Stevensb 

I bought this frame several years ago from Velocivixen with the intention of building it up for my lovely wife. She advised me that she wasn't keen on the black and red paint scheme so it has languished in the corner for years.

I really like the colour scheme and headbadge but the bike is too small for me (52 ctc seat tube and 54 ctc top tube).

I seem to have time on my hand (French for hands) so I am going to make a bike of it.

It has the Huret 4:00 derailleur stop so I've acquired the appropriate Jubilee derailleurs and cable stops and have begun the mockup process toward a build.

I haven't all the appropriate French parts so I am digging into the parts bin and using Zeus brake levers and early Dura Ace brake calipers.

I have a stash of Mafac brake calipers and levers that are MIA for the moment but if they surface I will use them.

The tubular Milremo rims are equipped with nice Zeus hubs but crappy Vittoria Rally tires.

I'll need a seat post but would like to confirm the seat post size. Seems a 26.4 is small and 26.8 is too big so I'm guessing a 26.6 is the ticket. Can anyone confirm?

Also, if anyone can confirm the tubing for the frame I would appreciate it. I believe it is 531 for the main triangle and then something else for forks and stays.

I'm at the proof of concept stage now but will post more as I progress.

IMG_4866 by bj.stevens, on Flickr


Thankyou.

Brad

Velo Mule

Nice bike Stevensb . This paint job is a little flashy with red and black. It looks great. It is too bad that your wife doesn't like the paint. And it is not like it needs a new paint either. It looks perfect. This is the style in the late '70's. I still like it now.

Painted head tube, chrome sock on the fork, usually a flamboyant (as in candy apple) or metallic paint.

Since it is too small for you and your wife doesn't like it, what are you plans for the bike when completed. Do you think she will change my mind when it is completed?

BTW, I am not hinting at anything,

Pcampeau

My Brother has one just like yours. Reynolds 531 main triangle. I believe around 1976/77 these switched to Vitus tubes.

I like this bike but somewhere along the line someone switched out the Jubilee mechs for later Sachs Huret.

Insidious C. 

Yes, 26.6mm seatpost. On my 74, anyway.

52telecaster

May i ask the outside diameter of the seat tube. Is it 28mm?

Pcampeau

Here’s my reading.

SurferRosa

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The '74 page from Mark's website: bulgier.net - /pics/bike/Catalogs/Motobecane/
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PilotFishBob 

Dressed up in full livery she might have a change of heart...

52telecaster

thats why you have a larger seatpost. Mine is 26.4 on a 28mm seat tube. But of course it is also vitus 172.

52telecaster

Btw, amazing bike!

due ruote 

Beautiful bikes.
Can someone comment on what these would have competed with bitd? The frame seems roughly equivalent to a Super Course but I am not sure about components.

52telecaster

i think the super course was straight guage.

Andy_K 

Mine, a '75 I think, measures 28.4, but that's with powder coating so almost certainly a 28.0 tube, and it takes a 26.4 seatpost.

gugie 

Raleigh Grand Sport would have been a closer match.

Charles Wahl

I've always thought of the Grand Jubilé(e) as a somewhat lighter version of the R531 bikes in their line -- maybe that had something to do with the change to Vitus tubing. An example that my spouse rides, admittedly one of the smaller sizes at 53 cm CTC ST, 55 TT, is about the lightest steel frame I've run across: less than 2.7 kg for frame and fork. Minimal braze-ons, of course (ours is a 1974, in gray/silver). Not for heavyweight people, probably, in the larger sizes, but it built up into a remarkably lightweight bike, even with 35 mm tires and fenders, and a B17 saddle. People often stop to compliment the bike, even non-cyclists; I must say it's charming.

It has a Suntour dérailleur on it, and the dropouts are Suntour, if memory serves. There was just an interesting post on the BOB group list, about a "hack" (though not involving hacking) to adapt a Huret hanger for installation of a Campagnolo-compatible dérailleur -- modification of a (Stronglight!) crank bolt cover to provide a stop in the proper place. https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/650b/9118c5ed-c779-4769-ad77-d88ed9297c54%40googlegroups.com .

Stevensb 

Continued to put the GJ together.

Seat post confirmed at 26.6 and managed to find one on hand. Put an Ideale 2002 saddle on it for French correctness if not era correctness.

IMG_4913 by bj.stevens, on Flickr

Installed campy French BB. Made sure my Stronglight crank remover would thread nicely into the crank arms before installing them and it seems to work properly.

IMG_4890 by bj.stevens, on Flickr

IMG_4895 by bj.stevens, on Flickr

The Huret down tube shifters were a major challenge to get assembled and functioning correctly. They came to me assembled incorrectly and it is the first time I've worked with them. But with some patience and a Guiness I prevailed.

With everything installed I was able to go for a little test ride and for the most part it works well.

IMG_4902 by bj.stevens, on Flickr

IMG_4912 by bj.stevens, on Flickr

The Stronglight cranks have a very tiny bit of wobble to them but as this is only a temporary build I'll live with it.

The cranks are French threaded and I've installed Zeus pedals.

The Mafac brakes are still MIA so the Dura Ace calipers and Zeus levers have been used.

Only real issue seems to be that the chain periodically rubs against the inside arm of the cage by the lower jockey wheel of the RD. Tightened the jockey wheel in the cage to no avail.

I'll probably not tape the bars although I have some nice black cloth that would look great.

And, I'm not sure what will become of the frame as my wife says she still doesn't like the red. Merde! Mais, c'est la vie.

More pictures here: https://www.flickr.com/photos/148676...57713959001217

Cheers.

Brad

steve sumner

yes 531 main tubes. I think the stays were Durifort (a company that was later bought by Vitus and became their Vitus 888)
the forks are 2040 hi-carbon/hi-tensile steel. the Jubile derailleur is IMHO one of the most beautiful/elegant bike parts
ever made!

orcas island 

That is lookin good!

Chicago Al 

Very nice build and of course the combo of red and black is classic 70s Motobecane. If your wife truly doesn't like the color of that bike though, I guess a trade is in order.
But where do you go for a new wife?

CoolCanuck

Very nice.

big chainring 

I had a '73 Grand Record. Stripped it down and put a track wheelset on it. My first track bike. Raced with 1/8" chain on Stronglight 93 3/32" chainring. Chain would bounce and grind like mad.

Piff 

Just for fun I checked around on Craigslist... and WHOA, these bikes are worth $2000! But, wait, he's selling it for only $350, what a steal For $250, I might be tempted, the internal routing is pretty cool.

https://orangecounty.craigslist.org/...111097631.html

motogeek 

Is pot legal in Orange County? Not sure what this person is inhaling but he's waaaaaay off base in his 2K estimate. $350 is a tad high for this bike, too. You're spot on at $250.

top506

Mine came to me as a frame and fork. I built it up with parts from a too-large Grand Record with rough paint. I'd love to find the proper Jubliee bits for it.
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