Simko

Hey everyone, looking to get into some road biking, nothing serious, maybe to shed a few pounds.

I have 2 choices to make for bikes:
1. My moms old motobecane mirage (early 80's or LATE 70's if they were made then).
-I was considering upgrading some things, if there are compatible parts, or just taking the bike to a shop and having it tuned up? It needs new tires for certain.





I figure i already have this bike here, so the cost is 0, then the charges for a tune up, or upgrading parts will be my costs.

2. this thing
https://london.kijiji.ca/c-buy-and-se...AdIdZ113774336

cheap bike, ive heard the aquila brand name is a "nothing special" kinda bike

bottom line is:

if im looking for a basic-intermediate road bike, should i be looking at fixing up the motobec, or looking at bike 2 if i can get it for under $100, and then possibly doing some upgrades to it too

big chainring 

The Mirage is cool. Let me tell you, that kickstand on that bike is worth some money. Put the kickstand on ebay and that might finance part of the tune-up your bike needs.

treebound 

I'll tell you like I tell people who bring bikes in where I help out:

Do you have an emotional attachment to the bike? This will offset some of the repair costs emotionally.

What is your budget or price range for either repairs to the current or to put towards a new bike?

What are your cycling goals and plans? Will the current bike meet and fullfill those goals?

What is your cycling background?

Your answers will guide you to your personal best answer.

The Moto could be a nice bike if it fits you, or it could be a nice bike to fix up later on.

kpug505

The most important thing is...Does the bike fit you properly? The Moto and the bike you linked to are on just about opposite ends of the sizes roadbikes come in. If one fits you the other certainly will not without some serious mods and or discomfort.

Figure out what size bike you need and go from there. Otherwise you're probably not gonna have a good time riding for long......

I like the Moto BTW. My GF has one and even though it is low end it rides very nice.

Simko

i guess im a rookie on the fit also, I will try to explain

the seller of the kijiji bike says the top tube is 22" long, which is about 55cm, the motobecane is the same

with the seat all the way down on the motobecane, only the balls of my feet can tough the ground.

to answer some of the other questions
budget: not including bike costs, i would like to keep this project under $3-400 (does this sound feasable?)
cycling background? none, other than riding around the block on my regular clunker bikes
what do i want to accomplish? Cruising around the streets, going on some bike paths, pavement or track only, no mountainbiking etc. Im a novice biker and plan on doing this for fitness and fun, if i REALLY enjoy this and chose to go into a track, i may consider a higher end bike, but for now i want something entry level.
lastly, no emotional attachment to the motobecane

Roll-Monroe-Co

The main usual measure is the /height/ of the top tube. If you can stand over it (with the bike between your legs) and have about an inch between the bike and your body, the bike is probably a reasonable fit (I may be corrected by better-informed others).

Not sure whether the "balls of your feet" comment refers to your sitting on the seat or standing over the frame. It would be normal not really to be able to stand with your feet flat on the ground when you are on the saddle.

If that moto fits, keep it, by all means. It's sweet.

Is anything wrong with the components that are on it? Maybe all it needs is a tune-up.

Can we get a photo of the right-hand side of the bike?

alicestrong

Don't get on the seat, just stand over the bike. You should have about an inch of room to spare.

Me? I would fix up the Mirage if it fits you. Don't spend very much money. You most likely won't have to anyway. Buy some inexpensive tires and tubes, like from Nashbar online.

rotharpunc

I would keep the Moto, these things are awesome, just be aware that many of the sizes and threadings of parts are different than most bikes made today. Check out the info. on French bikes on sheldonbrown.com

treebound 

If you slam the Moto seat all the way down and can have your feet reach the ground while sitting on the lowered seat then I'd wager that the Moto will fit you better than the linked bike, so based on that my vote is for the Moto.

Find a decent local shop, take in a 6-pack of soda or other beverage that locally acceptable in your region, and ask the shop when a slow time is to get some personal attention from a bike mechanic there to help fit the bike to you and to come up with a plan to bring it in to good tune. Around here we're starting to get into the busy season, but even so one customer worked a deal with one of the mechanics for after store hours shop time to set up and learn about two bikes he recently got (and it looked like a nice quality 6-pack he brought of some after hours beverage).

