acoffin 

I'm trying to decide if I want to drive two and a half hours to look at this Grand Record. Price seems high to me, but I don't know much about the value of these. Here is the CL ad. https://stlouis.craigslist.org/bik/3916148680.html

Anyone have input?


French Motobecane - $450 (Carterville, IL.)
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1972 Motobecane Grand Record

Beautifully lugged, 58cm, manganese molybdenum frame
Reynolds 531 double-butted tubes
Stronglight Competition headset
Campanolo Nuovo Record shifters
Campanolo Nuovo Record derailleurs
Nervar Competition crank (52/42t)
Atom (Maillard) close ratio freewheel cluster (14, 16, 19, 21, 24)
Atom pedals w/ Avocet (Italian) clips and straps
Normandy Luxe Competition hubs w/ M. M. Atom skewers
Weinmann (Belgian) rims
Weinmann cetre-pull brakes, and levers w/new cables, and NOS gummy hoods.
( I have the original - rather dry - hoods. I have added quick releases on front and rear brakes, for my own convenience...
but still have original cable-hanger brackets.)
Fresh black gel tape w/ twine-wrap on Pivo bars.
Pivo stem.
New, fat (1-1/4) Kenda "training" tires
Beautiful original pearl-grey lacquer paint shows a few dings and rubs
Original Brooks Professional leather saddle
Weight; about 23 lbs.

This bicycle was in storage for nearly thirty years.

Exquisite, all original, classic European road bike.


$450.00 or best offer.

FastJake

At that price it doesn't do anything for me personally, but if you have your heart set on a Grand Record it's worth a look. I also think the price is a bit high. Poor presentation hurts but the condition does not look that great. Those look like 27" clinchers to me...

If it were close I'd say go offer him $350 and see what happens but that's a long drive. I'd pass.

Michael Angelo 

Looks ready to ride, at the price it's a good deal. Only cause you don't have to do much of anything to it.

oddjob2

At $400, it would be a very good deal. I'll bet it's better than the photos. Also, as I have a GR, but with the plain lugs, that paint just doesn't hold up well.

acoffin 

Yeah, you can see where there's a bad cosmetic spot on the top tube. The seller says it's paint, but I'm not sure if it isn't just the clear coat. FastJake is correct, it has 27" clinchers, but the hubs appear as if they might be original. The big thing that bothers me is the fork crown, it appears to be a lower quality version than what these typically came with. I'm guessing it's original as they seem to have used whatever was available when parts ran low.

I don't think I would pay more than $300 for what I see. Maybe after seeing it in person and riding it I might feel different. It's been for sale for a little over a week I think, but probably not worth the drive to make a low ball offer. Guess I'll see if he'll send me more pictures so I can make a better decision.

randyjawa 

The Motobecane Grand Record is a pretty darn nice bicycle that will offer much better than average ride quality, in my opinion. If the one pictured is in good condition, I see no problem with the price. Though usually broke, myself, I would pay the price and scoop the bike.

thinktubes 

Frame would have to be dent or "ding" free for anything near $400. As mentioned, as nice bike if you're into the French stuff.

Bikedued

If it was Italian you guys would be jumping up and down yelling go get it. I happen to think French bikes are just as nice. It all depends on your point of view. I happen to think the price is completely fair, as long as the "ding" doesn't affect the metal. I can fix almost any paint problem with duplicolor and a few hours. The Ironman below had a silver dollar sized solid rust spot wrapped around the center top tube cable guide area. You'd never guess it unless you looked very, VERY closely at it.,,,,BD

Bianchigirll 

Don't we have a member near there? You might be better off seeing if you can get some one closer to look at it for you. As stated if your into froggie bikes and want a Moto it might be a good deal but not when you add in 5+ hours driving.

big chainring 

The Nervar crank is puzzling. TA is what I remember on these bikes. Though the Nervar is easier to deal with removal. So maybe thats a plus.

Cool French bike. Where the heck is Carterville? Oh, way down there.

A guy in Chicago had a black one with xtra Campy parts on it. Sat most of the summer at $550. I'm not sure if it sold or not.

$450 is kinda steep. Especially with Kenda tires. Bike deserves better.

It would be nice to see a pic of the saddle. Get an idea of condition.

zukahn1 

I would think $400 or so a presented. So with the $450 price tag and the 5 your drive it isn't really worth it considering condition.

mparker326

Fork crown is identical to my early 70's GR. Headbadge is different than mine. GR's are nice riding bikes. I might be ok with the price if it was local,but driving 5 hours, no way.

Chicago Al 

+1 to most of the above. Nice bike, price too high for the market. Seems to me that $450 is close to 'all the money' you could ever get for a Grand Record. For example if I was to sell mine I'd be happy getting that much..in Chicago. That one looks in very nice, original shape, but it's way off the beaten track so the seller should build that into the price.

BTW the paint issue is even more evidence of originality.

Bikedued

As per a conversation with a knowledgeable person at Yellow Jersey who was there when these bikes were new, he said they never knew what crank would be on the Grand Records when they came out of the box. It could be a TA, or the Nervar. Mine came with the Nervar crank as well.,,,,BD

zukahn1 

I have also heard that not knowing exactly what parts you would get on a 70's Moto till you took it out of the box was pretty typical. I have seen a guit a few that are basically original and have yet to see two that where identical parts wise.

Chicago Al 

1974 Moto catalog lists the lugs as 'NERVEX Professional or PRUGNAT Professional.' They weren't even sure about that!

And the brakes...catalog says Weinmann or Universal.

Then at the bottom of the specs page is a picture of a little sad-eyed French guy, Gauloise drooping from his lip, wearing a greasy shop apron, shrugging his shoulders.

Okay, that last part might only be in my personal copy of it.

loose spoke

+10 Where else do you find a Reynolds 531, Nervex (or Prugnet) lugged frame for that money. The components are a bonus. This is a bike with refined handling for a reasonable amount. One of the prettiest too IMHO.
In the end, everyone is looking at different priorities.

acoffin 

Well I pulled the trigger on the Grand Record! I was close to getting a nice looking 73 Raleigh Gran Sport in CT that was going to be facilitated by a forum member, but decided I needed to see this first. I was able to get the seller down to $350, which I think is a fair price. It's overcast here today, but will get better pictures soon (these are the sellers CL pics) and start a new thread over in CV. Thanks for everyone's help in appraising this.

StLbikerdude

Nice ride! Seems like a much better idea than shipping from CT

Chicago Al 

Condition looks great, price very reasonable considering that. Is that trainer part of the package? Even a basic fluid trainer is probably worth $50 on CL (in the winter).

I am certainly partial as I like my own GR very much, but it seems to be a model that *everyone* likes...I seldom go for a ride without someone commenting, either a middle aged guy who knows the bike or a younger one who just likes the look.

wrk101

+10 At $350 you did very well. And if the trainer is included, its a jumbo score. I have sold similar trainers in the winter for $60 to $75. Extras can make a very good deal a GREAT deal.

acoffin 

Thanks, guys. The trainer did not come with it unfortunately. The bike is in alright shape. the components are very clean actually, but the paint is not as nice as I had hoped. Good thing I like patina! I overhauled the wheel bearings last night and took it on a quick mile and a half ride today. I want to repack all the bearings and do some kind of treatment on the saddle before taking it on a real ride. The Normandy Luxe Competition hubs were a huge PITA to clean since they do not have removable dust covers. The 40 year old grease had turned to glue! On the good side though, I'm blown away by how stable and responsive this thing is! Thread coming soon in C&V, I've go a bunch of questions that I am sure I'll get varying answers on

Here is a picture from my ride today