The early models used 501, I recently picked up an 83 520 (the first year they were offered) with a 501 frame.

here is mine. It is a early '90s Freschi, I have it since he build it for me in Milan.
62x62 SP/SL columbus (with renforcements on the top of the back fork), Shimano 105 with ofmega triple (I could not afford campagnolo, at the time).
At the time he was experimenting to put together cantilever brakes and race brake levers, so that one can use the bike on all terrain paths
http://bikeforums.net/attachment.php...hmentid=169923http://bikeforums.net/attachment.php...hmentid=169924
when I'll be back to Italy for a ride (the bike is currently there) I'll take some more detailed picks

'74 Alex SiNGER an I in Bavaria, West Germany in 1983. This was a 4 month solo tour through Europe, England and Ireland with lots of friends to visit. The only change I made was to swap out the Campy hubs for Phil Woods hubs. Loved all the dedicated bike paths and routes. Never thought that someday my SiNGER would be called "vintage". If I had to do it over again I would put some lower panniers in front and not carry so much weight in the top handlebar bag.
http://bikeforums.net/attachment.php...hmentid=169952

Vintage French Le Chemineu Touring Bike on Ebay
 

Here is one of my Le Chemineau touring bikes that I have put up for sale on Ebay. Unfortunately it is way too small for me, so I am hoping to find it a good home and get enough for it to get something in my size.

David L

VonCarlos, sounds like you have some stories to tell. Can I invite you to start a new thread about your European tour?

holy crap that's unfortunate.

Here's my 1974 Nishiki International. More info at the thread here
http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4077/...f186b8efd2.jpg

89 Miyata 1000
http://i700.photobucket.com/albums/w...a1000001-1.jpg

I don't recall posting my Maruishi TA-18 Tour Ace: Ishiwata Seamless dbl butted .022 frame, Sugino triple, Mountech DRs, Vetta saddle, Nitto randonneur bars, sealed bearings, allotta spokes, other goodies.

http://tiny.cc/u2xzr

http://tiny.cc/4motr

http://tiny.cc/c0nxy

Here's a Panasonic PT-3500 that I sold recently to a rider who plans to ride it the length of the East coast, I wish her good luck and tailwinds! :thumb:

http://lh3.ggpht.com/_TIeBxBH6dXI/TH...pt-3500_12.jpg

Just finished this 83 Nishiki Seral that started out as a frame and fork a few weeks ago. All that's left to do is mount the Blackburn lowrider and Cannondale drilled out rear racks and panniers then I'll be off on my first ever tour which will be short and a learning experience I'm sure.

Dang, that's a beauty!!:D,,,,BD

+1

'86 Specialized Sequoia

http://i403.photobucket.com/albums/p...g?t=1284909808
http://i403.photobucket.com/albums/p...e/IMG_0393.jpg
http://i403.photobucket.com/albums/p...g?t=1284909839

French Motobécane Grand Touring 1978. It belonged to my father in law - I saved it from being thrown away...

http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4148/...de2ba28fe8.jpg

http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4118/...248cea091b.jpg

Whoa, nice trash save! Absolutely French, and absolutely gorgeous!,,,,BD

Well I worked on it for a couple of weeks - the nice thing about this kind of bike is that with a little care, they're almost built "for ever";-)
And it is always possible to change some details;-)
Here two other nice pics of how the bike is just now:

http://fstatic1.rennrad-news.de/img/...ackschwarz.jpg

http://fstatic1.rennrad-news.de/img/...peancienne.jpg

I would say that GT is much earlier than 78. (By 74 they went to Nervar Cotterless cranks.)
It is a gorgeous example BTW. Nice work.

As a teaser, here's my 70's FrankenCilo just prior to teardown. It is now completely torn down and will be reincarnated in red powdercoat with Campy derailleurs and Weinmann brake gruppo. Bars & stem will be Cinelli, crankset is Avocet. Wheels are Rigida 700Cx25; hubs are Campy Record. None of the bits are refurbished yet, so I'll do before & after shots as I put it together. But everything is minimal wear and not corroded, so cleaning & relubing is all that is needed.

http://public.bay.livefilestore.com/...Cilo%20002.jpg

I don't know why they changed it. 501 is thicker tubing and more appropriate for fully loaded touring. I don't think 531 is that much lighter either. I think people get too obsessed over getting the lightest when sometimes heavier is better.

And stiffer is not always better either. I was kind of heartbroken upon riding my Miyata 1000 the first time. I even had some high buck flat resistant touring tires on it. It wasn't all that comfortable, when compared to a road bike. I hear they really shine when loaded, but I didn't see myself commuting to work with a 100 pounds or more of touring gear, so I let it go. I am more upset about selling my XO-3, but it was small for me by about 5cm.,,,,BD

I don't recall ever seeing one with cantilever brakes or decals like that before either. Could this be a European only model?

It is 1978, auchencrow. I found it on the 1978 catalogue. Have a look here ( scroll down the catalogue) : http://forum.tontonvelo.com/viewtopic.php?f=8&t=1876

It looks nothing like my 78 GT? Mine has charcoal gray paint with black head tube and seat tube bands, striped cutout lugs, cotterless moto branded cranks, Suntour VX derailleurs with power ratchet shifters, one piece molded rubber wrap with built in hoods, and Vitus 172 tubing. This bike looks MUCH older, like auchencrow mentioned. It's puzzling the same model sold in France would be "that" different? It looks nearly a decade older than the one I have? The only bike in that catalog that looks like a 78-79, is that grey model with the fade stripes. Grand Jubilee?,,,,BD

http://i114.photobucket.com/albums/n...CleanMoto1.jpg

http://i114.photobucket.com/albums/n...CleanMoto2.jpg

http://i114.photobucket.com/albums/n...CleanMoto3.jpg

Probably not a "true" touring bike, and I have probably posted it earlier (I forget...too many projects going on at once), but it does have a triple, and I do use it for "light touring". At the moment I am toying with the idea of experimenting a little with it...700C/24-speed conversion. If it works, I will keep the original wheelset as a back-up (and for posterity). The bike is an 18-speed Fuji S-12-S (they should have renamed it the S-18-S). The hubs were date stamped in 1980, but it is probably an '81 model. Since taking the photos I have added black Nashbar Daytrekker panniers on it, a black & gray zefal HPX ASV frame pump, and a pewter colored brushed metal water bottle. Bike does look nice, and elicits quite a few positive comments from other riders.