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- Friday, March 29, 2024

Road Message Board

 motobecane
I am in the market for a new road bike. I found what looks like a couple of nice deals at www.bikesdirect.com, but are these bikes really as good a deal as the site makes them out to be? I heard some bad things about Fugi and I have never heard of Motobecane. Are these companies worth looking into?
Posted by Simshex158 a 19 year old Die-hard Enthusiast riding a Cannondale from Waterford Works, NJ on 01/24/01

Responses: (1) (2) (3) (4) (5) (6) (7) (8) (9) (10) (11) (12) (13) (14) (15) (16) (17) (18) (19) (20) (21) Post Reply

  •  Re: motobecane
    I just bought a Motobecane Grand Sprint from bikesdirect.com in January 2001. It was the one showing under their monthly specials for $695. Sounded like an unbeatable deal expecially with 2 types of pedals.

    It arrived in 5 days as specified but the rear wheel had a flat spot in it and the rear deraileur hanger was not straight. It took 27 days to get the problem resolved (i.e. a new wheel and hanger).

    The bike rides great now although I replaced the seat with a Body Geometry Comp by Specialized and the stem with a 90 mil Profile Design. The 110 stem was too long and giving me a backache.

    The problem with bikesdirect is customer service. The only way you can communicate with them is via email. The phone number on the website goes to a voice mail that they don't respond to. I wound up talking to people at Cycle Spectrum in Houston. The bikes are shipped from their warehouses. When I have a problem with a product, I like to talk to a live person.

    Hope you find this helpful.
    Posted by R. Crawford a 39 year old Racer riding a Motobecane Grand Sprint & Peugeot PBN-10 from Pearl, MS on 02/24/01


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  •  Re: motobecane
    You know I never of Motobecane until I bought mine from a garage sale 4 years ago. She was in good shape and I have not had any problems so. I have had to replace a fork and a rim due to an accident, but other than that she is great. The old school riders remember my motobecane from the olden days which I see their eyes light up and want to talk about my bike. Getting back, I have had the best time and if you need to see any proof please visit my website - http://sites.netscape.net/redhook00 and you can see and read about my biking with my pride and joy.
    Posted by Daryl a Die-hard Enthusiast riding a Motobecane from Denver, Colorado on 04/14/01

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    •  Re: motobecane
      I am looking into purchasing a Motobecane 700xc mountain bike from a mail order dealer... I am getting the bike for $500.00 Do you think I should go for it? Or spend the extra money at a dealership?
      Posted by Joshua a 27 year old Weekend Rider riding a Motobecane 700xc from South Amboy on 05/29/02

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      •  Re: motobecane
        never buy a new bike on line, even with a warranty. i don't know about you, but if something is wrong with the bike when you first get it the worst thing is to have to rebox it and send it back. i know alot about bike maintance so i got a great deal on a full suspension bike that needed shifters, and for 100 bucks plus the 600 i paid for the bike i got a now worth 2500, but that was luck. if i was going to buy a new bike i would definatly buy another jamis. thats what my hard tail is. i recently went to the motobecane website and for the money you get a lot more in components in a jamis than in a motobecane. look on line at motobecane and then see if there is a jamis dealer in your area, i bet you get more for your money and the security of knowing if something goes wrong with the bike you can get it fixed asap without the hassle. take my word on it.
        Posted by Twodog315 a 29 year old Die-hard Enthusiast riding a jamis le xtr raceface and proflex 856 xtr racefac from mass on 07/26/02

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  •  Re: motobecane
    Motobecane is a French manufacture that has been around for the last 75 years. They are a reputable company who also manufacture mopeds. Don't expect too much from a road bike that is built with Tiagra components and is priced under $700. Buyer BEWARE!! The really nightmare begins when the bike is shipped wrong or damage. Trying to get it repair or replace can be a real pain in the ---. I had first hand experience from another dot com company. My advice. Pay a little more from a retail dealer and get the proper service and satifaction. Don't get screw from a mail order dealer who's trying to close out maybe some seconds, slightly blemish merchandise, or rejects from quality control.

