I recently acquired what I believe to be a 1974 Motobecane Le Champion from my best friend (how does $400 sound?). It is Campy NR except for Univ 61 centerpull brakes and levers. New looking TTT bars and stem with all of the decals intact. Rear der. date 1973, crankset dated 1974.
Bike maybe has 1000 mi. total. Original paint is in mostly excellent condition, except for some rust starting up on the left chainstay where it was brazed into the BB. Mostly it is just grimy and dusty. Unfortunately I already tossed the saddle because it was lumpy and didn't look good.
I had originally planned on replacing the brake cables and housing with red to give the mundame Silver and black paint scheme some color. I was originally planning on replacing the original cheap looking black plastic handlebar tape with some red cloth tape with shellac overlay. It is missing one of the cheap looking "M" logo black handlebar plugs.
I have to remove the handlebar tape to install the NOS Univ gum hoods (thanks DTshifter) and gum hoodettes.
I'm leaning very strongly towards reusing the cheap looking black plastic HB tape and just overhauling the bike. Should I kill the rust and try to touch up the paint? Red would look so good with the silver.
Sorry for the long post.....
Comments?
Keith Kessel Shreveport, La. USA
p.s. I need 1 cheap looking black "M" logo plastic handlebar plug. Heck, I'd even take a matching pair.