Originally Posted by
Bandera
Simple process of elimination to avoid much grief for sport-tourers: Motobecane.
Straight, well finished and if "Grand-anything" buy one, if it fits.
For a vintage race bike: Vitus 979, accept no substitutes.
-Bandera
un de plus
70's era lugwork is excellent for a production frame. The french decaled 531 tubeset, the two tone paint jobs, the pinstriping and lug lining, sweet!
The oddity of having a Campy rear dropout, spec'ed by Ben Lawee so they could use the technically superior SunTour derailleurs, but Swiss BB? Gotta have some of that French Funk somehow.
The Grand Record is an underrrated frame. We had one of those black and red ones in my frame size in an LBS I worked at, I thought it looked pretty cool, but Italian road racing bikes ruled the day. I've had a couple come through Atelier Gugie, they make great 650b conversions.