velofinds

Can anyone confirm that the Le Champ takes a French-threaded bottom bracket?

Many thanks.

rootboy 

What year? I can only confirm that mine does. French threaded throughout. 1975 model.

Ah, just looked at the pic of yours. Most likely French thread. Is it a Campy BB? Or TA? Stronglight?
Campy will be easy as they're marked , but others ??? Not.

crank_addict

1972 here. Swiss threaded.

velofinds

Dumb question, but are Swiss and French threads compatible?

crank_addict

^Believe so, but the right side or fixed cup on the Swiss type is LH thread.

edit: Oop's for my dyslexic reply but meant the same pitch and diameter's, just different direction.

Also, first time I learned of it last year when acquired my LeChampion. Wasn't even aware they had made them but lucked out having a Phil cartridge bb.

noglider 

The adjustable cup is identical. The fixed cup has the same dimensions and thread pitch but, as crank_addict says, the thread is opposite, making it incompatible.

velofinds

Thanks all. So to confirm, assuming my '72 is Swiss threaded like crank_addict's, I would need to search for a crankset that takes Swiss threading?

crank_addict

No! Strictly speaking of the bottom bracket, and unless you have a reason to remove the 'fixed' cup side (crank end), just leave it as is. Do whatever service you need on the bottom bracket, reassemble.

Now if you are starting only with a stripped down frame, indeed need to verify the thread type and direction. A simple way is to visually inspect closely or by feel, the rotation of the bb shell (crank side). If Swiss type, the rotation is left to tighten, right rotation to remove. Should be able to feel that simply by your finger.

Once you confirm the bottom bracket threads, then seek a spindle and compatible crank and with regards to clearance of the chainstay's, etc.

rydero765

It's been a long time coming and I've looked all over, but I just can't figure out what year my champ could be....

Full Nuovo Record, and originally a Philippe stem and handlebar.

What really throws me off is the paint job, never seen any like it. It appears to have been repainted or had decals removed (except for the little "Le Champion" on the top tube.

Any help would be greatly appreciated
(Not sure why the pics are upside down

due ruote 

Looks like a '79 to me with most of the brown stripes removed. Specs list the color as 'champagne gold.'

Full '79 catalog: https://bulgier.net/pics/bike/catalogs/Motobecane/79/

Le Champion page:

https://bulgier.net/pics/bike/catalogs/Motobecane/79/11_le_champion_79.jpg


Btw your crankset appears to be a Gran Sport, not Nuovo Record.

rydero765

Ah absolutely correct, thank you, due ruote!

mark_m

Nice stylization. What size tires are you running?

I just picked up mine two days ago, I believe a '74, and will be doing a few things over the coming year. First will be tires and I'm thinking about Gran Bois Cypres 30's or whatever they are.

As soon as I can figure it out I will probably want to give myself some easier gearing but I don't know the ins and outs of that with these bikes and the best way to approach that. I'm in a great area (Petaluma CA) for beautiful country riding out to the coast and about, but I've been off bikes for about 15 years and am getting up there in years so my legs aren't quite what they used to be. Or nowhere near to be honest

Anyway yeah a lot of beautiful bikes here!

rootboy 

And yours is a beauty too, Mark_m. Looks very well preserved. Sort of a interesting component mix on it. Pat. 11 derailleur (86?), and it looks like matching front, later MAFAC brakes, and Super Record chain rings. Neat bike.

As for gearing, keep in mind the max rear cog size for that derailleur was listed at 26 teeth. But you can get away with 28 if you're careful with setup.
I have (had) a 14-28 on mine, and it worked OK.

mark_m

Thanks and thanks for the info. I assumed the brakes were later when I was buying it but this page, first paragraph, makes me think they could be correct.

I'll figure out what cogs I have and look into finding others. I'd assume I'd be replacing maybe the top 3 or so in order to have smoother transition from each to the next. I haven't really done that much work on bikes but I know swapping those out shouldn't be rocket science as long as nothing's frozen, and provided parts are available.

I suppose it's possible this is a nicely done parts bin bike but I don't really know, it's spooky how clean most of the parts are. It works very well from the brief ride I've had so far, very smooth and quiet. I'd like to find a correct fork for it. And I'm going to get larger tires right away...

velofinds

You have a beautiful bike as well, congratulations on the acquisition. I am running 700x32. The Grand Bois in 700x32 should be a great fit on (and match for) your bike.

mark_m

Excellent - very glad to hear, and thanks!

yadder

Wow wow wow!! Very very nice bike. I thought he very comfortable! I'm too such beaty want have!

rootboy 

I'm certainly no expert on these, and it's hard to tell exactly what year yours is, but I suspect 74 to 76. I would think 74, given the head badge. If so, the original brakes would have been Universal side pulls. Those on there now appear to be the later version (late 70's to early 80's) of the MAFAC Competition.
I hadn't noticed the fork until you mentioned it. Looks like from a Raleigh Pro, maybe? One clue would be loosening the top nut on the headset and look at the stamping on the underside.

mark_m

I'm coming to believe it's a '74 as well. Or at least the frame

I'm thinking about buying a Grand Record frame just for the fork which is I believe the same fork as for the LC. I've not done this sort of stuff before but there's a frame available that's a 59cm; mine's a 61 - would I need to somehow graft a new longer steering tube to make it work, and is that an easy-ish thing?

mark_m

Not finding the GB Cypres in stock. Have two emails into Compass. Any recommends for a similar alternative?

velofinds

Thank you, although if you spend enough time here in the Classic & Vintage forum (and even this very thread), you will see plenty of bikes that are much nicer

The closest alternative would be Compass' own offering in that same size:

https://www.compasscycle.com/shop/co...stampede-pass/

If not that, you could also look into the Fairweather Traveler (narrower, at 700x28) or the Jack Brown (slightly wider, at 700x33.3). The Jack Brown ought to fit (I have a hard time imagining that it wouldn't), but perhaps some of the other knowledgeable folks in this thread can comment.

I also personally like Challenge tires (the Paris-Roubaix in 700x27 and the Strada Bianca in 700x30, though both tires run wider than advertised), but they're a, um, challenge to mount, and people's experiences with them have not been universally positive.

billnuke1 

It's got a cool plasti-coating! 1974.
Also got the Team Champion at the same time. There may have been a Grand Record, too!

mark_m

I will probably give them a try - thanks

mark_m

Should have them in hand Friday...

toavii

I just love those lilac Motos. Have wanted one for quite a while. Beautiful bikes everyone, have a Grand Jubile but need a Le Champion in my life some day.