Motobecane fork question
07-18-19, 10:52 AM
#1
Hump, what hump?
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Motobecane fork question
Don't know much about French bikes, but I've found an early 70s Champion Team. Orange paint with Campy bits. Looks original save for the fork, which is fully chromed. I'm thinking it's a replacement since Moto brochures show painted forks. Anyone know if chrome forks were a factory option for this model?
07-18-19, 11:28 AM
#2
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Never seen one on a TC (or CT), so, probably not.
Look closely at the down and top tubes for any bulges.
Look closely at the down and top tubes for any bulges.
07-18-19, 12:03 PM
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Hump, what hump?
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Have not seen in person yet. It’s about five hours away. Waiting to hear from seller.
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07-18-19, 12:19 PM
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Hump, what hump?
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I guess it's possible the paint was removed for some reason. Weren't the forks chrome underneath the paint? Still, the fork crown does not look quite right. Hard to tell in the photos provided. I'll try to post a screen shot.
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2010 AB T1X ** 2010 Cannondale SIX-5 ** 1993 Cannondale RS900 ** 1988 Bottecchia Team Record ** 1989 Bianchi Brava ** 1988 Nishiki Olympic ** 1987 Centurion Ironman Expert(2) ** 1985 DeRosa Professional SLX ** 1982 Colnago Super ** 1982 Basso Gap ** 198? Ciocc Competition SL ** 19?? Roberts Audax ** 198? Brian Rourke ** 1982 Mercian Olympic ** 1970 Raleigh Professional MK I ** 1952 Raleigh Sports
07-18-19, 12:19 PM
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It was common practice in the early 1970s to fully chrome a fork and then paint paint only the upper section of the blades. Once the paint started chipping, many owners would strip the remaining paint to expose the underlying chrome. Typically, these forks are readily identifiable as there is clear demarcation between the smooth, highly polished chrome of the lower blades and the rougher chrome of the upper blades, which exhibits many small scratches and imperfections.
07-18-19, 12:21 PM
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Hump, what hump?
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2010 AB T1X ** 2010 Cannondale SIX-5 ** 1993 Cannondale RS900 ** 1988 Bottecchia Team Record ** 1989 Bianchi Brava ** 1988 Nishiki Olympic ** 1987 Centurion Ironman Expert(2) ** 1985 DeRosa Professional SLX ** 1982 Colnago Super ** 1982 Basso Gap ** 198? Ciocc Competition SL ** 19?? Roberts Audax ** 198? Brian Rourke ** 1982 Mercian Olympic ** 1970 Raleigh Professional MK I ** 1952 Raleigh Sports
2010 AB T1X ** 2010 Cannondale SIX-5 ** 1993 Cannondale RS900 ** 1988 Bottecchia Team Record ** 1989 Bianchi Brava ** 1988 Nishiki Olympic ** 1987 Centurion Ironman Expert(2) ** 1985 DeRosa Professional SLX ** 1982 Colnago Super ** 1982 Basso Gap ** 198? Ciocc Competition SL ** 19?? Roberts Audax ** 198? Brian Rourke ** 1982 Mercian Olympic ** 1970 Raleigh Professional MK I ** 1952 Raleigh Sports
07-18-19, 12:27 PM
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If you go to check it out, look very closely at that down tube/head tube joint as SurferRosa suggested.
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07-18-19, 01:07 PM
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Hump, what hump?
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Here’s the response:
“The fork was swapped, not because of a wreck, but because the original owner was a pro and the had to "throw away" the bikes after race seasons. They put on different forks and sold them to the team members for $1 as scrap.”
Plausible?
“The fork was swapped, not because of a wreck, but because the original owner was a pro and the had to "throw away" the bikes after race seasons. They put on different forks and sold them to the team members for $1 as scrap.”
Plausible?
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07-18-19, 01:11 PM
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I dunno how plausible that is but you can inspect the frame for damage. If the team got rid of the bikes to the riders, I have no idea why they'd swap out the fork.
Still if this is an english fork, you'll have a 22.2 stem and an english threaded headset which, in many ways, is a plus.
Still if this is an english fork, you'll have a 22.2 stem and an english threaded headset which, in many ways, is a plus.
07-18-19, 01:14 PM
#12
Hump, what hump?
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I dunno how plausible that is but you can inspect the frame for damage. If the team got rid of the bikes to the riders, I have no idea why they'd swap out the fork.
Still if this is an english fork, you'll have a 22.2 stem and an english threaded headset which, in many ways, is a plus.
Still if this is an english fork, you'll have a 22.2 stem and an english threaded headset which, in many ways, is a plus.
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2010 AB T1X ** 2010 Cannondale SIX-5 ** 1993 Cannondale RS900 ** 1988 Bottecchia Team Record ** 1989 Bianchi Brava ** 1988 Nishiki Olympic ** 1987 Centurion Ironman Expert(2) ** 1985 DeRosa Professional SLX ** 1982 Colnago Super ** 1982 Basso Gap ** 198? Ciocc Competition SL ** 19?? Roberts Audax ** 198? Brian Rourke ** 1982 Mercian Olympic ** 1970 Raleigh Professional MK I ** 1952 Raleigh Sports
2010 AB T1X ** 2010 Cannondale SIX-5 ** 1993 Cannondale RS900 ** 1988 Bottecchia Team Record ** 1989 Bianchi Brava ** 1988 Nishiki Olympic ** 1987 Centurion Ironman Expert(2) ** 1985 DeRosa Professional SLX ** 1982 Colnago Super ** 1982 Basso Gap ** 198? Ciocc Competition SL ** 19?? Roberts Audax ** 198? Brian Rourke ** 1982 Mercian Olympic ** 1970 Raleigh Professional MK I ** 1952 Raleigh Sports
07-18-19, 01:31 PM
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$500 is an OK price for a pristine le champion. I saw a beautiful le champion languish on my local CL for over a year before someone bought it at $500. I don't think I'd pay that much for this bike given its potential issues and distance which makes it hard for you to inspect and discuss price.
07-18-19, 01:33 PM
#14
Hump, what hump?
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$500 is an OK price for a pristine le champion. I saw a beautiful le champion languish on my local CL for over a year before someone bought it at $500. I don't think I'd pay that much for this bike given its potential issues and distance which makes it hard for you to inspect and discuss price.
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