motobecane
#1
Senior Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Jul 2007
Posts: 379
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 17 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
motobecane
Does anyone have any oppinion on the 2014 Motobecane Le Champion CF Team for 2999.95 it comes with full Dura Ace 9000 11speed. Are there anyother bikes in that price range with DA9000.
#3
Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2013
Location: Columbus, GA
Posts: 536
Bikes: 2014 Cervelo R5 Dura Ace,2014 Specialized S-Works Roubaix
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
probably here:
https://www.bikesdirect.com/products/...f-team-xiv.htm
Got a friend who got a killer deal on a motobecane with di2 from these people.
https://www.bikesdirect.com/products/...f-team-xiv.htm
Got a friend who got a killer deal on a motobecane with di2 from these people.
#4
Voice of the Industry
Join Date: May 2007
Posts: 12,572
Mentioned: 19 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1188 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 8 Times
in
8 Posts
Will give you my 2 cents...and I own a Moto Ti 29er frameset which has been outstanding...a great value...but didn't buy the whole bike.
A bike is much more than the groupset. New 6800 is excellent and a cost effective alternative to DA9000. I personally wouldn't buy that bike.
I am sure its OK...but for $3500 you can get something like a Tarmac or Roubaix with 6800. It will have better resale and likely will be a better frame...perhaps much better. The frame is the core of every bike of course. And then there is the wheelset. Incidentals you will end up changing anyway...like handlebar, saddle,s stem etc. So for $3K I personally wouldn't buy that bike with more top brands on the market.
I will say I believe the Moto Ti 29er still to be one of the best values on the market.
If you have $3K to spend on a bike, you will be just fine. Go ride some bikes and find the geometry you like first off...racey versus endurance.
A bike is much more than the groupset. New 6800 is excellent and a cost effective alternative to DA9000. I personally wouldn't buy that bike.
I am sure its OK...but for $3500 you can get something like a Tarmac or Roubaix with 6800. It will have better resale and likely will be a better frame...perhaps much better. The frame is the core of every bike of course. And then there is the wheelset. Incidentals you will end up changing anyway...like handlebar, saddle,s stem etc. So for $3K I personally wouldn't buy that bike with more top brands on the market.
I will say I believe the Moto Ti 29er still to be one of the best values on the market.
If you have $3K to spend on a bike, you will be just fine. Go ride some bikes and find the geometry you like first off...racey versus endurance.
#5
Texas Tornado
Join Date: Aug 2013
Location: Texas
Posts: 278
Bikes: '14 Specialized Roubaix SL 4 Full Ultegra 6800
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
Interesting. Can't say that I've ridden a Motobecane, and I would be hesitant about buying a bike that I haven't ridden. If the return policy is good it may be worth it though. Most CF Dura Ace bikes are gonna run you around $4500+...
#6
Senior Member
Join Date: Dec 2009
Location: Houston, TX
Posts: 28,682
Bikes: 1990 Romic Reynolds 531 custom build, Merlin Works CR Ti custom build, super light Workswell 066 custom build
Mentioned: 109 Post(s)
Tagged: 1 Thread(s)
Quoted: 6556 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 58 Times
in
36 Posts
You might see what Performance has on sale with full Dura Ace 9000. Often the best deals are only available in the stores though the specific bike does not have to be in stock. They will order it for you.
#8
Senior Member
Join Date: Sep 2009
Posts: 1,971
Bikes: Habanero Titanium Team Nuevo
Mentioned: 4 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 399 Post(s)
Liked 185 Times
in
121 Posts
I have a 2010 Motobecane Immortal Spirit Duraace 7800 came with Richey Wheels. 8000 miles and runs like a dream. I am a very good bike mechanic and usually build my own wheels so no issue for me concerning service. In a 59 mm with pedals and 2 h2o cages it weighs a bit less than 18 pounds. I have compared it to a Madone 5.2 and did not ride one bit better and I preferred the Moto. The threaded bottom bracket is much better than press fit.
I did put a set of 7800 brakes on in place if the cane creek 5s but the CC were fine not really any difference with kool stop pads in place of originals . I think the Moto is a great buy and frankly I don't care about resale the plan is to ride the bike till it wears out. For some reason people just hate them and I cannot figure this out. Do you want to pay over $1500 for a name. It is a piece of carbon fiber with components to run. After about $2000 spent the returns diminish as it is all about the engine. I have not trouble keeping the bike up to speed in a century.
Buy that bike and ride snot out of it, I am not a shill because deacons are suppose to be trustworthy.
I did put a set of 7800 brakes on in place if the cane creek 5s but the CC were fine not really any difference with kool stop pads in place of originals . I think the Moto is a great buy and frankly I don't care about resale the plan is to ride the bike till it wears out. For some reason people just hate them and I cannot figure this out. Do you want to pay over $1500 for a name. It is a piece of carbon fiber with components to run. After about $2000 spent the returns diminish as it is all about the engine. I have not trouble keeping the bike up to speed in a century.
Buy that bike and ride snot out of it, I am not a shill because deacons are suppose to be trustworthy.
