OzarkKing

I'm a Polish-American Japanese bike enthusiast who is longtime cycling friends with a German-American French bike enthusiast (correction: he just acquired a Team Fuji and a Schwinn).
After he picked up a '79 Motobecane Grand Jubilee, we learned "forks bent (and so is the frame)" and he wants to pilfer the parts for the purpose of transference to a minty (literally mint chocolate chip colored) '74 Motobecane Nomade with stem shifters. Questions are:
1. can the stem shifters/derailleurs be swapped for the Jube's Suntour Cyclone downtubers with minimal work?
2. can the skewers from the quick release Jube wheel be made functional on the Nomade wheels that aren't quick release?
3. Is it worth it?
Bonus question: The Jubilee came with a real nice leather stitched bar wrap that he wants to save and already mangled the stem (he understands now the term "Drew"), is there a two piece stem that can clamp down on an already wrapped bar that otherwise is too thick to slide into other stems we've seen).
He'll follow with pics but his sister-in-law is using the computer tonight while he hangs out with his bikes but here's a pic of the Nomade (his first restore):

And here's the Jube:

DiegoFrogs

If the derailleurs are clamp-on, I don't think there will be issues. It's a shame about the Jubilee. I love my Cyclones from the same era, and it'll be a great upgrade.

Can you just move the wheels over from the better (trashed) bike? Assuming you're trying to swap stuff over from a Japanese hub to a French one, it may be difficult to move over the skewers only.

DiegoFrogs

Addition: You may need to get the appropriate derailleur claw. You'll need a Japanese or modern one, which should only be a few dollars.

Captain Blight

To make the QRs work with the good wheels (and if the rear on the Jubilee is still good, why not use it?) all that needs to happen is to swap the solid axles out for hollow ones. This is a good time to overhaul the hubs, inspect bearing races, etc. Depending on year the BB may or may not be a direct swap. Stem shifters should swap with no problem. Proper derailleur claw is a chromed steel #4532; spend the money and get a new one.

cudak888 

*Wonders if the Park HTS-1 will pull that Moto back into shape*

-Kurt

jebejava

Are you absolutely sure that it's a real leather bar wrap? I'm curious because a friend of mine just acquired a Super Mirage and the handlebars looked like it had a leather bar wrap. I was fooled. It was actually a very nicely done some-kind-of-vinyl bar wrap with integral lever hoods and molded-in stitching. I could think of no way to remove the stem or levers without mangling the "wrap".

ftwelder

I am sure it would. One would need to overbend the top tube to get it straight I would think. That might require a little extra something.

cudak888 

Not sure if it would need overbending with 531; especially past the thicker, butted area.

-Kurt

Zaphod Beeblebrox 

I really should send you my international at some point for that treatment. Its a tough call though because my LBS has an HTS-1, and I kinda want to try it

on the other hand I kinda want someone who's done it before to do it.

cudak888 

If they'll let you work with the tool, you'll get the hang of it. You'll chicken out long before the frame is in alignment - the trick is to push yourself past the fear of bending the frame too much.

-kurt

caveatemptor

Thanks. These are my bikes. I can not express how "cherry" the Nomade is--- especially for being a 37 year old bike.

I appreciate all of the solid and prompt feedback. This is an impressive sight with equally impressive members. Glad to hear this will work. This will be a fun project.

Two questions:

Where do I buy the derailleur claw chromed steel #4532?

Can I easily (skill level: novice) change out the crank arms and chain rings from the Jubilee to the Nomade? Is it worth it?

I'll send pics with progress. Look for them over the next weekend.