is this bike any good, i paid $20 for it at a garage sale. i hear that french bikes can be difficult for beginners to work on. but all i want to do is put on a new seat, bars & tape, chain, and brake pads. i checked and it doesn't have that crappy head set that is prone to failure. (assume i know nothing about bikes)

I think you did just fine for $20. Especially in your market (Seattle?). Tune, lube replace brake pads and ride it! Is that a plastic bodied Simplex Prestige or the like? I've heard they are prone to failure. Maybe hit the local co-op or Craigslist for a better RD and a set of alloy rims for better braking performance in the wet weather. Anyways.........I paid that much for a bare Mirage frame to build my GF's daily rider so ya.......You did great IMO!

That bike is a steal in Seattle! It's the entry-level Motobecane, so I don't think it's worth a whole lot-- no more than $100 at the high end, and only in a hot bike market like Seattle. Still, it's in really sweet condition, so I think you did very well for yourself. Your plan to do a simple freshening is very sound.

i have a friend that works at a local bike shop, ill tell him to keep an eye out for a metal simplex rear derailer. thanks for the imput. i think that was the cheapest bike ive ever seen at a garage sale in seattle. lol

Upgrade to a SunTour VGT and it will shift a whole lot better. Not sure what the price differential would be, but not too great, I would think, and a useful upgrade.

I'll give you a Suntour Honor or Vx gratis if you're ever in the Puyallup area.........Just sayin'

Regards
Kelly "I have to much stuff" Donovan

+1 on the Suntour
The plastic front derailleur is easy to break by overtighting. I would replace it and the plastic shift levers.