I wasn't all that interested in this bike the first time I was scrolling through ebay, but curiosity got the better of me and I had to check it out. I'm glad I did. This bike is crazy. I've never seen anything like it.
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewI...em=300269339395

Check out the rad top tube/tubes and the brake cable "guides". Sweet!

JP

This was Motobecane's top of the range BMX bike for 84, was called MX400 on our domestic market
Wonder how many were ditributed in the US..

Pretty original parts, that's a good buy IMHO

Merci Chevron!

I'm not usually interested in bikes that I wasn't into as a punk kid, but this one lodged itself into my psyche and wouldn't let go. I was always a fan of the low-slung flyers - add eccentric tubing design and exotic foreign parts (French wheels) and forget about it!

Do you know what colors these came in?

Thanks again for the info!

JP

Oh! One more question if you don't mind. Are these parts pretty accurate to what were being used in France? The CW bars, Tuf Neck seatpost, SR stem, cranks and pedals? Just curious.

Thanks!

JP

A few pics for you JP:



Chrome one is a 84 while the white one is more 85. (Motobecane switched name to MBK around this time, in a joint venture with Yamaha, hence the new brand on the white frame).

It was later declined in the MX500 available in different colors, but the 400 was only available in chrome or white
The main thing on this frame except the new semi twin toptube design was the welding process called "inexternal", invisible!!


Original french ad from 84



You see yours is pretty much a survivor, bars were CW copies called "espace" bars as for the Tuf Neck style seatpost.
Pedals were Shimano SX, not too sure about the stem..

PM me if you need some parts for it, might be able to help.

cool looking frame - looks nice and long and low.

Wow! Thanks Chevron! I can't imagine what parts I may need. They all seem to be on this bugger. I was actually thinking of stripping it down to the frame and fork and rebuilding it with a hodge-podge of boutique parts, but upon seeing how all of its original bits and pieces have survived it seems sacreligious to do so. Maybe I'll put on a new blue seat clamp!

Yeah Andy, I really dig how long and low this beast is.

Great to know it has Yamaha in its lineage. That's totally cool. And unexpected.

JP

Hey JP-

I shipped the Motobecane today. I think you'll be pretty happy with it. If you're going to leave it together as is, it could really use a good detail to get 'er to shine- ie the spoke eyelets, chain and the tight spots that I didn't try to clean. I would have done some more work to it myself but, I'm more of a freestyle guy so, I never took much of an attachment to want to keep 'er. I picked it up from the original owner's mom but, didn't know exactly what it was until I got back to the house and did some research on it- I think Double Chevron even gave me a bit of history on it as well. Basically, the guy raced a local track in my area and put forth quite a bit of energy to keep the track going. After all was said and done, he donated all of his race gear, bikes, etc to the track and this was the only thing he had left over. I believe the track closed down not too long afterward.

Anyhow, I'd imagine you'll see it soon and enjoy!

Hey Superpink!

Yeah, I will definitely be putting some elbow grease into the wheels at some point, but I'll probably just put a whole new chain on. Nice to know a little bit of the bikes history. I'm really stoked to have stumbled across this bike. Thanks a ton!

JP