AlphaDogg

I was looking in my garage for a bell for my hybrid, because my mom told me there were a couple in there. I saw my parents' old bikes, which I had seen all the time. But this time I saw what kind of bikes they were, and realized they could be worth something. They have been sitting there, unused for the past 10-15 years (if not longer).

Motobecane:

My dad says that he got his Motobecane Mirage in the early 1980's (he says 1981). The wheels are covered in cobwebs, and the chain is all mucky. The paint is in immaculate condition, with only a few places where the paint chipped. I don't think he rode it that much.. Maybe a few hundred miles on it.









Huffy:

UGLY crankset, I have no idea what brand it is. Cobwebby wheels. Bought in the late 1980's. I don't know what else to say about it.

AlphaDogg

More Motobecane Mirage pictures:

Bianchigirll 

your in the wrong forum this should be apprasials. with alot of hard work the Mirage may bring $100

AlphaDogg

Thank you. I will request this thread to be moved. If the mirage will only bring $100, I think I will just use it..

Homebrew01

And for the Huffy, you would have to pay me to take it.

wrk101

Huffy = $0.

Mirage needs quite a bit of work, assuming you do it yourself, as is $25. If you have to pay a shop to do the work, $0 (you will be upside down on value by the time you are done).

formicaman

The Huffy would be a fine bike for a city girl looking for theft-resistant basic transportation, so I say $50 cleaned up and tuned up. The Motobecane is maybe worth $100 to her boyfriend, $150 if he secretly wants to dump her for the French chick in his building.

hamfoh

yeah you can still fetch $20-$50 for the huffy to someone who is just looking for something to bike around campus or whatnot. I just witnessed a girl sell a wal mart cruiser that was probably $100 brand new 5 years ago for $80 within 2 days on CL

SteveSGP

I agree on the zero value of the Huffy but I guarantee I could get $180.00-$200.00 in my market for the Motobecane after a thorough rehab.

Of course a complete rehab is time consuming and if you can't do it yourself then you won't make any money on it, should be a nice ride though.

e.maguran

I just sold a 1984 Motobecane Mirage 58cm for $125, but mine was (no offense) in excellent condition and I took less than my original asking of $175. If I was selling this in Houston, I'd probably be able to get $80 for it just as it sits. With an overhaul, cleaned up, new tires, and some wax on the frame - you could find someone to give $180. It will definitely take work though.

Huffy tourists garner some money in Houston... roughly $70. This is something you should sell to a student.

Aquakitty

I don't agree with the 0 value on the Huffy at all. By C&V standards it's worthless, but people are dumb and buy bikes for the look. Someone who wants a vintage cruiser would probably pay 100 for it. I have seen just as bad sell for that quick.
If you make it ready to ride it could sell if your area has any demand for it.
I mean aside from being heavy, it's probably a lot better quality than the low end stuff you get today and probably rides fine.

AlphaDogg

Anyone know if it's a steel or alloy frame? The rims are definitely steel, as they are shiny.

esldude

I have a 1980 Mirage I purchased new. It looks just the gold one down in the middle of this page.

https://www.foodieforums.com/otherimages/stable.htm

Here is a catalog for a 1979 which has shifters like yours.

https://www.equusbicycle.com/bike/mot...moto197904.pdf


I think your Mirage was mid to late 70's. By '80 the shifters were down tube mounted not up by the handlebars. The deraillers were Huret rather than Suntour though they may have used both during those years. Also 79's were ten speed while 1980's were 12 speed. Then they went out of business in 1982, so much for my lifetime frame warranty.The brakes were still Weimann with Dia-comp levers. I believe the 1980 and 81 models were identical. I remember wanting a Super Mirage, but just didn't have the money.

The frame is lugged steel. My 1980 has 2040 tubing which is better than water pipe, but not as good as the 1020 tubing. I think yours is the same. Mine still rides well, fits me very well, and I liked the geometry they had.

AlphaDogg

esldude, do you know if it has French threading?

esldude

You know, mine is completely original. I have ridden it a good bit, but never had to do anything to it. So I don't actually know, though I would guess it most likely does have French threading. These were made in France bikes. Later bikes used the name after they folded in 1982, but were made elsewhere than France.

twobadfish

What's wrong with the Huffy?

esldude

I know I had a Huffy when a kid. Replaced a reliable Murray I had outgrown. My first full size bike. It was a horrible piece of junk. I didn't abuse my bikes, just road on pavement only. All sorts of things broke on it the first year. By then I had it strapped into a middle gear permanently, had to put a seat from a banana bike and adapt it (yes the seat post broke). I had a working front brake. It was one of the lousiest products I have ever had of any type. Then the fork froze up on it, and it had never been in the rain or any water. So I cannot speak for others, but whenever I see or hear Huffy, I think "JUNK". I would agree with a worth of zero, but of course maybe I just got a bad one.

Replaced the Huffy with an old super heavy bike from the 50's. Coaster brake, big wide tires, painted rims, bet it weighed 40 pounds. But I could ride it. Didn't ride so much once I got a driver's license. Then when in college I purchased the Motobecane Mirage. Still remember my first ride on it. Seemed like you could breathe on the pedals and it would take off compared to what I ridden before then.

cycleheimer

Is the Moto your size? Think family heirloom. The clamp on bottle cage is actually pretty nice. A Pleitscher "rat trap" carrier would look just right on this bike. Anyway, spray the bike with Fantastik or Awesome or similar cleaner, scrub it with a brush or sponge, hose it off, polish it up with car wax. If you're a bit handy, there is quite a bit of how-to information online for restoring this type of bike. Good deals for parts and supplies online at Niagara Cycle Works, Nashbar, JensonUSA, etc. The saddle bag on Mom's Huffy might work on the Moto (probably worth more than the bike itself). The Huffy is a $10 to $20 bike (at a garage sale...for somebody who doesn't know any better), possibly $50 on CL in some markets. That bike was really never very good, but OK for an occassional ride around the block. If you had to work on them all day long, after people have messed them up more than they were to begin with, you would probably turn to alcoholism for relief. Anyway, mom could possibly get some more use out of it if you can get it ready for her.

oldroads

I Boston, BEFORE being tuned up, the Huffy would be about $30 and the Motobecane close to $100.

Beach Comber

Personally, I believe you could easily get $40-$50 for the Huffy. Its a comfort style bike, and there are a lot of moms and grandmoms who just want something to ride along side little Suzy on the Meow Kitty bike. What harm is there in cleaning and listing it?

bikin bear

Give the Motobecane a good washing and use some Semi Chrome on the whole thing and you'll have a new looking bike!

bikin bear

Oh yea...donate the Huffy to some place like "Bikes not Bombs"

AlphaDogg

I actually just learned that the huffy was in an apartment fire. Is it still good?