Roypercy

This is for sale near me. I'm hankering after another Motobecane after my Grand Jubilee gave up the ghost a few years ago. I've been riding an all-Columbus '87 Super Sport which is a great bike, it just doesn't have the Motobecane "mystique" I loved. The seller sent me some pics, and says it's from 1976, but it doesn't quite match up to anything I can find in the catalogs:

It's blue
Fancy Nervex lugs
Top tube cable clips rather than braze-ons
Pivo handlebars
Dura-Ace brakes
A sticker that attests it's full Reynolds 531

Any ideas what this is?

Thanks!

SurferRosa

Bottle bosses aren't from '76.

juvela

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looks like ~1974 Grand Record

...all those images and not one of drive side...


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Roypercy

Yeah, no kidding. But I had to ask for the pics in the first place, the listing just said "Motobecane Bike" and I took a chance, I don't want to push my luck....

Roypercy

That's what I thought. It looks like several different eras mashed together.

noobinsf 

I would guess the bottle bosses were added and the bike repainted. The lugs, fork crown, and seat stay caps suggest Moto Grand Record to me, too. If it’s a Huret derailleur hanger, it’s probably a Grand Jubile.

It does seem weird that the bottle bosses might be added and no other braze ons, but maybe they were added back before top tube cable guides and downtube bosses were de rigueur.

juvela

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she has been the recipient of a reworking

paint and transfers not original



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Roypercy

so I wonder what it was originally? Think the Reynolds 531 is legit?

the diamond-shaped plates under the bottle bosses make me think these are factory, not add-ons. Hard to tell from the crappy pics

52telecaster

If it's a grand record the 531 is probably legit. 26.4 seatpost would tell u a lot. The grand record I have is an excellent ride.

oneclick 

Well, go see it then.
Take the rear wheel out.
Look at the inside face of the driveside dropout for a model number.
Go here:
https://www.bikeforums.net/classic-v...-database.html

(This'll all be easier if you just buy it first.)

Colorado Kid

'74 looks right. The bike "might" be a mis-mash of parts. Great bike. If it was a just bit smaller I'd might make you an offer on this bike.

unworthy1

components are probably not too reliable as clues, but what brand stem?
The Pivo bars would not have been OEM on any US-spec GR (but would have been for a GJ) however a Nitto Pearl stem would be OEM for '74, a Philippe Pro for '75 and '76

Roypercy

Thanks for the replies, everybody!

Well, this is a new wrinkle. I asked the seller what brand the derailleurs were; he sent me these pics. It's a modern Shimano Altus. So this is definitely a Frankenbike build. But can anybody tell anything about the dropouts from these pics?

I know the easiest solution is to go check the bike out, but it's a bit of a hike for me and I'd rather not waste my time or the seller's if I can help it.

Now that I look a little closer, is that rust I see on the rims? It's suggesting to me that the only good part of this bike might be the frame.

bulgie 

Looks like a Suntour dropout to me, based on the dogleg bend in the upper part, that puts the seatstay connection further from the chain. I have a vague recollection that the Grand Jubile went to a Suntour dropout after they gave up on the Huret dropouts, what would that be, '76 maybe? I sold Motobecanes up to about '75 but not after that, so I'm weak on the "newer" models (plus my memory isn't how I remember it!)

The dogleg Suntour isn't my cuppa, aesthetically, but it is a practical design. Nothing wrong with it, the added chain clearance helps, and they never break there, so why not?

There might be rust stains on the rim, but it isn't the rim rusting, that's a Weinmann concave aluminum rim. Never used them myself but they have a decent reputation, for that period. A little heavy, and maybe a little hard to mount tires on is what I've heard, but plenty strong and a nice tall brake track.

Roypercy

Hey, thanks for all the feedback and comments, everybody. It reminds me why I like this forum so much.

I ultimately decided to pass on the bike. At the $200 asking price it seems like more of a project than I want to undertake right now. Up until a few years ago I lived in an apartment that came with a garage, so I thought nothing of having a bike to ride and two or three around to work on. But since then we've moved to an apartment - which is much bigger and nicer than the old one - but which has no garage or outdoor space. I still do a little bit of wrenching as needed, but limited storage means that I have to be a serial monogamist in my bike choices right now. So when one comes in the door the previous one has to go. I'm going to wait for one in better, more original condition, even if it costs a few more bucks (or more than a few).

Besides, although the seller listed this as 59cm, looking at the pics I think it's got to be either 61cm or 63cm; 61 would be pushing it for me, and 63 would be right out of the question.

Anyway, it was great getting the benefit of everybody's expertise. Thanks again!

unworthy1

concave rims (Weinmann being the most common brand of this style) tend to collect a lot of dirt and grunge, and I agree the blurry pic does look like a Sun Tour drop-out (as does the modern Shimmy RD which would not be so happy on a Huret DO) so clues point more to this being a Grand Jubile than a Grand Record.
Hard to read screengrab of specs from the '76 catalog, shows there might have been a SunTour RD added in that year (as well as the Huret Jubile so presume to be a "running change" along with the corresponding DO)
Note the "alloy rims" would be 27" if OEM

Kabuki12

I think the $200 is right if you knew for certain what it is. Even the Vitus tube Moto's are great riding bikes , if the Reynolds decal is bogus. The Motobecanes that I have worked on and owned have been very nice bikes ( Grand Jubile' and Grand Sprint) . I have a feeling this is a higher end model ....or at least a higher mid level. The comment about the concave rims is spot on . I love the way they look but are a bit of a challenge to keep clean . There are at least two different types , those with eyelets and those without.