Re: [CR]76 Motobecane questions...

(Example: Bike Shops:R.E.W. Reynolds)

Date: Sun, 16 Apr 2006 21:01:33 -0400 (EDT)
From: "John Wirt" <frankensaab@earthlink.net>
To: classicrendezvous@bikelist.org
Subject: Re: [CR]76 Motobecane questions...


Well, the owner of the bike swore the stem and bars were original, that only the brake levers were replaced with safety style levers. Those are Weinmann w/ Dia-Compe horizontal levers. The bike still had the original bar-end caps and some nasty black PVC tape. That was probably original too. : P The bars are Nitto Universiade 105. Thanks for all the great info!

john wirt boise, id

-----Original Message-----

>From: Mitch Harris <mitch.harris@gmail.com>

>Sent: Apr 16, 2006 4:18 PM

>To: classicrendezvous@bikelist.org

>Subject: Re: [CR]76 Motobecane questions...

>

>And 1976 was the year that Gitane introduced a Shimano 600 equipped model a

>t

>the upper end of their model line.

>Mitch Harris

>Little Rock Canyon, UT

>

>On 4/16/06, Jerome & Elizabeth Moos <jerrymoos@sbcglobal.net> wrote:

>>

>> Well, I could be wrong, then, and John's bars and stem could be

>> orignal. In the 70's, Japanese parts were gradually making inroads on ma

>ny

>> French bike, except the high-end Peugeots. I bought an early 70's Gitane

>> Tour de France with a Sugino Mightly crank rather than the typical

>> Stronglight 93. I also bought used in the late 90's, from a CR member, m

>y

>> 1972 Follis mod 172 with a Simplex Criterium RD, but a SunTour Seven FD.

> I

>> thought that the FD was surely nonoriginal, until I learned another CR

>> member had a Follis 172 of very nearly the same date with an identical FD

>.

>>

>> And I agree the Nitto Pearl is a superb stem, as good as any Cinelli or

>> TTT.

>>

>> Regards,

>>

>> Jerry Moos

>> Big Spring, TX

>>

>>

>> Mark Bulgier <Mark@bulgier.net> wrote:

>>

>> Strangely enough, the Nitto Pearl was the original stem on at least some

>> Grand Records in '76. I worked in a shop that sold quite a few of them,

>> and bought a '75 model myself that came with a Pearl - I think (don't

>> remember for sure). That and the Universal 61s were probably the only

>> non-French parts on it. The Pearl is a very high quality item, as good

>> as the best 3T and Cinelli bits (probably better), but I wouldn't blame

>> you if you wanted something French there.

>>

>> I rode my GR across Canada in '76, and some other fairly epic tours as

>> well, also raced on it. I thought it was pretty excellent at both, but

>> I didn't have a lot to compare it with in either discipline. I mean,

>> lots of brief test-rides on lots of great bikes, in my bike shop job,

>> including Masi Milano, Ron Cooper, Exxon Graftek, Teledyne Titan,

>> Strawberry and Tanguy - but I didn't own any other great bikes, didn't

>> actually race or tour on them. When I built my first custom frame, the

>> GR had to go to help pay for parts - wish I still had it.

>>

>> Mark Bulgier

>> Seattle WA USA

>>

>> john wirt writ:

>> > I just bought a 76 Motobecane Grand Record here in town,

>> > hoping I didn't pay too huch ; ) It appears to be original

>> > exept for the stem, bars and levers.

>> > It is Reynolds 531, fancy Nervex lugs, Campy dropouts, Record

>> > DR's and levers, TA professional cranks and BB, Stronglight

>> > Competition headset, Atom 700 pedals, Normandy High flange

>> > hubs, Huret cluster, Brooks Professional saddle, Weinnmann

>> > 610 brakes. The stem is currently a Nitto Pearl, bars unknown

>> > and the brake levers very old Shimano.

>> > I just had a complete overhaul done to it, but have alost no

>> > seat time in it, maybe later today I'll go for a ride.

>> > What should the bars, stem and levers be? Would it have more

>> > value if they were correct for the bike?

>> > I'm still not sure I plan to keep it, it doesn't "grab" me

>> > like my Bertin, or even my Peugeot PVS-10.

>> > The fun thing is, the shop it was originally purchased from

>> > was just a few blocks away from my house (the shop no longer exists).

>> > What can anyone tell me about the Moto GR's? Should I just

>> > accept it and become a collector of French bikes...??