1974-75 Motobecane scans
11-11-19, 12:36 PM
#1
Senior Member
Thread Starter
1974-75 Motobecane scans
These may have been posted before, but I came across a sales catalog that accompanied a Grand Jubilee purchased in Sept of 1974 and thought I’d share some of the catalog images. Enjoy!
11-11-19, 01:09 PM
#3
Banned.
Join Date: Jul 2009
Location: PAZ
Posts: 12,294
Mentioned: 255 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 2588 Post(s)
Liked 4,824 Times
in
1,709 Posts
OP: great scans - I love the shot of Ocana all alone on the mountain. Thanks for posting them!!
DD
11-11-19, 01:15 PM
#5
Senior Member
Thread Starter
Hey; it was the ‘70’s ! What can you say? I did all of my riding then in ridiculously short gym shorts, tennis shoes and a Tshirt. One strap on battery powered leg light for night riding. No helmet of course; they hadn’t really been invented then!
11-11-19, 01:35 PM
#6
aka Tom Reingold
Join Date: Jan 2009
Location: New York, NY, and High Falls, NY, USA
Posts: 40,502
Bikes: 1962 Rudge Sports, 1971 Raleigh Super Course, 1971 Raleigh Pro Track, 1974 Raleigh International, 1975 Viscount Fixie, 1982 McLean, 1996 Lemond (Ti), 2002 Burley Zydeco tandem
Mentioned: 511 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 7348 Post(s)
Liked 2,465 Times
in
1,433 Posts
I'm pretty sure the US market Motobécane lineup was an American creation, so I'd bet the catalog was, too. Motobécane bikes in France were more low-end and didn't carry prestige.
__________________
Tom Reingold, tom@noglider.com
New York City and High Falls, NY
Blogs: The Experienced Cyclist; noglider's ride blog
“When man invented the bicycle he reached the peak of his attainments.” — Elizabeth West, US author
Please email me rather than PM'ing me. Thanks.
Tom Reingold, tom@noglider.com
New York City and High Falls, NY
Blogs: The Experienced Cyclist; noglider's ride blog
“When man invented the bicycle he reached the peak of his attainments.” — Elizabeth West, US author
Please email me rather than PM'ing me. Thanks.
11-11-19, 01:49 PM
#7
señor miembro
Join Date: Dec 2018
Location: Pac NW
Posts: 6,623
Bikes: '70s - '80s Campagnolo
Mentioned: 92 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 3886 Post(s)
Liked 6,480 Times
in
3,206 Posts
11-11-19, 02:04 PM
#8
Senior Member
Join Date: Apr 2012
Location: Middle Earth (aka IA)
Posts: 20,435
Bikes: A bunch of old bikes and a few new ones
Mentioned: 178 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 5888 Post(s)
Liked 3,471 Times
in
2,079 Posts
11-11-19, 02:09 PM
#9
Senior Member
Join Date: Apr 2012
Location: Middle Earth (aka IA)
Posts: 20,435
Bikes: A bunch of old bikes and a few new ones
Mentioned: 178 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 5888 Post(s)
Liked 3,471 Times
in
2,079 Posts
Why do you say that? Curious. I worked in a bike shop in Paris in the mid 80s (la maison du velo) and the shop sold a lot of Motobecanes. Heck I bought one to commute around Paris in (531 frame and shimano 600 parts).
11-11-19, 02:13 PM
#10
aka Tom Reingold
Join Date: Jan 2009
Location: New York, NY, and High Falls, NY, USA
Posts: 40,502
Bikes: 1962 Rudge Sports, 1971 Raleigh Super Course, 1971 Raleigh Pro Track, 1974 Raleigh International, 1975 Viscount Fixie, 1982 McLean, 1996 Lemond (Ti), 2002 Burley Zydeco tandem
Mentioned: 511 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 7348 Post(s)
Liked 2,465 Times
in
1,433 Posts
Whoever the Americans were who made the US market of Motos was brilliant. And the French company earns credit for building the bikes so well. These are just my impressions and guesses. I'm not putting the maker down at all. I had two and liked them. One was an old rusty Mirage that I built as a beater/commuter. The other was my go-fast fun bike, a Le Champion with all most all Campagnolo Nuovo Record stuff and tubular tires. I even had the Le Champion repainted.
