Another LeChampion pickup
08-19-21, 10:59 PM
#1
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Another LeChampion pickup
A friend grabbed this Motobecane LeChampion for me today. Bought sight unseen from a Craigslist ad with no photos. I was pleasantly surprised to discover that it was a 1972, reasonably intact and original
The stem and seatpost have obviously been replaced, and the original Stronglight crank changed out for the Sugino it is sporting now. I’m not sure if the 3ttt bars are original, and am perplexed by the pie plate addition behind the freewheel?
Its a bit of a hodgepodge at this point and the biggest issue is that it is a size larger than stated in the ad. Can’t complain too much about that though; maybe I can find someone interested in a frame swap. Anyways; here it is- I’d love the experts opinion on what is still original here?
The stem and seatpost have obviously been replaced, and the original Stronglight crank changed out for the Sugino it is sporting now. I’m not sure if the 3ttt bars are original, and am perplexed by the pie plate addition behind the freewheel?
Its a bit of a hodgepodge at this point and the biggest issue is that it is a size larger than stated in the ad. Can’t complain too much about that though; maybe I can find someone interested in a frame swap. Anyways; here it is- I’d love the experts opinion on what is still original here?
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08-19-21, 11:40 PM
#2
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...I can't speak to the bar originality, but it was not uncommon to use those Sugino Super Mighty cranks as something equivalent to Campagnolo New Record, but cheaper to buy. IME they work very well, and it's not unlikely whoever did that swap thought it was an upgrade from the original Stronglight. Here is the spec sheet for the year you mention, from the Moto catalog on Bulgier's site.
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...I can't speak to the bar originality, but it was not uncommon to use those Sugino Super Mighty cranks as something equivalent to Campagnolo New Record, but cheaper to buy. IME they work very well, and it's not unlikely whoever did that swap thought it was an upgrade from the original Stronglight. Here is the spec sheet for the year you mention, from the Moto catalog on Bulgier's site.
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08-19-21, 11:45 PM
#3
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...whenever I see a bike set up with a saddle to bar drop like that, my neck hurts.
That rear wheel rim can't possibly be original.
...whenever I see a bike set up with a saddle to bar drop like that, my neck hurts.
That rear wheel rim can't possibly be original.
08-19-21, 11:46 PM
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08-20-21, 12:00 AM
#5
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I’ll have to wait a bit to see it in person, but from the photos I have it looks like the hubs match (even if the skewers don’t). Do they look like Campy Tipo hubs to anyone’s discerning eye? Clearly the rims aren’t original to the bike…
08-20-21, 02:48 AM
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No, they're almost certainly Normandy, with steel rims - just what someone might sub (at the time) if they got tired of spending money on tubular tyres.
I'd be asking the seller if there was an old pair of wheels somewhere.
I'd be asking the seller if there was an old pair of wheels somewhere.
08-20-21, 07:57 AM
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@orcas island - I have an original '72 that was bent up in an accident in 2009. I still have ALL the parts for it except for the original rims and straps.
1972 Motobecane Le Champion 24" on Flickr
2008-06-15 00.30.48 on Flickr
2008-06-22 12.35.23 on Flickr
2008-06-01 08.52.04 on Flickr
2008-06-07 15.40.51 on Flickr
2008-06-07 15.42.52, on Flickr
1972 Motobecane Le Champion 24" on Flickr2008-06-15 00.30.48 on Flickr2008-06-22 12.35.23 on Flickr2008-06-01 08.52.04 on Flickr2008-06-07 15.40.51 on Flickr2008-06-07 15.42.52, on Flickr
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Last edited by SJX426; 08-20-21 at 08:02 AM.
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08-20-21, 09:31 AM
#10
Pedal to the medal
08-20-21, 10:31 AM
#11
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Judging by the size of the head tube, this looks like a 23” frame (or thereabouts). I’m out of town for the next several weeks and haven’t had a chance to actually measure it yet. I ride a 21” or 21-1/2” frame
08-20-21, 12:44 PM
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08-20-21, 12:48 PM
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@orcas island - if it is close to a 59cm or >=23.5" lets talk. I would be interested in the frame set only I even have the HS and BB for it.
I have been wanting to replace this 2009 Le Champion Bike Accident | Flickr
I have been wanting to replace this 2009 Le Champion Bike Accident | Flickr
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Bikes don't stand alone. They are two tired.
