mikkom

Hello!

Last week I bought an Motobecane bicycle from Tori.fi (Craigslist type of site here in Finland).
Back then I was wondering what the model might be, because there were stickers covering the model name.
I peeled off the sticker and it ended up saying "Jubilee Sport".
After that I've been browsing the forums, catalogues and photo searches, but I haven't seen a single one that matches with mine...

It has "888 VITUS" sticker on downtube, dark blue coloured frame, chrome fork and Suntour BL drivetrain.
Brakes have been upgraded somewhere down the line to Dura Ace 7200.
I think the frame matches with model years 1981-1983, but the fork and the decals look like 1984.

Can anyone help me identifying the bike better?

I put couple of pictures here.

Thanks in advance and sorry for my english (not my mother tongue).

TugaDude

Best I can do is provide these links to various Motobecane catalogs. The Jubile Sport changed quite a bit in graphics and even tubing manufacturers. Seems to have begun with Columbus and switched to Vitus and then back to Columbus.

I'm pretty sure it is '81 to '83, but honestly, it doesn't perfectly match some of the specifics. FWIW, it is a nice frame with decent components and should make for a nice ride.

bulgier.net - /pics/bike/Catalogs/Motobecane/

mikkom

Thank you for your reply! The seller was young girl and she told me it's her uncles old bike. It's been collecting dust in their storage room for more than 25 years.
The pedals have "made in France" and "82" stamped on them. Could that be the year, idk?
Anyway, I will service it thoroughly, change tyres, bar tapes, lever hoods, toe straps, all the cables and finally polish everything to their old glory.
I hope it'll be nice first bike to get me from MTB's to more narrow tired ones also.

mikkom

After all the searching the conclusion is this.
The bike is Motobecane Jubilee Sport, year model 1981, colour: Cobalt Blue.
It has socketed Vitus 888 Tubes Légers steel frame and chromed steel inexternal fork.
Powertrain is Suntour BL, rear hub and freewheel Maillard Helicomatic 6-speed.
Compared to original specs mine also has upgraded handlebar, Shimano Dura Ace 7200 brakes and levers, upgraded cranks, rims upgraded from 27" clinchers to Mavic 700c tubular rims.

Rode it few days ago for the first time and I quite like it.

T-Mar

Assuming the pedals are OEM, the 82 manufacturing code would make the bicycle a 1982 or 1983 model. While the decals and fork are reminiscent of 1983, the 1983 Jubilee Sport is shown with INEXternal brazing with an internally routed rear brake cable and the seat post cinch bolt located under the stays. So, in cosmetics it look s like a 1983 but in constructions it looks like a 1982. Either Motobecane updated the bicycle cosmetically after the 1982 catalogue was prepared or they changed the construction back to the 1982 style after the 1983 catalogue was issued. The former seems more plausible and I believe this to be a 1982 model. The other possibility is a re-decal by a previous owner with incorrect decals. The BL derailleurs are OEM spec and should have dual letter date codes on the back that may give further confidence in the year. Serial number(s)?

mikkom

I've been able to see only one that matched mine with specs, colour, decals, fork etc. It's really shame that I can't link it here (under 10 posts). 😬

mikkom

This is the bike I referred to on my last post

mikkom

So here it is. I put on new handlebar tapes (first ones ever, don't judge ), lever hoods, straps, changed shifter and brake cables and overall cleaned and polished it. Just came back from 20km test ride and everything works great. Very nice bike for very little money.

bikemig 

That bike is beautiful, nice job. I did a tour in Finland once. Beautiful country, great bread, and serious mosquitoes.

mikkom

Thank you!

Ps. You're right about the mosquitoes. 😁

bikemig 

Best bread I've ever had too,

Prowler 

Well done. I like the whole package. I'm another Moto fan though mine is a poor ole Mirage. I'm also a Vetta saddle fan. All day, long day, every day comfortable.

Kabuki12

You make me want to finish my old grand sprint I picked up for $20! It is just dying to hit the road. Joe

T-Mar

Still awaiting serial number(s) information.

mikkom

Here you go T-Mar: 16902098V and 3109 Stamped in frame. I attach photo here also.
When I changed pedals, there was 82 stamped in there, also seat post is stamped with 82. Pretty sure it is 1982.

Here is the current form of the bike. I love it!

T-Mar

Just be awarer that 1982 date codes on components do not always indcate a 1982 model year for the bicycles. Manufacturers would rtpical start building 1983 models around September 1982 and componets manufacturers would be building the components for them a couple of months in advance of that.

If you check the date codes (two letters) on the back of the SunTour BL derailleurs, they include a month indicator, which will us a much better idea of which way to lean for the model year.

ryansu

Nice Job! always a fan of resurrecting old Moto's Here is my 1978 Motobecane Grand Touring after rebuild- mostly original except consumables and saddle

SurferRosa

Is that Brooks tape? It's really thick and difficult to wrap. Fizik is a lot easier to work with. Next time, be sure to pull the tape very tight as you go, and it won't fold up as much as it did your first time.

mikkom

Yea it's Brooks. I found it a bit difficult to wrap. It's very thich on the middle and starts to unwind really easily when being wrapped.
But honestly I bought it just for the looks... I wanted to have tan coloured leather bar tape, tan coloured lever hoods and saddle to go along with those.
The bar tape is very comfortable to ride 'cause of the thickness. I also have palm padded cycling gloves so no sore hands for me. I've been riding quite alot and the tapes have stayd on just the way I wrapped them. Overall very pleased with the result.

mikkom

Nice Moto you have there!
Couldn't understand why these are so underrated ...Until I started working on mine. Wanna change pedals? Better have that 50€ rethreading tool first, just because Motobecane decided not to go with the standard thread for pedals... Wanna change seat post? Good luck finding one with the same diameter. What I know of, they used three different diameter seat posts, with 0.2mm difference to each other. Bought one, but it didn't fit. Wanna change bottom bracket? That also is the one with the weird wrong way threading. But other than that, very nice bikes!

SurferRosa

Fizik comes in honey as well. Check ebay. It's a little less expensive than Brooks.

SurferRosa

Is it 26.6 like the Motos I've had?

26.8 is a very popular size among vintage bikes, which is only 0.1 difference in thickness overall compared to the French size. A little elbow grease with some sandpaper under a dripping faucet, and you're there. Most vintage seatposts aren't anodized, so it can be a quick job.

mikkom

Can't remember, but I think it was 26.4 or 26.2. 🤔 Not 100% sure which one.
Anyway, my main point was that french bikes of that era had alot of parts that didn't follow usual industry standards.
I guess it was no biggie Back then, but today those parts are coming harder to come by (at least If you're living in the arctic circle, like me).

This is straight quote from post on velocollective;

"Put simply, French bikes built before 1982 had no single standard for seatposts. A Motobecane with Reynolds tubes could have a 26.6mm, and one from the same catalogue could just as easily have a 26.2mm. C’est ça. It’s a simple as that."

And I find this to be accurate on many different parts as well. 😁

SurferRosa

Your point is spot on, but there are many ways to deal with it, like sanding down a seatpost or a stem, milling a fork crown, or switching to a threadless bb...

Motobécane is one of the better ones to deal with. Peugeot is far worse.

ryansu

Its good to know the deal going in that you will encounter some um,,,unique sizing etc. I learned with French bikes that you want a complete bike to start with. I had a Moto expert tell me that in my year of Grand Touring I might have a French BB, or Swiss or even British! It was two years ago and now I don't recall but I think it was French. What I love is that the 23 inch fits like a glove for me