Classic and Vintage Bicycles: What's it Worth? Appraisals and Inquiries - 1981 Centurion Super Le Mans

1981 Centurion Super Le Mans (http://pittsburgh.craigslist.org/bik/1669084329.html) $100

All steel
60 cm
27" wheels
New tires with thorn resistant tubes
Good condition for age
Cash only

http://images.craigslist.org/3m03p63o95Y55T35U4a3u69c88fcdf4011933.jpg

I dropped an email for this with my number 10 minutes after it was posted... hopefully it was fast enough.

Anyway, I'm familiar with the later Le Mans from those I've seen here, but I'm not sure what to expect from a 1981 model. Searching around, I've seen references to older models being hi-tensile (http://velospace.org/node/8467), and possibly newer ones being Tange Champion #5 (http://www.bikeforums.net/showthread.php?534248-Centurion-Super-Lemans-frame). And some info on it's mixed kit (http://www.bikeforums.net/showthread.php?215267-Centurion-Super-LeMans).

I'm considering it for a rider when I'm visiting the folks.

Thoughts?

You need Robbie Tunes or another Centurion expert to comment on this. Certainly the brand name is good quality and the model is one of their middle of the line bikes so it should be good for a 81 model. It's hard for me to say what tubing was used in 1981 because bike frames were upgraded continuously through the 80s. What was Hi-Ten in 1980 was a double butted chromoly frame by 1988 for some bike lines.
However, I do know this, my 1984 Centurion LeMans 12 is Tange 900, double butted chromoly steel, my 1987 is Tange 2. It would not surprise me to find that the 81 was at least chromoly main tubes.

My 1984 Lemans 12 is Champion 5. +1 It was really common for the specs on a bike to change dramatically year to year. And some bikes (like Trek MTBs), the specs would sometimes get worse. Usually, most manufacturers upgraded models over the years, so something that was high ten steel with even steel wheels in 1980 might be alloy wheels, double butted cromoly, etc., by 1984.

And sometimes (most of the time) model names that started with Grand or Super or Racer or Deluxe were pure marketing gimmicks.

The bike in the ad does look like these galleries that I found: [1 (http://www.flickr.com/photos/citizenchain/sets/72157608596127827/)] [2 (http://leftorium.org/gallery/main.php?g2_itemId=30685)].

http://leftorium.org/gallery/main.php?g2_view=core.DownloadItem&g2_itemId=30712&g2_serialNumber=2
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3248/2995294091_e36c232636.jpg

And they both seem to sport the Tange Champion sticker.

But between the lack of immediate go buy that bleeping now response, and that something late 80s would better suit what I wanted the bike for, I passed.

The bike in the ad does look like these galleries that I found:

And they both seem to sport the Tange Champion sticker.

But between the lack of immediate go buy that bleeping now response, and that something late 80s would better suit what I wanted the bike for, I passed.

I'll give you the "four-ifs" answer. If it has a Champion 5 frame and if it has alloy wheels, and if it fits you, and if the paint is in good shape, then its a real good deal.

Around here, a nice high ten steel bike with steel rims = $100 full market. Anytime you can get a big step up in frame and components for the same money, the deal gets better and better.