What Did I Buy?
#1
Newbie
Thread Starter
Join Date: Jul 2019
Location: Taylor, Texas
Posts: 16
Bikes: Falter, REDLOF, Vista Pacer, Vitus 979, 787, 992
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 2 Times
in
2 Posts
What Did I Buy?
Howdy! I bought a bicycle from a nice lady in Houston on OfferUp. It had the usual terrible pictures but I could see the fancy lugs on the head tube. I got it home and after washing it, found that there were no identifying marks, no serial numbers, no stamps, nothing except for the Motobecane "M" on the handlebars, Motobecane on the handlebar wraps and that the forks look like Motobecane forks. I've searched the interwebs and looked through Motobecane catalogs but haven't found anything like this. It may be something else with a Motobecane fork and handlebar. It has quite a collection of different components. Dia Compe brake levers with the Universal Super 68 brakes, an A Duprat chain ring with Simplex clamp on down tube shifters with cables running through a Shimano bottom bracket cable guide; a SunTour Spirt front derailleur and a Shimano SIS rear derailleur. Quite the meeting of the component manufacturers on this bike.
Does this lug work look familiar to anyone?
Front with Universal Super 68 that got the drillium treatment
Side view. Looks like Motobecane forks and the handlebars and wraps say Motobecane
A Duprat Universel
Does this lug work look familiar to anyone?
Front with Universal Super 68 that got the drillium treatment
Side view. Looks like Motobecane forks and the handlebars and wraps say Motobecane
A Duprat Universel
#2
Banned
Join Date: Dec 2018
Location: Pac NW
Posts: 8,761
Bikes: '70s - '80s Campagnolo
Mentioned: 92 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 3844 Post(s)
Liked 6,434 Times
in
3,181 Posts
What did I buy?
Can we see a full bike pic? Pic of the drive side rear dropout? What do the stem's quill and seatpost measure in diameter using a $3 digital caliper from ebay?
#3
Senior Member
Join Date: Mar 2013
Location: Maryland
Posts: 3,979
Bikes: Lots of English 3-speeds, a couple of old road bikes, 3 mountain bikes, 1 hybrid, and a couple of mash-ups
Mentioned: 53 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 887 Post(s)
Liked 335 Times
in
225 Posts
The stem is inserted way too high. Just saying.
#4
Newbie
Thread Starter
Join Date: Jul 2019
Location: Taylor, Texas
Posts: 16
Bikes: Falter, REDLOF, Vista Pacer, Vitus 979, 787, 992
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 2 Times
in
2 Posts
The quill is 21.7mm and yes it's too high but its probably also frozen in there, haven't checked yet.
The seat tube is 25.5 mm
The rear spacing is 120mm
The seat tube is 25.5 mm
The rear spacing is 120mm
#5
Senior Member
I cannot identify it but based on stamped dropouts, claw hanger, and the unrefined lug finishing it looks to be lower end. The shifters (simplex) and motobecane may mean french. What threading is the headset and bottom bracket? An english frame will have the fixed cup reverse threaded (unscrews clockwise) whereas a french threaded frame would unscrew counter clockwise.
I had a motobecane mirage with that same bar wrap once upon a time.
I had a motobecane mirage with that same bar wrap once upon a time.
#6
Newbie
Thread Starter
Join Date: Jul 2019
Location: Taylor, Texas
Posts: 16
Bikes: Falter, REDLOF, Vista Pacer, Vitus 979, 787, 992
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 2 Times
in
2 Posts
I was thinking French also. I'll check on that threading later. Thank you for the pointer!
#7
Junior Member
Join Date: Apr 2015
Location: St Louis Park MN
Posts: 172
Bikes: Mead Ranger '24- Armstrong 3sp '64 Follis 172 '74 Centurian Accordo 80's Mercian '85 Mark Zeh road '86 Kona Explosif '93 Merkx Ti AX '97 Santana Arriva tandem '99 Bike Friday tandem
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 39 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 29 Times
in
21 Posts
I have no idea what it is but I would think that it is a good possibility that the crank set is original equipment.
#8
Newbie
Thread Starter
Join Date: Jul 2019
Location: Taylor, Texas
Posts: 16
Bikes: Falter, REDLOF, Vista Pacer, Vitus 979, 787, 992
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 2 Times
in
2 Posts
Maybe I'll get lucky and find a note in the bottom bracket saying what who made it. I don't think it's a high end model. It's heavy and no chrome anywhere.
