Motobécane
| Company type | Private |
|---|---|
| Industry | Bicycle and motorcycle manufacturing |
| Founded | 1923 |
| Founder | Charles Benoit and Abel Bardin |
| Defunct | 1981 |
| Fate | Acquired by Yamaha Motor Corporation and rebranded as MBK in 1984 |
| Headquarters | France |
| Products | Bicycles, mopeds, motorcycles, small vehicles, fingerbar mowers |
Motobécane was a French company established in 1923, specializing in the production of bicycles, mopeds, motorcycles, and small vehicles. The brand name merges "moto" (meaning motorcycle) with "bécane," a colloquial term for bike.
It is important to differentiate Motobécane from Motobecane USA, which imports bicycles from Taiwan manufactured by Kinesis Industry Co. Ltd. under the Motobécane brand.
Luis Ocaña achieved victory in the 1973 Tour de France while riding a Motobecane bicycle.
After declaring bankruptcy in 1981, Motobécane was acquired by Yamaha Motor Corporation and rebranded as MBK in 1984. The company continues its production of motorscooters and was also involved in manufacturing fingerbar mowers at least until 1981.
Motorcycles
At one time, Motobécane held the position as France’s leading motorcycle manufacturer. The founders, Charles Benoit and Abel Bardin, developed their initial two-stroke single-cylinder motorcycle in 1923. By the 1930s, their lineup included popular models such as their first four-stroke motorcycle introduced in 1933 and longitudinal shaft-driven inline-four motorcycles offered in various engine sizes. The brand also enjoyed success in competitive road racing, including triumphs at endurance events like the Bol d'or.
Following the Second World War, models such as the D45 and its successor Z46 met the market demand for affordable transportation featuring modern suspension systems. However, during the 1960s, sales declined due to competition from economical automobiles and Japanese motorcycle manufacturers. Despite this, Motobécane continued producing two-cylinder 125cc motorcycles throughout the 1970s, along with limited editions of two-stroke three-cylinder bikes in 350cc and 500cc variants.
In Grand Prix motorcycle racing during the late 1970s and early 1980s, Motobécane secured multiple wins in the 125cc category and achieved second place overall in the 1980 championship standings.
Bicycles
Motobécane played a significant role within the French bicycle industry, recognized for its development of lightweight mountain bikes. During the late 1970s, under the influence of U.S. importer Ben Lawee, Motobécane became the first French manufacturer to integrate superior Japanese components such as derailleurs and cranksets into their bicycles—components that outperformed traditional French parts commonly found on mid-range 10-speed models. Their mid- to high-end frames were generally constructed from double-butted lugged steel tubing sourced from Vitus or Reynolds 531, assembled using Nervex lugs. Unlike most French brands of that era, Motobécane adopted Swiss-thread bottom brackets, which were more dependable than conventional French threading.
The brand distinguished itself through premium paint finishes and was regarded as the second most prestigious French bicycle manufacturer after Peugeot. It offered excellent value by combining quality frame construction with affordable yet high-quality Japanese components. Prominent models included Nomade, Mirage, Super Mirage, Super Touring, Grand Touring, Sprint, Super Sprint, Jubilee Sport, Grand Record, Le Champion, and Team Champion.
In addition to traditional diamond frame designs, Motobécane produced mixte frame bicycles such as the Grand Touring model featuring twin lateral stays replacing a conventional top tube. The Super Touring and Grand Jubilé models incorporated a sloping single top tube that split into dual lateral stays near the seat tube junction. Tandem bicycles were also part of their product range.
During the early 1980s, Motobécane launched the "Profil" series constructed from ovalized 2040 tubing aimed at enhancing aerodynamic efficiency—these were among the first bicycles designed utilizing wind tunnel testing. These models featured concealed cable routing along with Shimano Adamax 600 components optimized for aerodynamic performance.
Before 1980, many French bicycles used bottom brackets with French threading prone to loosening due to precession forces. In response, Motobécane transitioned to Swiss-threaded bottom brackets around the mid-1970s; these employed reverse-threaded fixed cups similar to English standards to prevent loosening issues. Additionally, French headsets differ slightly from English ones regarding sizing and threading specifications.
Currently, the Motobécane brand name is utilized by Taiwanese manufacturers who produce unrelated bicycles bearing only the historical brand identity.
Mopeds and Motorized Bicycles
In 1949, Motobécane introduced the Mobylette moped, which saw a production total of 14 million units over nearly five decades. The design was licensed to Mopeds India Ltd in India, where it was marketed as the Suvega. In the United Kingdom, Raleigh manufactured the model as the "RM" series from 1960 to 1971, capturing approximately 38% of the British moped market by the late 1960s. Additionally, American retailer Montgomery Ward imported Mobylettes under their Riverside brand.
Early variants up to the V40 series were built without shock absorbers, achieving a maximum speed of around , with engine output capped at . Beginning in 1961, models starting from the V50 incorporated rear suspension and Japanese components, enabling speeds up to and power ratings of .
A notable endurance feat was accomplished in 1978 when Canadian Walter Muma completed an 11,500-mile expedition on a 50V moped, illustrating its reliability and range capabilities.
Following Motobécane’s acquisition by Yamaha, MBK Industrie maintained moped production and emerged as a prominent competitor in French moped racing circuits.
Automobiles
In response to fuel shortages during 1942, Motobécane engineered a lightweight three-wheeled pedal vehicle weighing just over 30 kilograms. This model featured an eight-speed gear system akin to those found on bicycles.
As car ownership expanded across France during the 1950s and 1960s, Motobécane aimed to penetrate the small vehicle sector by unveiling a “quadricycle” prototype in 1961. The compact two-seat vehicle measured 2730 mm in length and 1180 mm in width, characterized by a boxy silhouette with fabric-covered doors set at an angle.
Despite limited experience in automobile manufacturing, Motobécane integrated an innovative continuously variable transmission system reminiscent of those later utilized by DAF automobiles. The prototype was powered by a 125 cc two-stroke engine mounted at a seven-degree incline to preserve a low hood line. Its large spoked wheels paid homage to its motorcycle origins.
Plans included producing both a two-passenger microcar named “KM2” and a microvan version called “KM2U,” but neither model advanced beyond the prototype phase.
Scooters
Operating under the MBK Industrie brand, the company continues to produce scooters tailored for the European market.