Re: [CR] Been offered a LeJeune Tandem... Anyone got info?

(Example: Production Builders:Peugeot)

Date: Wed, 17 Feb 2010 13:37:57 +0100
From: "Hans Joergensen" <haj@nathue.dk>
To: Norris Lockley <nlockley73@googlemail.com>
Mail-Followup-To: Norris Lockley <nlockley73@googlemail.com>, verktyg <verktyg@aol.com>, Hans Joergensen <haj@nathue.dk>, Classicrendezvous@bikelist.org
References: <20100217052209.GC11551@pluto.bananas.dk> <4B7B9B0D.6090106@aol.com> <20100217113300.GE11551@pluto.bananas.dk> <29cfc1e01002170355j2d4e1fe9wc3fad225ad2498e0@mail.gmail.com>
In-Reply-To: <29cfc1e01002170355j2d4e1fe9wc3fad225ad2498e0@mail.gmail.com>
Cc: Hans Joergensen <haj@nathue.dk>, Classicrendezvous@bikelist.org
Subject: Re: [CR] Been offered a LeJeune Tandem... Anyone got info?


Hello Norris,

Thanks, it would be really nice to see a catalogue.

I would guess that the only non-original parts are the wheel(s) and the front bars.

Would this have been 700c original? Seller says it's 28" but the internet says that the french mostly used 650B.

52cm stoker is nice, since it's just about the biggest size my girlfriend will fit, so she should be able to go on some 100km runs with me when I get it going. :)

I am mostly curious about the original spec, as I'm not too sure I'll want to use to many hard-to-find parts on it if we're actually going touring on it. I think i'll feel better using easier to get parts if something should break.

Off cause it would be nice to start collecting original parts in order to.

I just can't wait to get that bike, it looks to be in pretty good nick and not too difficult to get going.. Hopefully it will be here next week :)

// Hans

On 17-Feb-2010, Norris Lockley wrote:
>
>
> Hello, Jorgen,
>
> I used to import a few Lejeune tandems on the 70s and 80s - the company
> had a useful range of three models to cover most types of usage.
>
> Your model is the basic one, called, unimaginatively the 1000. The frame
> size is 56cms front and 52cms rear.
>
> From the general finish of the frame, paint, decals etc I think your
> tandem might be ann early 70s one.
>
> I will try to scan the catalogue, so that you can have some idea of the
> spec. From what I can see on the photos, quite a lot of it is original.
>
> Norris Lockley
>
> Settle UK
>
> On Wed, Feb 17, 2010 at 11:33 AM, Hans Joergensen <[1]haj@nathue.dk>
> wrote:
>
> Hello,
>
> Thanks a lot for your reply.
>
> I just transferred money to the seller so I guess I got myself a
> tandem :)
>
> I have been looking for a proper tandem build for dropbars for some
> time, but they seem to rare as hen's teeth here in Denmark.. So how
> could I say no to this one?
>
> Most tandems here, and I guess a lot of other countries are cheap
> and extremely heavy build for up-right riding, and most of them are
> really ugly.
>
> It looks to be the exact same model as this one here:
> [2]http://www.wooljersey.com/gallery/CV-6+Enterprises/LeJeune/Tucson+Tandem/
>
> The rear-wheel is obviosly unoriginal, and the original gear-parts
> are missing.
>
> What would be authentic equipment on a bike like this? Sachs-Huret
> or Malliard-gears or something like that?
> // Hans
> On 16-Feb-2010, verktyg wrote:
> > Hans,
> >
> > I really can't speak from personal experience but Lejeune had a
> > reputation for "selling" good tandems.
> >
> > My guess is that this tandem is from the early 70s.
> >
> > Back in the 70s at least one French frame builder made a lot of tandem
> > frames like this one. I'd heard that it was Follis but it's hard to
> say.
> >
> > The frames were badged as Follis, Lejeune, Andre Bertin and other
> French
> > marques. During the mid 70s Mel Pinto Imports sold some of these
> frames
> > here in the US without any decals.
> >
> > I built up a number of tandems with these frames with several
> different
> > marques.
> >
> > They were supposedly made with Vitus 172 tubes and some came with
> decals
> > for that tubing. They all had the distinctive wide dual plate crown.
> > Most of the ones like this that I've seen or worked on used 650B size
> > tires.
> >
> > The Andre Bertin tandems that we sold that looked like this frame
> > weighed about 40 lbs. with good quality French alloy components.
> >
> > The frame appears to be in good condition and looks like it has some
> > kind of internal gear hub plus alloy rims. The chain to the rear hub
> is
> > missing.
> >
> > For $250 I'd snap it up! Even if it were made of gas pipe carbon steel
> > tubing it could be a lot of fun to ride. It could be easily upgraded
> > with TA alloy cranks, front and rear derailleurs if desired and better
> > bars.
> >
> > I'd guess the seatube sizes are maybe 57cm or 58cm front and 54cm
> rear?
> >
> > Chas. Colerich
> > Oakland, CA USA
> >
> >
> > Hans Joergensen wrote:
> >> Hello,
> >>
> >> I have been offered this tandem for about $250 including shipping to
> >> my house.. I know danish prices will be a bit different but does
> >> that seem fair? The bike need a bit of work as you can see.
> >>
> >> [3]http://pluto.bananas.dk/~haj/tandem/tandem1.jpg
> >> [4]http://pluto.bananas.dk/~haj/tandem/tandem2.jpg
> >> [5]http://pluto.bananas.dk/~haj/tandem/tandem3.jpg
> >>
> >> As I'm unable to see it before purchase I'm wondering if anyone here
> >> knows LeJeune Tandem's?
> >>
> >> Should I expect it to be build by a reasonably light tubeset? Is this
> >> in any way a rare or valuable bike?
> >>
> >> How old would you say this is? I'd guess 60's?
> >>
> >> It seems to have good paint so I guess that if I get it I'll try to
> >> restore it to a more authentic gear-setup and get dropbars for both
> >> the front and the rear.. I have a thing for racing/touring tandems :)
> >>
> >> Anyone able to estimate the size of the bike from the picture? it
> >> looks to me like it's about 50-52cm seattube ctc on the stoker..
> >>
> >> Hans Joergensen
> >> Copenhagen, Denmark
>
> Hans Joergensen
> Copenhagen, Denmark
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>
> References
>
> Visible links
> 1. mailto:haj@nathue.dk
> 2. http://www.wooljersey.com/gallery/CV-6+Enterprises/LeJeune/Tucson+Tandem/
> 3. http://pluto.bananas.dk/~haj/tandem/tandem1.jpg
> 4. http://pluto.bananas.dk/~haj/tandem/tandem2.jpg
> 5. http://pluto.bananas.dk/~haj/tandem/tandem3.jpg
> 6. mailto:Classicrendezvous@bikelist.org
> 7. http://www.bikelist.org/mailman/listinfo/classicrendezvous

Hans Joergensen
Copenhagen, Denmark