Motobecane Siblings!
04-08-07 | 07:37 PM
#1
Thread Starter
Senior Member
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 264
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Motobecane Siblings!
I acquired these two Motobecanes last year and what attracted me to them is that they were in immaculate near mint condition and they were identical years. One is a Mirage and the other is a Super Mirage. Both are equipped with Suntour alloy components, Wienmann alloys (except the Mixte has a nice set of Super Champions right now), and Normandy Hubs.
I instantly thought that these bikes would look fantastic with a set of Honjo fenders and upright "city" handlebars. I decided to do them identical for a his and her's set! The upgrades for both include: Honjo 43mm smooth fenders, Nitto Technomic stem, Jitensha Studio flat style city bars made by Nitto, brass bell, Velo-Orange stainless cable housing, new cables, Soubitez generator light, and a Brooks B17 Saddle. The Mixte has a Blackburn alloy rack. Both have regreased headsets, hubs, and bottom brackets.They are going to stay in the family... the Mixte went to my Fiance and the other will be offered to a friend nearby. Thanks to Chris at Velo-Orange for all of his help!! Here are a few pics:
I instantly thought that these bikes would look fantastic with a set of Honjo fenders and upright "city" handlebars. I decided to do them identical for a his and her's set! The upgrades for both include: Honjo 43mm smooth fenders, Nitto Technomic stem, Jitensha Studio flat style city bars made by Nitto, brass bell, Velo-Orange stainless cable housing, new cables, Soubitez generator light, and a Brooks B17 Saddle. The Mixte has a Blackburn alloy rack. Both have regreased headsets, hubs, and bottom brackets.They are going to stay in the family... the Mixte went to my Fiance and the other will be offered to a friend nearby. Thanks to Chris at Velo-Orange for all of his help!! Here are a few pics:
Last edited by dbarnblatt@usa.; 04-09-07 at 10:27 AM.
04-09-07 | 12:55 PM
#5
The Improbable Bulk
Joined: Jul 2005
Posts: 8,379
Likes: 7
From: Wilkes-Barre, PA
Bikes: Many
When a bike is upgraded, the amount spent on the upgrade quickly exceeds the initial cost of the bike.
It usually pays off, since the resulting bike is better than could be purchased new for the cost of the bike and upgrades.
In this case, that is a stunning pair of bikes!
Wonderful job!!!
It usually pays off, since the resulting bike is better than could be purchased new for the cost of the bike and upgrades.
In this case, that is a stunning pair of bikes!
Wonderful job!!!
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Slow Ride Cyclists of NEPA
People do not seem to realize that their opinion of the world is also a confession of character.
- Ralph Waldo Emerson
Slow Ride Cyclists of NEPA
People do not seem to realize that their opinion of the world is also a confession of character.
- Ralph Waldo Emerson
04-09-07 | 03:13 PM
#9
Nice!
I'll be making a post about this myself in the very near future!
I'll be making a post about this myself in the very near future!
04-09-07 | 04:29 PM
#10
Super Course fan
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 2,720
Likes: 9
From: Lost on the windswept plains of the Great Black Swamp
Not to repeat everyone else, but,
Stunning machines, beautiful!
Stunning machines, beautiful!
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I have a white PX-10, a Green Dawes Galaxy and an Orange Falcon, now I'm done.
I have a white PX-10, a Green Dawes Galaxy and an Orange Falcon, now I'm done.
04-09-07 | 05:08 PM
#11
Thread Starter
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Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 264
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Originally Posted by Little Darwin
When a bike is upgraded, the amount spent on the upgrade quickly exceeds the initial cost of the bike.
It usually pays off, since the resulting bike is better than could be purchased new for the cost of the bike and upgrades.
In this case, that is a stunning pair of bikes!
Wonderful job!!!
It usually pays off, since the resulting bike is better than could be purchased new for the cost of the bike and upgrades.
In this case, that is a stunning pair of bikes!
Wonderful job!!!
Exactly... the complete bike(s) cost less than just the Honjo fender set(s)! They ride really nice and the Suntour stuff shifts smooth as silk.
The bag is from Velo-Orange! I am definitely inspired by the constructeurs... my next project is near completion... a 1975 Grand Record that will get a similar treatment... except the Phillippe bars will stay and the brakes will be upgraded to a set of MAFAC gold competitions.
