Rick S’s 1980 Motobecane Grand Touring

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Today’s Moto comes to us from Rick S, in South Carolina. I’m a big fan of the Grand Touring red with black and in this case black with red. There is also something particularly appealing about about the downtube Motobecane decal and the ‘Made in France’ that just wreaks of classic.
Perhaps someday we’ll look at our vintage 2012 plastic bike and get the same feeling from that ‘Made in China/Taiwan’ sticker across the bottom of the headtube. Or not.

Rick S, Taylors, SC

1980 Motobecane Grand Touring

The Grand Touring was Motobecane’s next to top-of-the-line touring bike in 1980. With a fabulous sense of style in classic black and red, you couldn’t do better than the Grand Touring for comfort and reliability for the long miles ahead. This example is in amazingly original condition, with Weinmann Vainqueur 610 center-pull brakes, Suntour Vx derailleurs and “888 Vitus – tubes legers 8/10 pour Motobecane” frame decal. Only the wheels have been replaced w. period French Schwinn-approved high-flange rims.

Related posts:

  1. Beau O’s 1984 Raleigh Gran Sport
  2. Ryan S’s 1974ish Raleigh Grand Prix
  3. Hugh’s 1980 Schwinn Continental
  4. Rosie G.’s Motobecane Mixte (France)
  5. Andrew J’s (Cousin’s) 1982 Peugeot P8
  • Trailerparkcyclist

    Hear me scream in mortal anguish! I want it! I want it! Just the frame. These guys are charging anywhere from $450 to infinity for frames that won’t do anything better than that one. Seriously, Rick, you can keep the pie plate. Just send the frame. tj

    • Trailerparkcyclist

      And by the way, Cam…some day everything will be plastic. There was a line from “the Graduate” the iconic coming of age movie starring Dustbin Hoffleman: “Put your money in plastic. it’s the future” I made all that up but I’m pretty sure it is accurate. Crabon fibre indeed. Make mine steel.

  • Ryan Surface

    Cameron you have out done yourself sir – back to back Motobecanes and beautiful GT’s to boot- gush.

    Rick what an awesome find, the condition, the color the details…stunning. I have never seen an etched MB handlebar before -that is very cool and the classic leather wrapped bar tape. That is one fine French steed. Thank you for sharing it.

    Ryan

  • BeaterRezQ

    First off, Cameron–thanks for keeping us nice and hyper with mega-doses of “Eye Candy” you great servant of the bicycling public! We collectively “Love you man!”(hip, hip…….)

    Rick S., What a beauty! Red/black details set the perfect balance for a classic vintage ride. I’ve always been a big fan of a color scheme built upon the headbadge/decals…in the case of your Moto, well–I rest my case! Simply Stunning, right down to gold accents on lugs.
    Thanks for allowing us to see your nice vintage Moto and Happy Trails to you and yours!
    BRQ
    ps/ my Little Lady rides a Moto, but it’s one of those bikes that Cam mentioned earlier that’s sure to make the “rejection list”..but She’s happy therefore I’m happy Ü

    • Trailerparkcyclist

      Beater, you can post your rejects over at my place anytime you want. Is that OK, Cam? I already got in trouble with Fatty this week and certainly don’t need any more hurt feelings. But since some of these bikes don’t fit your format what is the harm in letting them be shown off at my little far corner of the interwebular world? For me it would be an honor and there will definitely be some fun. Yesterday Miss Jo and I took a bunch of trailer scrap to the recycle center and there was an antique Schwinn in the pile. The frame was bent in half and I am not lying when I say that it was like seeing some kind of tragic roadkill that should not have died. These guys are saving old steel and if there is any single thing I can do to assist their efforts it might get me into heaven after all. Let me know. tj

      • BeaterRezQ

        Your Place, Fatty, Miss Jo….are we talking bikes here?
        Fatty won’t be knocking on my door with an offer I can’t refuse, will he?
        Guys named Fatty usually put the hurt to more things than feelings, ‘know what I’m sayin’?
        B

  • DOCSPROCKET

    RICK THIS IS MY ALL TIME COLOR COMBO THE BIKE IS SPECTACULAR IN APPEARANCE
    I LOVE THE ORIGINAL STITCHED LEATHER BAR WRAP & THE M LOGO BARS
    TRULY A MASTER PEICE
    A 2 THUMBS UP

  • hughs bicycle blog

    I`m with Doc on this one. That is the best color combination that MotoBecane ever offered. One of the first old ten speeds I ever worked on was an old Super Mirage with the same color combination. I wish I had realized then what a prize I had found, maybe I would still have it today.

  • Mark D

    Great finish to a great week of steel beauties. Shiny! Look at that multicolor, painted brass headbadge — it says it all: quality! No decal looks like that. Vive la vélo!

  • DOCSPROCKET

    rick as i said before i love the red & black colors.
    here is one all original that i help a buddy get off the list last winter
    she came with the bags, he added a light & tires
    he brought it in saturday for a full tune up & new pads

    • Rick S

      Beautiful!

  • Rick S

    Much thanks for the kind comments & so glad you like my Moto. The color combo is, indeed, killer. I’ve been riding for awhile; I bought 2 new Motobecanes back in the day, a ’79 Super Mirage and an ’81 Jubile Sport. After riding over 1000 miles in the summer of ’78 on a cheap steel Huffy, I decided I liked cycling enough to invest in the Super Mirage that fall – I fell in love with the road all over again. FYI, looking at my ’81 catalog from Clarksville Schwinn Cyclery, Clarksville, IN, the Super Mirage sold new for $310, the Jubile Sport $349. The attached pic shows me (center) astride the Super Mirage on a ride in southern Indiana in the early 80’s – painful to see that riding gear now, but we rode many miles before getting “proper” attire. I don’t recall what my friend on the left was riding, but the bike on the right is a Raleigh. Great days…

    • DOCSPROCKET

      HOLLY HEADACHES BATM I REMEMBER THOSE HELMETS. WE CALLED IT A SKID LID
      GREAT PHOTO

    • BeaterRezQ

      …for the record, I still dress like that to ride my bikes. Ü
      BRQ