hockey

Yeah, I think the LBS said that the price was about $50 over cost. A great deal.
Hockey

m griff

Motobecane is now owned by Yamaha. Most of their bikes frames are made by Kinesit. The Kinesit site show about 10 names they make frames for and specialized is one that they claim to make the frame. I think they make bikes that are not sold in the US under the Kenesit name. If you are band aware then don't buy. If you want a good bike at a good price make sure you know your fit. They send you what your order and charge you what they say they will. You will get a nice bike

Tom Bombadil

It is true that Yamaha bought a portion of the old Motobecane company, but it was only their motor scooter division.

The right to use the Motobecane name on bicycles is owned by a US company that imports bikes from Taiwan and China. I believe you meant to say the manufacturer for many of these frames is Kinesis.

You can read about Kinesis here:
https://www.kinesis.com.tw/news_2004new.htm

The Bikesdirect importer also owns the naming rights for Windsor, Dawes, and Merciers. They have the right to slap any of these decals onto any of their bikes.

Spoke

And for what it is worth, here is my (short, so far) experience with a Motobecane from BD.

https://www.bikeforums.net/fifty-plus-50/384692-i-pulled-trigger-wow.html

I'm going out for my second ride today, a 50+ mile club ride. So far I am a happy camper, I believe a got a good value for my money. But as others have said, if you are brand conscious , you will not be happy; but if you are looking for a good value, if you go with a Moto with good components, get the right size frame and get it properly setup by a local bike shop, you will be pleased. I am.

Ride On!
-Spoke

w2brdbkr

since we have nice weather today (besides the wind) I'm going to test ride a Trek (last years model so the price is right) & then go back & test ride the Specialized.

I'm also going to go meet my friends, friend that does all the riding & that would help fit us for the Motobecane bikes if we decide to go that way.

Spoke

Well, I just got back from my second ride on my new Moto. Fantastic! Great weather (Sunny, 76 degrees, 11% RH, light NW wind), good country roads, several club members in the same pace range.

Your question was Motobecane, good or bad? The real question you should ask is: Is a Motobecane the best choice for me?

I bought my first road bike from a LBS. That was the right choice for me at that time. I knew nothing about bikes and the shop personnel helped me very much. I needed their assistance and I paid for it. Five years later, I know a little more about bikes and felt comfortable buying a bike over the Internet. I knew what kind of frame I wanted, what size I needed, what components I wanted, etc. It was delivered three days after I ordered it. I put it together (what little there was to put together) and took it to my LBS to have them give it a new bike tune-up. I am pleased with my bike and the purchase (price/value).

Is it the right choice for you? It may be, it may not. If you have a friend that can help you select the right bike, it may be. If you do, take it to a LBS and have them give it a new bike tune-up to make sure everything is properly adjusted. And then spend all the extra cash you saved on the "necessary" peripherals you will just have to have!

Ride On!
-Spoke

rae

Last fall, when I was shopping for a new bike at a LBS, I rode (If I remember correctly) a Fuji that I liked, but it wasn't exactly what I thought I was looking for. Anyway, a few days later, I looked at the BD site & saw the exact same bike, only under a different name. All the components -- even the seat which was a bit unique--appeared to be identical. So I wonder if at least some of their bikes are production overruns from more major names.

Tom Bombadil

There was a thread in the touring section last year about a Fuji touring bike that was the same from BikesDirect. Although I think someone disproved it in the end. It apparently was very, very similar.

w2brdbkr

Saturday after riding the Trek I went back & rode the Specialized again & as soon as I got on it I noticed it fit me so much better. I was chatting with the LBS guy & said if I decided to go with the Specialized I would want a new one out of the box since he had 3 of them. He said; lets look in the computer to make sure we still had them & when he looked the only one left was the one I was test riding so I put money down on it for him to hold it so I guess I'm going to be getting the Specialized Roubaix here in a couple of weeks. He said they would hold it for me for that long & by then I'll have all my money together.

Now I need to start looking at all the accessories to go with the bike.

Ranger63

I have the Immortal Force. Got it thru BikesDirect.
There was an issue with the seat binder and while it took some back and forth e's and phone calls it was rectified.
I paid a local shop (I've done business with for a decade)to set the bike and me on their fit kit and set it up for a 65 yo 210lb guy. So far I've had no problems..The bikes ride is as nice and true as my Tange Prestige 91 Paramount.
Components are midrange quality but who needs Dura Ace or Campy or SRAM Red for everyday rides. Wheels were substantial enough the bike shop said 'don't worry' regarding my weight.
I swapped out the saddle and tires.
Had a stem more suited to me installed.
The monocoque design seems to be preferable to the lugged setup.
The bike is quick. Hill climbing is a breeze over the 6lb heavier Paramount.
One caveat was explained to me by the bike shop. Whereas a steel bike can endure a minor accident,these CFs are almost always suspect as far as structural intergety afterword.

n4zou

Not production overrun, just production for the OEM market. Chinese and Taiwan factories sell standard production bikes with any name you want on them. Just meet the minimum production order, upload your decal designs, and a couple of months later a container arrives full of your name brand bikes ready to sell. If enough BF members wanted BF brand name bikes we could design a decal and order a minimum number of bicycles and then ship them out with a custom design BF name brand.

w2brdbkr

My friend called me yesterday & said he ordered his Motobecane bike so he should be gettin git in the next week or so.

I decided to go with the Specialized because of the fit & I'm picking it up tomorrow after work.

The only problem I can see buying on line is you don't get to ride it first & after riding so many different brands of bikes I can really tell there is a difference.

He is shorter then I am so we can't really compare both bikes. Mine will be 105 components & his is Ultagra but we paid about the same except I paid taxes on mine.

He thought his wheel set was better but I have no idea, only thing I know is this bike is half the weight as my hybrid so anything will be better then that.