Motobecane Grand Jubile

[Pondo]

I went into town this afternoon to run errands and this cool old touring bike followed me home. It’s an early 80s (81 or 82) Motobecane Grand Jubile. For $50 I think it was a pretty good deal. Apparently it got used quite a bit in the 80s but has been parked for the last 35 years. It’s a pretty decent bike. It came equipped with Shimano 600 derailleurs and cranks. The rear wheel and derailleur have been swapped so the originals probably wore out. The downtube shifters have been swapped for Suntour bar end shifters, which I like. From my research these weigh around 23 lbs. Frame and fork are made of Vitus 172 tubing. It was well cared for. Despite having been parked for decades it’s still in really good condition. And it rides really well too. The only thing I’ve done so far is to lower the seat a smidge. Plans are for a sympathetic restoration. The original paint is gorgeous, I love the frame and fork lugs. So a deep clean, new tires, cables and brake pads and probably new bar tape & a shorter stem. Maybe a Brooks if I hate the Avocet. I’m pretty stoked on this one. Can’t wait to put in some miles.

 

[ParkRNDL]

Nice. I still have my old Jubilee Sport from high school, probably around 1985-86. It's been hanging in the shed forever, you have reminded me that maybe I should get it out and air up the tires and see if it all still works.

 

[Pondo]

Nice. I still have my old Jubilee Sport from high school, probably around 1985-86. It's been hanging in the shed forever, you have reminded me that maybe I should get it out and air up the tires and see if it all still works.

View attachment 279677

They are pretty cool bikes. I expected to be buying this one for the parts but it’s just too nice and good riding for that.

 

[Pondo]

I’ve been messing around with this one a bit looking at codes to figure out what year it is. Most of the components have 1980 date codes so I’m guessing it’s a 1980 or early ’81.

I’ve been gathering parts for the refresh. I’ll be using modern bars, wider with shallower drops, with a shorter stem and a quill stem converter for more comfort. Red bar tape and cable housings are definitely in order. I’ll be sticking with the barcon shifters. The seat is uncomfortable for me so it’s probably going to get a Brooks. I just ordered a more period appropriate Shimano 600 long cage rear derailleur to replace the late 80s Deore MTB derailleur.

Tire choices are really limited for 27” wheels so I want to put 700c rims on it and run wider, tubeless gravel tires on it. I’ve read online that 700c won’t work on a 27” bike but I think maybe that’s for models with cantilever brakes. Some folks have put 700c wheels on them successfully so I tried the front wheel from my Bianchi and it does fit. The 43mm tire fits in the forks no sweat and there’s even more room in the back, since this is a touring frame. There’s plenty of adjustment on these brake calipers to move the pads down to the 700c rim too.

So I’ll get some 700c rims to build up. This bike has a Normandy front hub with an unmarked rim and a Lambert rear hub in a Weinmann rim. I’ve got some 1st gen Shimano 600 hubs that I’ll probably use for the new wheelset.

I’m also going to upgrade the brake pads and get rid of the toe clips.

 

[twojs.bike]

700c should work. I’ve done it without issue.

 

[Wildcat]

I’ve been messing around with this one a bit looking at codes to figure out what year it is. Most of the components have 1980 date codes so I’m guessing it’s a 1980 or early ’81.
View attachment 281011

I’ve been gathering parts for the refresh. I’ll be using modern bars, wider with shallower drops, with a shorter stem and a quill stem converter for more comfort. Red bar tape and cable housings are definitely in order. I’ll be sticking with the barcon shifters. The seat is uncomfortable for me so it’s probably going to get a Brooks. I just ordered a more period appropriate Shimano 600 long cage rear derailleur to replace the late 80s Deore MTB derailleur.

Tire choices are really limited for 27” wheels so I want to put 700c rims on it and run wider, tubeless gravel tires on it. I’ve read online that 700c won’t work on a 27” bike but I think maybe that’s for models with cantilever brakes. Some folks have put 700c wheels on them successfully so I tried the front wheel from my Bianchi and it does fit. The 43mm tire fits in the forks no sweat and there’s even more room in the back, since this is a touring frame. There’s plenty of adjustment on these brake calipers to move the pads down to the 700c rim too.
View attachment 281012View attachment 281013View attachment 281014

So I’ll get some 700c rims to build up. This bike has a Normandy front hub with an unmarked rim and a Lambert rear hub in a Weinmann rim. I’ve got some 1st gen Shimano 600 hubs that I’ll probably use for the new wheelset.

I’m also going to upgrade the brake pads and get rid of the toe clips.

Same here, 700C on a 27" frame, a mixte from 1987, but using a 26" fork. Just enough room.

 

[Pondo]

I took this out for a ride tonight just to see how it rides in as found condition. All I have done is adjust the seat, air up the (very dry rotted) tires and throw away the tow clips. Very nice evening for a ride.

The verdict? It’s very uncomfortable for me. The seat is a torture chamber and the drop bars are all wrong, too low and narrow. I can definitely make improvements there. It’s also geared too high for the hills around here. Also a solvable problem. It’s really smooth on the road and seems like it would be a good tourer. It’s no gravel bike but it’s fast and fun and very light feeling on dirt roads. It performs quite well for a bike that’s been sitting since the late 80s and hasn’t even had a tune up or lube. It’s definitely got potential.

I’m now thinking I might go with 650B wheels and 42 or 43mm tires. They will fit without raising the top tube which is already a little too high for me. This combo also shouldn’t lower the bottom bracket more than an 1/8” or so, if at all. If these brake calipers won’t reach I can find some that will.

 

[gben]

About thirty years ago I used to race a Motobecane like this. I crashed it and bent the forks and rear derailleur hanger etc.. It was never the same after that and eventually I cut it up with a hacksaw and threw it in the trash in the city park across the street. Now days I stay away from Euro bikes that are older because I don't want to deal with the oddball threading and other oddball parts a lot of them have. As far as Avocet seats go, I think I still have the one that was on my Motobecane, but my '85 schwinn supersport has one too, and it is one of the most comfortable seats for me, much more comfortable than the Brooks pro that is on my 70s Paramount racer, or any other Brooks or other leather saddle I have used. The only thing Brooks and other leather saddles have going for them anymore is hipster-appeal. If you ride in a serious way for training or thousands of miles, newer design seats are far better.