Mid 70's Motobecane Mirage

Are you looking to repair this bike?
Links below for parts you can buy now on amazon.

Over the years we repaired thousands of these and became experts in finding alternatives to original bike parts. 
Buying parts for older bikes is confusing, as most of the original parts have been discontinued. 
We use these parts everyday and created this list to make it easier for you to repair your bike.

Shifter cables and housing: https://amzn.to/38g40ol

Brake cables and housing: https://amzn.to/2DZqPPk

Handlebar Tape: https://amzn.to/2qxHiaf

Rear Wheel: https://amzn.to/2RuAB3X

Front Wheel: https://amzn.to/2PuFaIM

Tires (good): https://amzn.to/2s9eipE (similar look, casual use, choose 27x1 1/4)

Tires (better): https://amzn.to/33YwOyl (super flat resistant and fast rolling, choose 27x1.25 or 27 1 1/4)

Shifters: Front and rear (right and left): https://amzn.to/347vWrv

Rear Derailleur (good): https://amzn.to/2DYUOXF (choose w/ direct attachment)

Rear Derailleur (Better): https://amzn.to/2PupyVA (choose GS type)

Front Derailleur (good): https://amzn.to/3415IXm (choose double)

Front derailleur (better): https://amzn.to/2LAI262 (better quality, fit and finish)

Bottom Bracket: https://amzn.to/2RydlSI (Likely 68x122.5 but must measure spindle length before purchase)

Crank (good): https://amzn.to/2Yw7miQ (better quality fit and finish, will likely need a new bottom bracket)

Crank (better): https://amzn.to/2rg0YQx (lesser quality option, likely will not need a bottom bracket)

Freewheel: https://amzn.to/2qx4c1t

Headset: https://amzn.to/38EkfvQ (Choose 27.0 but it's better to remove crown race and measure inside diameter for sure)
Pedals: https://amzn.to/3593fvC (Modern style)

Pedals: https://amzn.to/2DZbNZP (same style as original)

Chain: https://amzn.to/38ayVCI (fits 5, 6, 7 and 8 speeds)

Brake pads (good): https://amzn.to/36eEldP (casual use)

Brake pads (better): https://amzn.to/38ixNN7 (Improved performance and wet/cold condition)

Brakes (rear): https://amzn.to/2P31N8o

Brakes (front): https://amzn.to/2Prqcn2

Brake Levers: https://amzn.to/2LQALz9 (similar to original

Brake Levers: https://amzn.to/356h3Hc (modern style)

Mid 70's Motobecane mirage road bike we refurbished here at Bike Boom. If your'e not familiar, Bike Boom is a used bike shop in Davis square, on the border of Cambridge and Somerville , near Boston MA. where we specialize in restoring and refurbishing used and vintage bikes and offer professional bicycle repair services.

This Motobecane mirage was bought last year from a person who was getting divorced and had to sell the whole content of his house. He was somewhat of a bike collector, we ended up buying 2 more bikes from him. I was on the look out for this specific Paint scheme for a long time. Motobecane mirage was an entry level model for motobecane even though they also had the Motobecane Nomade which had lower end components. The Motobecane mirage was similar to the Motobecane super mirage but had steel rims instead of alloy rims in the super mirage. the Motobecane mirage is definitely not rare, most of them came in either the metallic red or the gold-tan  color. This neon green paint with golden accented lugs is relatively rare and 've been meaning to find one for a long time. When we got Motobecane Mirage it had cottered cranks, steel rims, different shifters, seat and housings. We ended up replacing the wheels with a brand new alloy wheelset and crank, seat, tape, cables, etc. Basically only the frame, fork, stem, brakes and handlebar were original. If we hadn't picked it up that day, it would have probably been in the landfill today. The most interesting part of this refurb was the bottom bracket. We had to take it off because the crank was bent and motobecanes are known to have either french or Swiss bottom brackets. When we took it off we tried to install a standard sealed English bottom bracket and to our surprise the motobecane mirage accepted it without any problems. you learn a new thing every day. We sold it to a student in UMASS who came all the way from Natick with his father (about 40 mins away from somerville, where the shop is) super nice guys.

some other motobecanes we refurbished Here

Schwinn Paramount Tandem

Schwinn paramount tandem spotted in front of the Bike Boom shop. If your'e not familiar, Bike Boom is a used bike shop in Davis square, on the border of Cambridge and Somerville , near Boston MA. where we specialize in restoring and refurbishing used and vintage bikes and offer professional bicycle repair services.

We ususally post here pictures and info of bikes we either refurbished or belongs to friends or customers of the shop. This Schwinn paramount tandem belongs to none of the above. It was spotted on a sunday, just as i was about to open the shop, i managed to take a few photos and when i came back to admire it, the schwinn paramount tandem was already gone. I'm guessing it belongs to a local couple who came to dine in one of davis squares numerous joints. Here is another schwinn paramount we featured in the blog, that post has lots of info, links and history about the paramount brand and waterford plant.  

