auchencrow

I keep purchasing these junky bikes, and then I have to do a lot to rehabilitate them.

-Take for example, the ‘74 Motobecane Grand Touring, pictured above.

The bike was a mess; It was stored outdoors; and it was being used by someone as transportation during the winter months here in Detroit. The leather saddle cover had separated from its base. It was all dirty, and caked with grease and salt. So….

1. I removed the seat post – Amazingly, it was not stuck. (I credit this to Motobecanes’ sleeved seat post binder design.)
2. I fixed the gouges in the upper portion of the post, which appeared to have been caused by a pipe wrench.
3. Removed the pedals – they were extremely recalcitrant - but I got them loose after whacking mercilessly on my pedal wrench for an hour.
4. Straightened the bent cage on the left pedal: I then serviced the bearings on both.
5. Cleaned the front and rear DRs’. (Thereupon I discovered a nice Suntour V-GT-Luxe and a Comp5.)
6. Removed and polished the Cranks – (they were disgusting) – but there again, I was pleased to discover a Tourney alloy crank under the grime. - I ditched the chain.
7. Removed and discarded the damaged handle bars, and the brake levers.
8. Removed ,cleaned and polished the front brake caliper, kickstand, and stem.
9. OA’d the saddle clamp, brake bolts, skewers, head set –cap nuts, seat binder bolt and quill.
10. I attempted to salvage the rear wheel: It was hitting both the left and right chain stays. (The rear brake caliper had been disconnected to allow it to be ridden in that condition.) After a few hours though, I gave up, and installed a spare rear wheel.
11. I tried to straighten the alloy chain guard. (-unsuccessfully – but it looks better without one anyway IMO).
12. Removed and cleaned the 5 speed freewheel.
13. I cleaned and waxed the bare frame and the forks.
14. Then I started reassembly – servicing the headset, BB and wheel bearings. lubing the straddle cables, installing all new housings and stainless cables, new inner tubes, tires, brake shoes, saddle, chain, and a nice pair of CTA French pantographed handlebars with new black Tressostar bar tape.
15. I trued the front wheel as best I could –but not quite well enough, so I went out and purchased a lovely pair of NOS Mavic Mod E rims for it, and I’m ordering the new spokes to build them up…

I took it for a ride today, and then I took the pics you see below.
It is a real nice ride …and I know it will be even better with the Mavic wheels.

... I’m shopping for a new rack for it now – and I think it needs a black B17, and maybe then it will be ready to sell.

But for some reason, I just can not make a dime on these old French junkers.

So I guess I may as well keep it.

wrk101

Nice recovery! Well done!

Sometimes, the bottom end/low end bikes from that era look really good, shined up and polished. They had some nice paint, a touch of chrome, and nice lugs.

mkeller234

That looks great. The perspective of the 2nd picture makes the handlebars look bent, I think it's just a trick of the camera. I literally bought one bike from a homeless man, I watched it for a few days and worked up the courage then asked him to name his price. It isn't as nice as this one. I find it hard to believe no one would buy it from you, it looks so nice.

auchencrow

M - the bars in the 2nd picture are bent - un salvageable and the replacement bars were a little pricey (on eBay).
I way overpaid for the bike too, but I felt good about that.

auchencrow

Hi Wrk101 - You are sure right about the nice paint - it's chromed underneath, and the RED just "glows" - more so than what these pictures can convey.

EjustE

This looks nice. A Brooks would be an overkill. Rotating the bars about 20 degrees downward would make wonders for it, though

great transformation.

auchencrow

Thanks E. And the bars probably would look a little better rotated - but I always end up with tops set ~level with the stem anyway - (it seems optimal to me for comfort if I am riding the hoods, and when I'm in the drops, it helps to keep my wrists straight.)

Shp4man

Well done! That's an attractive bike. I wish I cold get the lions imprinted on my Peugeot's bars to stand out like that, but the engraving is really shallow.

ohjonnybegoode

Looks terrific! The Grand Touring was one of the higher-end models in the Moto hierarchy, wasn't it? There's something about the paint finish on those old Motos...they just pop when they're cleaned up....

auchencrow

Thanks Ship4man - regarding the lions - part of it is how you photograph them - They'll jump out more if you move them slightly into the shade on a sunny day. Use the macro (close up) setting on your camera.

bumpalong

Nice one auchencrow - a resurrection in the grand tradition (of bringing worthy steel back from the brink). You've made me think that I should reconsider my bias against French bikes. One of my first CL purchases was a Motobecane Super Mirage that I ended up way overspending to convert to a single speed just before the bottom bracket went wonky and I was left contemplating additional expense. A good lesson, but I've avoided them ever since. And now you've helped me see them as beautiful again...

auchencrow

Hi ohjohnnybegoode - thanks...
Actually the Gr Touring was pretty much in the middle of Moto's lineup - but the next best models (the Gr Jubile, Gr Record, & LeChampion), were very deluxe bikes, so the Gr Touring was not really that shabby at 24lbs.

USAZorro

Very nice restoration.

I'd sell it though - it's waaaaay too large for me.

auchencrow

Thank you Bumpalong - You just might want to resurrect yours too - For about $60 Velo Orange is selling a cartridge BB that obviates any issue you may have had with the subject perversely threaded component. 15 minutes invested in installation, and you could be good for another 40 years.

old's'cool

I typically have my drops adjusted at a similar angle, and for the same reasons.
Nice resto job auchencrow; I agree, all the Motobecanes of that era look very nice; you have to look closely at the technical details to tell them apart.

Grand Bois

I agree with EjustE about the bars, but I think that a Brooks would be nice. He doesn't like Brooks saddles. I ride nothing else. If you want a flat top, you need different bars. Seventies bars just weren't shaped for riding the hoods. If you tilt them to give a flat top the look goofy.

auchencrow

Thanks USAZorro - It is as you say, a large bike - it's even at the limit for me - but I tend to LIKE larger frames, because of the longer TT.
(Maybe I should only buy smaller bikes ( I have an easier time selling those without any remorse. ))

auchencrow

GrandBois - Then I am afraid ALL my bikes look goofy ! - Actually I spend most of my riding time in the drops, but that is the other reason I orient them that way. My wrists would become sore.

How anyone could not like Brooks saddles I'll never know ! (excepting for some people's sensibilities about using animal byproducts). To me there is nothing more comfortable than a Brooks.
- I'll have to flip some bikes though before I get one though, to get back in the black.

scozim 

I count myself lucky to find a set of those bars for $10 at a swap meet. Now to try and get the engraving to pop out in the photos using the shadows.

auchencrow

Thank you old'scool - (and I am glad to hear I am not the only one with goofy bars )
I've been seeing a lot of posts about French bikes here lately and it seems to me there is good reason -people rediscovering their aesthetic value and road manners.

southpawboston

very nice restoration, auchencrow! you really sweat the details.

rumrunn6

nice work! good luck with this one

auchencrow

Thanks Southpawboston... It's true, the prior owner did not sweat the details as much.

auchencrow

Thanks much rumrunn6!

robtown

It's a great joy to restore a bike from the brink of destruction to a new life. Great job!