Hope this helps some, keep us posted as to how things progress.

Simko

waiting on teh photos to upload, but ill pipe in really quick

hopped over the frame, with my feet on the floor there is no room between the frame and my body

kpug505

My best fitting bike leaves no room for "The Boys" when I stand over the bike...Straight to the pubic bone.
I understand that people enjoy a bit of clearance but you'll rarely find me standing over my bike. That's not what it's for anyways...
As a matter of fact. The last time "The Boys" made uncomfortable contact with a top tube was when I was 16 trying to clear the triples at the local BMX track...Needless to say I didn't clear them and when I landed in the middle of the third jump the bike stopped, I collapsed and "The Boys" turned purple for a week!

On an older bike like that I would suggest sitting on the saddle with your heel on the pedal in the 6 'O clock position. Raise the saddle 'til your leg is straight and then put the ball of your foot over the axle of the pedal at 6 'O clock. You should have about a 15 degree bend to your knee at this point and it is a good starting point for proper leg extension. If you get that far and (as some ol' timers say) you can grab "a fist full of seatpost".....Chances are the bike will fit just fine with minor mods.

My 2 cents!

wrk101

+1 What he said. Standover is over rated.

On the Mirage, I would not put much $$ into it, as it is a very low end, gas pipe, boomer bike. Does it have alloy rims or steel? For the cost of a complete refurb, you could probably find a nicer ready to ride bike used.

Simko

im really not sure about the rims, i really would like to keep this on a budget, but if i can make a huge difference in components with some $ ill do it.

Simko

Simko

just last pics, the gear shifter handles read shimano, the shimano lark is of the derailer
not sure what other angles i should take

kpug505

Lookin' good!....Kinda. I for one love that color. With some polish it will surprise you how deep that color actually is. Steer clear of rubbing vigourously on the pinstripes and lettering though. They will rub right off and that would be a shame.
Even though it is a low end bike it is a Moto and it's my opinion that they were constructed and finished much better than the average "gaspipe bike boom" rig. They ride nice too...
It's gonna cost you a fair bit of coinage to get it road worthy but even if you spend $200 it's better than any brand new bike you can get for that price...

Are the rims aluminum?

rotharpunc

this.

Fibber

I'm putting a '79 Moto Mirage (mixte frame) back on the road for my daughter. Full teardown and rebuild, and I've got to tell you that doing it right is a lot of work! But I think it will be nice when it is complete.

Simko

if i was to get a BRAND new bike i would be looking to spend around 500,

the question was however,

should i sink money into this moto, or should i look for a cheaper bike (possibly newer) on a classifieds site and then look into upgrading that.

i can get that first kijiji bike for $50,

if i put 200 into the moto, and 200 into the aquila, which would be better?

the major downfall is that since the moto is so old, I might find parts compatibility issues? if im wrong please correct me

alicestrong

It would be better to fix up the bike that fits you best.

That Aquila looks very small. How tall are you? It looks my size and I'm 5'6"

Simko

im 5'8" i figured since the seat post was all theway down and it fit someone 3" shorter that might be ok, If the bike didnt fit however, i would just wait for something my size.

duffer1960

Please read this on the 'AVA Death Stem'

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

Simko

So i would be looking at changing the stem, and handlebars, however the link says that most of the bikes are "bleh" and not worth investing,

but it mentioned that cottorless or alum rims are worth restoring, im doubting my bike has this, I have read that the shimano lark derailers were put in inexpensive department store bikes.

alicestrong

Does your Mom not want the Moto? They have good resale value, at least in Los Angeles. That one looks in very good condition. I have two and didn't spend much on either one. Like treebound says make yourself a friend to help you go over it. Somebody who likes older bikes and doesn't scare you off French. Here's my Mirage, I also have a Grand Touring mixte. That one was really abused but it still didn't require a major overhaul. My Mirage was in "almost not ridden" condition.

duffer1960

Well that's up to you. I can see they're cottered cranks. Probably also steel wheels - check it with a magnet - with little practice it's easy to tell on sight. I'd fix it because I already have the tools and I'd rather keep something old going just for the curiosity & interest of having something very old that 'they don't make 'em like this any more'. Not the high-end bike maybe, but a good bike then & still.