1976 Motobecane Grand Touring w/650b Conversion Kit - $250
05-07-23, 04:36 PM
#1
Old Boy
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1976 Motobecane Grand Touring w/650b Conversion Kit - $250
Stored for most of its life, this bike is ready for its 650b conversion. I was looking forward to this project, but work and life have gotten in the way. What I have here for only $250 is pretty much everything you need (except tires) to build the ultimate vintage all-roads touring bike. The 57cm double-butted Vitus 172 frameset is in excellent shape, as are all the original components. I have a brand-new Wheel Master 650b wheelset, still in the box. I have new-in-packaging black Velo Orange Zeppelin alloy fenders. You may need to replace the brake calipers, but you won't know until you put it all together.
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Roulez pour la joie, jamais pour la douleur.
USMC 1981-1991 Semper Fi!
Roulez pour la joie, jamais pour la douleur.
USMC 1981-1991 Semper Fi!
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05-08-23, 08:19 AM
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This bike is tempting even though I don't want more bike projects, 
. Someone will surely buy this as it is a fine project. The Vitus 172 Grand Touring bikes tend to fall under the radar a bit.
Is the 650b wheelset at 126, 130, or 135 OLD?
. Someone will surely buy this as it is a fine project. The Vitus 172 Grand Touring bikes tend to fall under the radar a bit.Is the 650b wheelset at 126, 130, or 135 OLD?
05-08-23, 12:51 PM
#4
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Roulez pour la joie, jamais pour la douleur.
USMC 1981-1991 Semper Fi!
Roulez pour la joie, jamais pour la douleur.
USMC 1981-1991 Semper Fi!
05-08-23, 01:02 PM
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This is a super deal on a very nice project. Someone will snap this up. GLWS.
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05-08-23, 01:05 PM
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Built my sister's BF one that I converted to straight bars. He loves it at 32mm tires.
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1987 Crest Cannondale, 1987 Basso Gap, 1992 Rossin Performance EL, 1990ish Van Tuyl, 1985 Trek 670, 1982 AD SLE, 2003 Pinarello Surprise, 1990ish MBK Atlantique, 1987 Peugeot Competition, 1987 Nishiki Tri-A, 1981 Faggin, 1996 Cannondale M500, 1984 Mercian, 1982 AD SuperLeicht, 1985 Massi (model unknown), 1988 Daccordi Griffe , 1989 Fauxsin MTB, 1981 Ciocc Mockba, 1992 Bianchi Giro, 1977 Colnago Super
05-08-23, 04:14 PM
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Just to torture myself, what's the CTC of the seat tube and top tube?
Lovely bike, the perfect sport tourer
That 172 tubing will feel great with or without a light load I think. Are Motobecanes of this era metric or imperial sized tubing?
Lovely bike, the perfect sport tourer
That 172 tubing will feel great with or without a light load I think. Are Motobecanes of this era metric or imperial sized tubing?
05-08-23, 07:22 PM
#8
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Curious if you've mocked it up with a 650B wheelset for clearances, etc. I had one of these of the same year and the rear triangle OLD was closer to 120 than 126, and the chainstays were not dimpled, so even running 38s required some modification. FWIW, I converted mine to 650A, and Weinmann/DC 750 centerpulls did the trick.
It's a beautiful bike, GLWS!
It's a beautiful bike, GLWS!
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05-08-23, 07:38 PM
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The vision I had for this bike was to use the black wheelset, silver Deore 9-speed RD, keep the FD and crankset, (probably have to swap out the chainrings to accomodate the 9-speed chain), and Microshift thumb levers. I'll mount 650b x 38-42mm tires, not sure yet which ones will go best with the black wheels and fenders. The rest of the cockpit I will want to be black, but I'm not sure about sizing yet. I've run into situations where the English standard stem would not fit, so I might have to paint the existing one, at least above the collar, with some kind of black epoxy. Upside-down black SOMA Oxford handlebar with those Brooks grips I like so much. Black Brooks B17 or Pro. Black seat tube. Finally, the brown panels on the seat- and head-tubes will also be repainted black enamel.
Have I missed anything? When I see all this in my head, the result is pretty stunning. But if I don't sell this now, it will all sit in my garage for another couple of years... and the way things are going, may never get built at all. Please buy this, somebody, and make it Live!
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Roulez pour la joie, jamais pour la douleur.
USMC 1981-1991 Semper Fi!
Roulez pour la joie, jamais pour la douleur.
USMC 1981-1991 Semper Fi!
05-08-23, 07:39 PM
#10
Old Boy
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Join Date: Jan 2016
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Posts: 2,127
Bikes: Mostly 1st-generation, top-of-the-line, non-unicrown MTBs/ATBs: All 1984 models: Dawes Ranger, Peugeot Canyon Express, Ross Mt. Whitney (chrome), Schwinn High Sierra, and a 1983 Trek 850.
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Curious if you've mocked it up with a 650B wheelset for clearances, etc. I had one of these of the same year and the rear triangle OLD was closer to 120 than 126, and the chainstays were not dimpled, so even running 38s required some modification. FWIW, I converted mine to 650A, and Weinmann/DC 750 centerpulls did the trick.
It's a beautiful bike, GLWS!
It's a beautiful bike, GLWS!
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__________________
Roulez pour la joie, jamais pour la douleur.
USMC 1981-1991 Semper Fi!
Roulez pour la joie, jamais pour la douleur.
USMC 1981-1991 Semper Fi!
Last edited by DQRider; 05-08-23 at 07:43 PM.
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