I may be able to shed some light on this subject soon. My best friend is selling me a low mileage 1974 Le Champion with centerpull brakes. I haven't gotten a chance to get over to Texas and pick it up.
Keith Kessel Shreveport, La. USA
On Wed, January 14, 2009 10:36 am, Dickey wrote:
>
> If you can read Le Champion on the top tube, and it has nice lug work
> then it's not newer then a 78-79. I don't know about 1980 at all. What I do
> know is that in 81 and up, the Team bike was the only one with lugs. The
> LC used the in-ex-ternal machine brazing. It had Col SL tubes but
> the new type fast brazing method. The head badge on the 80s is a 1" square
> piece of white tape, with Motobecane stenciled on it. ( Very rich looking,
> huh? ) Also, if the tube decal is 531, it's 70s. There is very little info
> on Motobecane after 1978. If anyone wants to share info off record,
> hollow. Dickey Greer
> West Monroe,La