From an ugly duckling to a beautiful swan! This probably belongs in the "before and after" thread and I will put it there later but wanted to share this project with it's own thread for awhile. This is a 1972 Grand record which I purchased in a pretty worn out condition from a Goodwill auction in Indianapolis. I think I paid about $150 for it strictly based on a few poorly presented pictures, (didn't even know the size but thought it was close to my size....it is). Paint was really shot, derailleur hangar was broken off and the derailleur had been remounted using a claw, the seat tube had been damaged by, what I guess, was a too small seat post moving back and forth and really gouging out the tube. Original Universal brakes had been replaced by a generic set of Dia Compes, everything was of course filthy dirty. So here it was as I picked it up:







As usual, when these kind of projects come along, I spent many days trying to determine what the fate of this ol' girl was going to be. Thought about making my first single speed out of it, thought about just trying to flip it for a couple of bucks, and thought about just cleaning it up and keeping it as is. I thought the patina was pretty cool but all the frame damage was not. After many google searches and seeing a couple here on BF I became intrigued by the rarer yellow and black paint scheme that Motobecane put on a few early Grand records. I have a long distance friend who is a little of a Motobecane nut and sent me several pics he collected of this scheme. So I decided I was going to send it to Franklin Frames in Ohio who had painted a Gitane for me in the past and asked if he could duplicate the scheme, pinstripes, lug outline and all. I purchased decals from Cyclemondo and had them sent to the painter.

In the meantime I began searching and refurbishing parts to put the bike back together. All parts to be reused got cleaned and polished, wheels were disassembled polished and rebuilt with new DT butted spokes, purchased a used set of Universal brakes and repro hoods, new Koolstop brake pads to replace the atrocious universal pads, Had to find a replacement head badge as the original cracked into pieces at the paint shop and of course new tape and cables. The bike is rounded out by a new set of Pasellas and a really nice vintage Brooks Professional I found

I have a couple of details left to finish like clips and straps on the pedals and changing the SR seatpost out when my new one arrives but after an intial test ride today I got a little excited to show it off, so here is the first "after" shot I have taken.
What ya all thank********************???

Thats a a beautiful job. Well done.

Beautiful bike. Nice work

WOWZOO

Looking great WTG. Very nice indeed. How did you treat the broken derailleur hanger? And, may I ask T, which Kool Stops fit the Universal holders?

Nice bike.

Wow!!! Night and day difference! Very nice
The bike is beautiful, can you comment on Franklin, are they good to work with?

Cheers,
Chris

Gorgeous! Glad you brought that old Moto back to life. Enjoy.

I really like how you went to such lengths to restore this to original GR specs,wtgrantham... From what would have been just a junk frame to this beautiful specimen. Kudos.

"How did you treat the broken derailleur hanger? And, may I ask T, which Kool Stops fit the Universal holders?"

Painter was able to braze on the bottom eyelet of the hangar which was broken off cleanly. Will have to pull out the Kool Stop package and see which model I put on there

"can you comment on Franklin, are they good to work with?"

I have gotten to know Jack Franklin over the last few years as he is painting my 3rd frame for me and repairing an issue on a fourth and I would consider him a friend, I enjoy vintage bikes,he paints and repairs them and he enjoys craft beer, I am a brewer by trade! He is very typical of frame painters I have met, a little hard to get a conversation going with and can take a long time getting the job finished. I just never let myself get in a hurry, don't push the issue and I am happy with the results.

Well done!!!

I think it's beautiful, A+ restauration.

Rootboy,
Here are the Kool Stops I used on my Universal Center pull brakes. They work beautifully and look good on vintage as well!

https://harriscyclery.net/product/koo...er-kit-471.htm

My first shop "demo" was one of the yellow/black ones. (Lafayette Indiana Pedal & Pack Shop) Toured all over Indiana that summer. Then the next season I got the black/red one. Which to this day is one of my all-time favorite bikes. Someday I hope to find another.

Yours brings back many fond memories and is exquisite!

Ah. Thanks WTG! I was thinking you replaced inserts into the old Universal shoes/holders. Doesn't seem to be a KS fit for that. Thank you.

Beautiful restoration of this Motobecane. You did an excellent job and I hope you get the enjoyment you rightly deserve from the bicycle.

Bill

VERY NICE! My first precision bike was a yellow 72-73 very similar to yours. You got it just right. I appreciate details like the stay stripes and the accuracy of where each color goes on the yellow bike... It was different from the black or silver options.

If you ever get tired of it, my Moto rescue shelter always has room for one more.

-Tom

A superb restoration. I would like to replace my 1972 Motobecane Grand Jubile, given to my nephew in 1985, with something similar to what you have. Did you tally the total cost of the restoration thus far?

HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA
Are you serious? That's not information I want to keep track of!!
No, just kidding, obviously the paint was the expensive part Probably in the $400+ range but I was able to do some trade to offset that cost, making beer for a living has it's benefits! I had to buy some Universal brakes, levers and hoods, some TA crank dust covers, new centerpull brake hangar hardware, new spokes because I rebuilt the wheels, tires, cables, and chain. Probably between $600-700 I would guess

Fantastic transformation! I love mine!


12 016 by barnstormerbikes, on Flickr