? Year of this Motobecane Champion Team ?
08-25-09, 08:37 PM
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? Year of this Motobecane Champion Team ?
As some of you may I have seen, I picked up with beauty a few days ago...
Date on components is 74' , but I am unsure of the year the frame was made. he said he bought it in 1978 but it had been hanging up in his garage for several years.
Any ideas?
He said it was completely original aside from the upgraded wheelset, he included the original tubulars though as you will see in photos. The pouch had an extra somewhat crusty tubie in it. He also took off the headtube decal, and the "made in france" that comes before the Motobecane on the downtube.
Threw in : a helmet, gloves, 53tooth NR chainring and some nice clip in pedals.
He was an older fellow compared to myself being age 20... and he was very excited to see his bicycle go to a younger rider who was as excited as I was about, his words : " just his old bike."
I'm sort of shy about saying the price, even though I know some people on this forums are in my area and saw this craigslist ad... Lets just say it was a "once in a lifetime" deal, considering prices around these parts, but If enough people ask I'm sure I will fold.
Okay, enough blah blah, here are some photo's
I took it on a 35 mile ride today through beautiful northern California... It performed as well as I could have hoped for, cant wait for the many more miles to come.
Date on components is 74' , but I am unsure of the year the frame was made. he said he bought it in 1978 but it had been hanging up in his garage for several years.
Any ideas?
He said it was completely original aside from the upgraded wheelset, he included the original tubulars though as you will see in photos. The pouch had an extra somewhat crusty tubie in it. He also took off the headtube decal, and the "made in france" that comes before the Motobecane on the downtube.
Threw in : a helmet, gloves, 53tooth NR chainring and some nice clip in pedals.
He was an older fellow compared to myself being age 20... and he was very excited to see his bicycle go to a younger rider who was as excited as I was about, his words : " just his old bike."
I'm sort of shy about saying the price, even though I know some people on this forums are in my area and saw this craigslist ad... Lets just say it was a "once in a lifetime" deal, considering prices around these parts, but If enough people ask I'm sure I will fold.
Okay, enough blah blah, here are some photo's
I took it on a 35 mile ride today through beautiful northern California... It performed as well as I could have hoped for, cant wait for the many more miles to come.
Last edited by Dyermaker; 08-25-09 at 08:43 PM.
08-25-09, 08:55 PM
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That bike is sooooo cool!!!
Cheers
Chris
Cheers
Chris
08-25-09, 09:15 PM
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Found the answer to my own question via Flickr / Stronglight...
So here is a link : https://www.flickr.com/photos/strongl...7602014094812/
...and a inadvertent but well given thank-you to Stronglight for supplying yet more information.
So here is a link : https://www.flickr.com/photos/strongl...7602014094812/
...and a inadvertent but well given thank-you to Stronglight for supplying yet more information.
08-25-09, 09:22 PM
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Very nice bike! Congratulations!
And the extras make it all that much better.
And the extras make it all that much better.
08-25-09, 10:01 PM
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Very sweet bike; great that it went to someone who will appreciate it. I strongly urge you to do a careful cleaning and re-pack of the bottom bracket and headset using fresh bearings before putting too many miles on.
08-26-09, 03:41 AM
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Ultra-cool find - congrats! All you need now is a 'BIC' -jersey 
Joseph
Joseph
08-26-09, 06:04 AM
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I think it will be hard to pinpoint the year as the Champion Team had the same configuration for at least two years of which I am aware.
08-26-09, 06:29 AM
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Nice! And has a matching pump to boot. That was the top o the line in the Motobecane line-up. And was Louis Ocanas winning Tour de France bike.
A little shoe polish on the scuffs of the saddle will improve the appearance.
Just Awesome!
A little shoe polish on the scuffs of the saddle will improve the appearance.
Just Awesome!
08-26-09, 11:59 AM
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I guess knowing its between the two is fine with me, its not very important, just personal closure.
08-26-09, 01:40 PM
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One more thing - that bar tape...how about some nice black tressostar?
08-26-09, 01:54 PM
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08-26-09, 02:37 PM
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Just lost my 72 Le Champion in an auto accident. Great find!
08-26-09, 02:52 PM
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Just keep pedalling!
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Awesome bike, love the color!
08-26-09, 03:02 PM
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That is a super bike! I was always under the impression that Mobobecane's were not that nice. Not sure why, That frame looks very nice indeed!
08-26-09, 05:36 PM
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White bar tape. All the pros used it back in the day.
Likes For big chainring:
08-26-09, 10:20 PM
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But don't discount the higher end Motobecanes... the Grand Jubile (531 frame), Grand Record (full 531 frame/fork - campagnolo shifter/derailleurs), and the Le Champion (full 531 frame/fork - full campagnolo group)... all top end for their day and in my opinion all nicer than the more popular Puegeot PX-10. The Le Champion is equivalent in quality to a Schwinn Paramount. The Champion Team... even better.
Last edited by dbarnblatt@usa.; 08-26-09 at 10:28 PM.
08-27-09, 12:38 AM
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Just lost my 72 Le Champion in an auto accident. Great find!
That is a super bike! I was always under the impression that Mobobecane's were not that nice. Not sure why, That frame looks very nice indeed!
08-27-09, 04:14 AM
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Thanks for the schooling guys. I never knew.
08-27-09, 02:17 PM
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I took er' on a climb today that well, kicked my ass into gear...
And it felt great.
This isnt my photo, stole it from flickr, but its the same road during a greener time of year... This is looking towards San Fransisco bay :
And it felt great.
This isnt my photo, stole it from flickr, but its the same road during a greener time of year... This is looking towards San Fransisco bay :
09-16-09, 06:03 PM
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hello!
hello!
I read about your jacques anquetil find for your girlfriend. i had a beloved bike that was exactly the same("Sophie") that was stolen in new york city last year. would your girlfriend be willing to part with that bike or perhaps trade for a 2003 specialized allez sport 27 speed in good shape? e-mail me back at wanderthecircle@yahoo.com. Peace and love!! - kevin
I read about your jacques anquetil find for your girlfriend. i had a beloved bike that was exactly the same("Sophie") that was stolen in new york city last year. would your girlfriend be willing to part with that bike or perhaps trade for a 2003 specialized allez sport 27 speed in good shape? e-mail me back at wanderthecircle@yahoo.com. Peace and love!! - kevin
