motogeek 

Based on the Motobecane script on the down tube and the red lugs/black head tube I would say your GR is a '72, not a '74. Does your RD have a patent date on it?

I have an identical GR from '72 but it is a 52cm frame. I have a 110mm Phillipe stem and a 42 cm handlebar on it. It fits my 5'8" body better. These are very comfortable bikes.

bikemig 

'72 is reynolds 531 main frame only. This had a reynolds stickers on the forks when I bought it but the sticker on the main triangle was gone. So maybe a '73? The RD does say '72 so perhaps a '72 that came near the end of the model year and Motobecane shifted to Reynolds 531 forks?

motogeek 

Mine has remnants of the Reynolds sticker on the fork but the frame sticker is 99% gone. The RD which i think is original, has a patent date of '72 on it. Your guess that it may be a late '72 could be accurate. Motobecane was famous for not documenting production changes and using whatever parts they had at the time to use up inventory.

RALEIGH_COMP

Been giving this scratched, dented, and rusted up old beast some more years to it's life. Just went through all the bearings and did a lot of cleaning of grime. Really interesting ride... definitely feels like a low end bike boom road bike! Even after deciding to splurge on nice tires, there's no hiding that unrefined feeling. But that being said, it also felt pretty stable once you're up to speed. And while it's no vibranium in terms of dampening, the buzz and flex of this frame stays consistent enough for you to stay confident and pointed the right way.

bikemig 

Interesting bike and interesting crank. That's a cottered triple, right? Are the rings TA copies?

Pavone

Hi, just noticed this thread. I’m a newbie so can’t post any pics yet but I have what I believe to be a Peugeot PA-10 frame, late ‘60s. Looks similar to a PX-10, white with lovely Nervex lugs in black, but has stamped dropouts and no RD hanger. I’ve been gathering parts to build it up as a resto-mod - some new parts, some period(ish) to retain its original character but with modern braking and shifting, although not brifters I hasten to add. Anyone else have a PA-10 of similar vintage?

rogerm3d

BACO frame with a Cycles Yvars headbadge. Labeled as 531 tubing but weighs in at 5.5lbs for a 58cm frame and fork (which in my experience is pretty light). For as many frames as BACO built there isn't too much information about them.

Tomm Willians

1976(?) Follis 472.

gthomson

Is that the original colour of this bike? I have a 1971 Apache Command painted some hideous burnt orange fusion and I was thinking of painting it with this colour and then painting the forks pastel orange. Kindeve like the Porsche formula 1 colours in the 60s

MarkinOz

Just off to have a look at this 1980 Grand Sprint being offered for sale:








Looks to be all original although will wait and see how bad the rust is.
Thoughts welcome....

repechage

You might find the geonetry on this is almost the same or exactly the same as one of your similar sized Lejeune road bikes.

El Chaba

My Meral....a French “Campagnolo bike”...That is Campagnolo equipped with a few French parts that they always would sneak in for various reasons. This a really nice-riding bike. I love the French bikes from the early 80s when they started building in an Italian style, but still retained a very French personality....

Kabuki12

I just got my 1980 Grand Sprint back from powder coat and it looks great. I will be building it up in the next couple of weeks. I will post pictures when it is complete. They look to be reasonably well made and light. There is a member on here that has a blue one with some Campagnolo components and loves the bike. I got mine a couple of years ago for $20 without wheels , otherwise complete but a little surface rust on a fiery orange paint job which the powder painter matched. Good Luck! Joe

CV-6 

I have noticed that on most Lejeune track frames. They seem to have road bike geometry. Not sure if economics were involved or what. Frame has remains of 531 on fork and seat tube, so it was not lower end. It would seem to be a Carré built frame and I get a kick out of the crudeness on the ends. It's just a tool, not a work of art. Got my headset issue resolved by ditching the caged bearings on the top.

85campione

I have a super-rare 1980s French Bike, but cannot post the pic until I have 10 posts. I don't want to say too much about it until I can post the pics. So I feel pretty worthless right now, more like an FNG than a newbie.

BFisher 

That'd be me with the blue GS. Mine's a 23" and weighs right around 23.5 pounds. It originally came with 27" wheels and Shimano Altus changers. I have swapped in 700c wheels, the current set using Campy Record hubs and Wolber GTX rims, and had plenty of adjustment at the brake calipers. The stock Weinmann sidepulls can be greatly helped by using modern Shimano Ultegra brake pads and good cables with lined housing. I also run Campy NR derailleurs and shifters. To me the bike was totally worth the changes I've made. It rides beautifully. Also helps that it fits me really well.

Good luck with yours @Kabuki12 and @MarkinOz.

MarkinOz

Kabuki12 BFisher This Grand Sprint was a “fixer upper“ for sure but unfortunately it had been in contact with the pavement on a fall and the front forks were out of line. The bike originally had been imported to Cambridge, MA and then shipped to Sydney. Australia. Shame, but I walked away.

con50582

This bike in the photo is a Profil. It is the Time Trial bike the team used till the Delta.

As far as the Pro/Replica the cable begins to be routed from under the tube in 86. This shows up in the 1987 catalogs. By the 87 Tour the team is riding the white black and yellow Gitanes that appear in the 88 catalog as Replicas.

Markeologist

Good call on the Profil...I don't see the aero head or down tubes but makes sense given Bernard there is at start of a time trial. In my posts on routing, I'm clear about "production" bikes. Where do you see the bottom routing in 86? Not a challenge, I love getting new data.

Also, will need T-Mar to weigh in on location of this photo of Laurent and confirm 87 date (its dated as 87) ... bike is clearly still blue but what race?

repechage

I have long ago taken my Lejeune to the track. Was pretty decent. A club mate had one in my size range even, but never got the chance to buy it from him.
Took his own life at 27, could not bring myself to ask the family later.
Angel dust is Bad. Was very sad to see him at one point, the lights were on, but nobody was home.

curbtender

Never saw a steering set up like that. Does it have a slot in the head tube?

* https://www.gitaneusa.com/models_6.asp

con50582

87 Tour de France.



April 1986 Fleche Wallone. Cable routed under.

The team bikes went under in 1985.

Photo credit on the photo.

Pretty sure this red Gitane was special made for a tennis player in 86.

Markeologist

[QUOTE=con50582;21986178]87 Tour de France.


Above you indicate that Systeme U was riding white bikes in 87 TdF but then your date for this photo indicates they were on blue bikes?? Were the time trial bikes left in blue while the standard stage bikes were in white?

con50582

Yes. The TT bikes were the old paint scheme. The road bikes were the new white.

Mottet same stage 10 TT.

When Fignon went over the rail.

Mottet with Roche.


Paris Nice March1987

jimmuller 

You want French? I've posted this before but it has been a while. From this morning's ride:



A PF10. The frame was sold to me as a PFN10. Since it no longer has clincher tires the N designation is no longer valid. The equipment is original type except that the original chainrings probably were not black.