Just the bikes I bought new, so I remember the prices -- My first real bi ke, a Schwinn Continental, was $120 in 1968, the Motebecane Grand Tou ring was $240 in 1976 (that list was very accurate). I still had both until a few years ago, great bikes. My Dave Scott Centurion is OT, but was $ 600, in all it's Miami Vice splendor (still have it). The rest, not sur e, picked them up here and there.
Rick Peoples Temecula CA USA
> To: rsb000@hotmail.com; classicrendezvous@bikelist.org
> Date: Mon, 6 Apr 2009 16:12:03 -0400
> From: bikefll57@aol.com
> CC: glhandy@tx.rr.com
> Subject: Re: [CR] How much when new?
>
> I bought a 56/57 cm Motobecane Team Champion (Luis Ocana's type of bike)
new in 1975 for $625. Made the mistake of selling a few years later (well
, actually, I needed the money to pay for college). I'd easily pay doub
le that now, probably up to?triple that if it was in great shape.
>
> Paul Andrews
> Ft Lauderdale, FL, USA
>
> --------------------------------------------------
>
> George,
>
> Realizing full well that the following information does not necessarily
> address the narrow specifics of your query as to the original sales
> price of
> a 1976 Motobecane Grand Record, I nevertheless thought it perhaps
> worthwhile
> to pass along the following information for your benefit as well as that
> of
> the other Motobecane aficionados who monitor the CR List (...either at
> this
> time, or at some undetermined point in the future courtesy of the
> archives).
>
> Personally, I find some of this background information to be quite
> illuminating (...if not always 100 percent accurate) with respect to
> perspectives and practices prevalent here in the United States during
> the
> decade of the 1970's ... and I am inclined to believe that some of these
> perspectives too easily dim given the passage of time (...despite the
> fact
> that many of us were quite involved in cycling back then).
>
> As quoted from The Complete Buyer's Guide To Bicycles - 11th Edition -
> Published 1973
>
> 1973 Motobecane Nomade - $94
>
> Motobecane, the largest French bicycle manufacturer, is a name
> comparable
> with Gitane, Peugeot, and Mercier.? It is a relatively new name in th
e
> United States, since they only recently began importing their bicycles.
>
> The 'Nomade' is equipped with Weinmann side pulls, Huret Allvit
> derailleur
> with stem shifters, and large flange steel hubs.? Not a bad component
> array
> except for the side pull brakes.? These are lighter but they are not as
> reliable, and this is where they shaved their price down.? On the plus
> side,
> the bicycle weighs only 29 pounds, a rarity in this price category.
> However, it should be mentioned that the manufacturer's suggested $94
> retail
> price is not very well grounded in reality.? This bicycle wholesales at
> $80.50, which should mean it will be selling for about $125.
>
> 1973 Motobecane Nobly - $98.95 ($120)
>
> Motobecanes have been sold in Massachusetts, and just recently the
> French
> manufacturer has started distributing them nationwide.? Their suggested
> price list, in all cases and on all models, is a very low list; it
> appears
> to be an old list also - about a year and a half out of date - which
> explains for the out-of-line price structure.
>
> The 'Nobly' is equipped with Weinmann brakes, large flange steel hubs
,
> Huret
> Allvit derailleur with stem shifts and touring handlebars.? Accessories
> include the usual touring fenders, rear carrier, and a kickstand.? Ev
en
> with
> all this paraphernalia, it should not weigh quite 34 pounds.? This
> bicycle
> is of a slightly higher quality than a Raleigh 'Record', which retailed
> for
> $99 minimum, and probably higher in most cases.? We think you will
> probably
> find the 'Nobly' retailing for approximately $120.? If this Motobecane
> is
> within $10 of the 'Record' - then its an equivalent buy.? If it is more
> than
> $10 over the 'Record' in your neighborhood, then it is not a great buy
-
> not
> even a good buy.
