Wow, is that a lilac TC? I didn't know that was a thing.

Yup! Here it is. I think I saw it in a 1978 catalog. Fantasic bike!

Link didn't work for me.

I am perplexed. According to the Bulgier catalog archive, the TC was orange/531 through '76, then team blue/753 in '77, then brilliant blue/Columbus for a couple years, then in the '80's it was a darker blue.

The script on yours looks identical to my 1978, but yours seems to be 531.

Yup.

I am looking at this Le Champion, considering buying it. Can someone help me ID which year this is? That's the only pic i got...

Based on the color and top tube graphics, I'd say 1974. Looks like someone put some random stickers on the ST and DT.

Looks nice. If it's the right size and price, I'd buy it.

Who in their right mind would buy a 40 year old purple steel French bicycle?

Who in their right mind wouldn't?

Pretty sure this is just about the last thing the folks at Motobecane would have had in mind when they built this frame some forty-odd years ago:

^ excellent photography.

It appears that you're in the wrong forum my friend!

I'm sure there is a Carbon Fiber Reinforced Plastic group somewhere?




I had 2 Lilac 1974-75 Motobecane Le Champion frames - a 58cm and a 55cm... Just sold the 58cm frame a few months ago because it was a little too big for me.




Crawling back under my bridge.... The bike in question posted by [MENTION=350419]automa1971[/MENTION] appears to be silver not lilac and looks like it could be about a 1973-76 Motoconfort. The decal on the down tube on that bike is probably from the shop that originally sold it or maybe a shop sponsored amateur team.



Motobecane produced Motoconfort bikes for the European and UK markets. A few found their way to the US. They were always slightly different than the corresponding Motobecane models: different lugs, fork crowns, dropouts and components. The Motoconfort frame pictured would be the equivalent the 1974 to 1976 Motobecane Grand Jubile.


The 1974, 75 and 76 Motobecane Le Champion bikes used the same frames as the Team Champion/Champion Team bikes from those years. The only difference was the Le Champions had half chrome for blades and came in Lilac color (with variations - brownish to pinkish - see my Le Champion frame pictures above).

In 1976 Moto offered Le Champion bikes in silver but there were still some lilac ones in the pipeline.



There were also a few late 1973 early 1974 silver Le Champions sold with the earlier style frames that they built prior to 1974. They had Campy dropouts with fender eyelets, Vagner fork crowns and domed ends on the fork blades and rear stays.




A very few of the 1973 and and early 1974 Team BIC orange Team Champion/Champion Team bikes came with 1/2 chromed forks.




In the late 70's Motobecane made a light purple metallic Le Champion with maroon horizontal stripes - probably for the European market. Never seen one in the wild but several have been listed on eBay over the past few years.

verktyg

Chas.

This bike pictured above is a Lilac 1974 Le Champion that someone glued a later style plastic Motobecane badge onto the head tube.



Why is it a 1974? Reynolds changed their decals in 1974 and added a gold "address box" under the black rectangle. So if the Reynolds decal is original, it's a 1974.




In the late 1970's Motobecane got creative with their colors and decal schemes. Bikes were painted the "colour de jour", especially for the European market.

Prior to that Ben Lawee the US Moto importer kept a handle on the colors and decals to help insure brand name recognition... Plus it was easier to maintain inventory with fewer options.


The original 1974-76 "Team Replica" Motos built for the US market were labeled Team Champion while the ones for the European market were called Champion Team. By either name, they were very rare bikes. I'd only seen 2 or 3 in the wild during the 1970's.

From the early 1970's when Motobecane partnered with BIC the team bikes were painted BIC orange and were all made of Reynolds 531. In 1977 Motobecane built a small number of sky blue Champion Team frames with Reynolds 753 tubing.



Moto got into a piss'n contest with Reynolds over 753 tubing and lost. From then on all of the Team Champion/Champion Team replica frames were made with Columbus SL tubing! So who won and who lost!

From 1978 until 1980 or 81 the team replica bikes were painted light metallic blue.



In 1982 they switched to a dark metallic blue which they used until at least 1985 before Moto turned keel up...

verktyg

Chas.

Hehe.
Sorry but my post was tongue in cheek aimed at Rootboy as he was kind enough to sell and ship me his amazing '75 lilac Le Champion.
I am having it assembled and can't wait to shelve my new Specialized in favor of it.
I don't think he is in the business of buying and selling bikes but if anyone has the chance to deal with him I would highly suggest it as he was amazing throughout the whole process. A true gentleman!

I initially posted this in the eBay/Craigslist thread, but it might find a more receptive audience here:


Motobecane Team Champion 1978 53 cm

@eschlwc, thank you.

(Not that they would have necessarily objected)

I will be looking for a pump for my '74 Le Champ. My son has the same bike and the pump he got with his has a plastic handle and some other plastic parts. Is that a newer pump or is that the way they were making them in the 70's? Thx...

Is it a Silca pump? Those were the classic frame fit pump back in the day. They work but are a little delicate.

I like the current Zefal HpX pumps. They are built well and work when you need them.

Yep. I might take a look at the Zefal as well as the Silca's. Thanks...

What's anyone take for tools on a day ride on your Le Champion? I'm working my way up to maybe 60-miles (not there yet, just back on bikes after about 20 years off) and need to put a reasonable kit together. I'm thinking a couple of allen wrenches, a 10mm wrench, tire irons, patch kit & spare tube, pump, anything else? Spoke wrench I guess?

When I purchased this frame it had the rear drops spread to 130 and the brake bridges drilled. Two sets of water bottle cage bosses had been added as well. Paint was marginal.
I first had Campagnolo Athena 11 speed installed but that group moved to my Colnago. The frame was in storage for a few years until recently. I had top tube brake guides added as well as rack mounts on the fork.
Running 8 speed indexed. First impression of this build is that it will be a favorite. May need to invest in a good paint job.


Motobecane Le Champion by djk762, on Flickr

I don't think I knew they made a Le Champ in that paint scheme - my favorite. Have been looking for a G.R. to get that paint job. Love it...

had to click the link and zoom in to see a great looking bicycle with its original paint. not sure how you addressed the top tube after the cable guides were brazed. but it looks damn good from here.

I would defer to verktyg as he knows a whole lot more than most of us. My 2 cents worth is drawn to what little of the head tube emblem that I can see. From what is visible, i would infer the upside down house plastic emblem, which would put things in the early 70's (72 - 73). If memory serves, 74 moved over to a round emblem. Colors, however, don't seem to support my estimation. Did you get a look at the rear campy date code?

Dangling carrot of a 1978, one owner, receipt. AZ
Curious, what was the final year of the LC for US market?

Motobecane Le Champion | eBay

Love the MGB in the background!