errantlinguist

Dear fellow vintage riders,

How/where is it possible in the 21st century to find and obtain a specific bike frame, namely a Motobecane diamond road bike frame with a 54-55cm horizontal toptube length (about 54cm in height given the Motobecanes I've been in contact with) in that particular bright grass green color from Motobecane, such as in the photo below?



A couple of months ago I and my road bike got into a fight with a car and lost and my bike got all bent up about it-- literally. I got a replacement bike but I look at the new bike and I just feel "meh" about it. I'm even more difficult than that because I found some other Motobecanes for sale which are quite similar to mine but don't have such a beautiful color, and once I saw someone on a mixte city bike in exactly the same color as mine and I felt so happy... and then sad because I realized I didn't have one anymore.

Many sentimental thanks.

rootboy 

What's a "diamond" Motobecane frame? Your profile says it was a 1971 Moto?

oddjob2

As a linguist, the OP is probably referring to the horizontal top tube design, which gives his Nomade the oft referenced "diamond" shaped design formed by the 2 triangles.

I can help with a red Super Mirage frame, but no green frame, but for an apple green Moto mixte.

rootboy 

Ah. I see. Thanks.

eschlwc

nice pic.

my advice: scour ebay, bikeforums and craigs (in multiple cities) for a grand record or a le champion.

i paid $400 or so for my g.record on ebay knowing the frame was straight and the original paint was 9/10. then i overhauled the hell out of it.

great bikes.

Salamandrine 

Sorry about your accident. That is indeed a cool color of green.

Unfortunately, replacement frames for that bike probably have not been available for at least 40 years. (if they ever were)

If you look around for a while, you will find an old Motobecane that you like as much or more, but the green could be difficult. I don't think I've seen that color before. Maybe take this opportunity to move up a model or two to a Grand Touring or something. Buying a vintage bike is a little like fishing: you don't necessarily get to pick what bites your hook.

Wildwood 

Sorry to learn of your accident and loss.

To find a Moto you could post in this and several other forums, they all have ISO threads. Craigslist is hit or miss.
Or you could move-on with another C&V purchase. Lots of good ones out there.

edit: anytime I've branched out (with C&V bikes) I was surprised at all the nice rides out there. Fair deals on very good used bikes are abundant. Broaden your options and look at this situation as an opportunity to explore.

due ruote 

Are you in the States or overseas? That's not a familiar Moto color to me either, but the fact that you saw another one in your city makes me wonder if maybe it's a European color not sold in the US.

If it's that particular color that gets you going (and I agree, it's a really nice color), you might be in for a long search. Otherwise, like others said, try to broaden your parameters. I'd begin by analyzing what else about your old bike you found so satisfying - frame geometry, componentry, lug work, etc. and look for something similar. Maybe something like a Raleigh Super Course...which also came in an excellent green, though not precisely like your old bike.

errantlinguist

Exactly... I thought "diamond" was the "proper" way of referring to them (cf. Sheldon Brown)? Until a few years ago, I'd always called them "men's" bikes (as opposed to the step-through "women's" bikes), but those terms seem to no longer be en vogue.

errantlinguist

I'm in Europe, so that may exactly be the issue. In fact, there is also a gorgeous cobalt blue with the same luster which I've occasionally seen here (but personally still isn't quite as cool as the green)... I guess that color isn't in the US either?

errantlinguist

Is it possible that the Raleigh Super Course was sold under other names?-- the only mention of them I can find online all seem to be from North America.

CuttersRidge

I think Raleigh did sell bikes under different names in the US compared to UK, I will read some British bike forums and the names, at least in some cases seemed way different.

I happen to have a green Motobecane Nomade frame. Maybe this is the same color but I note, Motobecane seems to have kept their names. Of course, my frame is not the more classy bicycle you seem to have with the duo colored headtube.

An old (Apple?) Green Mirage below, perhaps the chrome tipped fork is the big difference from the Nomade. The Motobecanes certainly had a wide-array of colors.

CuttersRidge

Yes, that is a proper way many describe these bicycles.

CuttersRidge

@errantlinguist:

Has one tried French Ebay? Here right now, are a number of Motobecanes (Butterpecans someone once told me as a pun).

https://www.ebay.fr/sch/i.html?_from=...+velo&_sacat=0 (ebay.fr)

I like the bike you had, I think someone had a Grand Tourer similar to that, whom I knew. I always really liked that bike.

Velocivixen

Diamond = "boys" bike and Step Through = "girls" bike. Ugh. Those were the days.....and still are.


Good luck on your search.

kroozer 

If you're going to be that specific then you might be in for a long and frustrating wait. In the meantime there are lots of other beautiful bikes out there; I would get some else that tickles my fancy, and then just sort of keep an eye out in case a green Moto happens to come along.

sced

Get one you like and redo it with green paint and decals. You'll have something to ride while waiting for the grail. Good luck!

noglider 

You can ask ebay to keep a watch for you with specific search terms. I do the same with craigslist using google alerts. For instance, if I were looking for a Motobecane Grand Jubile, I would set up a google alert with the terms "motobecane grand jubile site:newyork.craigslist.org" or some such. I find some pretty good stuff that way. It can take months or years, depending on how common it is and how much I'm willing to pay. I usually like to pay bottom dollar, so I trade time waiting for savings.

CuttersRidge

It's Jubilee , no wonder it took awhile!

eschlwc

motobécane (and maybe ben lawee) spelled "jubilé" a couple different ways over the years.

motogeek 

The earlier models were, in fact, spelled "Jubile". The 74 I bought new and the two 75s I have now were all spelled that way. If you're looking for a red Grand Jubile email me at dbgard531@yahoo.com.

I remember green Motos in about 76 or 77, usually in the lower half of the product line.

non-fixie 

Here you go: for sale

BigChief 

I remember the term diamond frame back when I was a kid in the 60s. It not only differentiated it from step throughs, but curved top, camel back frames as well. 70s Motos are reasonably common here in the US. Here, the 54cm will be called 21 inch. I've had my GT since new in 76. Always liked that bike. Good luck.

Falcon3

You can exchange money for goods or services, such as a Motobecane bike.


All kidding aside, the Craigslist/eBay crawlers are your best bet- then using the forum to try to find someone to facilitate for you.

Vintage_Cyclist

This single speed mutation of a 1974 Grand Touring has been floating around on NY CL for at least 6 months. Very overpriced at $215, but ad suggests flexible on pricing.

Single speed motobance bike