Motobecane Profil 3
08-27-09, 08:32 AM
#1
Peter
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Motobecane Profil 3
I've recently acquired a Motobecane Profil 3 (see pictures). I have to admit that I didn't know a lot about the bike before I bought it, except for the fact that it seems to be quite rare and that Motobecane's aero era was very brief. I simply thought it looked beautiful and that's about it.
So far I have not found any review on the bike or other exhaustive information. So, I'd be very glad, if anyone could provide me with further information on this bike. Maybe someone could even point me to a source where I could find some original catalog pictures etc.
Cheers
Pete
So far I have not found any review on the bike or other exhaustive information. So, I'd be very glad, if anyone could provide me with further information on this bike. Maybe someone could even point me to a source where I could find some original catalog pictures etc.
Cheers
Pete
08-27-09, 09:10 AM
#3
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Nice looking Moto. 
I'm not a Motobecane specialist or anything. However I know my '84 Mirage Sport has that same square badge on the head tube.
I'm not a Motobecane specialist or anything. However I know my '84 Mirage Sport has that same square badge on the head tube.
08-27-09, 09:37 AM
#4
If I own it, I ride it
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I have never seen a Profil 3 until now. I have seen its predecessors, and never complete. You have a nice and interesting bike there. You are very fortunate to have a complete bike, also.
08-27-09, 10:02 AM
#5
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My younger brother had a candy apple red Motobecane Proifile (2?) in the early 80's. I think he had the base model with cheapy base Shimano Aero groupo (AX?) on it. Brakes were kinda crude wedge type centerpulls that did not work too well. He ended up dumping most of the component group in favor of Suntour components.
It looked impressive with steep frame geometry plus the teardrop aero tubing but IIRC, it only had 1020 high tensile carbon steel tubing drawn to aero shapes (What tubing does your Profile 3 have? Looks to be a much more expensive version). The deep profile of the frame tubes on his Profile made the bike way too stiff vertically, that he said it was literally a pain to ride on less than glass smooth roads. Otherwise he loved owning it for what it was. One thing that really bugged us about his bike was the rear triangle was misaligned real bad from the factory. The wheel was almost half an inch off to one side of the seat tube when it's set fully into the dropouts. We tried to do all we can to cold set bend it and even had the LBS menchnic give it a shot, but it was all down to one of the tubes in the back probably trimmed too short by the factory builder. I'm surprised to see any Motobecane Profile bikes out there at all. I always thought that they made very few of these, but If everything's good with your bike, I'll say it's a definite "keeper" classic! Thank you for posting!
Chombi
84 Peugeot PSV
It looked impressive with steep frame geometry plus the teardrop aero tubing but IIRC, it only had 1020 high tensile carbon steel tubing drawn to aero shapes (What tubing does your Profile 3 have? Looks to be a much more expensive version). The deep profile of the frame tubes on his Profile made the bike way too stiff vertically, that he said it was literally a pain to ride on less than glass smooth roads. Otherwise he loved owning it for what it was. One thing that really bugged us about his bike was the rear triangle was misaligned real bad from the factory. The wheel was almost half an inch off to one side of the seat tube when it's set fully into the dropouts. We tried to do all we can to cold set bend it and even had the LBS menchnic give it a shot, but it was all down to one of the tubes in the back probably trimmed too short by the factory builder. I'm surprised to see any Motobecane Profile bikes out there at all. I always thought that they made very few of these, but If everything's good with your bike, I'll say it's a definite "keeper" classic! Thank you for posting!
Chombi
84 Peugeot PSV
08-27-09, 12:02 PM
#6
Senior Member
Very cool indeed. I haven't seen one either. If you have time I'd be curious to see another shot of that seatpost bolt. Have you figured out what the threading is on the bottom bracket and fork?
08-27-09, 12:41 PM
#7
Peter
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The bike is not with me, yet. As soon as it is, I will try to figure out what brand the bar tape is and what threading bracket and fork have.
As to the steel: its 2040, and apparently – I found this info in another thread –*it's of higher quality than 1020 but still inferior to ChroMo.
@Chombi: the group deployed is a mix of Shimano 600ax, which was specifically designed to fit aero frames, and standard 600. As Ih have gathered, the 600 is the predecessor to the Ultegra which emerged from the 600 series. So it's actually just one line behind the Dura-Ace. Correct me if I'm wrong. I was actually a bit disappointed when I saw it had the standard 600 brakes fitted and not the AX-parapull brakes. Those look pretty nifty.
As to the steel: its 2040, and apparently – I found this info in another thread –*it's of higher quality than 1020 but still inferior to ChroMo.
@Chombi: the group deployed is a mix of Shimano 600ax, which was specifically designed to fit aero frames, and standard 600. As Ih have gathered, the 600 is the predecessor to the Ultegra which emerged from the 600 series. So it's actually just one line behind the Dura-Ace. Correct me if I'm wrong. I was actually a bit disappointed when I saw it had the standard 600 brakes fitted and not the AX-parapull brakes. Those look pretty nifty.
08-27-09, 02:41 PM
#9
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The bike is not with me, yet. As soon as it is, I will try to figure out what brand the bar tape is and what threading bracket and fork have.
As to the steel: its 2040, and apparently – I found this info in another thread –*it's of higher quality than 1020 but still inferior to ChroMo.
@Chombi: the group deployed is a mix of Shimano 600ax, which was specifically designed to fit aero frames, and standard 600. As Ih have gathered, the 600 is the predecessor to the Ultegra which emerged from the 600 series. So it's actually just one line behind the Dura-Ace. Correct me if I'm wrong. I was actually a bit disappointed when I saw it had the standard 600 brakes fitted and not the AX-parapull brakes. Those look pretty nifty.
As to the steel: its 2040, and apparently – I found this info in another thread –*it's of higher quality than 1020 but still inferior to ChroMo.
@Chombi: the group deployed is a mix of Shimano 600ax, which was specifically designed to fit aero frames, and standard 600. As Ih have gathered, the 600 is the predecessor to the Ultegra which emerged from the 600 series. So it's actually just one line behind the Dura-Ace. Correct me if I'm wrong. I was actually a bit disappointed when I saw it had the standard 600 brakes fitted and not the AX-parapull brakes. Those look pretty nifty.
Chombi
84 Peugeot PSV