#10
Senior Member
Join Date: Apr 2008
Location: St. Pete, Florida
Posts: 1,258
Mentioned: 1 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 83 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 1 Time
in
1 Post
As far as the bike goes, BD bikes with high end groupsets seem a bit incongruous. Kind of like kids putting a $2000 set of wheels on a $1500 Honda Civic. Whatever marginal performance advantage you get from the DA9000 is going to be diminished by putting it on what is otherwise a low to mid range bike. The CF Elite with Ultegra is the same frameset for half the price. I'd go that route and put the savings into a wheelset upgrade where you'll get far more bang for the buck than you'll get from DA9000.
#11
Should Be More Popular
Join Date: Dec 2007
Location: Malvern, PA (20 miles West of Philly)
Posts: 43,051
Bikes: 1986 Alpine (steel road bike), 2009 Ti Habenero, 2013 Specialized Roubaix
Mentioned: 560 Post(s)
Tagged: 2 Thread(s)
Quoted: 22597 Post(s)
Liked 8,925 Times
in
4,158 Posts
#12
Senior Member
Join Date: Aug 2011
Posts: 3,138
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 67 Post(s)
Liked 83 Times
in
44 Posts
And depending on where and with whom the OP rides, this is something to be considered carefully before dropping $3k. If you ride with groups, you will not be taken seriously on a BD bike -- even if you have enough engine to crush other riders. If you mostly ride solo or truly don't care what others think, then there's nothing fundamentally wrong with Motobecane bikes.
#13
Senior Member
Join Date: May 2012
Location: western Massachusetts (greater Springfield area)
Posts: 699
Bikes: Velosolex St. Tropez, LeMond Zurich (spine bike), Rotator swb recumbent
Mentioned: 2 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 67 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 67 Times
in
32 Posts
It seems to me Bicycling magazine thought highly of the Le Champion a year or two ago (I know, they have good things to say about every bike they test, but you can read between the lines, and if it was bad I suspect they would just not publish the test).
#14
Michigan Rider
Join Date: Sep 2006
Location: Mt Clemens, MI
Posts: 381
Bikes: Pinarello, Motobecane Immortal Force, Diamondback, Fischer (German)
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
I agree 1000%. Ride what makes you happy. No one else does any pedaling for you and they will not treat you differently as long as you are a smooth and predictable rider. Of course if you are a poser or live based on someone else's opinion that is up to you. Do you ride with reasonable mature cyclists .... they will be happy for you with your increase enthusiasm ..... and new bike.
#15
Bike Junkie
Join Date: Jun 2005
Location: South of Raleigh, North of New Hill, East of Harris Lake, NC
Posts: 9,622
Bikes: Specialized Tarmac, Specialized Roubaix, Giant OCR-C, Specialized Stumpjumper FSR, Stumpjumper Comp, 88 & 92Nishiki Ariel, 87 Centurion Ironman, 92 Paramount, 84 Nishiki Medalist
Mentioned: 2 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 68 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 37 Times
in
27 Posts
If you're the type that can buy a bike off the rack, adjust the saddle and seatpost, tune up the derailers and brakes then BD bikes offer a pretty good deal. If the bike shop has to swap out the seatpost and stem to get a good fit (like they do for me) or if you don't tune up your own bike, then a bike shop is probably a better deal.
__________________
Roccobike BF Official Thread Terminator
Roccobike BF Official Thread Terminator
#17
Senior Member
#18
Senior Member
I rode Motobecane Grand Sprint. After a crash, I got the Immortal frame. That frame was good. I also loved how it looked. It was stolen and I built a Cervelo. Sure, the cervelo is a much nicer frame, but I don't feel nearly as much difference as the cost. Also, no one on rides cares. Every so often, someone would compliment me on the Motobecane. I did get some odd looks when I would ride with running shoes, toe clips, normal shorts and a t shirt before I gave in and got a full kit haha.
#19
Senior Member
Join Date: Apr 2008
Location: St. Pete, Florida
Posts: 1,258
Mentioned: 1 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 83 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 1 Time
in
1 Post
Really? Cause I see people on Bikes Direct bikes on group rides all the time. If anyone is thinking ******y thoughts, they keep em to themselves. I have also seen people on Post Office Treks, fixies (with brakes), and even over optioned Serottas, be treated with nothing but respect.
#20
Senior Member
Join Date: Aug 2011
Posts: 3,138
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 67 Post(s)
Liked 83 Times
in
44 Posts
I owned a low end Windsor about 5 years ago. Sold it to my buddy who also rode it on group rides. Only comment ever made to either of us was that it was a good deal for the price, and that it was a little heavy. Both statements were true. Neither was said snidely. Find another group.
#21
Senior Member
Join Date: Sep 2009
Posts: 1,971
Bikes: Habanero Titanium Team Nuevo
Mentioned: 4 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 399 Post(s)
Liked 185 Times
in
121 Posts
And depending on where and with whom the OP rides, this is something to be considered carefully before dropping $3k. If you ride with groups, you will not be taken seriously on a BD bike -- even if you have enough engine to crush other riders. If you mostly ride solo or truly don't care what others think, then there's nothing fundamentally wrong with Motobecane bikes.
