Go Back  Bike Forums > Bike Forums > Classic & Vintage
Reload this Page >

Road Test/Bike Review (1975) MOTOBECANE Le Champion (plus Mirage models)

Search
Notices
Classic & Vintage This forum is to discuss the many aspects of classic and vintage bicycles, including musclebikes, lightweights, middleweights, hi-wheelers, bone-shakers, safety bikes and much more.

Road Test/Bike Review (1975) MOTOBECANE Le Champion (plus Mirage models)

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
Old 06-16-19, 05:35 PM
  #1  
SpeedofLite 
Senior Member
Thread Starter
 
SpeedofLite's Avatar
 
Join Date: Aug 2010
Location: Central Florida, USA
Posts: 1,991

Bikes: Litespeed (9); Slingshot (9); Specialized (3); Kestrel (2); Cervelo (1); FELT (1); Trek (2)

Mentioned: 39 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 436 Post(s)
Liked 3,471 Times in 999 Posts
Road Test/Bike Review (1975) MOTOBECANE Le Champion (plus Mirage models)





__________________
WTB: Slingshot bicycle promotional documents (catalog, pamphlets, etc).
WTB: American Cycling May - Aug, Oct, Dec 1966.
WTB: Bicycle Guide issues 1984 (any); Jun 1987; Jul, Nov/Dec 1992; Apr 1994; 1996 -1998 (any)
WTB: Bike World issue Jun 1974.















Last edited by SpeedofLite; 11-05-19 at 01:02 PM.
SpeedofLite is offline  
Old 06-16-19, 10:26 PM
  #2  
downhillmaster
Senior Member
 
Join Date: May 2018
Posts: 1,680
Mentioned: 9 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 980 Post(s)
Liked 776 Times in 402 Posts
My ‘75 Le Champion
downhillmaster is offline  
Likes For downhillmaster:
Old 06-17-19, 09:30 AM
  #3  
big chainring 
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Sep 2007
Location: Wilmette, IL
Posts: 6,881
Mentioned: 17 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 751 Post(s)
Liked 727 Times in 351 Posts
Ahh mid 70's inflation. Fall of 1974 I bought a LeChampion. It was one of the least expensive full Campy(sans brakes) bikes available. Price on mine was $390 with custom junior gearing. Purchased a Lutz tracksuit with the bike. The bike, tracksuit, and 4%(?) sales tax brought it to just short of $430.
big chainring is offline  
Likes For big chainring:
Old 06-17-19, 12:17 PM
  #4  
Salamandrine 
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Oct 2015
Location: Los Angeles
Posts: 6,280

Bikes: 78 Masi Criterium, 68 PX10, 2016 Mercian King of Mercia, Rivendell Clem Smith Jr

Mentioned: 120 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 2317 Post(s)
Liked 597 Times in 430 Posts
"the Sun Tour VGT derailleur works smoothly, but the range of gears seems a little low. The two lowest gears are too low even for me"

Now that's not the sort of complaint you hear very often any more! The gears are too low!

It isn't an unreasonable complaint, considering the limited gears. Back when 10 speeds had ten speeds, and you could only use 8, having 2 useless gears would be pretty annoying.
Salamandrine is offline  
Likes For Salamandrine:
Old 06-17-19, 12:49 PM
  #5  
SpeedofLite 
Senior Member
Thread Starter
 
SpeedofLite's Avatar
 
Join Date: Aug 2010
Location: Central Florida, USA
Posts: 1,991

Bikes: Litespeed (9); Slingshot (9); Specialized (3); Kestrel (2); Cervelo (1); FELT (1); Trek (2)

Mentioned: 39 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 436 Post(s)
Liked 3,471 Times in 999 Posts
Originally Posted by downhillmaster
My ‘75 Le Champion
Beautiful bike!
__________________
WTB: Slingshot bicycle promotional documents (catalog, pamphlets, etc).
WTB: American Cycling May - Aug, Oct, Dec 1966.
WTB: Bicycle Guide issues 1984 (any); Jun 1987; Jul, Nov/Dec 1992; Apr 1994; 1996 -1998 (any)
WTB: Bike World issue Jun 1974.














SpeedofLite is offline  
Old 06-19-19, 09:21 AM
  #6  
rideandgoseek 
Full Member
 
Join Date: Aug 2015
Location: Parker, Colorado
Posts: 456

Bikes: 1974 Behringer Custom, 1975 Schwinn Paramount, 1975 Windsor Profesional, 1976 Gios Super Record, 1985 Schwinn Paramount, 1985 Trek 770, 1993 Holland Ti Custom, 2000 Tommasini Sintesi, 2001 Colnago C40, 2019 Canyon Grail AL 7.0

Mentioned: 9 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 115 Post(s)
Liked 126 Times in 45 Posts
My ‘75 still gets loads of miles

27 1 1/4 Soma New Xpress just barely fit but they’re a comfy ride







rideandgoseek is offline  
Old 06-19-19, 10:28 AM
  #7  
SpeedofLite 
Senior Member
Thread Starter
 
SpeedofLite's Avatar
 
Join Date: Aug 2010
Location: Central Florida, USA
Posts: 1,991

Bikes: Litespeed (9); Slingshot (9); Specialized (3); Kestrel (2); Cervelo (1); FELT (1); Trek (2)

Mentioned: 39 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 436 Post(s)
Liked 3,471 Times in 999 Posts
Great photos!
__________________
WTB: Slingshot bicycle promotional documents (catalog, pamphlets, etc).
WTB: American Cycling May - Aug, Oct, Dec 1966.
WTB: Bicycle Guide issues 1984 (any); Jun 1987; Jul, Nov/Dec 1992; Apr 1994; 1996 -1998 (any)
WTB: Bike World issue Jun 1974.














SpeedofLite is offline  
Old 06-24-19, 12:19 PM
  #8  
moto tom
Junior Member
 
Join Date: Jun 2019
Posts: 18
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 3 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 21 Times in 6 Posts
Beautiful! I bought a Grand Jubile' in '74, and my wife got a Mirage in '77-ish? I don't remember the Le Champion, but wouldn't mind having one now! I remember the Grand Record was the bike one step up from my Jubile' .. is that memory accurate? I think it had Campy components while the Jubi had French Huret and Stronglight.
moto tom is offline  
Related Topics
Thread
Thread Starter
Forum
Replies
Last Post
SpeedofLite
Classic & Vintage
9
10-02-23 02:10 PM
SpeedofLite
Classic & Vintage
3
05-24-20 02:01 PM
SpeedofLite
Classic & Vintage
0
08-04-19 06:25 PM
SpeedofLite
Classic & Vintage
0
05-17-19 12:27 AM
adam_mac84
Cyclocross and Gravelbiking (Recreational)
6
09-18-11 05:22 PM

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off



Contact Us - Archive - Advertising - Cookie Policy - Privacy Statement - Terms of Service -

Copyright © 2024 MH Sub I, LLC dba Internet Brands. All rights reserved. Use of this site indicates your consent to the Terms of Use.