French bikes with English threading?
12-04-19, 01:46 PM
#1
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French bikes with English threading?
Hi folks,
Does any know about when each of the French bike manufacturers switched to English threads? We’ve been getting a lot of nice looking French bikes in at the co-op where I volunteer, mainly Peugeots & Motobecanes with cottered cranks. If it’s feasible, I’d like to upgrade & possibly flip some of these since the co-op staff doesn’t like to work on them, but they are popular in this area.
Thanks & regards,
Van
Does any know about when each of the French bike manufacturers switched to English threads? We’ve been getting a lot of nice looking French bikes in at the co-op where I volunteer, mainly Peugeots & Motobecanes with cottered cranks. If it’s feasible, I’d like to upgrade & possibly flip some of these since the co-op staff doesn’t like to work on them, but they are popular in this area.
Thanks & regards,
Van
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12-04-19, 02:32 PM
#2
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Motobecane switched sometime in the eighties. The bottom bracket cups are often stamped with the thread indicated: 35mmx1 for French, 1.37" for English. and 35mmx1 for Swiss. Note on Swiss threaded bikes, which includes many Motobecanes, the nondrive is right hand threaded and the drive side is left.
12-04-19, 02:39 PM
#3
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See Sheldon Brown
Short answer, mid eighties. More info here: https://www.sheldonbrown.com/kunich.html
12-04-19, 02:45 PM
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Short answer, mid eighties. More info here: https://www.sheldonbrown.com/kunich.html
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12-04-19, 03:00 PM
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IIRC, the transition happened late 70s to early 80s. Motobeacane was one of the early adopters; Peugeot couldn't seem to make up their mind, with French Swiss and English all happening in the early 80s. The only safe thing is to check the frame itself. Most bottom bracket cups will be marked in some way to indicate thread spec, sometimes explicitly; sometimes in a more arcane manner:
Source: Sutherland's 4th Edition
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12-04-19, 11:40 PM
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Thanks folks!
Great info. Some ot this was hidden away in my mental data base, but my processor was a bit. I had an 1980 Peugeot Mixte - UO18 that was English threaded. I'll just dig a little deeper into some of the better bikes.
Regards,
Van
Great info. Some ot this was hidden away in my mental data base, but my processor was a bit. I had an 1980 Peugeot Mixte - UO18 that was English threaded. I'll just dig a little deeper into some of the better bikes.
Regards,
Van
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Remember: Real bikes have pedals.
...and never put a yellow tail on a Red, White and Blue kite!
Remember: Real bikes have pedals.
...and never put a yellow tail on a Red, White and Blue kite!
12-04-19, 11:44 PM
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My '78 Peugeot PX10LE had English BB.
12-05-19, 12:01 AM
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Peugeot started their real big move to English threading in 1985.
Most likely triggered by the then, impending demise of many of the bigger French component manufacturers (downward spiral of Spidel?).
My 1984 Peugeot PSV was pretty close to being the last one of their bike models that had almost 100% French components and sizing/treading (except for the BB which was Swiss threaded). The saddle and bar tape were the only non-French items on the bike (Italian).
Most likely triggered by the then, impending demise of many of the bigger French component manufacturers (downward spiral of Spidel?).
My 1984 Peugeot PSV was pretty close to being the last one of their bike models that had almost 100% French components and sizing/treading (except for the BB which was Swiss threaded). The saddle and bar tape were the only non-French items on the bike (Italian).
Last edited by Chombi1; 12-05-19 at 12:06 AM.
12-05-19, 06:53 AM
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My 1980 PKN-10, now my elder son's road bike, has a Swiss-threaded BB.
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Capo: 1959 Modell Campagnolo, S/N 40324; 1960 Sieger (2), S/N 42624, 42597
Carlton: 1962 Franco Suisse, S/N K7911
Peugeot: 1970 UO-8, S/N 0010468
Bianchi: 1982 Campione d'Italia, S/N 1.M9914
Schwinn: 1988 Project KOM-10, S/N F804069
"Far and away the best prize that life offers is the chance to work hard at work worth doing." --Theodore Roosevelt
Capo: 1959 Modell Campagnolo, S/N 40324; 1960 Sieger (2), S/N 42624, 42597
Carlton: 1962 Franco Suisse, S/N K7911
Peugeot: 1970 UO-8, S/N 0010468
Bianchi: 1982 Campione d'Italia, S/N 1.M9914
Schwinn: 1988 Project KOM-10, S/N F804069
12-05-19, 07:11 AM
#11
PM me your cotters
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Sticking with some of the bigger mass-produced names that made it over here like Gitane, Peugeot, Motobecane/Astra, Juenet, Follis to avoid the pitfall of corner-cases ...
By 1985, I think everyone was standardized, but there are probably a few cases French and non-French (Mondia?) which deviated from the norm.
As mentioned or alluded to above, somewhere around '78-'79 Peugeot switched a number of their BB to Swiss thread and that continued through at least '83-'84 depending on market.
Motobecane was at least a couple years earlier on transition to standard, however I've read at least two accounts here on BF of late 70s Motobecane with Swiss thread, although never confirmed or seen myself.
Gitane sample size is limited mostly to '70s because I wasn't a huge fan of the styling towards later '70s and through the '80s, I don't recall what my '81/'82 GR threading is.
Newest Juenet I've had was suspected '76, French thread.
I've owned two Follis. Both 70s models. Both French thread.
By 1985, I think everyone was standardized, but there are probably a few cases French and non-French (Mondia?) which deviated from the norm.
As mentioned or alluded to above, somewhere around '78-'79 Peugeot switched a number of their BB to Swiss thread and that continued through at least '83-'84 depending on market.
Motobecane was at least a couple years earlier on transition to standard, however I've read at least two accounts here on BF of late 70s Motobecane with Swiss thread, although never confirmed or seen myself.
Gitane sample size is limited mostly to '70s because I wasn't a huge fan of the styling towards later '70s and through the '80s, I don't recall what my '81/'82 GR threading is.
Newest Juenet I've had was suspected '76, French thread.
I've owned two Follis. Both 70s models. Both French thread.
