Is it proper - or even decent? (1984 Motobecane Grand Jubilee question)
 

http://www.bulgier.net/pics/bike/Cat...nd_Jubilee.jpg
(From: http://www.bulgier.net/pics/bike/Cat...Motobecane/84/)

Just saw one of these today, and was quite surprised to find that the top tube Motobecane logo is a plastic applique, much as you might find on a car.

I'm still trying to wrap my head around this little badge. Is it right for a C&V bike to have such a tacky detail? Would like your opinions - I'm torn on this one.

Take care,

-Kurt

My old Motobecane Prolight (my first real racing bike) had the 3D plastic "Prolight" on both sides of the top tube, and a big 3D plastic "M" on the headtube. I pulled them off and threw them away because they kept snagging my newfangled "skin shorts".

Pete

Were they adhesive, or did they penetrate the frame?

-Kurt

It's the same thing on my Mirage Sport of the same year. Sorta makes sense, didn't Motobecane also make motorcycles?

Seems to me to be rather period correct, and also why I'm not so fond of the 80's despite being born in that decade.

I always thought they looked cheap. It doesn't even seem debatable.

I don't know that I ever saw these in person. French production bikes defined cheap, it's part of their charm I'd say. Do the foil stickers on Gitanes and Jeunets appeal to you as being less cheap?

I had one on my '84 Jubilee Sport...it looked like it belonged on the back of a trunk lid...

http://64.19.142.13/farm5.static.fli...ecfb5156_b.jpg

I don't think "tacky" is an appropriate description - it probably cost significantly more to produce: Motobecane obviously thought its customers would appreciate the "bling" - but they didn't. :(

If you're simply talking about vinyl-backed graphics, well they're a staple nowadays. They work OK if clearcoated, and if not, they eventually peel off. My Moto Team Champion frame of 1984 has the MOTOBECANE logo on both sides of DT and on the ST in vinyl, and they're all in pretty rough shape, with serious edge-peeling. Oddly, the "Team Champion" logo on the top tube is a true decal, and it's the only thing that's properly stuck, at this point -- everything else, including the stick-on foil-backed headbadge (which has lost almost all its color) has to be replaced.

As graphics, without clearcoat (which I prefer), the old solvent-fix decals were far superior. Though my Bob Jackson frame is quite faded and beat up, the decals on it still look great, even with patina.

If what you mean is raised plastic lettering, like a car dealership logo, then . . . never mind.

You know, there's something about this thing that doesn't look cheap. It does bug me that the silver headtube is a stick-on decal made to fake lugwork, but the rest of the frameset looks very, very nicely done; the fastback cluster - in particular - is a work of art:

http://www.jaysmarine.com/moto_logo_2.jpg

What's more, it GOES LIKE STINK. It was a short test ride, but it was a GOOD one. Pity the handlebars slipped halfway through :roflmao:

Bingo. What's more, it's only on the drive side.

http://www.jaysmarine.com/moto_logo_1.jpg

Nope, we're talking about something that belongs on the back of a trunklid. Put this badge on a kit car, and you'll fool folks.

-Kurt

Personally, I think it'd be kinda cool.

Ha! It does seem that way.

I like mine, as I'm keeping it (mostly) original. It does show some wear from bike shorts though.

It is a little odd to see it in person.

The head badge that isn't curved with the head tube is kinda odd too.

http://velobase.com/VeloImages/Headb...21ECF02CE.jpeg

I thought the one I saw stuck out even further than this one seems to.

That's where I am now: Is it a nice feature, or is it simply over-the-top garishness? The fake silver headtube and internal lugwork doesn't help matters.

Worst part of this decision is that the ride quality is superb - a big, big positive against some pretty stiff drawbacks.

-Kurt

Well, it wasn't classic and vintage when they produced it. I agree, though, but it's the '80's. Not a great decade for aesthetics with a few exceptions to the rule.

As far as Motobecane is concerned... I usually ignore the years where they went to the square headbadge. Just not part of the classic and vintage that i'm into.

If you can pick it up for cheap, then I don't see why not. The ride is obviously satisfying, signs of good construction, spec-ed pretty nicely, I'd overlook a few warts in this case.

Below is the headbadge of my 1971 Motobecane Le Champion. In every other way it is a truly beautiful bike... but they just had to put this nasty huge plastic piece on the bike.

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3015/...7e0_z.jpg?zz=1

From around 1973 into the late 70s they had wonderful oval headbadges. Gold, with black, red & white enamel and stamped from real brass - Wow!. I thought these were among the nicest looking badges ever to adorn a French bicycle.

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2195/...e36_z.jpg?zz=1

But then, just when everything began to look classy and lovely in the Motobecane bike world... they just couldn't stay away from that accursed cheap looking plastic. :mad:

Perhaps that was why the company went bankrupt in the mid 1980s...:rolleyes:

How sad.

Tacky paint from the 80's is OK, but not tacky badge?

Ouch! Man, that thing hurts my eyes. I feel your pain. Like you, I also love the 70s Motobecane head badge--I had a Super Mirage with the black and red paint job and the old brass and enamel headbadge like the one pictured.
If that were my Le Champion, I'd be sorely tempted to remove the ugly badge that's on there, and replace it with one of the old ones. Of course, that would be wrong on several levels. It would make the Le Champion into something it's not, and plunder the donor bike of a badge that it deserved to keep. I've always felt that buying and selling head badges is on the same moral plane trafficking in elephant ivory. Okay, not quite that bad, but almost. I know I'd be tempted to do that because I AM tempted to do something similar to a PX-10 with an ugly mylar headtubesticker that's curling up and only about halfway attached. Must...resist....

If they hadn't used such big a$$ rivets to hold it on, the improvement in style would have been immense! The style factor might have bumped up from an F to a C-, grade wise.

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3015/...7e0_z.jpg?zz=1

Five years ago, I was with a family when the husband's wife had died. As we were walking back to my car after planning her service, I spotted in his garage, a Motobecane with this headbadge. He said he was going to sell the bike for his brother. If only the circumstance had been different, I would have asked, "how much?"

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2195/...e36_z.jpg?zz=1

Gosh, Bob, your work does put you in an awkward position in that way--I'd never thought of that. Probably best to never look toward the garage at all.

I'm kind of partial to this one. http://i1227.photobucket.com/albums/...ove/Moto11.jpg

$295, and I'll have to replace the bars. Still, not a horrible deal.

I really don't mind the square headbadge; Peugeot had similar stuff around this time too. It's the single "trunklid" badge that doesn't sit well with me.

Clean, understated, and...


...EEEK! :eek: 1970's carbon-fiber weave pattern in the badge! TAKE IT AWAY!

;) - only joking.

-Kurt

I dunno, I'll keep my "later" Motobecane with the trunk lid badge, if only because of the swiss vs french BB. :D

Adhesive. Don't remember how hard they were to take off (hey, it was 30 years ago!)