    Good Luck


    Posted by Knowland a 44 year old Die-hard Enthusiast from San Francisco on 05/21/01


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    •  Re: motobecane
      Have you had any real experience with this bike or company
      or are you just spouting off?
      Posted by Blork a 40 year old Weekend Rider riding a none yet from New York on 06/13/01

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  •  Re: motobecane
    I've have done some work on both brands, and I have to say that I would prefer fuji. They have really bad mountain bikes but their road bikes are probably one of the best buys you can get on the market. The frames are fairly built and the component groups are always tops for the price. Do go through a shop though, cause many bad things can happen to a bike between a warehouse and your front door, and a good shop will filter all of this out so that you can ride immediately instead of messing around with a bike that has issues.
    Posted by Geunthaer a 23 year old Die-hard Enthusiast riding a Highly modified O.S.B. from Rosamond, CA on 06/14/01

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  •  Re: motobecane
    As one of the responders stated, Fuji Road bikes are a great value. I've had my TEAM for two years, which I used twice in the Hotter than Hell Century. The bike is bomb proof, comfortable, stiff and set up with full Ultegra. I bought mine through Colorado Cyclist for $1,100. ... but that was two years ago. I'm 6'8" and was looking for a big bike. The 64 cm. frame is just about big enough. Hell, this is what Team Mercury ride. Good bike/Great Price
    Posted by Big Foot a 42 year old Road Warrior riding a Team Fuji from Oklahoma City, OK on 06/19/01

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  •  Re: motobecane
    I bought a Motobecane from a local Houston dealer. Great ride! I would recommend the brand without reservation. It is a comfortable ride; gear package is an upgrade and is worth the extra!
    Posted by Dolph simon a 45 year old Weekend Rider riding a motobecane grand record from Houston, TX on 07/06/01

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    •  Re: motobecane
      I disagree. Motebecane sucks.
      Posted by Dolph Lundgren riding a better bike than a Motebecane from Eastern Russia on 07/06/01

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    •  Re: motobecane
      hi simon dolph, i am a student in austin, i would like some time go to houston to take a real look myself of the earehouse of the BikesDirect.com. Do you know the address of this internet business? thanks.

      Lei Lin
      Posted by Lei Lin a 29 year old Die-hard Enthusiast riding a Road and hybrid from austin tx on 04/27/02


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  •  Re: motobecane
    I bought a Motobecane Record from bikesdirect.com in March.
    It arrived in good shape except for a bent deraileur hanger.
    One email to bikesdirect.com and in a few days a new hanger
    was in the mail. It took 10 minutes to replace. After
    the replacement, the bike rides fine.

    I'm just a casual rider, but in the last 7 weeks, I've
    riden over 800 miles without any problems.

    Although there are many great bikes out there, the Motobecane Record at $495 from bikesdirect.com is hard
    to beat! Getting the damaged part replaced was no problem
    at all and the part was shipped with one email.

    Note: I also have 2 Fuji bikes...one of which is a
    1973 S-10-S! Although it has many miles on it and lots
    of age, it still holds up today! I have replaced the
    hubs and added Mavic rims, but I wonder how many other
    bikes would last nearly 30 years and be in such good shape?
    Posted by Tmunc a 54 year old Weekend Rider riding a Motobecane Record, Fuji S-10-S, Fuji Thrill from Huntington, WV on 07/22/01


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  •  Re: motobecane
    I rode a Motobecane Prolight in the Hotter than Hell 100, It rides great. I also have 2 Motobecane Grand Records . A Great bike with a long history. One of the biggest bike companies at one time. Are the new ones still made in France? I heard the name was sold to another company, so I don't know about the quality of the new models
    Posted by Johnny Q a 35 year old Road Warrior riding a Peugeot px-10, Motobecane GR & a Vitus 979 from OKC, OK on 09/12/01

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  •  Re: motobecane
    In 1957 I bought a motobecane silver mirage for my 16 year old son. It is now 2002 and my grandson is riding the Bike at Duke University. The Bike was indeed well maintained and garaged all of it's life so far....There is nothing wrong with the Motobecane and it will always be a part of the cycling legacy....they make old cyclist smile and think of long agao road trips, I mean those trips when you tell your wife it is too hot to mow the lawn and then hop on the bike and do a century run.

