That line in time, 1983, just always seems to elude me. I keep coming up with these bikes that are just not chronologically correct!
As for MBK, something in the recesses of my subconscious felt there was a connection with Motobecane, but it must have been too late at night. Because this morning I seen the connection in bold print in CR.
Cheers,
P. Lynn Miller
Sydney, Australia
<classicrendezvous@bikelist.org> Sent: Sunday, December 07, 2003 1:32 AM Subject: Re: [CR]MBK?
> Motobecane went into bankruptcy in the late 80's or early 90's. They
> emerged as MBK. The Motobecane name and trademarks had been sold off to a
> US investor of rather dubious reputation who had owned the now defunct
World
> Cycles chain of shops. I believe he is currently involved in the chain of
> shops called Cycle Spectrum. This chain now sells Taiwan-made, TIG-welded
> "Motobecanes" with the classic Motobecane headbadge and using many of the
> old Motobecane model names. Recently, they seem to have acquired the
rights
> to the Mercier name as well, and have begun to sell Taiwan or China made
> "Merciers" very similar to the Taiwan "Motobecanes".
>
> Meanwhile, the reorganized French company has been selling bikes under the
> MBK name in Europe. Mostly aluminum framed models now, like the other
high
> volume European manufacturers. I don't believe they have yet been
acquired
> by the large European cycle company which now own Bianchi, Crescent,
Monark,
> Peugeot and Gitane, but I could be wrong about that. MBK has recently
> supplied bikes to one of the top tier French teams, Cofidis I believe.
>
> The bike you have sounds like something made around 1990, probably just
> after MBK emerged from bankruptcy. Super Mirage was one of the less
> expensive models in the old Motobecane line, about equivalent to a Raleigh
> Grand Prix or Peugeot U-08. Don't know how the MBK Super Mirage compares.
>
> Regards,
>
> Jerry Moos
>
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: "P. Lynn Miller" <lynnmiller@optusnet.com.au>
> To: "Classic Rendezvous" <classicrendezvous@bikelist.org>
> Sent: Saturday, December 06, 2003 3:25 AM
> Subject: [CR]MBK?
>
>
> Good day,
>
> Does anyone here have any knowledge of a bike branded MBK, Super Mirage? I
> just bought one for $10.
>
> It is made from Columbus Inexternal Cro-Mo tubing with what appears to be
> Columbus dropouts. It is fillet brazed throughout, with a decal
proclaiming
> "Made in France" with a rooster next to the words. It has a second decal
> with "Reseau" over a big "M". The same "M" is stamped into the drop bars
> fitted to an ATAX stem. It has through cable routing in the top tube,
pump
> braze-on on head tube. There are provisions for 2 water bottle, but the
> braze-on are flush with the surface of the tubes. Just above the rear
> dropout on the cluster side there is a little chain hanger brazed on. The
> brakes are non-aero Weinmann 570 "Top". The down tube shifters and
> derailleurs are Sachs Huret Pilot. It has a Nervar crankset with Maillard
> CXC pedals. The crankset, shifters, brakes, derailers were all painted
white
> to match the paint of the frame. The wheels definitely are not original,
as
> they are 27" and the brakes can barely be adjusted to accommodate the
extra
> diameter. It has a Brooks saddle which is plastic with a vinyl cover!
>
> Any clues?
>
> P. Lynn Miller
> Sydney, Australia