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| Example Model: | Team Champion |
| Brand: | Motobécane - MBK |
| Frame Model: | Motobécane - MBK Team Champion |
| Category: | Road Race |
| Years: | 1974 - 1976 |
| Built In: | France |
| Weight: | |
| Production: | Individual Hand Built |
| Sold As: | Complete Bicycle |
| Material: | Steel |
| Construction: | Lugged |
| Drivetrain: | Derailleurs |
| Wheel Size: | 700c |
| Added By: | CV-6 on 02/28/10 |
| Updated By: | JFischer on 12/15/10 |
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The Motobecane Team Champion also labeled as Champion Team bikes were introduced in 1974 as French BIC Team Replicas after Luis Ocana won the 1973 Tour de France on a "Motobecane". The orange color matched the French BIC team bikes. It's been rumored that Ocana rode a custom built Gemini frame with Motobecane markings. His teammates rode Motobecanes like these. The workmanship on these bikes was superb. They were the top of the line equipped with all Campagnolo components.
The late Sheldon Brown commented that "they appeared to have been touched by different hands". Whether that meant they were built by a special shop within Motobecane or built outside by French constructeurs, who knows?
The 1974 US catalog says "Strictly a racing machine limited in production. Made for Motobecane's Racing Team. Exported to the US whenever possible". Very few were made and they were always scarce.
Frame sizes in the US catalogs were listed in inch sizes measured center to top. In 1974 they may have only been available in 21", 23", 24" & 25" sizes. Also the 74 US catalog shows a picture of a Team Champion with a half chrome fork. All the ones I've seen (mostly in pictures) have been all orange.
The 1977 Team Champion bikes were sky blue and made of Reynolds 753 tubing. In 1978 Motobecane switched to Columbus SL tubing for the Team Champion bikes. They were light metallic blue. The quality deteriorated considerably as they became more like standard production frames. they used the same color and specs in 1979.
In 1980 Motobecane got back into professional racing with the La Redoute Motobecane Team. The quality of the Team Champion bikes improved too. They continued building Team Champion bikes into the mid 80s.
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