My guess is, it was an early attempt at a biopace.

Better pictures of the '74 GT I built for my dad:

http://a2.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphot...51719275_n.jpg

http://a8.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphot...46995480_n.jpg

http://a5.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphot...72287689_n.jpg

http://a3.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphot...93909602_n.jpg

http://a1.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphot...35436644_n.jpg

Your Dad is a lucky guy.

That's some remarkably well preserved chrome on the Nervar crank arms and Lyotard pedals!

Great components, too. Slip-proof Suntour Power Shifters... and those Dura-Ace center-pulls had very square openings which allowed plenty of room for fenders and also looked very clean at the rear brake bridge.

With the adjusters on the brake levers (Dia-Compe?) you don't need the optional barrel adjusters on the cable hangers. They were always very difficult to adjust so your choice of those somewhat "newer" levers are a major improvement, yet they maintain the original period appearance of the bike.

The old Suntour Seven derailleurs shifted fine to begin with and using a modern freewheel with profiled teeth should make shifting even smoother.

Very Nice!

Those Pivo stems will actually polish out to a chrome like shine, if you work about 30 minutes to an hour on them. They keep the little dark creases though, which gives a cool antique effect if you're into that sort of thing. With a machine buffer they would probabaly be blinding! Nice ride!!!,,,,BD

I've been told this is a 1982 Jubilee Sport. It was brought over from France.

Thanks for the kind words. The crankset on the frame when I got it--very lucky. The pedals I got NOS on eBay. The idea is fenders and possibly a rack could be added in the future.

That's a good tip on the stem. I have a dremel that might work for polishing--have to ask the old man how he'd feel about it.

You'd be using a LOT of dremel wheels, unless you started by hand and went most of the way first. The dremel might work well for the lugged looking part.,,,,BD

The "brought home" condition of my Grand Record. I think it will shock a few people with its tranformation. After pics coming as soon as I get it done, maybe next weekend, unless I take it to work for pictures.,,,,BD

At the end is the CL pic....still can't believe it wasn't a Mirage, hehe.

http://i114.photobucket.com/albums/n.../GCbefore1.jpg

http://i114.photobucket.com/albums/n.../GCbefore2.jpg

http://i114.photobucket.com/albums/n.../GCbefore4.jpg

http://i114.photobucket.com/albums/n...ysterybike.jpg

Wow, that's what I call a score. Lovely bike!

Please help me understand here, Stronglight. You mention your bike is the same color as BD63's. I see two different colors of blue, yet you mentioned you tried to preserve the enamel.
Has the bike been re-painted? Beautiful, regardless. Thx.

1977 50cm Motobecane Mirage Mixte


https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-Y...8995.jpg?gl=US

https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-y...8955.jpg?gl=US

^ Lookin' good!

And it's done, "for now"! It's been a long time coming, hehe. A long long time.... The ride is amazing. and everything I hoped it woud be. Fits like a dream too.,,,,BD

Can anybody spare a set of Universal levers and a TA crank?

http://i114.photobucket.com/albums/n...r/DSCN4470.jpg

http://i114.photobucket.com/albums/n...r/DSCN4471.jpg

http://i114.photobucket.com/albums/n...r/DSCN4472.jpg

http://i114.photobucket.com/albums/n...r/DSCN4474.jpg

http://i114.photobucket.com/albums/n...r/DSCN4473.jpg

Gorgeous bike BD ! :thumb:

Thanks! Imagine my surprise when I found the catalog specs page on Flickr, and learned one of the possible original brakes were The Uni Mod 61's, which I had already mocked up on the bike? I was also more than surprised to see they originally had Nitto stems and bars? I had always thought it was Pivos and Philippes which I have one it now. I may try to remedy that soon, although with new parts instead of vintage. Idk though, I kind of like the lugged look too.,,,,BD

Glad you asked. The difference in color is due to different lighting conditions. The more... uh... "blue" was take indoors with a flash. The more turquoise hue was taken outdoors - either in shade or on an overcast day.

Since the subject has been raised... One of the fascinating things about the color is that it truly appears to change color. That's not at all what I meant to say; of course, it doesn't really alter it's state like a mood ring (remember those?). I mean that it is perceived differently depending on the light source. Indoors under typical household incandescent lights it can appear to be a rather deep Teal, but it will lighten to almost a Turquoise outdoors. No fancy prismatic embedded paint or metallic underlay involved, just plain old French enamel.

Very interesting Stronglight! Thank you guyz for all the perfect photos ,right now i have the feeling that motobecanes are the most beautiful bikes out there :love:
! I am very impressed :thumb:

Here's my Grand Jubile:

http://collinsacks.smugmug.com/Other...SC01836-XL.jpg

-Collin-

Yes, very interesting indeed. The French chameleon blue paint.

I have this same yellow one, locate in Garden Grove, CA

What kind of framing materials have Motobecanes been made out of? I see most of the ones on here are 531 where I can see the stickers...

They still sell new Motobecanes. Does anyone have pictures of those? I am curious to see what the current stock setups are like.

Awesome build. The polished stem really is nice.

The other main material that Moto used was Vitus tubing, in a few different grades. The Motobecanes being made now aren't related to the old ones (I think) . I believe it was a case of the brand being sold.

^ That's correct. The modern Motos are made in Asia.

The green GT I posted above is made of 1020, but it rides like the fancy stuff.