobecane C4 brochure, these are hard to find on the web, maybe I am not using the right search terms!

Not clamped tightly, just kinda balanced there… if I’m actually working on the bicycle I’ll either clamp on the seat post or swap the seat post out for ISC-1, internal seat tube clamp…
The decals on the seat tube on this frame are kinda torn up because someone didn’t tighten clamp up tight enough to keep the frame from moving in the clamp…the older style clamps were hard on the frames,too!



Each of my shops has one…

^ "Each of my shops has one…"

you're scaring us, now.
(or just bragging)

Sorry! Not bragging!
One indoor shop, two stations…One outdoor shshop, two stations…that leads out to a covered patio, soon to have a sturdy multi purpose bench that will use the tools from the outdoor shed/shop.
Multiples keep me from running in and out to find “that tool!”

Yes I'd like to have it on my workstand. . .

Using the extreme clamp on this new orphan that showed up on my doorstep…I had planned to do a quick once over then ride it. Too much of a Frankenstein! Otherwise a perfect scenario for the seat post thingie!

It’s been kind’a Frankensteined…
Complete Ultegra groups are relatively inexpensive…parts were swapped out and others-left shifter doesn’t work-have some road rash.
I’ll check the front and rear drop outs for true then take it from there…
The price was right!

Nicely built frame, very handsome, I think it looks better without the diagonal stripes.