Oh c'mon... Show me your Motobecane!
#276
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Here is my unknown model 50's randonneur as found, poorly painted in gold with bent fork and Peugeot decals:

It's missing both lights and dynamo a period correct leather seat new tires cables pads grease and a pump

Clearly a Motobecane despite the Peugeot decals The fork is bent as well as the down tube which is exaggerated by the picture. I was only able to straighten the fork stearer tube
And here is the bike now:

The fenders are probably not original but they are in decent condition. The leather seat is a period correct Motobecane. I changed all spokes and cables, repacked all bearings with fresh grease and new balls, but I need to source a pump in the correct length. Bother lights are LED equiped soubitez and radio powered by a dynamo, more powerful than old bulbs.
The racks were the only part kept gold.
For the frame, I went back to bare metal, applied stencils and cold blue treatment before varnish.

Headtube

Downtube
It's a sweet and comfy ride, and I love the derailleurs, the front one is a "suicide" one operated by a lever rather than a cable, the rear one is an early Huret tourist compact, cable operated that works in the opposite direction compared to modern ones, more tension to move the chain down to smaller cogs.
I've also restored an interclub tandem, but this one being too tall for me to ride is used by the younger couple in the house and they are loving it.

It's missing both lights and dynamo a period correct leather seat new tires cables pads grease and a pump

Clearly a Motobecane despite the Peugeot decals The fork is bent as well as the down tube which is exaggerated by the picture. I was only able to straighten the fork stearer tube
And here is the bike now:

The fenders are probably not original but they are in decent condition. The leather seat is a period correct Motobecane. I changed all spokes and cables, repacked all bearings with fresh grease and new balls, but I need to source a pump in the correct length. Bother lights are LED equiped soubitez and radio powered by a dynamo, more powerful than old bulbs.
The racks were the only part kept gold.
For the frame, I went back to bare metal, applied stencils and cold blue treatment before varnish.

Headtube

Downtube
It's a sweet and comfy ride, and I love the derailleurs, the front one is a "suicide" one operated by a lever rather than a cable, the rear one is an early Huret tourist compact, cable operated that works in the opposite direction compared to modern ones, more tension to move the chain down to smaller cogs.
I've also restored an interclub tandem, but this one being too tall for me to ride is used by the younger couple in the house and they are loving it.
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It's a shame, because they are nice-looking.
I have one, *every*one I see pics of has cracked.
There was one on that auction site a while ago, NOS, cracked.
The cracks are in different places, but they pretty much all have a radial - from the bb axle hole - nature.
I think they are shrinkage cracks (which is why I think they were cast), that won't be the case if they were forged and then milled.
But were it mine I'd be having a good look at it with a loupe.
Anyway, here's an on-topic pic. This is one of my favourite rides recently. The crank (Nervar Star) is a 54-46-38 triple, some double versions came with a guard ring and those bolts are long enough to hold three rings. The innermost is a bit of a cheat, it's a Stronglight with elongated holes. Gearing all Huret, shifters are their ratchet versions in aluminium, wheels are Simplex Competition laced to Weinmann 27" with Panaracer Paselas. I did all the paint as well, when I got it it was white and badged as a "Dynamax Concorde" and had been neglected and further messily spray-bombed white.
I wish it were a little smaller, but it goes and turns and stops just like I like it.

Last edited by oneclick; 07-17-22 at 05:39 AM.
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#280
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It caught my attention because I've noticed that Gian Robert cranks, which were cast (I believe) with that style of cut-out spider arms, all crack.
It's a shame, because they are nice-looking.
I have one, *every*one I see pics of has cracked.
There was one on that auction site a while ago, NOS, cracked.
The cracks are in different places, but they pretty much all have a radial - from the bb axle hole - nature.
I think they are shrinkage cracks (which is why I think they were cast), that won't be the case if they were forged and then milled.
But were it mine I'd be having a good look at it with a loupe.
Anyway, here's an on-topic pic. This is one of my favourite rides recently. The crank (Nervar Star) is a 54-46-38 triple, some double versions came with a guard ring and those bolts are long enough to hold three rings. The innermost is a bit of a cheat, it's a Stronglight with elongated holes. Gearing all Huret, shifters are their ratchet versions in aluminium, wheels are Simplex Competition laced to Weinmann 27" with Panaracer Paselas. I did all the paint as well, when I got it it was white and badged as a "Dynamax Concorde" and had been neglected and further messily spray-bombed white.
I wish it were a little smaller, but it goes and turns and stops just like I like it.

It's a shame, because they are nice-looking.
I have one, *every*one I see pics of has cracked.
There was one on that auction site a while ago, NOS, cracked.
The cracks are in different places, but they pretty much all have a radial - from the bb axle hole - nature.
I think they are shrinkage cracks (which is why I think they were cast), that won't be the case if they were forged and then milled.
But were it mine I'd be having a good look at it with a loupe.
Anyway, here's an on-topic pic. This is one of my favourite rides recently. The crank (Nervar Star) is a 54-46-38 triple, some double versions came with a guard ring and those bolts are long enough to hold three rings. The innermost is a bit of a cheat, it's a Stronglight with elongated holes. Gearing all Huret, shifters are their ratchet versions in aluminium, wheels are Simplex Competition laced to Weinmann 27" with Panaracer Paselas. I did all the paint as well, when I got it it was white and badged as a "Dynamax Concorde" and had been neglected and further messily spray-bombed white.
I wish it were a little smaller, but it goes and turns and stops just like I like it.

