1978 Motobecane Grand Touring.
 

This is a stuff from my basement build.
suntour mech with a t.a. crank and homebrew 7 speed cassette.
12,14,16,18,21,28,36 to 26,40 crank.
Works for my needs and no hill is off limits. I used belleville v.o. bars but i prefer the porteurs. May change eventually. Also i have a set of paselas on order. Life is too short to ride crappy tires.
https://cimg1.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...88a7fb3129.jpg

It's a Grander Tourer, nice work !

the vitus 172 deserved better than what came on the bike anyway.

Nice. A local junk store has a pretty decent (rusty and used. but not fully abused) grand touring in the pile. My size, and it stood out in stark contrast to the rest of the box store junk in the pile. I did not ask the price as I really did not need another project, but seeing that I may re-evaluate.

your bike really has such graceful lines, but nothing wasted to its purpose.

see what the frame material is on the one your looking at. The vitus 172 and 888 ones are quite nice.

Yeah, I may investigate further- it said Vitus on the fork... it was dark blue and grey-- like this one:.. but a bit faded and trashed, decals worn and paint chips... never look this good again but could be a nice enough city bike
http://www.cyclofiend.com/cc/images0...-1HPIM2635.jpg

I'd lower the fd quite a bit and hacksaw those skewers. :thumb:

i cant lower the fd. It will hit the chainstay. 40 tooth outer rings require more modern mech. Althought it is working beautifully.

i bet its well worth aquiring.

Excellent job with the build, looks like a lot of fun. I might have an umbrella clamp if you want your pump level with the top tube. Yours for Free.99, let me know and I'll dig around for it.

actually i have one somewhere i will get out!

1978 was probably the best year for Moto GTs. Very nice features. Super reliable components. Great ride qualities and value! I have two of them in my size. Both were made around the same month in 1978. One in Champagne Gold. One in Gunmetal Gray.
https://cimg7.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...7223d709c7.jpg
If their had been a third color offered .... I'd own it, too!

That's a fine looking build and it's rocking a pair of my favorite townie pedals, the MKS Lambda. I'm going to use them on a 1979 Trek 510 I'm building as it's going to mainly be a commuter.

Nice ride! I took my '76 Grand Touring out today. All original apart from consumables. That Vitus 172 frame rides beautifully.

Cheers!

https://cimg4.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...a4838d9ed3.jpg
https://cimg2.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...e5028f938d.jpg

I took a ride where i climbed a few hills today and i think it climbs better than my voyageur with worse tires. When i get it completely sorted out i think I'll be riding it a lot. I cant believe i have three touring bikes.

I just finished building up a '75 Moto Grand Jubile with some modifications last week. Just waiting for this Corona-crap to get over with. Don't want to bring anything home cause my wife has seriously compromised immunity, and it wouldn't be good.
I'm just outside of Peoria, maybe I'll see ya riding around.
https://cimg8.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...de396d69f1.jpg
I think I need to adjust my saddle .. looks too pointy-downie.

i commute on a bike quite a bit. Slowely of course.
thats a gorgeous bike!

Thanks! My collection consists of about 7 early to mid '70s Motos (thus my handle "Motogeek"). Do you ever get over to Morton on the Morton-E.Peoria trail? I'm about 3 blocks off the trail.

i do now and then. My gf and i used to ride to a tea room over there a lot. Actually i play at unum when we dont have a plague on.

Wifey and I like Unum … stop in there periodically.

andrew, the owner is nice and seems to like what i do.

Interesting, I kinda like my Tour Rides... I have Schwalbe Marathon Plus on my other bike, and blind folded, I couldn't tell the difference. In fact, 73% of Amazon ratings are 5 star, with an overall rating of 4.5.

Crappy was the wrong descriptor. They are heavy and stiff compared to Paselas. I have ridden many trouble free miles on them as well, just much prefer Paselas.

My Champagne Gold '78 .... really like my Moto GT!
https://cimg0.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...728dc93b45.jpg

Thanks for this great thread - very enjoyable and informative. These Motobecanes are beautiful.