Vintage Motobecane Le Champion Colors..?
10-17-19, 01:36 PM
#26
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10-17-19, 01:46 PM
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● 1971 Grandis SL ● 1972 Lambert Grand Prix frankenbike ● 1972 Raleigh Super Course fixie ● 1973 Nishiki Semi-Pro ● 1979 Motobecane Grand Jubile ●1980 Apollo "Legnano" ● 1984 Peugeot Vagabond ● 1985 Shogun Prairie Breaker ● 1986 Merckx Super Corsa ● 1987 Schwinn Tempo ● 1988 Schwinn Voyageur ● 1989 Bottechia Team ADR replica ● 1990 Cannondale ST600 ● 1993 Technium RT600 ● 1996 Kona Lava Dome ●
● 1971 Grandis SL ● 1972 Lambert Grand Prix frankenbike ● 1972 Raleigh Super Course fixie ● 1973 Nishiki Semi-Pro ● 1979 Motobecane Grand Jubile ●1980 Apollo "Legnano" ● 1984 Peugeot Vagabond ● 1985 Shogun Prairie Breaker ● 1986 Merckx Super Corsa ● 1987 Schwinn Tempo ● 1988 Schwinn Voyageur ● 1989 Bottechia Team ADR replica ● 1990 Cannondale ST600 ● 1993 Technium RT600 ● 1996 Kona Lava Dome ●
10-17-19, 01:46 PM
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Ouch! Did these happen slowly over time or was it a particularly nasty ride? Your photos definitely give one pause at the thought of riding in an Eroica!
10-17-19, 01:53 PM
#29
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I think there may be a lot of confusion about this era of Le Champion. I lived through it and bought a used one in 1973 that was a year old. I bought it because I lusted after one in a LBS. It came with Campy but Stronglight 93 crank and Universal 61 centerpull. The black and red I associate with Grand Records post 1972 The equipment varied from year to year.
The 72 was sold with sew-ups (what we called them back then) with Campy hubs. They were specially made for Motobecane and maybe a couple of other manufacturers. They look like record but are actually Tipo's with Record slots instead of Tipo round holes on the flanges. No oil hole or cover.
The 72 was sold with sew-ups (what we called them back then) with Campy hubs. They were specially made for Motobecane and maybe a couple of other manufacturers. They look like record but are actually Tipo's with Record slots instead of Tipo round holes on the flanges. No oil hole or cover.
10-17-19, 01:55 PM
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My '76 Grand Touring has all the original Suntour derailleurs, SR crankset, and DiaCompe brake components. They're pretty bulletproof, stay in adjustment, and function flawlessly. You've got a beautiful bike with a great group set! No need to search for vintage Campy stuff if what you have works!
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10-17-19, 02:02 PM
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10-17-19, 02:12 PM
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10-17-19, 02:43 PM
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Not sure if I can swallow the one-year-only claim on the kidney-bean hole high flange hubs with the winged logo. As we clearly see, there are three bikes here from different years with the same hubs. I doubt all three owners sought out to get those specific hubs for sake of originality. I suspect a multi-year run.
Last time I had to dig on the color-by-year to help ID my friend's so we knew what datecode to go with on the Campy mechs, I distinctly remember there was a two-year period in the printed catalogs where red/black was used on the LC. It was either '72/73 or '73/74. I swore it was 72-73, but if yours is without a doubt a 72, I guess it's 73/74. Bulgier has at least one of the catalogs in color, I can't recall where I sourced the others. I'll do some casual digging later this eve, see if I can turn something up..
You'll probably love the Suntour. Like I said above, could've been swapped to Suntour for functionality sake, Suntour is far easier to adjust, shifts cleaner quickly and on the first try every time, better at staying tuned-in, and far more reliable than the Campy NR stuff (my opinion!). But I suspect there was ulterior motive involved (maybe in addition!), and it was still worth pointing out to you the original Campy hardware was probably fleeced (for resale). What's there isn't original to the year suspected and it may've been a point to help barter on price. I can't recall ever seeing a LC or TC/CT with anything but Campy in this era.
Exactly! ^^ And honestly the shifting on the Mighty/Power levers behaves much more enjoyably than the Campy levers (again, just my humble opinion!).
Ouch!
I think there may be a lot of confusion about this era of Le Champion. I lived through it and bought a used one in 1973 that was a year old. I bought it because I lusted after one in a LBS. It came with Campy but Stronglight 93 crank and Universal 61 centerpull. The black and red I associate with Grand Records post 1972 The equipment varied from year to year. The 72 was sold with sew-ups (what we called them back then) with Campy hubs. They were specially made for Motobecane and maybe a couple of other manufacturers. They look like record but are actually Tipo's with Record slots instead of Tipo round holes on the flanges. No oil hole or cover.
My '76 Grand Touring has all the original Suntour derailleurs, SR crankset, and DiaCompe brake components. They're pretty bulletproof, stay in adjustment, and function flawlessly. You've got a beautiful bike with a great group set! No need to search for vintage Campy stuff if what you have works!
Ouch!
10-17-19, 03:29 PM
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The suntour power ratchet shifters and suntour rear derailleur that came on your new old bike are the finest pre-indexing derailleurs you could get IMHO. The comp V FD with its reverse action is also very good. Whoever changed out the original derailleurs knew what they were doing.
I recently built up a Fuji Finest with suntour barcons and cyclone derailleurs. I took it recently on a metric century with well north of 4000 ft of climbing. I was impressed with how well the derailleurs shifted.
Last edited by bikemig; 10-17-19 at 03:34 PM.
10-17-19, 04:34 PM
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Your Fuji looks new! The only Suntour I've had- and still have- is on my 1984 Specialized Expedition. It does shift easily and accurately so I know what you're saying. As for your bike looking new; I'm continually amazed at how good many vintage bikes still look and how well they still run. I wonder what the modern Carbon frames will look like 30 to 50 years from now?
10-18-19, 12:13 PM
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@cletusjones - not slow, 21 mph into a car fender.
P9081221, on Flickr
$62K in medical charges in 2009.
P9081221, on Flickr
$62K in medical charges in 2009.
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Bikes don't stand alone. They are two tired.
10-18-19, 01:32 PM
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I am so sorry! Cycling is a lot of fun but x-rays like yours remind us all that it is far from risk free!
10-23-19, 12:20 PM
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Update: I bought it and I think it's prettier in person than in the photos. Also, it came with extra stuff! It came with Bluemels Lightweight fenders, an alloy kickstand , toe clips, clip-on bottle cage, a Wheeling Dervish rear rack and a dynamo driven headlight! In addition, there is a bicycle license from Loveland Colorado 1974 to 1976! Eroica rides here I come! I will of course get pics up for historical interest but I just had to share.
10-23-19, 12:57 PM
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Update: I bought it and I think it's prettier in person than in the photos. Also, it came with extra stuff! It came with Bluemels Lightweight fenders, an alloy kickstand , toe clips, clip-on bottle cage, a Wheeling Dervish rear rack and a dynamo driven headlight! In addition, there is a bicycle license from Loveland Colorado 1974 to 1976! Eroica rides here I come! I will of course get pics up for historical interest but I just had to share.
