It looks very similar to my 81 grand sprint, but I think it's a little bit older. I've had mine since new, and it's been just fine. I never did much distance, and never carried much if any extra weight with me(except my own, which comes from age and inactivity) I did race it one season when new. I can't tell which vitus tube it is, but mine is 888, and was a little heavier than the 531 frames Motobecane offered then.
There are a couple things you'd probably like to change if you get it. I have the identical cranks, and the spider is swaged on, the shop I bought mine from said I'd probably wreck it, but it's held up well. But I don't do many miles. The handlebars look like they have the same molded plastic grips mine had, It lasts great, but when my brake levers got worn, it was easier to put on a whole new set, as the bars were also a little too narrow for me. (funny, they felt fine until I put the new ones on, which felt better) It also looks like this one had "safety levers" which are missing now, so you'll probably want to change the bars and levers for better ones.
Steve Birmingham Lowell,Ma
Date: Sun, 02 Jan 2005 21:23:03 -0500 From: elliott_rl <ELLIOTT_RL@Mercer.edu>
I have been reading the list for several years now with much enjoyment but this may be the first time I have asked a question. This is related to the current thread on riding our vintage bikes. I enjoy riding older bicycles on randonnee events around 200 - 300k. There is currently on ebay a Motobecane
Grand Touring bicycle (item 7124602886) that I am watching, and wonder if there is anyone who might venture an opinion on the potential of this bicycle as a fast (well, relatively speaking) audax bicycle?. Are there other, not too expensive, vintage bikes worth looking for, considering that I would be loathe to ride an especially valuable bike long distances in the rain, to trust it to the airlines, etc.?
Thanks very much.
Richard Elliott Macon, GA
Richard L. Elliott, MD, PhD, FAPA
elliott_rl@mercer.edu