1974 Gios Torino Super Record Revisited

1974 Gios Torino super record we sold here at Bike Boom. If your'e not familiar, Bike Boom is a used bike shop in Davis square, on the border of Cambridge and Somerville , near Boston MA. where we specialize in restoring and refurbishing used and vintage bikes and offer professional bicycle repair services
As you might remember we sold this gios torino super record wit full campagnolo nuovo record in "as is" condition. A few weeks later, the new owner, Adam has dropped by with the Gios torino super record after a good cleaning and a few updates. 
A new brooks saddle, tape, cables a new freewheel and reproduction campagnolo hoods have been added and according to Adam the ride is very enjoyable. Even though most of our customers are looking for solid, ready to ride commuters we are going to add more vintage high end road bikes to our collection and make an effort to stock them more regularly as the Cambridge, Somerville and Boston crowd , has an ongoing interest in these amazing riding machines.

1994 Cannondale M300

Are you looking to repair this bike? Links below for parts you can buy now on amazon. Over the years we repaired thousands of Vintage bikes and became experts in finding alternatives to original bike parts.  Buying parts for older bikes is confusing, as most of the original parts have been discontinued.  We use these parts everyday and created this list to make it easier for you to repair your bike. Parts list for 1994 Cannondale M300  Are you looking to repair this bike? Links below for parts you can buy now on amazon. Over the years we repaired thousands of Vintage bikes and became experts in finding alternatives to original bike parts.  Buying parts for older bikes is confusing, as most of the original parts have been discontinued.  We use these parts everyday and created this list to make it easier for you to repair your bike. Parts list for 1994 Cannondale M300

Rear Wheel: https://amzn.to/3526DqZ Front Wheel: https://amzn.to/2RmyIGj

Tires (pavement, light off road): https://amzn.to/2YsSodj (choose 26x2.1)

Tires:(high performance off road): https://amzn.to/2LzPazq ((choose 26x2.1)

Shifter cables and housing: https://amzn.to/38g40ol

Brake cables and housing: https://amzn.to/2DZqPPk

Front and rear (set) Shifters (better): https://amzn.to/2Qzzv4X (3x7 only)

Front and rear (set) Shifters (good) : https://amzn.to/2u89Usc (select 6 or 7 accordingly)

Rear Derailleur: https: https://amzn.to/2sHJOeL

Front Derailleur: https://amzn.to/2Pj0QHH

Crank: https://amzn.to/2qp6e3H (choose 42/32/22 tooth type)

Freewheel (7 speed): https://amzn.to/2EZunS6 

Freewheel (6 speed): https://amzn.to/2qx4c1t 

Pedals: https://amzn.to/2OUDbyD

Chain: https://amzn.to/38ayVCI (fits 6, 7 and 8 speeds)

Headset: https://amzn.to/38EkfvQ (Choose 26.4 but it's better to remove crown race and measure inside diameter for sure)

Brake pads: https://amzn.to/34TYUMF (standard use, original part)

Brake pads: https://amzn.to/369Nvbs improved performance and wet and cold condition 

Brakes: https://amzn.to/2s2IfIg

Saddle: https://amzn.to/34Wkccn

Handlebar (25.4 clamp): https://amzn.to/34SU2XT

shifter cables and housing: https://amzn.to/38g40ol

brake cables and housing: https://amzn.to/2DZqPPk

    1994 Cannondale M300 we refurbished here at Bike Boom. If your'e not familiar, Bike Boom is a used bike shop in Davis square, on the border of Cambridge and Somerville , near Boston MA. where we specialize in restoring and refurbishing used and vintage bikes and offer professional bicycle repair services.
This is one of my favorite refurbs we did this year. Throughout the Nineties,  mountain bikes based on this frame brought cannondale it's fame among mountain bike riders and later to the road bikes scene. Admittedly, cannondale started it's bicycle business with road bikes (they made trailers and riding gear at first) but were a very small bicycle company before the mountain bike boom of the 90's. More on cannondale's history from MOMBAT.  Cannondale has a huge following and a vintagecannondale.com is great website with old brochures and serial numbers info, a must for every vintage cannondale fan.
This M300 was cannondale's entry level mountain bike and when we received it, we were not surprised to observe that most of the original, low end parts have been replaced over the years with mid end ones. The famous fat tube frame though was in perfect shape, with just a few marks. We ended up replacing the cockpit (stem and handlebar) to a more upright riding position and replaced the rear wheel with a brand new one and a newer matching front wheel. Finally , new 1.5" semi slick tires were installed, which resulted in a fast, light and upright, effortless riding position. A great bike for a short (2-5 miles on average) daily commute, campus ride or "ride to the subway station and park" kind of bike. Most of our customers commute fits this description, and being our most affordable bikes makes them very popular around here. Modern mountain bikes are considered slow for road riding since they are heavy due to the thick tires and suspension but also because they are equipped with a small front chain rings (crank). In the late 80's and early Nineties  they lacked suspension forks and came equipped with a relatively large crankset (48, 46  or 44 teeth count on the large chain ring)  compared to modern mountain bikes from the late 90's and on with only 42 teeth on the large chain ring. this means these bikes, though not racers can actually achieve relatively high speeds. 
Today, a proper mountain bike must have at least 3" of front suspension , so the new version of these rigid mountain bikes converted to city bikes are called by the leading bicycle companies, "city commuters" or "comfort bikes", which are basically a hybrids with round profiled mountain bike wheels (26", instead of 700c) What can I say, Marketing can perform miracles.