Motobecane Q's...

Hey guys, I'm new to this forum. I have just been bitten by the fixie virus.
I have an old Motobecane Mirage II, not sure about what year?

Can you guys help tell me what size I need on the headset and the bottom bracket?

thanx, cruz

headset: 1", measure steerer and headtube for stack height.

BB: get the calipers out

motobecane is a french make, so there is a chance the bottom bracket may be french threaded. The way to tell is to see if the threads go the same way on either side - french and italian threaded BB shells are both threaded the same way, whereas english/ISO threading has one side right threaded, and the other left.

RE the headset - what is wrong with it? Stevo is correct, it is just a straightforward 1 inch threaded headset. Really easy to get ahold of. It might only need to be stripped down and regreased though.

Thanx guys!

The headset is kinda' ugly, that's why I wanna change it to something nicer.
When I measure inside the top of the headtube it's 30mm (I think). Is it 1" then?

And when I unscrewed the BB I turned forward on both sides.
And it was a pain in the ass to get of, so I ruined them... :-(

The sizes on BB the parts was 68mm, ø34mm and the lenght on the spindle was 129mm. What I want to know is if I want to look for the parts on eBay or something, what do I look for? And is the leght of the spindle the correct lenght when I want to make it into a fixed gear? I'm afraid of shopping the wrong parts...

I'm a newbie on everything here so please help me out... :-)

cruz'

I think you'll find this helpful:

http://www.fixedgeargallery.com/columns/bobgarage/indexb.htm

It's worth a watch. At the very least, it'll give you an idea of what you need to do, and that'll allow you to ask more specific questions. Good luck.

ummm unscrewing the same way on both sides probably means french threaded? I'm really bad with threading, i get easily confused. If you ruined the BB, check the threads in the frame, you may have buggered them too! probably not, but check anyway.

The correct spindle length is dependent on the cranks AND the rear hub. Your best bet is the miche BB, which has cups that sit inside the frame meaning you get a few mil of play one way or another. I don't know if they come in french flavour though (but probably, considering they are french).

i think he means that if both sides unscrewed forwards then the driveside unscrewed clockwise and the left side unscrewed anti-clockwise, ergo, ISO.

I'm no expert on chainlines, I lucked out with my peugeot. It was an old 10 speed therefore with two chainrings. This meant the right side of the BB axle came out further than the left, this made a single chainring sit too far out. I flipped the axle over and the shorter side, now on the right just happened to give me perfect chainline.

Bear in mind that it may also have french thresding on the steerer tube and the crown race diameter may be larger.
Google "sheldon brown french thread"

with ISO BB, it's hopefully an ISO steerer, but good to check

i think he means that if both sides unscrewed forwards then the driveside unscrewed clockwise and the left side unscrewed anti-clockwise, ergo, ISO.

Yeah, i guessed i would be wrong.

i think he means that if both sides unscrewed forwards then the driveside unscrewed clockwise and the left side unscrewed anti-clockwise, ergo, ISO.

Yes the driverside is links...

You see why I'm not sure? There's so many "meenings" out there.

cruz

driveside = the side with the drivetrain

not that confusing really

driveside = the side with the drivetrain

not that confusing really

That I understood... :-)

Right now the frame is at powdercoating!
It's getting a black color...

cruz'

Is this wheelset worth the money?
They sell a lot of them on the ebay...

Yellow Weinmann DP18 Aero rims Machined Sidewall
Yellow Origin 8 (formula) fixed/freewheel hubs, cartridge bearings
32 Black DT Swiss spokes, 14 gauge
100mm front spacing, 120mm rear

cruz

for how they sell it?

for how they sell it?

From $120 to $250,-, worldwide shipping...

Many different colors, machined or not.

©

for $120 is cheap and well worthy the money, for $250 no so much, I decent set here in UK, cost £130 in the cheap side and £170 in the not so cheap.
if you bring them form the USA by carefull with the custon and border, they are motherfukers.
the set in itself sound good, no the best but good!

Thanx rik!

I got all this of eBay for $310,-
That's not to bad then... :-)

-Wheelset-
-DP18 M Yellow
-Black spokes 3x
-Novatech Yellow hubs
-Respaced to 126mm
-Shimano Dura-Ace Cog & lockring 16T x 1/8
-ACS Freewheel 16 x 1/8
-KMC Z410 Chain Yellow
-3x LV Tubes
-2x Rim Strips
-2x Continental Sport Contact 700x28
-Shipping

KROOZ

very good, now finger cross and hope custons don't pull your trousers donw.

for around £175 is a good buy

i have an old motobecane frame, think its a mirage or super mirage. not really sure.
it has the worst paint job ever and only found out it was a motobecane from removing a layer of paint with nail polish remover...not mine.
converting it to fixie at the moment, was wondering if anyone knows the best way to identify the model/year? for parts etc...

Old thread revival - saves posting a new one !
Did Motobecane ever make track frames ? i.e is this a fake or not ?
http://www.pignonfixe.com/showthread.php?tid=92644&highlight=motobecane
Thanks for any possible help !

I do believe they did. Check the porn thread in the next few days ;)