#9
Newbie
Thread Starter
Join Date: Jul 2019
Location: Taylor, Texas
Posts: 16
Bikes: Falter, REDLOF, Vista Pacer, Vitus 979, 787, 992
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 2 Times
in
2 Posts
I took the adjustable side of the bottom bracket out because the fixed side is actually fixed at the moment. 11 ball bearings per side and a very clean shaft that has a TD over CB inside a circle in either side of TD No4 with Made in England underneath.
Likes For thinktubes:
#11
Newbie
Thread Starter
Join Date: Jul 2019
Location: Taylor, Texas
Posts: 16
Bikes: Falter, REDLOF, Vista Pacer, Vitus 979, 787, 992
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 2 Times
in
2 Posts
Just a mystery. It will be a good bike with some good components. I forgot to mention that the 5 speed is a Maillard with Normandy written on the inside. It was attached to a Sunshine hub on an Araya steel 27" wheel. So no high speed components here.
#12
Senior Member
TDC was an English company that made bike parts notably headsets. Might have made BB too. Looks like a SS candidate for riding.
#13
Newbie
Thread Starter
Join Date: Jul 2019
Location: Taylor, Texas
Posts: 16
Bikes: Falter, REDLOF, Vista Pacer, Vitus 979, 787, 992
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 2 Times
in
2 Posts
Japanese hubs, wheels, front and rear derailleur, brake levers and quill, english crank shaft, french chain rings, forks and cranks; a regular UN meeting. Still no idea about the frame though. It doesn't seem likely that someone would put a french crank on a japanese frame, but maybe this was just some kind of franken-bike?
#14
Newbie
Thread Starter
Join Date: Jul 2019
Location: Taylor, Texas
Posts: 16
Bikes: Falter, REDLOF, Vista Pacer, Vitus 979, 787, 992
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 2 Times
in
2 Posts
I figured it out at last. Its a Jeunet. I found a Jeunet mixte on Craigslist in Houston. Same lugs, same crankset. Google lead me to more pictures of Jeunets with the same lugs so, I think that's what it is.
Likes For Rayeclarke:
#15
Senior Member
Join Date: May 2013
Location: Greenwood SC USA
Posts: 2,340
Bikes: 2002 Mercian Vincitore, 1982 Mercian Colorado, 1976 Puch Royal X, 1973 Raleigh Competition, 1971 Gitane Tour de France and others
Mentioned: 55 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 822 Post(s)
Liked 1,387 Times
in
690 Posts
Even the humble Jeunets are alleged to have a nice ride quality. I'm a sucker for French gaspipe myself ... cool find and good sleuthing!
#17
Senior Member
Join Date: Aug 2009
Location: Berkeley, CA
Posts: 7,439
Bikes: '72 Cilo Pacer, '72 Gitane Gran Tourisme, '72 Peugeot PX10, '73 Speedwell Ti, '74 Peugeot UE-8, '75 Peugeot PR-10L, '80 Colnago Super, '85 De Rosa Pro, '86 Look Equipe 753, '86 Look KG86, '89 Parkpre Team, '90 Parkpre Team MTB, '90 Merlin
Mentioned: 87 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 823 Post(s)
Liked 2,029 Times
in
542 Posts
It does look like a match for the Jeunet. However, those lugs look fairly common, probably used on lots of different bikes. Another data point is the placement and format of the serial number. A lot of Jeunets have a serial number on the rear non-drive-side dropout.
#18
Newbie
Thread Starter
Join Date: Jul 2019
Location: Taylor, Texas
Posts: 16
Bikes: Falter, REDLOF, Vista Pacer, Vitus 979, 787, 992
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 2 Times
in
2 Posts
Well, that's the thing about this bike; it doesn't have any numbers on it anywhere. The most writing I've seen on it has been the crankset: Universel and the bottom bracket, which said "RFG" which I believe is Roulement Francais Garanti with a TDC Spindle inside of it. Everything else looks like it belongs to an SF Soldier....Sterile...
#19
Senior Member
Join Date: Feb 2013
Location: Alta California
Posts: 14,277
Mentioned: 413 Post(s)
Tagged: 1 Thread(s)
Quoted: 3766 Post(s)
Liked 3,256 Times
in
2,124 Posts
-----
Congratulations on your successful detection campaign!
frame -
head lug pattern is BOCAMA 110/I
seat lug is BOCAMA pattern P
shell looks to be Gargatte
fork crown BOCAMA welded, do not have stock number
---
the replacemeent bottom bracket spindle is by Thomas D. Cross & Sons Ltd. of Birmingham
original REWAX my have failed early as they seem to have only shallow hardening
likely began life as a 1973 model 610, it seems nearly all of the Jeunets in the U.S. are from this time due to an importation by Beacon who operated warehouses in Chicago. Illinois and Oakland, California.
---
now that you have everything well sorted what are your plans for the bicycle?
-----
Congratulations on your successful detection campaign!
frame -
head lug pattern is BOCAMA 110/I
seat lug is BOCAMA pattern P
shell looks to be Gargatte
fork crown BOCAMA welded, do not have stock number
---
the replacemeent bottom bracket spindle is by Thomas D. Cross & Sons Ltd. of Birmingham
original REWAX my have failed early as they seem to have only shallow hardening
likely began life as a 1973 model 610, it seems nearly all of the Jeunets in the U.S. are from this time due to an importation by Beacon who operated warehouses in Chicago. Illinois and Oakland, California.
---
now that you have everything well sorted what are your plans for the bicycle?
-----
Likes For juvela:
#20
Newbie
Thread Starter
Join Date: Jul 2019
Location: Taylor, Texas
Posts: 16
Bikes: Falter, REDLOF, Vista Pacer, Vitus 979, 787, 992
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 2 Times
in
2 Posts
Thank you so much for that information. I knew someone here would know exactly what this bicycle is. I took it apart and have gotten as far as painting the frame British Racing Green. Once I get it all back together I'm just going to ride it and be happy that the mystery French bike is back on the road. I wonder if Jeunet ever made an actual head badge or they were just those foil decals. I'm sure Ebay has the answer to that...
Likes For Rayeclarke:
#21
Senior Member
Join Date: Feb 2013
Location: Alta California
Posts: 14,277
Mentioned: 413 Post(s)
Tagged: 1 Thread(s)
Quoted: 3766 Post(s)
Liked 3,256 Times
in
2,124 Posts
-----
Here is an example dated by its owner as a 1966.
Note that the frame's lugs, crown, dropouts & seat stay treatment are all identical to those of your machine. It even wears the same headset.
The firm also had a second marque called Captivante. There were cycles produced called Captivante and also Jeunet-Captivante. So if you have occasion to search for examples online you can check these two other names as well...
-----
Here is an example dated by its owner as a 1966.
Note that the frame's lugs, crown, dropouts & seat stay treatment are all identical to those of your machine. It even wears the same headset.
The firm also had a second marque called Captivante. There were cycles produced called Captivante and also Jeunet-Captivante. So if you have occasion to search for examples online you can check these two other names as well...
-----
#22
Edumacator
Join Date: Jan 2018
Location: Goose Creek, SC
Posts: 7,374
Bikes: '87 Crestdale, '87 Basso Gap, '92 Rossin Performance EL-OS, 1990 VanTuyl, 1980s Losa, 1985 Trek 670, 1982 AD SLE, 1987 PX10, etc...
Mentioned: 55 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 2374 Post(s)
Liked 2,895 Times
in
1,843 Posts
That bike must have an amazing ride history with all of those component origins!
__________________
1987 Crest Cannondale, 1987 Basso Gap, 1992 Rossin Performance EL, 1990ish Van Tuyl, 1985 Trek 670, 1982 AD SLE, 2003 Pinarello Surprise, 1990ish MBK Atlantique, 1987 Peugeot Competition, 1987 Nishiki Tri-A, 1981 Faggin, 1996 Cannondale M500, 1984 Mercian, 1982 AD SuperLeicht, 1985 Massi (model unknown), 1988 Daccordi Griffe , 1989 Fauxsin MTB, 1981 Ciocc Mockba, 1992 Bianchi Giro, 1977 Colnago Super
1987 Crest Cannondale, 1987 Basso Gap, 1992 Rossin Performance EL, 1990ish Van Tuyl, 1985 Trek 670, 1982 AD SLE, 2003 Pinarello Surprise, 1990ish MBK Atlantique, 1987 Peugeot Competition, 1987 Nishiki Tri-A, 1981 Faggin, 1996 Cannondale M500, 1984 Mercian, 1982 AD SuperLeicht, 1985 Massi (model unknown), 1988 Daccordi Griffe , 1989 Fauxsin MTB, 1981 Ciocc Mockba, 1992 Bianchi Giro, 1977 Colnago Super
#25
Senior Member
Join Date: Feb 2020
Posts: 2,870
Mentioned: 47 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1093 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 1,295 Times
in
765 Posts
You want another set of brakes.
Drillium is ok if when it breaks all that happens is you slow down or stop.
It's not ok if when it breaks you cannot slow down or stop.
Drillium is ok if when it breaks all that happens is you slow down or stop.
It's not ok if when it breaks you cannot slow down or stop.