[CR]Re: Motobecane Grand Record

(Example: Events:Eroica)

Date: Thu, 11 Aug 2005 09:36:29 -0400
From: <ritzmon@aol.com>
References: <MONKEYFOODAX7Ur5qWn00000e0a@monkeyfood.nt.phred.org>
In-Reply-To:
To: sasimon@twcny.rr.com, classicrendezvous@bikelist.org
Subject: [CR]Re: Motobecane Grand Record

Steve asks: Snip<I've been riding what I know is a 1972+/- Motobecane, and I believed the model to be a Grand Record, since 1973 when I bought it used from a racer in college. I changed the rear to give me some climbing gears and just rode it, until last year when I broke down and bought a Moser steel frame bike with all the nice new stuff on it. So now I would like to consider restoring the Moto.

Problem #1: Due to some abuse and neglect, most of the decals are gone, including the Grand Record label. What I have read here says the GR was distinctive black and red, but mine is silver/black. Any feedback on this? What other clues to the model? I have all the original Campy NR derailers and shifters (the rear has been in a bag for over 30 years and looks new), but some of the cable clamps are rusty. The brakes are Mafac Racer (original, but levers replaced with generic 10 yrs ago). The seat was a Brooks, which I kept for years and then in some over ambitious barn cleaning it got tossed(!!!)

#2: I know it was Reynolds 531, because for years that decal was intact, but now gone. Can these be had, and does it clue in the bike model?

Any feedback, direction, recommended painters, etc, appreciated.> End snip

Hi, Steve,

I worked for Lawee, Inc, the importer of Motobecane, in the day, and I believe the Grand Record was silver in 1973, changing from the Black/Red of the previous year. The Mafac brakes were not standard on that model; it came with Weinmann centerpulls. You may have a LeChampion, the next model up the list. The quickest way to identify the difference is the lugs. The Le Champion has simple long point lugs, while the Grand Record uses fancier cut Nervex lugs.

Cheers,
Mark Ritz
In SLC for the OR Show this week