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Oh c'mon... Show me your Motobecane!

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Oh c'mon... Show me your Motobecane!

Old 09-06-20, 12:45 PM
  #226  
MntnMan62
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Some very nice vintage and REAL Motobecanes here. I can't say mine is real since it's a 2003 vintage or something like that. But it's mine and I like it a lot. Full Ultegra 9 speed. Stock except for the Specialized Phenom Expert saddle and the Cannondale stem to get a little more rise in the handbars. Thinking I may need a bit more rise as I'm not getting any younger.


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Old 09-06-20, 01:07 PM
  #227  
ryansu
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Once upon a time in my early days of refurbishing old steel I came across an 81 Motobecane Nomade II at the bike co-op, it was just a frameset and bits but I cobbled together a bike out it. I sold it as planned but found while test riding that it fit like a glove! So I took careful measurements and resolved to find a higher end Moto to rebuild. It only took about 5 years of on and off looking but I finally found a 78 Moto Grand Touring (vitus 172 main tubes) and after another few years of it languishing I did a total tear down and rebuild,,,its my most stock bike and it gets lots of rides to the French bakery.


Nomade as found (2011)

Nomade refurbed in Franken build

MotoGT as found (2015)

MotoGT refurbed (2018)

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Old 03-10-21, 04:13 PM
  #228  
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New year, new wheels for the Moto GS. I took this nice set of Record hubs that I received from @BlueDevil63, and laced them to a pair of Wolber GTX rims that are in fantastic condition. For spokes I went with DT Swiss Competition. Got them laced as the world froze outside, and finally hit the road today as the temperature reached near 60F.


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Old 03-11-21, 03:53 AM
  #229  
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Originally Posted by BFisher
New year, new wheels for the Moto GS. I took this nice set of Record hubs that I received from @BlueDevil63, and laced them to a pair of Wolber GTX rims that are in fantastic condition. For spokes I went with DT Swiss Competition. Got them laced as the world froze outside, and finally hit the road today as the temperature reached near 60F.


Nice job on the GS. I have one of these out for powder paint right now . I think it may be a year later than yours . It was red with slightly different Grand Sprint script and adjustable axel stops with screws. I have a set of Gentleman Super Champion wheels waiting for it. I will put Campy NR derailleurs and shifters from my stash. I am not sure of the brakes, it came with Spidel and I have set of Campy brakes I could put on. The original saddle is in fair shape but I will probably put on an Ideal I have.I only paid 20 bucks for the bike minus the wheels and other than some bubbling rust around the cable guides , the frame is in good shape. I almost didn’t want to repaint it but rust never sleeps. I am polishing up the parts getting ready for the build.
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Old 03-11-21, 03:54 AM
  #230  
Kabuki12
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Originally Posted by BFisher
New year, new wheels for the Moto GS. I took this nice set of Record hubs that I received from @BlueDevil63, and laced them to a pair of Wolber GTX rims that are in fantastic condition. For spokes I went with DT Swiss Competition. Got them laced as the world froze outside, and finally hit the road today as the temperature reached near 60F.


Nice job on the GS. I have one of these out for powder paint right now . I think it may be a year later than yours . It was red with slightly different Grand Sprint script and adjustable axel stops with screws. I have a set of Gentleman Super Champion wheels waiting for it. I will put Campy NR derailleurs and shifters from my stash. I am not sure of the brakes, it came with Spidel and I have set of Campy brakes I could put on. The original saddle is in fair shape but I will probably put on an Ideal I have.I only paid 20 bucks for the bike minus the wheels and other than some bubbling rust around the cable guides , the frame is in good shape. I almost didn’t want to repaint it but rust never sleeps. I am polishing up the parts getting ready for the build.

Last edited by Kabuki12; 03-11-21 at 03:57 AM.
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Old 03-11-21, 07:31 AM
  #231  
BFisher
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@Kabuki12, Thanks! These are total sleepers as far as I'm concerned. The paint on mine is in very good condition overall with only a few small chips here and there, but I wouldn't hesitate to get it refinished if that wasn't the case. One note regarding brake choice - on my frame the reach is long enough to rule out Campy calipers. Mine's a '79. Not sure if the spec changed for the following years, but worth checking out.

I look forward to seeing yours when you get it back from the finisher.
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Old 03-14-21, 04:37 PM
  #232  
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Love the Blue and Gold ,thought the seat went well.

Went with 105 Gearset, very smooth

tried to keep it clean

Had to swap out the origional ugly and ungainly stem for downtube shifters

Decals all there

Traded CentrePull for DiaCompe Royal front and rear still period correct but so much cleaner

I just sold this baby for a little under $400. I think it was a pretty good deal.