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Last edited by SJX426; 08-20-21 at 12:55 PM.
08-20-21, 02:46 PM
#14
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I’ll see if I can prevail on my buddy to measure the frame for me.
08-20-21, 03:02 PM
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I have been wanting to replace this 2009 Le Champion Bike Accident | Flickr
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Commence to jigglin’ huh?!?!
"But hey, always love to hear from opinionated amateurs." -says some guy to Mr. Marshall.
Commence to jigglin’ huh?!?!
"But hey, always love to hear from opinionated amateurs." -says some guy to Mr. Marshall.
08-20-21, 03:37 PM
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@The Golden Boy - Well it has been 12 years and some of my nerves are still growing back on my forearm. I just had surgery 3 weeks ago on my eye that has corrected the damage to my macula. I had 59 years of good use of my body and it has healed mostly back to normal. I deal with more issues of getting old!
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08-20-21, 03:51 PM
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Don't think the wheels are original, Rigida Chrome rims... 27" could be off a UO8 level bike, Presta valves... make sure the rims are not drilled for schrader...or have fillers. Those tires... 27 x 1"? Kind of Michelin Elan type... wait, black and yellow label, Early Specialized.
OLD, note how they set on the rim. way undersized in my book.
Overall, Nice shape. One bummer, everyone seems to sell without pedals
OLD, note how they set on the rim. way undersized in my book.
Overall, Nice shape. One bummer, everyone seems to sell without pedals
08-20-21, 06:39 PM
#18
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[QUOTE=SJX426;22192658]@orcas island - if it is close to a 59cm or >=23.5" lets talk. I would be interested in the frame set only I even have the HS and BB for it.
Even without measuring it, it looks to be a size smaller than the bike in your photos. I’d have to guess that this is more along the lines of 56-57cm rather than 59cm…
Even without measuring it, it looks to be a size smaller than the bike in your photos. I’d have to guess that this is more along the lines of 56-57cm rather than 59cm…
08-20-21, 08:23 PM
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[QUOTE=orcas island;22193073]
It is hard to tell from photos when they are that close.
@orcas island - if it is close to a 59cm or >=23.5" lets talk. I would be interested in the frame set only I even have the HS and BB for it.
Even without measuring it, it looks to be a size smaller than the bike in your photos. I’d have to guess that this is more along the lines of 56-57cm rather than 59cm…
Even without measuring it, it looks to be a size smaller than the bike in your photos. I’d have to guess that this is more along the lines of 56-57cm rather than 59cm…
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Bikes don't stand alone. They are two tired.
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08-20-21, 09:30 PM
#20
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1970-72 Le Champion
After years of doing extensive research on high end Motobecanes including owning about a dozen of them, here's what I came up with: IS IT WRONG... OR JUST FRENCH! 
The 1970-72 US Motobecane catalog page and spec sheet:
Here's an accurate spec sheet for a 1971 Le Champion. 1970 and 1972 bikes should be the same. Note: they came with a straight alloy seatpost with a separate saddle clamp, also Simplex seatposts and some later LCs had several types of SR seatpost - it was mid Bike Boom Fad Time - they used what hey could get.
les spécifications sont sujettes à modification sans préavis
As shown in the list above, LCs during those years were made in 21", 23", 24" and 25" nominal size frames - 54cm, 58cm, 60cm, 62cm & 64cm nominal. Don't know what screaming geniuses came up with those offerings back then but most makers completely ignored the very common 55cm, 56cm and 57cm sizes. DOH!
1970-72 US Le Champion frames came mostly in two blueish colors: teal bleu with light ivory lugs and French racing bleu with white lugs. They also produced some in black with red lugs in 1972.
SJX426 Bike posted above
... and French racing blue like the OP's @orcas island LC.
Note: some French language Reynolds 531 stickers back then had grayish green numbers. I had Greg Softly of Cyclomondo in Australia make these up for me. You can order them direct from him through his website online.
Motobecane had Campagnolo make them so special Nuovo Tipo hubs with kidney bean cut outs instead of round holes. They replaced the Normandy Luxe Competition hubs that were previously used. Probably Bike Boom delivery problems.
French metric 22.0mm 3TTT Record stems and 3TTT bars were standard on those bikes.