As far as the bike goes, BD bikes with high end groupsets seem a bit incongruous. Kind of like kids putting a $2000 set of wheels on a $1500 Honda Civic. Whatever marginal performance advantage you get from the DA9000 is going to be diminished by putting it on what is otherwise a low to mid range bike. The CF Elite with Ultegra is the same frameset for half the price. I'd go that route and put the savings into a wheelset upgrade where you'll get far more bang for the buck than you'll get from DA9000.
As far as the bike goes, BD bikes with high end groupsets seem a bit incongruous. Kind of like kids putting a $2000 set of wheels on a $1500 Honda Civic. Whatever marginal performance advantage you get from the DA9000 is going to be diminished by putting it on what is otherwise a low to mid range bike. The CF Elite with Ultegra is the same frameset for half the price. I'd go that route and put the savings into a wheelset upgrade where you'll get far more bang for the buck than you'll get from DA9000.
I hope this does not speak for the cycling community at large it would be a sad thing. As a long distance runner for 35 years we never look at the shoes a person wears when they show up to run. Abebe Bikila showed up in 1960 at the Olympic Marathon in Rome without shoes and happened to win the Gold Medal, then 4 years later in Japan won it again this time he wore shoes. I do not ride much with groups just because of time and logistics but those who ride with me I hope appreciate my mechanical skills and could bail them out if they had trouble on the ride, they even ask question about wheels and the various components. I am no expert but the last fellow I rode with still has downtube shifters ( indexed though) and a 7 speed freewheel. Earlier this summer he managed two 5 hour centuries back-to-back on consecutive days and he is 51 years old. I like to ride with anyone who wants company and the only problem I see is you might be fast and I cannot keep up, otherwise I can slowdown that is easy.
#23
Voice of the Industry
Join Date: May 2007
Posts: 12,572
Mentioned: 19 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1188 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 8 Times
in
8 Posts
\\\
I hope this does not speak for the cycling community at large it would be a sad thing. As a long distance runner for 35 years we never look at the shoes a person wears when they show up to run. Abebe Bikila showed up in 1960 at the Olympic Marathon in Rome without shoes and happened to win the Gold Medal, then 4 years later in Japan won it again this time he wore shoes. I do not ride much with groups just because of time and logistics but those who ride with me I hope appreciate my mechanical skills and could bail them out if they had trouble on the ride, they even ask question about wheels and the various components. I am no expert but the last fellow I rode with still has downtube shifters ( indexed though) and a 7 speed freewheel. Earlier this summer he managed two 5 hour centuries back-to-back on consecutive days and he is 51 years old. I like to ride with anyone who wants company and the only problem I see is you might be fast and I cannot keep up, otherwise I can slowdown that is easy.
I hope this does not speak for the cycling community at large it would be a sad thing. As a long distance runner for 35 years we never look at the shoes a person wears when they show up to run. Abebe Bikila showed up in 1960 at the Olympic Marathon in Rome without shoes and happened to win the Gold Medal, then 4 years later in Japan won it again this time he wore shoes. I do not ride much with groups just because of time and logistics but those who ride with me I hope appreciate my mechanical skills and could bail them out if they had trouble on the ride, they even ask question about wheels and the various components. I am no expert but the last fellow I rode with still has downtube shifters ( indexed though) and a 7 speed freewheel. Earlier this summer he managed two 5 hour centuries back-to-back on consecutive days and he is 51 years old. I like to ride with anyone who wants company and the only problem I see is you might be fast and I cannot keep up, otherwise I can slowdown that is easy.
#24
Senior Member
Join Date: Dec 2009
Location: Houston, TX
Posts: 28,682
Bikes: 1990 Romic Reynolds 531 custom build, Merlin Works CR Ti custom build, super light Workswell 066 custom build
Mentioned: 109 Post(s)
Tagged: 1 Thread(s)
Quoted: 6556 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 58 Times
in
36 Posts
This isn't a fair comparison. When Bikila showed up in Rome and won barefoot, there was quite an outcry. What happened is Bikila has unusually beautiful feet...he is a foot model in the off season. Many runners were distracted and found themselves looking at his feet versus running their race and why he won. He put this to rest when he came back in Japan and won in shoes...PF flyers btw made my Keds.
#25
Serious Cyclist
Join Date: Aug 2011
Location: RVA
Posts: 9,308
Bikes: Emonda SL6
Mentioned: 97 Post(s)
Tagged: 1 Thread(s)
Quoted: 5721 Post(s)
Liked 261 Times
in
99 Posts
Agreed. Everyone I ride with would agree that the guy on the name brand top of the line bike with carbon wheels that gets dropped off the back of every group ride or race is far more likely to get snide remarks than the strong rider on the Moto. Kopsis, it's time to ride with some new people or stop worrying so much about how people percieve you as a cyclist.