morlok <[email hidden]> wrote in news:[email hidden]:
Quoted message said:
What is/was the order of precedence (in terms of quality) of the Motobecane bicycle line? I had a Moto Grand Jubile(e), circa 1978
Motobecanes of today are not related to the Motobecanes of the 1970s. Back in the day, Motobecane was a French company that made their bikes in France using mostly French components (Simplex, Huret, etc.). During the 1990s, Motobecanes were made in Canada (possibly licensing the brand name from the French company). I don't know if the French company still exists. The Motobecanes you see on the market today are made in Taiwan.
You have to be careful with model names. As the brand name moved from continent to continent, model names may have moved up and down the price ladder.
morlok <[email hidden]> wrote in news:[email hidden]:
Quoted message said:
What is/was the order of precedence (in terms of quality) of the Motobecane bicycle line? I had a Moto Grand Jubile(e), circa 1978
Motobecanes of today are not related to the Motobecanes of the 1970s. Back in the day, Motobecane was a French company that made their bikes in France using mostly French components (Simplex, Huret, etc.). During the 1990s, Motobecanes were made in Canada (possibly licensing the brand name from the French company). I don't know if the French company still exists. The Motobecanes you see on the market today are made in Taiwan.
You have to be careful with model names. As the brand name moved from continent to continent, model names may have moved up and down the price ladder.
I have a Motobecane that seems like it is from the 50s. The top tube isn't one tube at all but two tubes that converge at the rear of the bike and shifters that are mounted at the middle of the bars, which BTW are not drop bars but sort of up swept swoopy things. Late 50s or early 60s I think. If anyone is confused over that (I am ) I will post a picture on my web site for the old bike experts to look at. It is all French with maybe a German or Swiss part, but no Japanese parts at all. Bill Baka
morlok <[email hidden]> wrote in news:[email hidden]:
Quoted message said:
What is/was the order of precedence (in terms of quality) of the Motobecane bicycle line? I had a Moto Grand Jubile(e), circa 1978
Quoted message said:
I have a Motobecane that seems like it is from the 50s. The top tube isn't one tube at all but two tubes that converge at the rear of the bike and shifters that are mounted at the middle of the bars, which BTW are not drop bars but sort of up swept swoopy things. Late 50s or early 60s I think. If anyone is confused over that (I am ) I will post a picture on my web site for the old bike experts to look at. It is all French with maybe a German or Swiss part, but no Japanese parts at all. Bill Baka
Sounds like a mixte with a moustache or priest bar.
As it happens, I have a Motobecane touring model, probably mid-70s.
"Ken" <[email hidden]> wrote in message news:[email hidden]...
Quoted message said:
morlok <[email hidden]> wrote in news:[email hidden]:
Quoted message said:
What is/was the order of precedence (in terms of quality) of the Motobecane bicycle line? I had a Moto Grand Jubile(e), circa 1978
Motobecanes of today are not related to the Motobecanes of the 1970s. Back in the day, Motobecane was a French company that made their bikes in France using mostly French components (Simplex, Huret, etc.). During the 1990s, Motobecanes were made in Canada (possibly licensing the brand name from the French company). I don't know if the French company still exists. The Motobecanes you see on the market today are made in Taiwan.
You have to be careful with model names. As the brand name moved from continent to continent, model names may have moved up and down the price ladder.
Indeed, I bought one a year ago based upon the nostalgia of this formerly premier name. I'd been away from cycling for too long & found out that the current models aren't very special, and are unrelated to the name I valued.
Buyer beware. I had to rebuild rear wheel after 6 months of riding, and I would not buy or recommend another Motobecane -- though it's still fun to say the name!
morlok <[email hidden]> wrote in news:[email hidden]:
>What is/was the order of precedence (in terms of quality) of the >Motobecane bicycle line? >I had a Moto Grand Jubile(e), circa 1978
Quoted message said:
I have a Motobecane that seems like it is from the 50s. The top tube isn't one tube at all but two tubes that converge at the rear of the bike and shifters that are mounted at the middle of the bars, which BTW are not drop bars but sort of up swept swoopy things. Late 50s or early 60s I think. If anyone is confused over that (I am ) I will post a picture on my web site for the old bike experts to look at. It is all French with maybe a German or Swiss part, but no Japanese parts at all. Bill Baka
Sounds like a mixte with a moustache or priest bar.
As it happens, I have a Motobecane touring model, probably mid-70s.
So is there a site where I can go look and try to identify what I have? It is a fairly simple ten speed with the rear gears going from 14 to maybe 26 or 28. Not a real big spread there and a 14 is not too high a gear either. The front has two rings, a 52 and a 38 (9?) and is pretty conventional. The brakes are standard side pull but the handlebars are what is confusing me with the swoop up, unless they were made for us backwards American riders. Were they made in the 50s and sent to the states or was that just the way they started out, as ten speed comport bikes? It seems unlikely that they would have been selling non-drop bars when my first ten speed was a vintage about 1960 Peugeot with drops. Web sites? Info? Thanks, Bill Baka I am mainly missing the shifter arms and the screws/nuts to hold them and may have to have some made to be strictly correct. Some of those parts looked to be solid brass.
