macbethpoe

Just picked this up off CL today for $20 from the original owner. In ok shape, definitely needs some love, the paint should shine up ok. The biggest issue is the bent fork, I will need a replacement. I have heard these make good touring frames, and I have really been wanting to build a touring bike. It has a sticker that says "Special 74 Tubing," and I have no idea what that is. Brakes will be replaced, levers as well, I think the shifting is a good system, Suntour GT RD, Suntour Spirt FD (replace?) and suntour bar end shifters. The biggest question I have on it besides what fork to get, is what possible year it could be? I can't track down ANY in this color, and the Super Le Mans is not on the Centurion timeline. From what I can tell, it seems early 70's, like '74 or '75? No serial numbers, any input appreciated, good touring bike?

oddjob2

Look for adate code on the cranks and derailleur.

wrk101

Special tubing is code for tubing is not special. As I recall, during that era, you had to get up to a Super Elite before you got a cromoly frame.

If the tubing is something special, they call it out. Manufacturers do that all the time, if mentioning it by name makes it obvious it is not anything special, they will use a confusing code word instead.

Check your local shops to see if that fork can be straightened (I have my doubts). With that much of a bend, check the main frame for damage (the old ripples in the TT and DT near the head tube).

Whoever told you this model made a good touring frame was not correct IMHO. Of course, people have toured on anything. A better touring frame would be a rigid frame mtb (touring bike would be better still, but those are usually spendy). A good touring frame will have braze ons for racks and water, studs for canti brakes, etc. This one has none of those features. But again, people have toured on anything. But if you are going to dump serious $$ into this one, I would look for a better choice. That crankset is a poor choice for touring if you are going to see any hills.

T-Mar

So far, no Super LeMans prior to the late 1970s have surfaced but that does not mean they didn't exist. I'd be interested in the serial number and what you find on the componetn codes. There should also be codes on the stem, below the insertion mark, and on the end of the bars.

Super LeMans with stamped droputs have, so far, all turned out to be hi-tensile steel. The ones with CrMo main triangles started to appear crica 1980 and had forged droputs with integral hangers. Typically, the Super LeMans used a LeMans frame but with slightly upgraded components. The definitve answer will be in the diameter of the seat post.

RaleighSport

I seem to recall having the identical tubing sticker on my 1972 base model Lemans, if that's any help.

DsmBerg

Love the color and decals. Too bad on the fork. Could just go full chrome for a replacement.

macbethpoe

So my fears on the tubing were right, I was hoping it was something interesting, but kind of figured it was probably hi-tensile or at least nothing "special." And as far as touring goes, good point on all the braze ons and extras, cause all it has it braze ons for racks. I will go look and see what codes I can get off of everything, and also seat post diameter. As for the fork, I'm pretty sure it's toast, it has a fairly sharp bend on the left blade, and is "pinched," I would be fearful that this would cause a weak spot for the duration of this forks life even if the bend was fixed. Thanks for all the help so far!

macbethpoe

Ok here's what I got, not a lot.

Seat tube diameter - 26.6 from what I can tell, generic chrome tube seat post with no markings
Stamp right where seat post enters on the outside - S21
Cranks - on the back of the arms in a circle, is the number 76 (year?)
RD - Maeda Industries LTD. Japan OC, on RD hanger - 4532

and those are the only stamps I could find anywhere on the bike, oh and it has Cherry brakes and levers, very generic looking.

So that's about it, doesn't seem to be really anything too special about it...

wrk101

Hey, it was only $20, and I see barcons (they alone sell for more than that), plus a pair of derailleurs, plus brake calipers, bars, stem, seat post, crankset, etc. Even the cable clamps have some value there. So I would be harvesting the parts for sure, value is 3 to 4X what you paid for the bike.

Be sure to save the coiled SS derailleur housings too!

macbethpoe

The bar end shifters even have that coiled housing, probably 3 ft total. And it came with this weird vintage mileage counter, with a spindle that catches on the chain or cog or something, and as it spins it increases the mileage count, I have never seen one. So you think I should just part it out? Cuause it's kind of looking like its not worth the trouble of building.

AZORCH

I could be wrong, but I believe those decals date to 1975, or slightly before. The "Centurion" name in 1976 was in a blocking serif font. Others may want to correct this, but I seem to recall that WSI released the Centuiron line in 1969. I've never come across an example from that date, the earliest. Being my 1976 Super LeMans.

RaleighSport

well on the + side that's a confirmed mid 70's super lemans, AZORCH does yours have the tubing sticker still?

macbethpoe

Yeah '69 is when it all started with WSI from what I have read, but finding pictures of these bikes from the 1970's is hard, there are not a lot out there at all.

Hummer

I have an old Centurion. The serial number is on the lower seat tube, non-drive side. There are a number of formats for the early serial numbers. It could be as short as one letter and three digits.

Dfrost 

I recently rebuilt a friend's orange Centurion Le Mans that he clearly remembers purchasing new in 1973. No pictures I could find ATM, but the decals were identical as I recall to this green one. The crankset was a 5-pin SR Sprint model, which makes me wonder if this green one is older. The lugs on his, however, were not quite as elaborate, and it has an integral RD hanger. The four-digit serial number is on the non-drive side above the BB, as Hummer describes.