All; I know this bike isn't up to par w/ most of the bike discussed here, but here goes... I just rescued a 1983 (by the dates all over the componants) Motobecane Mirage Sport from a garbage bin and now I'm wondering what to do w/ it. It's in VG condition w/ few scratches. The Particulars... It's a 56cm frame (so it fits me) marked "Inexternal" and "Motolite" for the tubing. I'm assuming a lower-end Vitus variant. A very good looking frame, w/ some unique features, but nothing special. I really like the forks/crown, it's just like the one on my 84 Peugeot PVS-10, but not chrome. There are stampings under the frame top tube for the brake cables to route internally. I've never seen that done this way before. The Head tube is cast to look like it has lugs, but doesn't.
Nervar cranks(w/ a BSA mark?), unmarked pedals . Maillard hubs and skewers. Rims are Rigida 27" alloy for Presta tubes. Sachs-Huret Pilot RDR, Huret FDR. Sachs chain. Weinmann 500 brakes w/out "safety levers" and Hutchison molded handlebar covers/brake hoods in matching blue. The bars are Phillipe "Franco - Italia", the stem was marked w/ stickers, now gone, I'll assume AFA, with the hidden bolt style.
So, what does anyone know about this bike? It looks very much like a mid-level version of my PVS-10. Everything "looks" very nice, but upon close inspection is not high-level. It misses that extra level of finish, yet lacks all the bits that scream "CHEAP". Fully French. Is this just another Bike Boom/gas pipe bike or something just a bit better?
The weirdest thing is the plastic "Motobecane" on the top tube back by the seat tube. Like the badge on a car. I can't believe I just got *another* French bike! Would a bike of this vintage still be all weird French threading, or might they have gone to one of the more standard threads by this time? Is it worth saving as a project (town bike, single speed, etc.), eBay, or should it just go to a local charity now to avoid headaches?
john