1974 Motobecane Team Champion

serial no. 432CS

Purchased for $700 in December 2007 and advertised as having “only three owners since 1974”. Back on the road with her fourth on 1 March 2008.

“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”!

The Restoration
Purchased as a complete machine, this had nonetheless been “updated” c. 1984 with a new Campagnolo NR derailleur (pat. 84), new rims, curved quick releases, no name hubs, saddle, new logo Cinelli Giro d’Italia handlebars and Shimano 600 brake calipers. Sadly, the brake bridge and fork was drilled out for recessed allen bolt fitting and spacers have been added to permit fitting of the original bolt-on calipers. All non original fittings were replaced with period correct components per the catalogue specification. The frame itself was in very good original condition. Restoration entailed a thorough cleaning and polishing, some minor paint touch-ups, the removal of a large Campagnolo sticker someone adorned the downtube with and fitting of replica French Reynolds 531 decals on the seat tube and forks.

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: 432CS stamped on the driveside rear, fork dropouts and steerer tube

Components
Rear derailleur: Campagnolo Nuovo Record pat. 74
Front deralleur: Campagnolo Nuovo Record
Gear levers: Campagnolo with Campagnolo clamp
Chainset: Campagnolo Record Strada, 43t x 54t, 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, 26.6 mm
Seat binder bolt: Campagnolo
Saddle: Ideale 90
Pedals: Campagnolo Record Superleggera
Toeclips and straps: Christophe chromed steel, black toe straps
Rims: Super Champion Arc-en-Ciel polished alloy 36-hole sprints
Hubs: Campagnolo Record 1034 36-hole low-flange with Campagnolo straight-lever quick release skewers
Spokes: 3x 15/17 double butted, stainless steel
Freewheel: Regina Oro, 13-19t, five-speed
Chain: Regina Oro
Tyres: Tufo Jet-Pro sew-ups
Accessories: TA BIC bidon and TA cage
Weight: 23 lbs