This thread gives me the impression that a lot of you are crazy about Motobecanes.




^ You look like you gained quite a bit of weight there, BD.

Anybody looks fat reflected in a Crane bell? And it's one heavy hunk of brass. The bike would be under 24 pounds if I took it off.,,,,BD

I think they did that to keep thier kids from riding them...

bump.

got pix?

Nah... they made child sized bikes too. Here is a 1975 catalog photo showing models with 24" and 18" wheels:



Perhaps the larger sized bikes survived better because there were fewer tall guys to pass them along to as 2nd (and 3rd,... 4th...) owners?

The top racing models were available for import to the US in 20" 21" 22" 23" 24" 25" frame sizes (roughly 50cm. to 64cm.)... But, by the 1970s, as a nation, US males were generally a bit taller than the average European rider. So maybe more frames in larger sizes were actually brought into the US simply due to demand.

Consider too that it was customary to ride bikes with taller frames and not much seatpost showing - well into the 1980s. "A fist-full of seatpost" was the rule of thumb used by many bike shops when sizing their customers for suitable bikes. Check out the seatpost length on this bike in the same 1975 catalog...

https://www.flickr.com/photos/23088419@N03/

Tres Moto buzzybelmondo.



DSCN1241 by ncaudreyt, on Flickr

Here's my full Campy 1980 Motobecane Le Champion that I purchased from the original owner about ten years ago. All that had been changed on it when I bought it was the rear rim (which he has changed after it was bent).
I swapped out the saddle and put new Hutchinson tires on it... that's it. I rarely use it, but have been offered $1,000 for it. I'll never sell it, as frames in my tall size are hard to come by. Rides great!

BTW, is the Phillipe stem original to the bike?

Fred

Unknown year Super Touring-a work in progress. Rubber bar covers. Had a broken suntour rdr-fw was shot-and the centerpull weinmanns were oxidized badly. Still need a couple of cables....

She's a real frankenbike...only thing original is the Ideale saddle and the paint. But I love her, she's a great around-the-town ride (and the saddle is more comfy than it looks). '78 Grand Jubile (rear dropout weld repair and all):

my hero


scan by stronglight. and if you haven't seen his motos, you owe it to yourself:
https://www.flickr.com/search/?w=1191...8&q=motobecane

here's mine (75/76 gr)



it looks a helluva lot better now that i added the vo padded honey toe clip straps and leather bits.

Egad . I almost missed the chance to post my 75 LeChampion in this picture thread.

Very nice Auchen! I recently took some new shots of mine after the new bar treatment and finally got around to posting them tonight. Opened the thread and thought I was hallucinating - nice to pair the two together.

Oh wow Badger_biker!
What were the chances of TWO lilac Le Champs popping up back-to-back?

You have a wonderful bike there ! (Trust me - I speak with authority on this. )

That bike doesn't suck! I love the tasteful color and visual appeal...it looks refined.

I'm really glad to see this thread was so popular. Lots of Moto lovers out there, and deservedly so. About the question concerning the tubing these bikes were made from, my 1978 Super Mirage was 2040. Much heavier than my current Grand Jubilee, but I personally liked the ride better.

Martin

This looks more like mid-70s to me. Compares with Auchen, rootboy, badgerbiker's bikes. The 1980 was gunmetal gray according to the catalog spec, and nowhere near as pretty as yours.
https://bulgier.net/pics/bike/Catalogs/Motobecane/80/

I agree Due Ruote. 1975 , I'd say. The Silver Lilac color was only mentioned in the 1975 catalog, as the only option. May have been available in '74, but the specs say nothing about colors. In 1976 only silver is mentioned. And yes, OldBike, that Philippe stem is original to the bike. Catalog page from Stronglight's collection on Flickr.
https://www.flickr.com/photos/strongl...57602014094812

That looks like a well-kept, and TALL Moto. very nice.

Another mid '70s Le Champion

Martin, would you mind supplying the serial number(s)? I've started a Motobecane Serial Number Database thread, int he hopes of decrypting the Moto S/N format. TIA.

One of the last built with MOTOBECANE stickers in France after...... the bankrupty of the factory; it was market under the name "RESEAU MOTOBECANE"

The bike was built in 1986....after it was bought by YAMAHA, the factory has built bicycles and scoots under the name of MBK.....Now, there is no more MOTOBECANE built in France.