desconhecido 

I happen to have, these days, a bunch of bikes with center pull brakes and I'm satisfied with the way they work just fine. MAFACs, Weinmanns and the DiaCompe Weinmann copies. Back in about 86 I put a pair of Dia Compe GC500 sidepulls on a bike and they were pretty darned good single pivot sidepulls. I think a lot of my current satisfaction with old centerpull brakes is due well-trued wheels. Also, those grey pads and the KoolStops help a bunch.

desconhecido 

It would be nice if French bikes were just like everybody else's, but the one thing that I find truly troublesome is the freewheels. Oh, and the bottom brackets which might turn out to be either French or Swiss. And, the pedal threads.

But, I love my Motobecane Grand Record and might even end up with a twin of a different color. So, how bad can it be?

curbtender

Did they really need to make 27" wheels?

xiaoman1 

I hear you...whenever possible I use the same wheelset on different bikes..

SurferRosa

I think the mid '70s Motobécanes fit this bill better than any. I've never had to sand down a stem for one. The paint schemes "look classic." Yes, a swiss bb and french threaded steerer may be an issue if their components are botched. Guess I've gotten lucky in that regard. Generally, they're worth it. Just talking about Moto's top four american-market models...

mj0

quill stems and curved forks

obrentharris 

That very few racing bikes made in the thirties, forties, fifties, and early sixties are tall enough for me. If they were a dime a dozen... I'd probably buy a dozen.
That the older English bikes with the headlamp mount on the fork all have the mount on the wrong side.
That good tires for them haven't gotten any less expensive in the last few decades.
Brent

John E

Problem solved ...

desconhecido 

This is a 77 (best as I can tell) Grand Record. Love the Ben Hurr TA crankset -- 54 40 or fight. When it came to me it had a Suntour RD and a Shimano 1.375 24tpi freewheel threaded onto a Normandy French thread hub. Have a metric 15-26 Maillard Course freewheel on it but am having shifting problems with two new chains and careful alignment of chainstays and derailleur hanger. MAFACs are, of course, not original.

SamSpade1941 

i did on my 78 Grand Jubile

Brachadillo

Tiny corncob freewheels

SurferRosa

Seems odd for a '77. I personally haven't experienced that with Motos, post- '75 or so.

I'd replace the hub or wheel so I could change the freewheel as I please.

SurferRosa

Strange. I've used a number of 3ttt and cinelli stems in my '75 grand record with no steerer size issues. I don't remember quill size being a problem on any other US-market Motos of that era I've encountered.

Slightspeed

Two things, toe clips and patina bikes. I raced on toe clips, cleats and straps, commuted to college with them, and rode thousands of miles with them. I discovered clipless 20 years ago, and the nice Campy quills and toe clips went in the spares bin, until Eroica came along. Now I drag the damn things out once a year, because they are required. Otherwise my fleet is all SPD.

As for patina bikes, I've had the same Legnano Roma for 56 years, and know almost every scratch, scrape and scuff are honestly earned. When I come across a vintage patina bike for sale, all I see are years of neglect, by some mysterious, uncaring previous owner. I spent big $$$ bringing my '73 Super Course from a bad re-spray, and mutilation by some fixie genius who removed all the cable guides, but it was all worth it. I do have patina bikes, which I love riding, but not looking at so much, a Peugeot that is nearly mint, and was somebody's well cared for commuter, and another Raleigh that looks OK ftom 10 feet away, just don't look too close. Its a great ride, thinking powder coat and new decals someday.

That's about it.

OldsCOOL

That’s golden.

Drillium Dude 

...some people who can't seem to stop suggesting what kind of bike(s) I need to add to my collection.

There's only one person needs to be happy with my collection and that's me. And I am more than happy with it, thank you

DD

plonz 

Unobtanium replacement brake hoods.

thinktubes 

I considered going that route when I needed extra water for a century, but ended up doing this, which worked very well.

crank_addict

Millions of 27" wheeled bikes were made but today you can't buy high quality tires to fit. So now most are forced and or converted to 700c setups.

clubman 

desconhecido 

Normandy hubs are pretty clearly indicated as to thread and the metric freewheel threads on smoothly and perfectly. Metric freewheels are too small in diameter to thread onto BSC or ISO hubs very far. So, it's a metric hub, appears to be original, and all indications are it's a 77.

base2 

Well, maybe you've never unded up upside down in a cedar tree with a bike on top of you after flying off the neighbors retaining wall at the bottom of a hill when you were 14 years old. But if you had, you would understand why they are over-rated garbage.

And the pads I refer to are those little hard rectangular blocks about an inch long by about a quarter inch wide. Usually made of dried out black rubber from 1973 or so. You might have seen 'em...Like normal brake pads for cantilever or linear pull brakes but smaller & dumber...Sometimes you'll see columns of them presented on a tag-board card next to the cash register at the local bike shop. Horribly overpriced at a dollar-99 each. A total rip-off, I'm tellin' ya.

Andy_K 

Yeah, but you know what would really complete your collection....

polymorphself 

Wow, my list would have been the exact same.

mstateglfr 

- No love for the limited gearing range that came on quality road bikes in the 80s.
- Single (or no) bottle mounts. Absurd. Did people not drink much water 40-50 years ago?