__________________
Tom Reingold, tom@noglider.com
New York City and High Falls, NY
Blogs: The Experienced Cyclist; noglider's ride blog
“When man invented the bicycle he reached the peak of his attainments.” — Elizabeth West, US author
Please email me rather than PM'ing me. Thanks.
Tom Reingold, tom@noglider.com
New York City and High Falls, NY
Blogs: The Experienced Cyclist; noglider's ride blog
“When man invented the bicycle he reached the peak of his attainments.” — Elizabeth West, US author
Please email me rather than PM'ing me. Thanks.
11-11-19, 02:16 PM
#11
Senior Member
Join Date: Apr 2012
Location: Middle Earth (aka IA)
Posts: 20,435
Bikes: A bunch of old bikes and a few new ones
Mentioned: 178 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 5888 Post(s)
Liked 3,471 Times
in
2,079 Posts
I think many of the posters here tend to think that Motos are the most collectible of the major French brands. The pinstriping is classy and the campy drop outs make it a heck of a lot easier finding replacement derailleurs.
Likes For bikemig:
11-11-19, 02:24 PM
#12
Senior Member
Join Date: Nov 2013
Location: Big Apple
Posts: 1,428
Bikes: yes
Mentioned: 17 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 512 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 409 Times
in
176 Posts
11-11-19, 02:26 PM
#13
aka Tom Reingold
Join Date: Jan 2009
Location: New York, NY, and High Falls, NY, USA
Posts: 40,502
Bikes: 1962 Rudge Sports, 1971 Raleigh Super Course, 1971 Raleigh Pro Track, 1974 Raleigh International, 1975 Viscount Fixie, 1982 McLean, 1996 Lemond (Ti), 2002 Burley Zydeco tandem
Mentioned: 511 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 7348 Post(s)
Liked 2,465 Times
in
1,433 Posts
Right, I had forgotten it was Lawee.
__________________
Tom Reingold, tom@noglider.com
New York City and High Falls, NY
Blogs: The Experienced Cyclist; noglider's ride blog
“When man invented the bicycle he reached the peak of his attainments.” — Elizabeth West, US author
Please email me rather than PM'ing me. Thanks.
Tom Reingold, tom@noglider.com
New York City and High Falls, NY
Blogs: The Experienced Cyclist; noglider's ride blog
“When man invented the bicycle he reached the peak of his attainments.” — Elizabeth West, US author
Please email me rather than PM'ing me. Thanks.
11-11-19, 04:03 PM
#14
Senior Member
Join Date: Aug 2013
Posts: 2,321
Mentioned: 35 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 767 Post(s)
Liked 1,898 Times
in
889 Posts
Cool scans.
Motobecanes are great bikes. I've got two, and would jump on a Le Champion or Team Champion in my size and price range.
And how 'bout that iconic headbadge...
Motobecanes are great bikes. I've got two, and would jump on a Le Champion or Team Champion in my size and price range.
And how 'bout that iconic headbadge...
11-13-19, 09:19 PM
#15
Full Member
I have this catalog in my collection. It came with the '74 Jubile I bought new that summer. Slight change in that it had 52-40 tooth Stronglite 49 crankset. Mine was silver w/ red panels.
This bike created a love for the Motobecane line that my collection currently includes:
a '75 Grand Jubile, red with black panels
a '75 GJ mixte, also red w/black panels (love those seldom seen nervex lugs on the mixte)
a '75 Grand Record, silver w/black panels, totally original, one of the best I have seen, looks like it just rolled out of the factory
a '75 Grand Record, red w/black panels
a '74 Grand Record that will have all French components. Gugie brazed on some cantilever bosses for the NOS Mafac cantis that I'll use.
a '72 Grand Record, black w/red panels that is totally Campy including all the hard to find French campy parts
a '72 Le Champion, turquoise w/white panels
a '73 Le Champion, black w/red panels (frame only that I'm going to sell before Spring)
I think I'm hooked.
