baca

I tried contacting any Motobecane Dealers via their website but never received any response. I'm interested in 'Le Champion Ten'.....Thanks.....Ben

larue

I doubt you'll find them here.

mrk_in_fl

Take a look at bikesdirect.com or go to a Cycle Spectrum store (they seem to be all over the place). I'm pretty sure those are the only places you can find them.

baca

Thanks for the assist

rfctx

Look at:
www.bikesdirect.com
www.cyclespectrum.com

biodiesel

for any of the good ones you'll have to have them imported. The reason they don't have dealers in the US is the same for some other French bike makers. The forks and drops don't have that little safety catch so the bikes don't make the us safety thingy.
I dismissed that as silly the first time i heard it, but then again when i was 12 i saw my front wheel roll off without me. Lost about 2 inches of chin, broke a few ribs etc.
Havn't seen one on the road, let us know if you get one. Curious

rfctx

The old line Motobecane bikes were French, which is now a thing of the past.
The name was apparently bought out a few years back, by a company in Texas, which sells via the Internet and a chain of storefronts. The new product is value oriented, with frames made in Asia and various build kits installed. I had an original French Motobecane in the 70s (one of my favorite bikes) and I currently ride a new 2004 version Motobecane.

Waldo

No, you won't find many real dealers. The company that owns the right to the name abruptly set up their arrangement with cyclesdirect.com and pulled the rug out from under its dealers. No big deal, we weren't selling any of them anyway.
Do a search on here and you'll see some of the info on the ridiculously overinflated "retail" pricing they promote before bikesdirect or whomever offers the "massive" savings. I guess when the bikes can't sell on their merits you have to resort to this sort of thing. If you don't mind that business practice then you probably have faith that they'll be around to provide any service/warranty etc. you might need.

Adgooroo

I dunno - I looked at the bike, the specs, the components, etc. If you can count on a sound frame, this looks like a great deal. I know the "suggested retail" is inflated, but spec-for-spec, it still beats anything I've seen in a retail brick-and-mortar bike shop. If you have NO IDEA how to maintain/adjust a bike, you may want the comfort of a local shop and local warranty support, but if you can handle regular maintenance and repairs, I think this bike is worthy of consideration. It would be best if you could get some kind of objective or in-person review of the frame itself - that's probably the big question mark. It's also quite possible that this frame is being made by the same people in the same plants, with the same material used on a lot of well-known mid-priced brand name bikes.

Also - Even though I didn't buy two of my bikes from the LBS, I've never had them 'turn me down' when I take one of them in for repair or adjustments. (Has anybody else??)

mrk_in_fl

I had a 2003 Le Champion that I put ~2200 miles on last season. I have since given it to my younger brother to try and interest him in road riding. It doesn't have exactly the same frame as the 2005 model (no carbon seat stays) but it's very similar.

The frame overall is a decent frame, but it's lacking in some attention to detail. The welds aren't very pretty at all. They aren't smooth and have globs in spots. The paint seems to be scratched easily and had specs of dust or particles under the clear coat. I only paid $1000 for it with an Ultegra groupo and Velomax Circuit wheels, so I felt like I was getting a decent deal.

I bought it from a local Cycle Spectrum (on a friend's referal), but probably could have gotten something similarily equipped and priced from a locally owned LBS if I had looked harder.

bullbarrel

I too had the French Motobecane 25 years ago and I too have bought the Taiwan version. I discovered the nationality switch in the middle of dealing on the web and still chose to accept the bike. I paid $995 for the Grand Sprint, canary yellow. And yes it's a sleezy website but do you know what? It's a good bike and probably as good a deal that's around. The bike mechanic (not sales oreinted) drooled over it, surprised at the price, and was happy to set it up for $35. Perhaps the selling begins at bikes direct after you have bought. Who better to sell to? The bike has been lost, but any are available over $1000 at $100 off. Youy money back immediately otherwise. I chose one, not the one they recommended, and it "had been sold," so suddenly my original pick is found, with a computer, bottle and rack, for my trouble. As I say, the bike is excellent for the money, I never counted on any warranty, too much trouble. This bicycle is seen on the streets and roads in my area, probably from bikes direct. It appears to be a dubious outfit selling a good product, an odd combination. BTW, I threatened them with multiple complaints when it appeared they would not honor the freebies, info motobecane usa, and they shipped them priority. The bike had also been shipped priority as it had been initially delayed. Computer is Cat Eye, Janapese made, mechanic likes it.