Dear List,
I don't claim be an expert on classic French bikes but I'll throw my two-bits in anyway.
I couldn't help but notice in the pictures of the Motobecane Team Champion that Jim Cunningham is looking for info on that there seems to be orange pin-stripping around the lugs. Or could this be the original color bleeding thru were the black top coat could be thinned out around the sharper edges of the lugs??? I can't tell by the picture but I do know that in 1976 Motobecane offered the Team Champion in one color, Competition Orange. This is according to my 1976 Motobecane Catalog and my steadily growing bad memory of one hanging in a local pro bike shop in the summer of '76. Also according to the catalog the Team Champion came with a full Campy Record Group and chromed Campy dropouts and tips, but the picture is too small to see if dropouts/tips came with eyelets! So I hope this helps but it probably adds more to the confusion!
Now on another Motobecane note I need to inquire the help of the list members in determining the vintage of my Le Champion. I don't have any pictures to share right now (one of these days I will get around to hosting a web page with the pictures of my bikes) but I will try to describe what I have. First off I was recently admiring Jerry Moos' Black and Red Grand Record on the CR main site and I couldn't help but notice some of the similarities of his bike to mine. Namely the odd shield shaped plastic headbadge and the script style Motobecane lettering on the downtube instead of the more common block style MOTOBECANE lettering used in the mid/late 70's. I've owned my Le Champion for approximately 12 years and the person I bought it from didn't know it's age but I'm assuming it's vintage is late 60's to early 70's. The frame is completely painted in what I call a "Peacock Blue" (turquoise) color with contrasting white head lugs and seat tube bands, gold lettering and pin-stripping, with the only chrome being on the fork ends and dropouts. From what I can tell with what is left of the "French Language" Reynolds frame and fork decals is that the frame and fork are made out of DB 531 of course! The chrome dropouts/fork ends with eyelets are Campagnolo as are the derailleurs,hubs, and shifters. Other components include a Stronglight Crankset, TTT handlebar and stem, Mavic Monthlery Rims, and Universal centerpull brakes. So with what I have described above I hope someone can help me out?!*#
Well I guess that's enough Motobecane Mania for now, happy riding!
Kris Koller
Sunny and warm Martinez, CA.