Motobécane/MBK

Motobécane was founded in 1923 at the edge of Paris, France as a manufacturer of motorcycles, with the partnership of Abel Bardin, Charles Benoît, and Jules Benezech. It wasn't until the 1950s that Motobecane branched into bicycles and soon became Europe's largest bicycle manufacturer. In 1981, Motobécane went bankrupt and was purchaced in 1984 by Yamaha and reformed under the MBK brand. Today, MBK France manufactures only motorcycles, while Motobecane USA continues to sell Motobecane branded bicycles made in Taiwan and China, often sold direct to consumer on http://www.bikesdirect.com/. European and British commonwealth countries continue to have MBK branded bicycles.

Info from: wikipedia, tontonvelo, ncycloduvelo & generationtobec.

Abel Bardin geneanet

Charles Benoît generationtobec

Jules Benezech facebook

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1982 Velover

Off road kid's bike with rear suspension and a Shimano Digital-6 Console Lever, with an electronic display and a horn. This doesn't qualify for inclusion in the MTB timeline, because a Repack run would snap the plastic spokes and the mini-drum brakes would would simply overpower the slick tires. It looks like fun, though.

Le véritables ancêtres du VTT français.¹⁾

Velover, 1981?²⁾ Motobecane catalog labibleduvelocataloguesmotobecane

1984 Mt. Becane

Newer Sachs-Huret Rival derailleur (should be a Huret Duopar.) Columbus tubing, TA Triple Plateau crankset, 18 speeds, 30.5 pounds.

The is the only year that Motobécane would have its name on a mountain bike. It's likely this is made in France due to the Italian tubing and French components. Future MBKs would use Japanese components with heavy tubing of unknown origin. In the 1990s MBK would start to produce some excellent light weight MTBs.

1984 Mt. Becane retrobike

1985 Tracker

As Motobécane becomes MBK it changes its model names but nothing else - mostly same components and colors. Again, the fragile Sachs-Huret derailleur (was a New Success) has been upgraded.

1985 Tracker happyride.se

1986 Tracker

All original with non-Columbus tubing, Sachs-Huret New Success.

1986 Tracker tontonvelo

1987 Ranger

The model down from the Tracker. Unicrown fork, Sachs-Huret Rival derailleur, Nervar triple crankset.

1987 Ranger tontonvelo

1988 Tracker Hi-Tech

Shimano Exage Mountain (1988-89), Rasta colors, 32 pounds.

1988 Tracker Hi-Tech flickr

1989 Adventure

Shimano Exage Country (1988), “inexternal welding” (which may mean something in French)

1989 Adventure retrobike

1990 Performer

Shimano Exage 300 LX, covered by a plastic “Crash Pro-Tech” guard

1990 Performer velovintageagogo

1991 Tracker Hi-Tech

It looks like its an evolutionary step backwards, paint wise. Derailleur guard removed. Shark fin is original. Deore XT M735 (1990-92.)

1991 Tracker Hi-Tech melivelo

1992 Rockfighter

Shimano Exage 300LX

1992 Rockfighter 2dehands.be

1993 Climber

Shimano Deore DX (1990-93), hopefully non-original rims & tires.

1993 Climber facebook