Another Perplexing Motobecane
08-17-05 | 08:19 PM
#1
Thread Starter
Senior Member
Joined: Apr 2005
Posts: 132
Likes: 1
From: Mentor, OH and Fall River, MA
Bikes: 1982 Motobecane Mirage Sport, 1982 Motobecane Randonnee, 1978 Motobecane Grand Touring
Another Perplexing Motobecane
I just acquired my third Motobecane - it was sitting in my neighbor's trash across the street. The frame is just about my size, and has the 2040 High Resiliency decal that I'd expect on this low end bike. From the BB s/n and Maillard rear hub date codes it looks to be a 1982 model. Front wheel is clearly a replacement, since the hub, the rim, and the QR skewer are marked Raleigh. Nice six-speed Atom freewheel exactly identical to the one on my Mirage Sport. The brakes are Dia-Compe's with quick releases and suicide levers, the front derailleur is a Huret Rival, the rear derailleur (trashed and broken) was a Suntour ARX - I think I can salvage one of the pulleys, but the rest of the RD is gone. The DT shift levers are nice long throw Hurets. The stem is SR, the cranks are marked Motobecane, but the dust caps say Sakae. Pedals look like MKS but I can't tell for sure. The saddle is also identical to the one on my Mirage, original equipment all around.
The frame decal says "Randonnee", but there's no "Made in France" as I'd expect.....
What's that on the seat tube? EEEK!!!
"Made in Taiwan for Motobecane". OMG, what gives??
Motobecane was outsourcing to Taiwan in 1982? Say it ain't so, somebody!
Motofan
The frame decal says "Randonnee", but there's no "Made in France" as I'd expect.....
What's that on the seat tube? EEEK!!!
"Made in Taiwan for Motobecane". OMG, what gives??
Motobecane was outsourcing to Taiwan in 1982? Say it ain't so, somebody!
Motofan
08-18-05 | 02:34 PM
#2
Member
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 27
Likes: 0
From: Minneapolis
Bikes: Brompton ML6, Motobecane Grand Touring, Motobecane Sport Touring Mixte, 1967 & 1978 Raleigh DL-1s, Republic Plato
When I asked about my motobecane they said that the taiwan frames are more desirable and much lighter than the french. I just nod my head. The local shop really likes to fixie the bikes from taiwan.
Mine is a winter beater and I love it. $9 at the goodwill. LOOK
Mine is a winter beater and I love it. $9 at the goodwill. LOOK
08-18-05 | 05:36 PM
#3
feros ferio
Joined: Jul 2000
Posts: 22,397
Likes: 1,864
From: www.ci.encinitas.ca.us
Bikes: 1959 Capo Modell Campagnolo; 1960 Capo Sieger (2); 1962 Carlton Franco Suisse; 1970 Peugeot UO-8; 1982 Bianchi Campione d'Italia; 1988 Schwinn Project KOM-10;
At least you have ISO/English BB threading, instead of hard-to-obtain Swiss.
__________________
"Far and away the best prize that life offers is the chance to work hard at work worth doing." --Theodore Roosevelt
Capo: 1959 Modell Campagnolo, S/N 40324; 1960 Sieger (2), S/N 42624, 42597
Carlton: 1962 Franco Suisse, S/N K7911
Peugeot: 1970 UO-8, S/N 0010468
Bianchi: 1982 Campione d'Italia, S/N 1.M9914
Schwinn: 1988 Project KOM-10, S/N F804069
"Far and away the best prize that life offers is the chance to work hard at work worth doing." --Theodore Roosevelt
Capo: 1959 Modell Campagnolo, S/N 40324; 1960 Sieger (2), S/N 42624, 42597
Carlton: 1962 Franco Suisse, S/N K7911
Peugeot: 1970 UO-8, S/N 0010468
Bianchi: 1982 Campione d'Italia, S/N 1.M9914
Schwinn: 1988 Project KOM-10, S/N F804069
08-18-05 | 05:53 PM
#4
Thread Starter
Senior Member
Joined: Apr 2005
Posts: 132
Likes: 1
From: Mentor, OH and Fall River, MA
Bikes: 1982 Motobecane Mirage Sport, 1982 Motobecane Randonnee, 1978 Motobecane Grand Touring
Well, actually it isn't so great - I originally picked it up in hope of scavenging the BB cups and headset for the two other Motos in my fleet!!
However, after looking it over, I do believe I'll fix it up for fitness riding. The frame fits me better than anything else I have, and it is pretty light compared to the Mirage.
Motofan
However, after looking it over, I do believe I'll fix it up for fitness riding. The frame fits me better than anything else I have, and it is pretty light compared to the Mirage.
Motofan
08-18-05 | 06:01 PM
#5
Thread Starter
Senior Member
Joined: Apr 2005
Posts: 132
Likes: 1
From: Mentor, OH and Fall River, MA
Bikes: 1982 Motobecane Mirage Sport, 1982 Motobecane Randonnee, 1978 Motobecane Grand Touring
Actually, it occurred to me to do the same thing when I saw those horizontal dropouts. But I had all the parts lying around to make it ridable as a 12 speed, so tonite I put her back together and started the long process of cleaning all the accumulated crud from the frame.
Your bike looks a lot better than anything I ever found at the Goodwill! I'm definitely going to stop by more often!
Cheers!
Motofan
Your bike looks a lot better than anything I ever found at the Goodwill! I'm definitely going to stop by more often!
Cheers!
Motofan