04-09-07 | 06:41 PM
#13
Membership Not Required
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 16,853
Likes: 18
From: On the road-USA
Bikes: Giant Excursion, Raleigh Sports, Raleigh R.S.W. Compact, Motobecane? and about 20 more! OMG
Those are drop dead gorgeous! Just go to show what can be done with an old bike!
I had been waffling back and forth between Honjo and Bleumel's but I think you just sold me
Aaron
I had been waffling back and forth between Honjo and Bleumel's but I think you just sold me Aaron
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ISO: A late 1980's Giant Iguana MTB frameset (or complete bike) 23" Red with yellow graphics.
"Cycling should be a way of life, not a hobby.
RIDE, YOU FOOL, RIDE!"_Nicodemus
"Steel: nearly a thousand years of metallurgical development
Aluminum: barely a hundred
Which one would you rather have under your butt at 30mph?"_krazygluon
Webshots is bailing out, if you find any of my posts with corrupt picture files and want to see them corrected please let me know. :(
ISO: A late 1980's Giant Iguana MTB frameset (or complete bike) 23" Red with yellow graphics.
"Cycling should be a way of life, not a hobby.
RIDE, YOU FOOL, RIDE!"_Nicodemus
"Steel: nearly a thousand years of metallurgical development
Aluminum: barely a hundred
Which one would you rather have under your butt at 30mph?"_krazygluon
04-09-07 | 06:54 PM
#14
\,,/(^_^)\,,/
Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 869
Likes: 0
From: Minneapolis, MN
Bikes: Surly 1x1 Xtracycle, '01 Haro Flair Dave Mirra
nope! Don't like them! The generator wheels are NOT the same color! 
Great looking bikes!
Great looking bikes!
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You know you're getting old when you look at a beautiful 19-year-old girl and you find yourself thinking, "Gee, I wonder what her mother looks like?"
You know you're getting old when you look at a beautiful 19-year-old girl and you find yourself thinking, "Gee, I wonder what her mother looks like?"
04-09-07 | 06:57 PM
#15
Very nice!
It looks like only one bike has shellaced cork grips. They stay cleaner that way, but they're kind of slippery. One of my wife's mixtes has those bars from Jitensha. My next bike will have them, too. They feel just right to me. The little reflectors are a nice touch.
It looks like only one bike has shellaced cork grips. They stay cleaner that way, but they're kind of slippery. One of my wife's mixtes has those bars from Jitensha. My next bike will have them, too. They feel just right to me. The little reflectors are a nice touch.
04-09-07 | 07:31 PM
#16
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Joined: Sep 2006
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Originally Posted by new_dharma
nope! Don't like them! The generator wheels are NOT the same color!
Originally Posted by nlerner
Those bikes look terrific. Did you get the Jitensha bars from the store itself or were you able to order them online?
Originally Posted by Dirtdrop
Very nice!
It looks like only one bike has shellaced cork grips. They stay cleaner that way, but they're kind of slippery. One of my wife's mixtes has those bars from Jitensha. My next bike will have them, too. They feel just right to me. The little reflectors are a nice touch.
It looks like only one bike has shellaced cork grips. They stay cleaner that way, but they're kind of slippery. One of my wife's mixtes has those bars from Jitensha. My next bike will have them, too. They feel just right to me. The little reflectors are a nice touch.
04-10-07 | 08:30 AM
#17
The un-shellaced grips get dirty very quickly, but they clean right up with something like 409. The advantage of cork is that it's not slippery when wet. That's why it's used on fishing pole grips. You lose that if you shellac.
I've been experimenting with staining cork grips to match my saddles like on this one:
I think I see a similarity between that bike and yours. I wonder if we've both been influnced by the bikes on Chris Kulczycki's site?
I've been experimenting with staining cork grips to match my saddles like on this one:
I think I see a similarity between that bike and yours. I wonder if we've both been influnced by the bikes on Chris Kulczycki's site?
04-10-07 | 09:20 AM
#18
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Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 264
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Originally Posted by Dirtdrop
The un-shellaced grips get dirty very quickly, but they clean right up with something like 409. The advantage of cork is that it's not slippery when wet. That's why it's used on fishing pole grips. You lose that if you shellac.
I think I see a similarity between that bike and yours. I wonder if we've both been influnced by the bikes on Chris Kulczycki's site?
I think I see a similarity between that bike and yours. I wonder if we've both been influnced by the bikes on Chris Kulczycki's site?
Yes, Chris' site as well as this bike on Jitensha Studio's site were both inspirational to me:
https://www.jitensha.com/eng/ebisumixte_e.html
