New acquisition: Motobecane trying to date - high end

[led]

Hi,
Just got this nice bike. I'm thinking from the late 70s to early 80s. Pumped up the tires and can already tell it's a nice ride. Surprisingly light. One or two small areas of rust - would like to do what I can with those to keep them from getting worse. Some scuffs and scrapes here and there but overall seems in great shape and unmolested. Any observations are welcome!

 

[juvela]

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thanks very much for sharing this beauty!

your dating looks spot on from here. doubt it cuold be much earlier than '78 nor later than '80.

the 105bis chainset launched 1977 so that provides one dating bracket.

the Success front mech nr. 975 is CPSC compliant so that provides another date. its companion rear is item nr. 2460. launch for these was 1977-78.

the three Freres Huret components will be marked with a four digit date code.

the first two numerals are the week of the year and the second two are the year.

curious about the three-piece hubs. the skewers appear Maillard but do not recognise the hubs. do they bear a marking? suspecting something from Etablissements Perrin (Pelissier).

frame constructed of BOCAMA lugset Competiiton 76 with cutout pattern R1. ends set is Huret type 1977. drive side dropout incorporates an integral chainstay stop. dropouts are nr. 241 (drive side) & 240 (off side). fork ends are of the type 1977 set as well. drive side is item nr. 245 and off side is nr. 244.

headset appears Motobecane-Hatta.

unsure of pedals, are they Super Olimpic?

the head emblem is an interesting one. it is 3-D injection moulded plastic which is affixed with adhesive but which also has a locator button/peg in the centre of the backside. this peg snaps into a small hole in the head tube.

luv this colour; thanks again for posting.

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[bulldog1935]

Huret Eco-par, Weinmann side pulls - definitely 80s.
Paint scheme matches '82-83 - I think it's a Team Champion with the Columbus SL - though the derailleurs are odd
Or maybe it's a Prolight that someone added the Columbus decals.
Unfortunately Mark's catalog for that year isn't the best resolution

http://bulgier.net/pics/bike/catalogs/motobecane/

 

[juvela]

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hello led,

as regards date and model this web site permits one to browse the manufacturer catalogues for the period 1972--1985.

went through several years without finding a close match for your machine. catalogues are english language so suspect they illustrate export models manufactured to shipment to the english speaking world.

perhaps your bicycle was constructed for the domestic french, or other, market...

http://labibleduvelocataloguesmotobecane.blogspot.com/

if nothing else, you should be able to read a specific date from the Huret fittings.

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[led]

Thank you for the replies! I think it might be for the European market - maybe a C4c. On a par with Le Champion in USA. Hubs say Alpin. Pedals say Rewax and the clips say chrisophe special (took them off temporarily).

 

[juvela]

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Thanks very much for the response and additional information.

Alpin hubs and REWAX pedals are not oft encountered items. No wonder did not recognise them.

REWAX name best known for headsets and bottom brackets.

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[led]

Wish I could find a French catalogue for 1980 or so...

 

[juvela]

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Bien sur, j'ai trouve!

This blue example dated by its french owner as 1978--79.

Looking like the Alpin badge does indeed belong to Perrin.

Fine detective work on your part determining the model name.

https://forum.tontonvelo.com/viewtopic.php?f=30&t=20423

[click on fotos to view enlarge-a-mente]

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[led]

Awesome! Thank you.

 

[juvela]

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Ran across two verdurous close cousins built of Reynolds whose nativity abides within the 1978 annum -

https://forum.tontonvelo.com/viewtopic.php?f=30&t=14279&p=163230

https://forum.tontonvelo.com/viewtopic.php?f=30&t=7008

(On first machine left arm replaced with Gipiemme CronoSpecial and pedals replaced with Mikashima.)

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