Motobecane Identification?
#1
Thread Starter
Senior Member
Joined: Aug 2009
Posts: 812
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From: Mississippi Coast
Bikes: 198? Raleigh Technium 480, 1970 Raleigh Sports, Motobecane Nomade Sprint
Motobecane Identification?
I've looked through catalogs and I've searched the forums but can't figure out what model of Motobecane I have. I can't seem to narrow it down based on the images and specs in the old catalogs. There is no paint left on the frame and no markings of any kind that I can tell beside the Motobecane headbadge on the front. On a lot of the catalog pictures the rear brake cable is routed on top of the top tube, but on mine it goes on the bottom of the top tube. I also am not sure if they are the stock handlebars or not. I saw some in the catalogs that had similar handlebars.
Distinguishing features that I think would be important:
Suntour stem shifters
Suntour V-GT Derailleur
Pics


Distinguishing features that I think would be important:
Suntour stem shifters
Suntour V-GT Derailleur
Pics


#6
aka Tom Reingold




Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 44,126
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From: New York, NY, and High Falls, NY, USA
Bikes: 1962 Rudge Sports, 1971 Raleigh Super Course, 1971 Raleigh Pro Track, 1974 Raleigh International, 1975 Viscount Fixie, 1982 McLean, 1996 Lemond (Ti), 2002 Burley Zydeco tandem
More pictures, please, with close-ups?
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Tom Reingold, tom@noglider.com
New York City and High Falls, NY
Blogs: The Experienced Cyclist; noglider's ride blog
“When man invented the bicycle he reached the peak of his attainments.” — Elizabeth West, US author
Please email me rather than PM'ing me. Thanks.
Tom Reingold, tom@noglider.com
New York City and High Falls, NY
Blogs: The Experienced Cyclist; noglider's ride blog
“When man invented the bicycle he reached the peak of his attainments.” — Elizabeth West, US author
Please email me rather than PM'ing me. Thanks.
#8
aka Tom Reingold




Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 44,126
Likes: 6,342
From: New York, NY, and High Falls, NY, USA
Bikes: 1962 Rudge Sports, 1971 Raleigh Super Course, 1971 Raleigh Pro Track, 1974 Raleigh International, 1975 Viscount Fixie, 1982 McLean, 1996 Lemond (Ti), 2002 Burley Zydeco tandem
Fork crown, head tube, bottom bracket, seat lug, fork tips, rear dropouts.
__________________
Tom Reingold, tom@noglider.com
New York City and High Falls, NY
Blogs: The Experienced Cyclist; noglider's ride blog
“When man invented the bicycle he reached the peak of his attainments.” — Elizabeth West, US author
Please email me rather than PM'ing me. Thanks.
Tom Reingold, tom@noglider.com
New York City and High Falls, NY
Blogs: The Experienced Cyclist; noglider's ride blog
“When man invented the bicycle he reached the peak of his attainments.” — Elizabeth West, US author
Please email me rather than PM'ing me. Thanks.
#10
Thread Starter
Senior Member
Joined: Aug 2009
Posts: 812
Likes: 2
From: Mississippi Coast
Bikes: 198? Raleigh Technium 480, 1970 Raleigh Sports, Motobecane Nomade Sprint
Here's a link to the gallery of my bikes. All the close ups are at the end.
https://picasaweb.google.com/klundry/...eat=directlink
https://picasaweb.google.com/klundry/...eat=directlink
#11
aka Tom Reingold




Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 44,126
Likes: 6,342
From: New York, NY, and High Falls, NY, USA
Bikes: 1962 Rudge Sports, 1971 Raleigh Super Course, 1971 Raleigh Pro Track, 1974 Raleigh International, 1975 Viscount Fixie, 1982 McLean, 1996 Lemond (Ti), 2002 Burley Zydeco tandem
OK, I think it's a Mirage, because the hubs look original, and the rear hub has nuts, not a quick release.
Putting the front basket on will be tricky, but it's worth trying. So are fenders. I think it will make a nice utility bike. And do some experiments: see what happens to the handling when you add weight on the back and on the front. I want to see where the bike prefers the weight.
As I said in the other thread, my Mirage preferred it on the front, which was a surprise. Handling actually improved with weight on the front. And the bike turned more by steering than by leaning. I notice French mopeds are like that, too.
Putting the front basket on will be tricky, but it's worth trying. So are fenders. I think it will make a nice utility bike. And do some experiments: see what happens to the handling when you add weight on the back and on the front. I want to see where the bike prefers the weight.
As I said in the other thread, my Mirage preferred it on the front, which was a surprise. Handling actually improved with weight on the front. And the bike turned more by steering than by leaning. I notice French mopeds are like that, too.
__________________
Tom Reingold, tom@noglider.com
New York City and High Falls, NY
Blogs: The Experienced Cyclist; noglider's ride blog
“When man invented the bicycle he reached the peak of his attainments.” — Elizabeth West, US author
Please email me rather than PM'ing me. Thanks.
Tom Reingold, tom@noglider.com
New York City and High Falls, NY
Blogs: The Experienced Cyclist; noglider's ride blog
“When man invented the bicycle he reached the peak of his attainments.” — Elizabeth West, US author
Please email me rather than PM'ing me. Thanks.
#12
Thread Starter
Senior Member
Joined: Aug 2009
Posts: 812
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From: Mississippi Coast
Bikes: 198? Raleigh Technium 480, 1970 Raleigh Sports, Motobecane Nomade Sprint
Interesting. Well, I'll let you know how it handles when when/if I get that basket on. I've had things on the rear rack, but nothing too heavy. I honestly haven't noticed a difference with stuff on the rack.
Are you into mopeds too? I used to be really into them, and I still kind of am I just don't have the money to buy them. Bikes are cheaper, haha. I had a Murray moped for a while, which is a rebadged Puch. I also had a Tomos that my dad has now and currently I have a Honda MB5. It's not technically a moped, but it has a 50cc engine.
Are you into mopeds too? I used to be really into them, and I still kind of am I just don't have the money to buy them. Bikes are cheaper, haha. I had a Murray moped for a while, which is a rebadged Puch. I also had a Tomos that my dad has now and currently I have a Honda MB5. It's not technically a moped, but it has a 50cc engine.
#13
aka Tom Reingold




Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 44,126
Likes: 6,342
From: New York, NY, and High Falls, NY, USA
Bikes: 1962 Rudge Sports, 1971 Raleigh Super Course, 1971 Raleigh Pro Track, 1974 Raleigh International, 1975 Viscount Fixie, 1982 McLean, 1996 Lemond (Ti), 2002 Burley Zydeco tandem
No, I've never driven or owned a moped. Way back in 1981, I took a three month bike tour of Europe. One month of it was in France, and lots of folks ride mopeds there. Or at least they did then. I noticed the way they handled just by observing. People would turn the handlebars and hardly leaned at all. I'm sure there's a reason they're designed that way, though I don't know it.
__________________
Tom Reingold, tom@noglider.com
New York City and High Falls, NY
Blogs: The Experienced Cyclist; noglider's ride blog
“When man invented the bicycle he reached the peak of his attainments.” — Elizabeth West, US author
Please email me rather than PM'ing me. Thanks.
Tom Reingold, tom@noglider.com
New York City and High Falls, NY
Blogs: The Experienced Cyclist; noglider's ride blog
“When man invented the bicycle he reached the peak of his attainments.” — Elizabeth West, US author
Please email me rather than PM'ing me. Thanks.