    Well that is this old bikers pithy opinion.
    Posted by SunTzuTov a 71 year old Die-hard Enthusiast riding a Astro Daimler (Inter 10) from Western NC (The Mountains) on 01/03/02


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    •  Re: motobecane
      I purchased a 1983/1984 Motobecane Jubilee Sport new and continue to ride it today. An extremely quiet bike that glides forever. It is the model which has the molded blue handlebar wrap. It's weakness is the brakeset. I have not replaced the brakes because i cannot justify the expense and I do not want to lose the molded grip for old school reasons. Everyday I wish to purchase an Itallian work of art but as soon as I ride my old bike, the 3500.00 looks to be extreme. I still own a 1975? motobecane road bike which i have painted over so I do not know what model it is.
      Posted by J.go a 45 year old Weekend Rider riding a motobecane jubilee sport from costa mesa, ca, usa on 06/18/02

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      •  Re: motobecane
        I have a 1978 Nomade that I bought in 1980, I have done modifications to it to make it hill-worthy. It has always been a great bike and it stays in the living room of my place. I've had it on the east coast, west coast, canadian border and Alaska. It is part of the family
        Posted by Wolfgang a 46 year old Weekend Rider riding a 1978 nomade from Oregon on 09/06/02

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  •  The Motobecane in the USA is different from French
    A USA based manufactured has purchased the rights to use
    the Motobecane moniker here in the US.

    These bikes sold here have nothing in common with the
    Motobecane sold in France and Europe.


    Posted by Jiz Master Zero a 28 year old Road Warrior riding a SC Superlight on 07/26/02


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  •  Re: motobecane
    Hi, I just bought 2 new Le Champions from bikesdirect. Within the first week the chain broke on my bicycle. The customer service rep at bikesdirect told me the chain was not under warranty because I had riden the bicycle about a week before it broke so it was not a manufacturing defect.I bought a new chain and am still trying to get bikesdirect to either compensate me for the chain or replace the broken one.The warranty states that the bicycle is warranted forever. It may not have a warranty at all. I have been dealing with this matter for a couple of weeks with no success. I can only say beware of bikesdirect when it comes to warranty matters. If I get this resolved I will repost.
    Posted by Roger Jarrell a 51 year old Road Warrior riding a Motobecane Le Champion from Kitty Hawk NC on 08/11/02

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    •  Re: motobecane
      Motebecane was noted back in the seventies for making their own brakes and derailers in a quality status; but I think a chain is a universal item that is made by few distributors and marketed broadly.
      Posted by Wolfgang a 46 year old Weekend Rider riding a moto-nomade on 09/07/02

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  •  Re: motobecane
    I purchased the Team Champion in April. I could not believe the price for Dura Ace Components. The only problems I've had was the Cassette that comes with the bike is geared too low. Unless you have legs of steal or live around very flat terrain switch it out. I also broke a spoke which did not cost a lot to fix but when it breaks your ride is over (unless you carry extra spokes and a trueing tool! Overall I think it is a great value but don't count on customer service over the internet. expect to pay for minor repairs out of your own pocket...
    Posted by Jca1963 a 39 year old Road Warrior riding a Motobecane Team Champion from St. George, Utah on 09/01/02

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  •  Re: motobecane
    These Motobecane bikes can be purchased off the rack fully assembled and fit for you with 2 year warrantly and lifetime service from Cycle Spectrum. Thats where I got mine. Its a fantastic bike.They let me ride it first too.
    Oh and those (Brand Name) Bikes you find in the shops also have the exact same frames made in the exact same factories in China. The Grant sprint is the exact same Carbonstay frame as the (Giant) BUT WITH BETTER COMPONENTS For Far less money!. The Nemesis uses the same frame as the Fuji Aloha. They also have bikes that use the same frame as the Trek Bikes. Only the very top of the line bikes now use non China frames. We are talking bikes over 5k.
    Posted by Badger99 a 43 year old Racer riding a Which one? from Melbourne Florida on 06/20/08

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