Nice re-do on the Grand Record. Whose decals did you use?
#281
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Mr. Softley's (www.cyclomondo.net):
Moto choices 2 C
Moto decals 1 Moto 3
Moto decals 1 Moto 6
Moto choices 4 L
531 French 3 tube and forks
The narrow gold bands on the fork and seat-tube are auto pin-striping tape; lug-lining with a fine-point oil-based pen.
Moto choices 2 C
Moto decals 1 Moto 3
Moto decals 1 Moto 6
Moto choices 4 L
531 French 3 tube and forks
The narrow gold bands on the fork and seat-tube are auto pin-striping tape; lug-lining with a fine-point oil-based pen.
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I own a silver with blue decals motobecane mixte "club" model.
I have been able to find some catalog scanned images that might include what information might help to identify what year it is or possibly what features it could have. If it didn't have all of the possible options to begin with. The problem is that the catalog is an image and not a pdf, and it was written in Deutsch so I can't translate it into English to be able to read it. Or find an already translated into English version of the information.
I would include pictures of the bike but I am not able to because this is my first comment on this site.
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#285
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‘77 Motobecane C4
Still in build process, no rush, just enjoying seeing it come alive. So I guess this bike is a keeper lol.
Yes the seat and plastic disc (only until happy with derailleur settings) will not be staying.
Last edited by awac; 05-10-23 at 03:08 PM.
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#286
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1981 Grand Touring. I like the way it rides.
I don't yet love the way it shifts, but if I can get it at least Chino-compatible and functioning well, I think I'll keep it old school.
And if I ever get my butt in gear for an Eroica type ride, I'll be in high cotton.
cheers -mathias
I don't yet love the way it shifts, but if I can get it at least Chino-compatible and functioning well, I think I'll keep it old school.
And if I ever get my butt in gear for an Eroica type ride, I'll be in high cotton.
cheers -mathias

#287
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This 1980 Grand Touring followed me home the other day. It was a pile of grimy and rusty parts out in front of someone's house with a "Free" sign on it when I found it. I seem to be incapable of walking away from a free bike no matter the condition...
I took it all apart, cleaned, lubed, waxed, and threw in some new consumables (tires, chain, cables, housing, bar wrap). The original front derailleur was irrevocably mangled so I replaced it with an old SunTour reverse pull model that I've had lying around forever. I also replaced the original stem shifters with some SunTour Power Shifters from my parts warehouse, just because I'm doing my part to rid the world of stem shifters one bike at a time. Ignore the saddle. I just needed a placeholder so I could take it for a test ride.
After all that, it's a pretty decent bike. It's too small for me, so I'll either sell it or find someone to give it to.
I took it all apart, cleaned, lubed, waxed, and threw in some new consumables (tires, chain, cables, housing, bar wrap). The original front derailleur was irrevocably mangled so I replaced it with an old SunTour reverse pull model that I've had lying around forever. I also replaced the original stem shifters with some SunTour Power Shifters from my parts warehouse, just because I'm doing my part to rid the world of stem shifters one bike at a time. Ignore the saddle. I just needed a placeholder so I could take it for a test ride.
After all that, it's a pretty decent bike. It's too small for me, so I'll either sell it or find someone to give it to.

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My recently acquired 1975 Grand Jubile Mixte. Some changes over the years,

Last edited by daverup; 05-31-23 at 04:45 PM.
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#290
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My '82 Grand Record with a Silca Impero pump. The '82s came with fully chromed forks, and this is the original.

I have never known a Motobecane that I didn't like.

I have never known a Motobecane that I didn't like.

Last edited by cycleheimer; 05-13-23 at 06:25 PM.
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1983 Motobecane Jubilee Sport
Had to buy this when I ran across it. Such a cool frame construction design.









Last edited by casanewt; 05-24-23 at 12:08 PM.
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Very Cool. Never seen Columbus Jubiles and can we see another shot of the seat lug/stays?
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I don't do: disks, tubeless, e-shifting, or bead head nymphs.
I don't do: disks, tubeless, e-shifting, or bead head nymphs.
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I ask because I have such a seat-tube on this bike, a slightly earlier Jubile Sport, but lugged, not inexternal:

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Motobecane seat bag
I couldn't turn down this pristine 1982 Motobecane Grand Touring when it showed up locally at $50. The seller threw in a floor pump. Plus the bike came with a Motobecane seatbag with the owner's manual inside the bag. I'll fix it up and let it go to a friend.







Last edited by bikemig; 05-24-23 at 08:36 PM.
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