>
> 1973 Motobecane Mirage - $107 ($125 - $130)
>
> The Motobecane 'Mirage' is constructed of fully lugged steel tubing and
> outfitted with a choice of Weinmann or Dia-Compe center pull brakes,
> large
> flange Normandy hubs and the Huret Allvit derailleur with stem shifters
> -
> all decent components.? The buyer should, however, be aware that the
> Huret
> derailleur, although of sturdier construction than the comparable
> Simplex,
> is not as smooth shifting.? The Sun Tour derailleur would have been the
> most
> satisfactory one to put on this model.
>
> Again, where Motobecane is concerned, the prices are not realistic.?
We
> predict you will find the 'Mirage' priced between $125 and $135, which
> is
> fair and decent for this model and which makes it competitive with its
> brother and sister Gitane and Peugeot models.
>
> 1973 Motobecane Grand Touring - $145 ($160 - $165)
>
> The 'Grand Touring' will most likely retail for about $165 in most
> areas.
> It is a well thought out bicycle with Weinmann or Mafac Lux center pulls
> with quick release action, Stronglight chainwheel, quick release
> Normandy
> hubs and Huret Allvit Luxe wide ratio derailleur.? Although the
> Stronglight
> is not the best chainwheel from that manufacturer, it is a good one.?
> This
> is a better constructed derailleur than the one found on the 'Mirage',
> and
> the rider will not be plagued by quirky shifting movement.
>
> We recommend the 'Grand Touring' at $165 as a good clincher-tired
> touring
> bicycle.? It is about the equivalent of the Gitane 'Interclub'.? We
> suggest
> you shop both models and choose for yourself - keeping in mind that
> Gitane
> is more widely distributed than Motobecane at this time.
>
> 1973 Motobecane Le Champion - $300
>
> 'Le Champion' is a good buy for $300.? The custom hand-built frame is
> Reynolds double butted tubing throughout.? It has Campagnolo hubs and
> the
> Nuovo Record derailleur.? The Stronglight cotterless crank is a good
> standard French crank.? The Universal center pull brakes are quite
> adequate.
>
> The bicycle weighs 23 pounds, which makes it too heavy if you want to
> race;
> but it's a fine touring bicycle.
>
> -------------------------------------------------------------------------
> ---
>
> Assuming that you have not already found the following references, you
> may
> also wish to consult that which was written in the form of contemporary
> "Road Tests" and subsequently published in the likes of Bicycling and
> Bike
> World:
>
> 1973 Motobecane Le Champion:
> http://www.wooljersey.com/
> Rev
> iews/Bicycling-1973-10-A/
>
> 1974 Motobecane Grand Jubile:
> http://www.wooljersey.com/
> Rev
> iews/Bicycling-1974-05/
>
> 1977 Motobecane Grand Touring:
> http://www.wooljersey.com/
> Rev
> iews/Bicycling-1977-09-A/
>
> 1978 Motobecane Tandem:
> http://www.wooljersey.com/
> Rev
> iews/Bicycling-1978-11/
>
> And finally, there are several copies of vintage Motobecane catalogs
> posted
> across the vast expanse of the internet including this one of the 1976
> edition which can be found at Mark Bulgier's fine website:
>
> http://bulgier.net/
>
> Regards,
>
> Robert "Fallen Francophile" Broderick
> ...the "Frozen Flatlands" of South Dakota
> Sioux Falls, USA
>
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: classicrendezvous-bounces@bikelist.org
> [mailto:classicrendezvous-bounces@bikelist.org] On Behalf Of George
> Handy
> Sent: Sunday, April 05, 2009 8:43 PM
> To: classicrendezvous@bikelist.org
> Subject: [CR] How much when new?
>
> Greetings all-
>
> I've finally completed the 'refreshment' of my 1976 Motobecane Grand?
> Record. I plan on doing a little 'show-and-tell' at our next bike?
> club meeting. What would this bike have sold for new? And, just for?
> comparisons sake, how about a similar vintage Schwinn Varsity and,?
> say, a Peugeot PX10.
>
> Thanks for any info-
>
> George Handy in cool & windy Arlington Texas USA
> _______________________________________________
>
> _______________________________________________
>
>
> _______________________________________________
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