1974 Motobecane Team Champion

serial no. 20 3891

Purchased for $1095 on eBay on 13 July 2013 and back on the road 27th.

“The finest machine available. The Team Champion is one racing bicycle you will not pull the electric drill out to bear off unnecessary weight. This racing machine is precisely designed to be the lightest, most agile piece of equipment you can buy. A brilliant combination of frame construction and components will assure you that this is one bicycle that won’t give out when you are still going for it.”
Motobecane brochure

Considered the best crafted of the big maker French frames of its era, Motobecane’s Team Champion was one of the favourite team replica lightweights of the 1970s-80s recalling as it did the exploits of France’s iconic Bic Team culminating in Luis Ocaňa’s Tour de France win in 1973. Even if he was reputed to be riding a Gemini painted in Moto orange, the Team Champion model was identical to lesser team members’ machines. Like Mercier and Gitane of the period, Motobecane chose all Campagnolo componentry for its team bikes. Thus the Team Champion combines a superbly made, limited production French racing frame of British Reynolds 531 tubing and the pick of the top Italian fitments of the period to produce one of the great classic lightweights of the 1970s. Truly, a French racing bike for people who hate “French bikes”!

Although there are more than a few "garage queen" Raleigh Professionals and Schwinn Paramounts from the 1970s Bike Boom, Motobecane Team Champions are rare enough but near mint ones are rarer still. This amazing time capsule condition, all original example was acquired from its original owner by the eBay seller. Originally purchased in Birmingham, Michigan, from a dealer on Gratiot Avenue, it was used only for occasional weekend rides and stored for the last 22 years.

The condition is remarkable, the paint and even the gold lug lining retaining its factory fresh brilliance and shine, the front tire was the original spec Clement Paris Roubaix, the brake shoes show almost no wear and it's complete with the original matching orange Silca pump and toestraps/clips.

In returning this to the road, the Shimano bar cons were changed to the factory spec Campagnolo downtube shifters, the Brooks Professional saddle replaced by the factory spec Cinelli Unicanitor, new tyres and bar tape and plugs, TA water bottle cage and BIC Team bidon fitted.

The Ride
I find it impossible not to like a French racing bike, but this is exceptional. Beautiful build quality, that sublime mid 1970s blend of tight but not twitchy handling, very light "feeling" (something I find only a French machine gives) and a machine one could ride all day, fast. A perfect racing bike!

Frame
Material: Reynolds 531 double butted tubing and Reynolds 531 forks
Finish (original): Competition Orange with gold lug lining
Size: seat tube 63 cm (c to t) (25”), 62 cm (c to c) top tube 59 cm (c to c)
Chainstay length: 42 cm (c to c)
Bottom bracket height: 11 inches
Wheelbase: 101 cm (40) inches (c to c)
Angles: 74º head 73º seat
Fork offset: 1½ inches
Rear spacing: 120 mm
Lugs: Prugnat Professional
Fork Crown: Prugnat with chromed cap
Dropouts: Campagnolo short forged
Braze-ons: none
Serial no: 20 3891 stamped on the non driveside rear dropout

Components
Rear derailleur: Campagnolo Nuovo Record pat. 74
Front deralleur: Campagnolo Nuovo Record
Gear levers: Campagnolo with Campagnolo clamp
Chainset: Campagnolo Record Strada, 42t x 53t, 170 cm cranks, 4 date code
Bottom bracket: Campagnolo Nuovo Record French thread
Headset: Campagnolo Record French thread
Stem: Cinelli 1A, 120 mm
Handlebars: Cinelli Campione del Mondo, 40 cm, Velox black cotton tape and plugs
Brakes: Campagnolo Nuovo Record side-pull, nutted bolt fitting
Brake levers: Campagnolo Record
Brake cable clips: Campagnolo
Seatpost: Campagnolo Record, 26.4 mm
Seat binder bolt: Campagnolo
Saddle: Cinelli Unicanitor
Pedals: Campagnolo Record
Toeclips and straps: Christophe chromed steel, black toe straps
Rims: Super Champion Competition polished alloy 36-hole sprints
Hubs: Campagnolo Record 1034 36-hole low-flange with Campagnolo straight-lever quick release skewers
Spokes: 3x 14g straight gauge chromed steel
Freewheel: Regina Oro, 13-21t, five-speed
Chain: Sedis Gold
Tyres: Tufo Pro33 sew-ups
Accessories: TA BIC bidon and TA cage, Silca pump and Campagnolo umbrella clip
Weight: 23.5 lbs