Motobecane Nomade
 

Help me if you can. I have a Motobecane Nomade with a funky stock paint job I believe. It is green on one side and brown on the other. All the original stickers are in great shape and bike still looks great. I am planning on putting some upgrades on it like 700 rims, new cranks and probably a few more cogs in the back. Can someone help with some insight, so that there isnt a bunch of trial and more ERROR. Thanks :p

What kinds of upgrades? and what does the bike have
on it now?
If you ask more specific questions it will make it easier
for us to answer.
If the bike is in good condition it may be worth it to
restore and keep as a VINTAGE/CLASSIC ride.
works for me.

Marty

I was gonna change the crank out to a sport crank off of a Motobecane Takagi. I believe they will be bolt on? I plan to bump the rear up to a 7 or 8 speed and change the rear der. if it wont swing far enough to compensate for the gears. The bike is in good condition. Frame looks great, some of the components need some work. The shifters are on the neck. I plan to move those to the bars some how. Possibly bar end shifters? I dont plan on going crazy with a total 105 set-up, just a little upgrading. I havent got into the BB that is where my concern is. I have heard these are a dream to deal with.

Motobecane Nomade
 

The frame width may not allow you to install a 7 or 8 speed, neither the wheel if the six you have now is a freewheel. The crank may fit alright but when changing the BB, beware of specific threads (French thread, different caliber and way/right-left than today's). My question is: what is wrong with the current components ? And you can still find original components if simply worned.
I have a 1978 French racer that I recently overhauled with new BB, crank and rear wheel. I bought a BB from Harris Cyclery in MA www.sheldonbrown.com
found a Sugino crank and a rear tubular wheel with freewheel in good condition on eBay, both for less than $70. Harris had the crank too.
Regarding the speeds, I don't know what kind of ride you do but I always found that I use two of the sprockets (17 and 18) and occasionally the 22, I also found that I rarely use the large crank ring, so before you upgrade you may want to wonder why first.
Let me know if you need help sourcing French components, I have found loads of sources along the way.. :)

A 78 Nomade was my first "real" bike and I have fond memories. However it's not a high end model so don't go crazy.

Here's how I upgraded mine back then: SunTour Barcons to eliminate the stem shifters
An inexpensive "replacement" set of alloy rimmed wheels (27"). Such things are not as common today
An early ST Superbe rear der.
ST 6 speed freewheel
A variety of different saddles and a set of alloy bars.
Made a decent bike I enjoyed for nearly 10 years.

Btw, I don't recall Nomades in 2 tone paint mine was blue and others I've seen were mono-colored as well.

Some motos are swiss threaded in the bottom bracket, which makes removing the fixed cup an adventure, and replacing the BB even harder. If the cups look good, keep 'em. You may have to change spindle length, tho, depending on your crank manufactuerer's recommendations. Info on older French bikes located here:
http://www.sheldonbrown.com/velos.html
Note there are several sizing/threading issues besides the BB.
Suntour made pretty nice bar end shifters, should be able to find 'em on ebay. I believe the bike you have could be a nice beater/rider, but like Walter, I wouldn't go overboard. I would check to make sure the rims are alloy, at least.

Upgrading Nomade
 

WHAT WHEELS ARE YOU REPLACING? I'M SEARCHING FOR WEINMANN 27 X 1 1/4 CONCAVE WHEELS.

PAUL