Motobecane Road Bike Review – Is the Brand Good?

There are a lot of people asking for a brand overview Motobecane Road Bike Review. The same way that many are puzzled if Kirkland Vodka can really be just as good as Grey Goose is the same questioning in if a Motobecane bicycle can be just as good as a Trek. Although they’re not made in the same place, they do in fact have the same builds of frames. Are the bicycle frames as high of quality? No. However, do you purchase a road bike through gravel, dirt, rocks and trails to where you need such a strong frame? No. A Motobecane bicycle and the brand overall is a perfectly viable, if not, smart way to purchase a bicycle if you are a consumer looking for massive value in comparison to the overall cost.

In this post we will discuss my experience with unpackaging, riding and testing a Motobecane bicycle. I will go over my recommendations and some things that are important to know before buying a bike from bikesdirect.com. By the end of this post, you should have all the information that you need to make the most informed decision should you choose to work with a Motobecane Road bike or a bicycle from elsewhere.

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Motobecane Road Bike Review – What is Motobecane?

Motobecane is bikesdirect.com’s standard brand for bicycles. They are known for working with standard frames of normal value and placing high value components on their bicycles. There are many that (rightly) believe that the bicycle’s components are what will move the needle to the adept cyclist in comparison to a frame that is adequately designed.

When purchasing a Motobecane bike from bikesdirect.com, you will receive a standard bike in a box, to where you have the option to take it to a local bike shop, or build the bicycle yourself. Building the bicycle is not a problem, though there have been some reports that the derailleurs can need adjusting, although this is an item that you can

1. Find the information on YouTube by searching “[insert your derailleur component name here] adjustment.” E.g. “Shimano Di2 Adjustment. A video that teaches you will be no longer than about 10 minutes long.
2. Take to a shop for a bike mechanic to show you with the incentive of a 6-pack of their favorite beer.

Typical set up takes about a couple of hours, and it is needed to use a Presta valve for the bike (or a converter valve) being that it is a road bike.

Why should I choose a Motobecane bicycle?

You should choose to get a Motobecane bicycle if you want to drink Grey Goose at Kirkland prices. The price of the Immortal pro for $2595 has the components of a bike that would be just under $4,000 from any other brand around. This is knowing that the frame may have a lower gauge, or may not have the same level of aero physics or the wheels may need to be replaced (though the majority of higher in bikes – Motobecane included – typically are sold knowing that the wheels will be upgraded).

How does Motobecane make their bikes so cheap?

To make the point, Motobecane bicycles are not cheap. They are inexpensive. Motobecane is an online, direct to consumer brand that keeps the development of their bicycles simple. There is nothing cutting edge about their bicycles. Their frames are not aerodynamic, and their wheels are still being sold with aluminum frame rim brakes (aluminum which in 2023 has been phased out of the high end cycling industry, and rim brakes on road bike which are beginning to see their last days). Simply put, this is a brand that creates bicycles that work and there is nothing “new” or flashy to them. There is no hook that says this is the latest and greatest bicycle.

What should I avoid if choosing to buy a Motobecane bicycle?

Like any purchase that you make, avoid the lowest priced bicycles. You will not be doing yourself a disservice if you choose to work with Shimano Claris groupset, though it may be worth finding a bike with a Shimano 105 groupset to get you where you want to go, at a reasonable speed while climbing hills in the correct gear.

Overall thoughts on the Motobecane brand

For a complete Motobecane road bike review if you want a bicycle that fits you correctly, rides the way it ought to and have the correct components underneath the hood legs, then Motobecane road bikes are for you. If you are looking for the latest technology in your bicycles, with added features like a bike coming tubeless ready or a compartment inside of the frame for storage, then the Motobecane road bike is not for you. A bike that will get you from point a to point B in the correct fashion with reliable parts, that a local bike shop is happy to work on? This is the Motobecane brand.