himmiesutton

Hi, I am new to the forum so please pardon me if I am unfamiliar with protocols here. I'm from Vancouver BC and have had a long interest in cycling. Last year I picked up this Centurion Time Machine and can't find any info on it (I've read through Sheldon Brown et cetera). Perhaps I could post a description and photos and maybe someone knows something about it. It looks like a mid-range, popular market late 80's Centurion that the manufacturer hung some time trial bars on and called it a "Time Machine". It seems to be all the original parts:

Centurion Time Machine 53 cm 12 speed Made in Taiwan
Tange Infinity Cr-Mo tapered double-butted tubing with Cr-Mo stays
Cr-Mo Steel Fork Blade
Shimano biopace SIS cranks (52, 42)
Shimano SIS downtube shifters & deraileurs
Shimano SLR Caliper Brakes
KK hubs
Weinmann rims (913-622/700c)
Centurion Anatomic Vetta leather saddle
Alloy fluted seat post 19 cm
Tien Hsin Headset
Alloy stem
Scott USA Timetrial/triathlon bars
VP 390 plasitc/nylon platform pedals with holes for toeclips

If anyone knows what this is, please let me know. I'll try to upload some photos when I figure out how. Thanks, Jim

RobbieTunes

Yes, photos. Until then, I havent' a clue.
Not that I will then, either, but others may.

cb400bill

Best to post your pics to a free site like Photobucket, etc and then post a link to them.

himmiesutton

Thanks very much for the guidance! Here is a link to the pic's on photobucket:

https://s1101.photobucket.com/albums/...n/TimeMachine/

Kuotient

Thanks for the pics. Very strange.......haha. Reminds me of those '88 Ironmen. Wicked handlebar!

RobbieTunes

Doubt if the manufacturer hung those bars, but you're dead on about the other stuff.

Graphics say 1988-1989.
I'm clueless on the "Time Machine," though. Those very active graphics were pretty much 88-89.

Color scheme was 1988.
The Ironman Expert in 1988 had the same scheme. Often, the Ironman color schemes showed up on other bikes the next year.

Lugged forks were from way earlier models, but that wouldn't date the bike as much as the graphics.

Not a US model, from any info I have. I wonder if it would have sold here with that name. Pretty cool.

Components from 1987 or later, very similar to the '87 Lemans package, but also offered later on other models.

Very interesting bike. Mid-level, very cool. Welcome to the forum. We'll send your Centurion Syndrome papers soon...

txvintage

OK, it's new one to me as far as Centurions are concerned. Very cool and will likely result in an emergency meeting of the cult in order to find more info.

cb400bill

Pics for posterity's sake. I'm thinking that with the OP being from Vancouver BC, and the top tube decal including a maple leaf, that this a Canadian market bike.

thenomad

Forks bent but ill take it.
Yes, I noticed the maple leaf before reading your post. Def a Canadian market bike.
Suppose they thought Canadians didn't know aboot the Ironman events yet.
Funny they went through all the hassle of renaming it for a different but English speaking market.

himmiesutton

Do you think there is any connection between the bars being named "Scott" and the Dave Scott-Centurion relationship? I'm trying to decide what to do with this bike. I thought about putting normal bars and fenders and making it a wet weather ride for my wife but I hesitate to alter something that seems so original and unusual.

himmiesutton

Oh, and thank you all for your feedback!

cb400bill

Nope. Scott was founded by Ed Scott in 1958.

https://www.scott-sports.com/gb_en/company

realestvin7

I thought somebody had scored a pristine Centurion Turbo or something. Lol.

Still neat nonetheless.

himmiesutton

(Nope. Scott was founded by Ed Scott in 1958.)

I found this link to a discussion of "Scott DH Aero Bars (apparently the original triathalon aero bar) and it sure looks like the bars on this bike.

https://forums.roadbikereview.com/blo...owjournal&j=23

realestvin7

I have a set of those bars chilling in my garage. Lol.

himmiesutton

Thanks for the clarification. Now that i know I won't be committing some sort of "desecration" I think I'll look to convert it to a fixie which are very "trendy" and desirable here in the local market. The frame is nice and light and the paint job holds some appeal with it's 80's deco graphics. Too many bikes in the house and the wife is "on my case!"

himmiesutton

Nice Zurich! What year is it?

himmiesutton

Here's the final result. Strongly suspected that a, very big in the 80's local bike outfit (Cap's), likely bought a batch of Centurion Le Mans re-badged and renamed with the time trial bars for the local market. The funky bars actually made for a quite unique set of fixie bars when I cut them down. Posted the bike on CL and got a bite immediately so maybe it's gone tomorrow. Here are the After Pic's:



and a link to the rest of the pic's if anyone's interested;

https://s1101.photobucket.com/albums/...chine%20Fixie/

realestvin7

I can't believe you made a Bio-Pace fixie like 'ol Sheldon.

I won't lie. I really dig it. Why are you selling it?

himmiesutton

It's too small for me and I'm too old to be riding fixies. Aren't you the person who said you had a bunch of those bars chillin in your garage? I would like to have some more, they make really unique, original fixie bars when cut down. Could you tell the chain wheel was a Biopace just by looking at the photo?

realestvin7

I have 1 set. As for the Bio-Pace...yes. Easily spotted for me. Then again, I've had tons of Bio-Pace bikes.

nelson.sawyer

All the parts you described fit a Centurion Accordo from 1988

The Centurion Time Machine was exclusively distributed by
WSI NEWBURY PACK CA91320

_vintage-centurion.com/models/sports-rec/accordo.shtml

I have a green and white Time Machine from 1988 but it did not come with the Time Trial/Triathlon clip-on bars

_vintage-centurion.com/literature/catalogs/1987_Centurion_Catalog.pdf
_vintage-centurion.com/literature/catalogs/

nelson.sawyer

Unfortunately, I couldn't find the catalogue for 1988