Review of Motobecane Cafe 11 bicycle

Here is a link to the bicycle I talk about in the video:

[KaiTenSatsuma]

Thanks for these reviews, It's hard to find a fair priced steel bike these days. I had been hoping that Raleigh would have stayed in the US Market but they exited this year, so right now the Motobecane Cafe 21 is looking like a strong contender to replace a Raleigh Technium I had picked up off Craigslist a decade ago. The bike itself is older than I am!

[michaelscoots]

I love mine! It's light and super easy to tackle hills. I also swapped out the pedals to something similar to what you have on your bike.

[udmbfckx]

First of all, thanks for your quick review. This bike is still being sold as of today.

I am considering a lifestyle change by replacing my older 20 lb, Nashbar no-name 'famous maker' aluminum-framed, carbon-forked, Rival drivetrain equipped 57 cm road bike. I was thinking of turning it into a hybrid but the bike has always seemed to be a little bit oversized for me, the cost of the decent quality HW to change it from a 2 x 10 drop bar to a 1 x 12 flat bar is kind of high and then there is the time/labor involved in doing it.

I am 53 y.o., my back is starting to give me trouble and I am a 'shrinking' 5'11 so the 53 cm seems like a good option and it would probably be right under 25 lbs pedals and all. I would quickly replace the tires with the thinnest quality-sized tires you can fit on those rims at 700 x 28 with higher TPI (120) and puncture protection. A better saddle for less numbness and future larger prostate pain avoidance.

I was thinking of a 1 x 12 drivetrain flat bar bike but I realized that the last huge chainring, a 50, may not be needed so the 42 should be fine. Not to mention the fact that there aren't many 1 x 12 flat bar road bikes (hybrid?) available out there. There is always the possibility for an upgrade here....not to mention a future 1 x 13? Who knows! You know, getting close to the old saying that there are 'only' 14 non-duplicate usable gears in any combination (7-9 x 3, 2 x 10, 2 x 11, etc).

The major negative with this bike is the lack of disc brakes in this day and age. But if you can live without it....And for me it is easier to adjust/maintain since I have never owned a disc brake bike and I am familiar with old school tech (like me).
The 5 lb bike weight gain? I could stand to lose 20 lbs! So there....For many of us, losing weight is what it is all about.

[allrounderbicycle]

Thanks for the review! Very interested in that bike. Seems like a great value.

[LeSiZmOr]

I just ordered this bike. Got mine in black. How's yours holding up??

[HansProbs]

I am getting ready to buy one but how has it held up? Also are the sram gears still shifting smoothly? I’m on the fence with the Shimano 105’s. Thx

[tonyd]

Good video. Thanks! I was just wondering about the pedals. What's the brand and where did you get them?

[russellolmedo]

What size is the bike?
How tall are you?
And what kind of pedals are those?
Thanks in advance!

[howardkenneth]

what size is that bike? how tall are you?