There's sticky like rotten brake hoods, and there's sticky from dirt and crud. Those bar wraps are probably just suffering from 20-odd years of dirt and grease. Since you have to warm them up to get them off anyway, just yank the bar and stem and soak it in a hot, soapy tub of water for a while, then get after it with a soft brush.

LOL! This old thread resurrected... I love this GT!

I'm still riding the GT as my daily commuter, with very little modification from the first photo.
I adjusted the stem and seatpost to a more 'fitting' position, and removed the toe clips.
I only had to swap out the brake and shifter cables, and replaced the old Weinmann brake shoes with Kool Stop™ shoes.

I've been surprised at all the comments I have received about this bike. The guys at my LBS love it, and I can't keep track of all the folks who have seen the bike and said something like, "Hey! I used to have a Motobecane too!"

p.s. On other bikes, I have found that soaking the hoods in rubbing alcohol took the 'sticky' off.

SWEET! I especially like the nice aluminum wheels. The bike is worth $50.00 if only for the wheels.

I like your style, Mike... those rims are my favorite part of the bike Concave = cool

- I had taken the detail photos off of my web space because I thought this thread had died, but I fixed the dead link, if anybody's interested:




p.s. I think the original RD was a Huret Allvit... but that's just a guess.

Resurrected again-- just looked at that photo again-- and a beautiful GT it is, by the way-- and noticed the head badge. There's no way that head badge is on an '83. More likely a 76-77.

Here's a catalog description and picture of a similar aged Grand Touring. I also posted a photo of a GT that was on ebay a couple months ago....didn't buy it...damn!

What year catalog is that?

I'm pretty sure it's either 83 or 84. I snagged it off the web somewhere so a good google session could probably find it.

We're looking for Motobecane catalogues on this thread.

Found it: 1984 catalog

Yes to old French touring bikes. Ahhh I feel better now, having come out of hiding. So, what can I learn from the serial numbers on this Motobecane Grand Touring:
0780 July 1980?
5556505

These are the stamped numbers, but the shell has 3109 cast into each side, perpendicular to these numbers and contained within an oval.

...and covered by bauhaus





...nice find on the bike, too

Similar (but lesser paint job) bike, pick up only Missouri. $30

https://cgi.ebay.com/Older-Motobecane...ayphotohosting

I'm resurrecting this thread to say that I am now the proud owner of jack's Motobecane Grand Touring. Jack made a nice profit and I think I got a good deal at $120. It truly is beautiful.

Yes, it's a beautiful bike, and at $120, a fair price. Congratulations!

you guys won't believe it, but this old Moto was stolen from tiohn's apartment a few weeks ago. :-(

Here is my 1983 Motobecane Grand Touring - 63.5cm

More pictures and the 1984 cataloge page can be found at: https://www.flickr.com/photos/9765217...7622453592136/

This old thread keeps getting new life. Here is a photo of my GT that I picked up for $75 off craigslist. I have probably got another $150 into it.

There's a great thread for where we post our vintage touring bikes, which is more consistently updated and might be a better place for the Grand Tourer's to find a home:

https://www.bikeforums.net/showthread...g-bikes/page23