What do you guys think
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Old 06-22-21, 04:18 PM
  #233  
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72/3 Le Champion.
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Old 06-22-21, 07:39 PM
  #234  
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1973 Motobecane Grand Record

I picked this up a few years back but it took me a while to dial in the fit. First I had to track down a decent length stem and decent width bars. Second, I had to figure out what kind of riding I wanted to do on it. The paint job has crackling issues which is not uncommon with early 70s Grand Records and the bike has a lot of clearance for fat tires. So I turned it into a gravel machine with 700 x 35c Schwable mondial tires. I also installed a Nervar 631/633 crank with 50/34 rings and a Suntour RD to handle the gearing.

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Old 06-23-21, 09:44 AM
  #235  
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Later 70's Grand Jubile mixte

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Old 06-23-21, 12:25 PM
  #236  
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These passed through my hands a few years ago. Probably should have kept the GJ, but I had just been laid off and thought the money was more important.

JL Motobecanes ## by L Travers, on Flickr

JL Motobecanes ## by L Travers, on Flickr

JL Motobecanes ## by L Travers, on Flickr
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Old 06-23-21, 12:28 PM
  #237  
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Originally Posted by Flatforkcrown

72/3 Le Champion.
Such a beautiful example! I’ve got this same Le Champ but I haven’t refurbished it yet. Mine is not as clean as yours but you’ve given me some inspiration. Those Vittoria Corsa tires are some of favorites.
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Old 06-26-21, 03:29 PM
  #238  
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modèle ct2 1982 650B
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Old 06-27-21, 12:13 AM
  #239  
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I do not know the model or the year of this motobecane









Full reynolds frame
Campagnolo front and rear legs
Cinelli hanger
Jdd tange
Bdp Stronglight
Rainbow competition rims 🏳️‍🌈
Campagnolo hubs
Nuovo record derailleur and levers (patent without date)
Stronglight 93 crankset
Calipers weinmann 610 winner 999

Last edited by Hproduguidon; 06-27-21 at 12:16 AM.
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Old 06-27-21, 12:39 AM
  #240  
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Well I would have thought this to be here already but maybe not.

1974 CT, restored and delivered to my door by the venerable @obrentharris.

Still languishing unbuilt with too many others.


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Old 06-29-21, 08:43 AM
  #241  
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Beautiful bikes in this thread! I don't own one.... yet.
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Old 06-29-21, 01:12 PM
  #242  
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Motobecane c5 1978/79
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Old 06-29-21, 04:00 PM
  #243  
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Originally Posted by onyerleft
What's the widest tire that would fit on the rear of a LeChampion?
I’d guess a 36 easily. Here’s the clearance with Vittoria corsa 30mm tubulars:



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Old 06-29-21, 04:10 PM
  #244  
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Old 07-01-21, 03:08 PM
  #245  
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Family photo...

Here's my stable, including the top 3 in the line - '74 Champion Team (orange), '75 Le Champion (silver lilac) and '74 Grand Record (black/red)....





Only one missing is the '74 Grand Jubile (red/black), which is currently under reconstruction....


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Old 07-16-21, 11:16 AM
  #246  
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Grand Record paint questions

Is there a known match for the red of the mostly-black with red headtube and panels frame?

And is there a known stripper for what's on there, the methylene chloride stuff does not seem to be working anywhere near as well as it does on most other bike paints...
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Old 08-01-21, 07:06 AM
  #247  
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Newly acquired Grand Record:


More here.
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Old 08-04-21, 01:01 PM
  #248  
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My 1973ish Grand Record that I've owned since 1974. Oxidized and abused, stripped down and ready for a new life as a 1 x 10. And back from powder coating yesterday.

1973(?) Grand Record.. mine since 1974. Rode it until 2005 or so. Neglected not abused, but paint & decals shot.

Back from the powder coater in gorgeous Illusion Copper. Head tube lugs will be hand painted creamy white. Decals from VeloCal on their way. Rear cold-set to take a 10 speed hub. Will use original brakes (Mafac), bb, crank (but only the small ring for a 1x), cockpit, seat stem. Original Brooks saddle long gone. New wheels, derailleur, shifter.
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Old 09-11-21, 01:00 AM
  #249  
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Found a Motobecane "Club" in my area but can't find any info anywhere. Anybody got specs or catalog scans? Checked velo-pages but no luck. I believe it's a mid-late 70s model.

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Old 09-13-21, 12:42 PM
  #250  
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Originally Posted by dweenk
Later 70's Grand Jubile mixte

I wanted to post more pictures of this bike, which dweenk was so great to grab and hold for me. I will be converting it to a flat bar all-rounder for my daughter, so I took a lot of un-molested before pics for posterity. As far as I can tell, it's as it left the factory.
-John







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