Vintage Motobacane

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I have a motobacane that was purchased in Holland in 1978. I think it was about 7 years old then (touring bike) Does anyone have a history on these bikes or company? Any info would be appreciated...Mike

http://www.classicrendezvous.com/France/France.html

Motobécane was a major and respected manufacturer in the Bicycle industry. The frames on Motobécane's mid-to-upper end bikes were typically double-butted (http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Double-butted&action=edit) lugged steel (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lugged_steel) made from Vitus (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vitus_%28bicycles%29) or Reynolds 531 (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Reynolds_531) molybdenum/manganese steel tubing with elegant Nervex (http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Nervex&action=edit) lugs. Thus, they were light, sturdy, and well made. Motobécane finished their frames in exceptionally beautiful and high-quality paints, a practice not often followed in the French bicycle industry. Considered the second most prestigious French bicycle (after Peugeot (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cycles_Peugeot), whose more durable design they emulated, but ahead of Gitane (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gitane)), Motobécane's mid-range bikes were an exceptional value; the company kept prices reasonable by matching their high-quality frames with lower-priced, but higher-quality components from Japan, at a time when their competitors were putting higher-priced, lower quality French components on their mid-range bikes. Motobécane bicycle models included the Nomade, Mirage, Super Mirage, Super Touring, Grand Touring, Sprint, Jubilee, Grand Record, Le Champion, and Team Champion.

In addition to the standard diamond frame (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Diamond_frame) bicycles, Motobécane also produced mixte frame (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mixte) versions of their bicycles; the mixte frame Grand Touring had twin lateral stays (http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Lateral_stay&action=edit) in place of a top tube (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bicycle_frame#Top_tube), extending from the head tube (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Head_tube) to the seat tube (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bicycle_frame#Seat_tube), while the Super Touring and Grand Jubilé had a single top tube sloping down towards the seat tube, but diverging into twin lateral stays just before joining with the seat tube. Later mixte Grand Touring models also used this design. Motobécane also produced a tandem bicycle (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tandem_bicycle). Due to the rise in popularity of inexpensive Asian bicycles, Motobecane fell into receivership in the mid-1980's.

Vintage French bicycles, including Motobécanes, are often sought out today by experienced riders for their value as a fixed gear (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fixed_gear) conversion; for others, the unequaled pleasure of riding a vintage, well-made lugged steel bike is its own reward.
Buyers should be aware that many French bicycles manufactured before 1980 use the old-style French reverse-threaded bottom brackets, which can be difficult to find, although they are still available new through manufacturers such as Phil Wood (http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Phil_Wood&action=edit), as well as through the used market. However, Motobecane broke ranks with other French manufacturers, beginning in the mid-seventies, by using Swiss-threaded bottom brackets, which are available through the same sources as the French-threaded bottom brackets, and buyers should be aware of the thread difference when replacing their bottom brackets.

Likewise, buyers should realize that French headsets are threaded differently than the more common English headset, although they can still be found by the persistent shopper.

Just to add... Every Motobecane I have seen from the 70's in the past few years has usually been low end, but the paint is always among the best I have seen for bikes of that age.

I don't know what they did, but the paint on those frames is nearly indestructible compared to most bikes.

I have a 1978 Motobeacane Grand Record and I have to say it's one of my favorite bikes. It fits really well (which will make any bike feel great). I have replaced the cranks with TAs, the handlebars with Cinelli and it rides on Mallard 700 hubs with Campy Muskva 80 rims (700c). The bike is comfortable but it's aggressive as well.