This bike created a love for the Motobecane line that my collection currently includes:
a '75 Grand Jubile, red with black panels
a '75 GJ mixte, also red w/black panels (love those seldom seen nervex lugs on the mixte)
a '75 Grand Record, silver w/black panels, totally original, one of the best I have seen, looks like it just rolled out of the factory
a '75 Grand Record, red w/black panels
a '74 Grand Record that will have all French components. Gugie brazed on some cantilever bosses for the NOS Mafac cantis that I'll use.
a '72 Grand Record, black w/red panels that is totally Campy including all the hard to find French campy parts
a '72 Le Champion, turquoise w/white panels
a '73 Le Champion, black w/red panels (frame only that I'm going to sell before Spring)
I think I'm hooked.
Likes For motogeek:
11-13-19, 09:34 PM
#16
Senior Member
Thread Starter
^ Roll out some photos of those Motos!
11-13-19, 11:01 PM
#17
Senior Member
Join Date: Jan 2008
Location: Beaverton, OR
Posts: 14,744
Bikes: Yes
Mentioned: 525 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 3230 Post(s)
Liked 3,868 Times
in
1,439 Posts
The Grand Jubilé picture fails to adequately capture its essence as a 650B rando bike.
Mine had Campagnolo rear dropouts. I'm pretty sure it's a '75.
Mine had Campagnolo rear dropouts. I'm pretty sure it's a '75.
__________________
My Bikes
My Bikes
11-14-19, 01:05 AM
#18
Friendship is Magic
Join Date: Nov 2010
Location: Sacramento, CA
Posts: 22,984
Bikes: old ones
Mentioned: 304 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 26413 Post(s)
Liked 10,379 Times
in
7,207 Posts
11-14-19, 01:07 AM
#19
Friendship is Magic
Join Date: Nov 2010
Location: Sacramento, CA
Posts: 22,984
Bikes: old ones
Mentioned: 304 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 26413 Post(s)
Liked 10,379 Times
in
7,207 Posts
11-14-19, 01:09 AM
#20
Friendship is Magic
Join Date: Nov 2010
Location: Sacramento, CA
Posts: 22,984
Bikes: old ones
Mentioned: 304 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 26413 Post(s)
Liked 10,379 Times
in
7,207 Posts
11-14-19, 02:36 PM
#21
Death fork? Naaaah!!
OK, I'll play:
__________________
You know it's going to be a good day when the stem and seatpost come right out.
(looking for a picture and not seeing it? Thank the Photobucket fiasco.PM me and I'll link it up.)
You know it's going to be a good day when the stem and seatpost come right out.
(looking for a picture and not seeing it? Thank the Photobucket fiasco.PM me and I'll link it up.)
11-14-19, 03:45 PM
#22
Senior Member
Join Date: Apr 2012
Location: Middle Earth (aka IA)
Posts: 20,435
Bikes: A bunch of old bikes and a few new ones
Mentioned: 178 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 5888 Post(s)
Liked 3,471 Times
in
2,079 Posts
Another Motobecane bike porn thread?
11-14-19, 05:01 PM
#23
Senior Member
Thread Starter
It seems to be evolving (devolving? 
) into one!
) into one!
11-14-19, 05:11 PM
#24
Death fork? Naaaah!!
You say that like it's a bad thing......
Top
Top
__________________
You know it's going to be a good day when the stem and seatpost come right out.
(looking for a picture and not seeing it? Thank the Photobucket fiasco.PM me and I'll link it up.)
You know it's going to be a good day when the stem and seatpost come right out.
(looking for a picture and not seeing it? Thank the Photobucket fiasco.PM me and I'll link it up.)
11-14-19, 07:10 PM
#25
Senior Member
Thread Starter
Not at all! Here’s mine:
