flammenwurfer

I've looked through catalogs and I've searched the forums but can't figure out what model of Motobecane I have. I can't seem to narrow it down based on the images and specs in the old catalogs. There is no paint left on the frame and no markings of any kind that I can tell beside the Motobecane headbadge on the front. On a lot of the catalog pictures the rear brake cable is routed on top of the top tube, but on mine it goes on the bottom of the top tube. I also am not sure if they are the stock handlebars or not. I saw some in the catalogs that had similar handlebars.

Distinguishing features that I think would be important:
Suntour stem shifters
Suntour V-GT Derailleur

Pics

T-Mar

The frame is typical of a mid-1970s Mirage, including that rear brake cable routing.

Blue Order

With those stem shifters, my guess would be a Mirage or Super Mirage.

flammenwurfer

Awesome thanks. So those are low-end probably, right?

Blue Order

Low end-ish, but not the lowest end in the Motobecane lineup. Probably the most popular Motobecane, sales-wise, and not a bad bike at all, based on what owners here have had to say about them.

noglider 

More pictures, please, with close-ups?

flammenwurfer

I will get more pics as soon as I get home. Close ups of what specifically?

noglider 

Fork crown, head tube, bottom bracket, seat lug, fork tips, rear dropouts.

flammenwurfer

Here's one I already have online. I'll get the rest when I get home.

flammenwurfer

Here's a link to the gallery of my bikes. All the close ups are at the end.
https://picasaweb.google.com/klundry/...eat=directlink

noglider 

OK, I think it's a Mirage, because the hubs look original, and the rear hub has nuts, not a quick release.

Putting the front basket on will be tricky, but it's worth trying. So are fenders. I think it will make a nice utility bike. And do some experiments: see what happens to the handling when you add weight on the back and on the front. I want to see where the bike prefers the weight.

As I said in the other thread, my Mirage preferred it on the front, which was a surprise. Handling actually improved with weight on the front. And the bike turned more by steering than by leaning. I notice French mopeds are like that, too.

flammenwurfer

Interesting. Well, I'll let you know how it handles when when/if I get that basket on. I've had things on the rear rack, but nothing too heavy. I honestly haven't noticed a difference with stuff on the rack.

Are you into mopeds too? I used to be really into them, and I still kind of am I just don't have the money to buy them. Bikes are cheaper, haha. I had a Murray moped for a while, which is a rebadged Puch. I also had a Tomos that my dad has now and currently I have a Honda MB5. It's not technically a moped, but it has a 50cc engine.

noglider 

No, I've never driven or owned a moped. Way back in 1981, I took a three month bike tour of Europe. One month of it was in France, and lots of folks ride mopeds there. Or at least they did then. I noticed the way they handled just by observing. People would turn the handlebars and hardly leaned at all. I'm sure there's a reason they're designed that way, though I don't know it.