My 1972 black with red lugs is made of lighter gauge Reynolds 531 main tubes with 0.9mm x 0.6mm wall thicknesses vs. the 1.0mm x 0.7mm tubes used on many production frames. A quick way to tell is it takes a 26.6mm seat post vs. the standard French 26.4mm size.
Original 2007 eBay photo.
verktyg
The 1970-72 US Motobecane catalog page and spec sheet:
Here's an accurate spec sheet for a 1971 Le Champion. 1970 and 1972 bikes should be the same. Note: they came with a straight alloy seatpost with a separate saddle clamp, also Simplex seatposts and some later LCs had several types of SR seatpost - it was mid Bike Boom Fad Time - they used what hey could get.
les spécifications sont sujettes à modification sans préavis
As shown in the list above, LCs during those years were made in 21", 23", 24" and 25" nominal size frames - 54cm, 58cm, 60cm, 62cm & 64cm nominal. Don't know what screaming geniuses came up with those offerings back then but most makers completely ignored the very common 55cm, 56cm and 57cm sizes. DOH!
1970-72 US Le Champion frames came mostly in two blueish colors: teal bleu with light ivory lugs and French racing bleu with white lugs. They also produced some in black with red lugs in 1972.
SJX426 Bike posted above
... and French racing blue like the OP's @orcas island LC.
Note: some French language Reynolds 531 stickers back then had grayish green numbers. I had Greg Softly of Cyclomondo in Australia make these up for me. You can order them direct from him through his website online.
Motobecane had Campagnolo make them so special Nuovo Tipo hubs with kidney bean cut outs instead of round holes. They replaced the Normandy Luxe Competition hubs that were previously used. Probably Bike Boom delivery problems.
French metric 22.0mm 3TTT Record stems and 3TTT bars were standard on those bikes.
My 1972 black with red lugs is made of lighter gauge Reynolds 531 main tubes with 0.9mm x 0.6mm wall thicknesses vs. the 1.0mm x 0.7mm tubes used on many production frames. A quick way to tell is it takes a 26.6mm seat post vs. the standard French 26.4mm size.
Original 2007 eBay photo.
verktyg
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Don't believe everything you think! History is written by those who weren't there....
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Don't believe everything you think! History is written by those who weren't there....
Chas. ;-)
Last edited by verktyg; 08-20-21 at 09:54 PM.
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08-20-21, 10:06 PM
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My French Reynolds graphics are fracturing like the northern ice pack in late summer.
08-20-21, 11:44 PM
#22
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08-20-21, 11:59 PM
#23
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Early 70's French Reynolds Decals
https://www.cyclomondo.net/ $10 USD + $5 for shipping. Tell Greg Softley you're looking for these old style French decals at gtsoftley@ozemail.com.au
Or.... buy one of my bikes or frames and I'll throw in a set...
...Top Of The Hill Daley City! HaHaHa
verktyg
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Don't believe everything you think! History is written by those who weren't there....
Chas. ;-)
Don't believe everything you think! History is written by those who weren't there....
Chas. ;-)
10-21-21, 11:04 AM
#24
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Finally back home to start examining and working on this one. The frame seems to measure 22-1/2” center to top on the seat tube. I know that these were listed as either 21” or 23” frames, but I just can’t see how this could be a 23 incher no matter how you measure it. Odd…
The wheels aren’t original, as was suggested by others. Unmarked hubs (maybe Normandy) laced to Rigida 27” x 1-1/4” steel rims. One Atom skewer, one Simplex skewer. The stem and seatpost are obviously not original, but luckily an unopened box that came with the bike contained a Simplex seat post and a Cinelli 80mm stem.
The wheels aren’t original, as was suggested by others. Unmarked hubs (maybe Normandy) laced to Rigida 27” x 1-1/4” steel rims. One Atom skewer, one Simplex skewer. The stem and seatpost are obviously not original, but luckily an unopened box that came with the bike contained a Simplex seat post and a Cinelli 80mm stem.
Last edited by orcas island; 10-21-21 at 11:20 AM.
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10-21-21, 02:17 PM
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https://www.cyclomondo.net/ $10 USD + $5 for shipping. Tell Greg Softley you're looking for these old style French decals at gtsoftley@ozemail.com.au
Or.... buy one of my bikes or frames and I'll throw in a set...
...Top Of The Hill Daley City! HaHaHa
verktyg