Vintage Motobecane Frame Material

"Larry Gray" <[email hidden]> wrote in message news:<[email hidden]>...

Quoted message said:

Hello,
Does anyone out know if Motobecane produced any aluminum frame bikes in
the early 80's? If so, what model was it? I test road a Motobecane racing
bike in 1982, and it was the lightest, fastest bike I've ever rode, but
can't remember the model. I bought the Grand Touring instead, which I've
road on and off for the last 22 years. Since I'm now doing sprint duathlons,
and have spare Motobecane parts, and not alot of money, I would love to find
an early 80's Motobecane racing bike.

Thanks,
Larry

Hi Larry, I am unsure about Motobecane making aluminum frames in the
'80's? They possibly did.

Top of the line Motobecane back in the '70's-early '80's was the
Motobecane Le Champion. I had one of these myself, All Black, with Red
Pinstripe with full Campy Nouvo Record Group. This particular bike's
frame was Reynolds 531 Lugged Steel. For a Steel Frame, is was
extremely light, and fast.

There's a very specail place in my heart for these older Lugged Steel
frame bikes, and a few various others, like the Gitane, LeJeune (sp).

From what I understand, Motbecane still makes a decent bike, but I
believe everything now is made in Asia, not France.

There's a site online listing many vintage bikes, and thier history.
I think this one was Sheldon Brown's "baby". I'm hoping someone here
can point you to this site. It's a great read, and it may help you a
bit with Motobecane's history/models. Mark D.

Mark said:

"Larry Gray" <[email hidden]> wrote in message news:<[email hidden]>...

Quoted message said:

Hello,
Does anyone out know if Motobecane produced any aluminum frame bikes in
the early 80's? If so, what model was it? I test road a Motobecane racing
bike in 1982, and it was the lightest, fastest bike I've ever rode, but
can't remember the model. I bought the Grand Touring instead, which I've
road on and off for the last 22 years. Since I'm now doing sprint duathlons,
and have spare Motobecane parts, and not alot of money, I would love to find
an early 80's Motobecane racing bike.

They, like all French manufacturers if the era, sold a
rebadged Vitus 979 at that time.

--
Andrew Muzi
www.yellowjersey.org
Open every day since 1 April, 1971

Larry Gray said:

Does anyone out know if Motobecane produced any aluminum frame bikes

in

Quoted message said:

the early 80's? If so, what model was it? I test road a Motobecane racing
bike in 1982, and it was the lightest, fastest bike I've ever rode, but
can't remember the model. I bought the Grand Touring instead, which I've
road on and off for the last 22 years. Since I'm now doing sprint

duathlons,

Quoted message said:

and have spare Motobecane parts, and not alot of money, I would love to

find

Quoted message said:

an early 80's Motobecane racing bike.

The Model you're thinking of was the Motobecane Prolite (or Prolight) of
circa 1982. It used Vitus aluminum tubing.

Art Harris

Larry Gray said:

Does anyone out know if Motobecane produced any aluminum frame bikes in
the early 80's? If so, what model was it? I test road a Motobecane racing
bike in 1982, and it was the lightest, fastest bike I've ever rode, but
can't remember the model. I bought the Grand Touring instead, which I've
road on and off for the last 22 years. Since I'm now doing sprint duathlons,
and have spare Motobecane parts, and not alot of money, I would love to find
an early 80's Motobecane racing bike.

I don't recall that they ever produced their own Al frame, but it is
entirely possible that Vitus frames could have been sold under the
Motobecane name in that period.

--

-John ([email hidden])

Quoted message said:

Larry Gray said:

Does anyone out know if Motobecane produced any aluminum frame bikes in
the early 80's? If so, what model was it? I test road a Motobecane racing
bike in 1982, and it was the lightest, fastest bike I've ever rode, but
can't remember the model. I bought the Grand Touring instead, which I've
road on and off for the last 22 years. Since I'm now doing sprint duathlons,
and have spare Motobecane parts, and not alot of money, I would love to find
an early 80's Motobecane racing bike.

John Thompson said:

I don't recall that they ever produced their own Al frame, but it is
entirely possible that Vitus frames could have been sold under the
Motobecane name in that period.

That's correct, a Vitus 979 in dark blue anodize finish,
rebadged Motobecane

--
Andrew Muzi
www.yellowjersey.org
Open every day since 1 April, 1971