Originally Posted by
bargo68
Thanks for this. I can see you would be the person to speak to about this era Motobecane! Would you agree with my guess that a 72 or 73 might have nicer Huret derailleurs? The Campag on there now must be a replacement, as the stop position of the derailleur does not work well with the stop position on the Huret dropout.
Bargo68, the unusual stamped number is unlikely to be of much help. I'm afraid my knowledge of the Criterium model is pretty thin and surviving published materials from Motobècane for it are also scarce. This bike could possibly be from 1972-73 as you're thinking but I'm guessing perhaps a few years earlier. It clearly was equipped originally with a Huret Allvit groupset (very popular in the 60s) with the Campagnolo Nuovo Record rear mech added later. The components in your photos were all being used in the late '60s. A 1966 brochure shows the Criterium in Reynolds 531 (likely 3 main tubes), half chromed fork, Weinmann 999s with light hoods, tubular rims, etc. and with a Brooks B15 saddle. In the 1966 brochure it lists a TA crankset and Pivo stem so your bike might also be a year or two different.
Great bike. In what country did you find it?