Motobecane Le Champion SL

Price Paid:  $650.00 at EBAY

Model Year:
2007

Favorite Ride:
Motobecane Nemesis

Bike Setup:
Ultegra F & R Derailleur, Truvativ Roleur Crank, 105 downtube shifter and Fuzion F1 Wheelset

Summary:
This is hands down the best tri bike for the money. Great components and nice looks. What else can you ask for? Well carbon frame and a common name brand then you are not getting the best tri bike for the money.

Strengths:
Price and components

Weaknesses:
Aluminum frame

Price Paid:  $1000.00 at bikesdirect

Model Year:
2007

Bike Setup:
Ultegra build, fsa carbon cranks, american classic wheels.

Summary:
I've owned well over thirty bikes, some high end and some modest. For the price this bike has been the best for the money. The utlegra build and american clasic wheels are truly awsome.

Did I forget to say 16 lbs bike for 1K, nough said

Strengths:
As noted, the build is great and the frame if fitted is bouth fast and comfortable

Weaknesses:
The bottom bracket that came with my bike cracked in half. If the companies still using the same bb, replace it before you get killed.

Similar Products Used:
Litespeed, trek 5200, cannondale, specialized epic

Price Paid:  $1000.00 at Ebay

Model Year:
2007

Favorite Ride:
Fast rollers and climbs

Bike Setup:
Ultegra front and rear; Carbon FSA Cranks; Mavic Ksyrium Elite wheels; ultra light bike overall, brakes, handlebars, etc.

Summary:
Surprisingly, a really GREAT bike! I am an aging triathlete who was seeking to build up a group riding bike instead of using my TT race bike. I originally purchased this bike for the components to build up another frame. I have so far logged around 1,000 miles on the LeChampion and I am very surprisingly pleased indeed. It's a keeper just as-is. The bike is very light, very stiff, a truly excellent climber and the carbon fork and carbon seat post make this a very comfortable all-day bike for me as well. This bike is a trainer (for fast group riding) and I was coming from my racing TT bike, which is a Softride. (Softrides are excellent bikes, very plush, VERY comfortable, and quite fast). I was a bit apprehensive about the potential relative discomfort a light aluminum bike like this LeChampion may inflict upon my aging body, particularly on longer or harder rides, but boy have I been pleasantly surprised! Not only is the bike quite responsive and quick, it is really quite comfortable. For a relatively inexpensive bike it has full ULTEGRA, weighs 17 pounds (without pedals), has carbon where you need it, and is a really great value and excellent quality overall.

Strengths:
Very Light. Very Stiff. Very Comfortable. Very Good Value.

Weaknesses:
Ultegra shifting is not as crisp or precise as my Dura Ace. I will likely upgrade the components to DA. (not a weakness of the bike)

Similar Products Used:
Softride - Full DA; Specialized Sirrus;

Price Paid:  $1200.00 at Bikesdirect.com

Model Year:
2006

Favorite Ride:
Group Rides at Holmdel or Brookdale

Bike Setup:
Motobecane Le Champion SL
Ultegra Group
FSA SLK crank arms
American Classic 420 rims

Summary:
READ THIS REVIEW OR YOU ARE RISKING YOUR LIFE!!!

After alot of riding and a big accident on this bike, I feel like I am an expert on this subject. Bottom line is that the le chamption is a great deal for the components but you do have to address the corner cutting aspects of buying an economy mail order
bike or risk killing yourself out on the road. When buying this bike and considering the cost savings you have to add the following.
-Purchase price of the bike
-Cost of assembling the bike
-Cost of replacing the bottom brack,brake pads, and casette (if you are going to do any real climbing) You are otherwise risking your life.

So here is what has formed my opinion on this bike. The brake pads catch rocks in them right away. If you dont change them, they mess up your rims.Koolstop pads kick ass, buy them! The bottom bracket in mine was bone dry (no grease) when I got it. I later broke it while going 25 mph and wiped out. REPLACE IT!! it is a generic dangerous cheaply made,improperly installed component. The casette choice is meant for flat areas. So if you're doing any real hills get a bigger one.

I'm thinking this price would probably still beat the price of buying something comparable from a bike shop but you won't get free tune ups, fittings and other perks that SOME shops offer. Then again you're probably going to have similar problems at many bike shops. Do the math. It might be worth it. I love my Le Champion now that I know it is safe. Its light as hell and its a beautiful thing when you embarrass a weight weenie cyling snob on a $5000 cervelo.

Strengths:
-Most of the components are good quality expensive components
-very light for the $ (48c bike is about 16 lbs, maybe a tiny bit more)
-american classic 420 rims are great!
-saddle is a comfortable race saddle ( i use it with a seat pad and do long rides with it.

Weaknesses:
-Bike assembly is pretty aweful
-BOTTOM BRACKET!!! is generic and an accident waiting to happen
-brake pads suck..
-the casette type is not good for hilly rides.

Similar Products Used:
a few 105 treks

Price Paid:  $950.00 at ebay demo model

Favorite Ride:
swiss alps

Bike Setup:
stock

Summary:
This review is for the 2008 Motobecane Le Champion SL. I bought it on ebay from a store in Texas that used it as a demo. I've put about 200 miles on the bike so far and I'm pretty happy with it. I agree with the others that the brake pads suck but I haven't changed them yet. Everything is stock and seems to work fine. I love the compact crank because I can have more options by changing out the cassette. The one issue I've seen is the rear wheel is not centered in the frame. I suspect that this is a wheel issue and not a frame issue. Regardless, the bike still rides nice.

Strengths:
compact crank
tires
ultegra shifters
good looking

Weaknesses:
brake pads
rear wheel not centered

Similar Products Used:
2002 lemond buenos aires