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...??