70s Centurion Super LeMans restore! Need opinions...
12-13-14, 04:21 PM
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70s Centurion Super LeMans restore! Need opinions...
I have this Centurion Super LeMans, not sure exact year, but probably late 70s. This bike has personal value as it was my training bike in my home town when I was competing. I used it for cross training almost everyday, and I'd like to preserve it. This is what the general idea is... can't afford to rechrome, but, will strip the bike, seal the frame with primer, use crhome in a can, with many layers of clear coat over it... Santa Cruz has nasty fog that eats chrome alive, so I'd rather go with the effect and have some clear coats to protect it. I know there are a lot of ways to go about this process, but this is what makes sense for my budget right now, and because I'm not looking to sell to a vintage collector, I can live with it. The paint is currently shot, the chrome too, I really want to get it preserved so I can ride it more. My question that I wanted feed back on is more cosmetic...
Do I stick with a fire orange? Or should I venture out and go with an "acid green?" I recently got an old bridgestone cyclone that is this type of green, and have gotten so many compliments compared to the orange Centurion. If someone knows what these bikes are, they will appreciate the Centurion much more, but aesthetically, the green might be the way to go. Here are a couple of pics as references!
ORANGE OR GREEN... GO!
Do I stick with a fire orange? Or should I venture out and go with an "acid green?" I recently got an old bridgestone cyclone that is this type of green, and have gotten so many compliments compared to the orange Centurion. If someone knows what these bikes are, they will appreciate the Centurion much more, but aesthetically, the green might be the way to go. Here are a couple of pics as references!
ORANGE OR GREEN... GO!
12-13-14, 04:50 PM
#2
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Orange all the way.
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12-13-14, 07:06 PM
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I am usually an orange guy...but I like that green! That being said, if the green bike is yours (and I think it is)...you definitely need to diversify your colors...so...back to saying ORANGE!!!
12-14-14, 10:42 AM
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Is the paint that bad? I'm under the school of "keep the scars". You are older, and you have wear and tear, so should your partner. A full repaint upsets the partnership... it may leave you for a prettier rider.
Last edited by uncle uncle; 12-14-14 at 01:49 PM.
12-14-14, 10:48 AM
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Have you tried to clean the chrome up with Barkeepers Friend or 000 steel wool and WD40? If it works, just wax it afterwards. Clearcoat may yellow with age. As to the balance of the frame, go find some Testor's model paint to screw around with and use to touch up. Also clean the rust off with the Barkeepers Friend.
12-14-14, 11:08 AM
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While I really like the Bridgestone green it just cant' be done cheap to look right on a repaint. You would be looking at $150-200 maybe more for it to look right.If your going to go rattle can and clear coat which is fine I would definetly go with the original color orange and do a touch up rather than full repaint with another color.
12-15-14, 04:56 AM
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Oh man, spiff that thing up. Leave the original paint. The attraction of that bike is the miles and years you have enjoyed with it. I'm thinking with a little care it would look pretty nice as is.
12-15-14, 05:47 AM
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Moved from Appraisals to C&V.
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12-15-14, 08:20 AM
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I say leave it orange, clean it up and ride it. You already have the green one...why try to make this one like it?
12-15-14, 08:35 AM
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Definitely Orange.
The reason people don't make comments about the orange is because they fear it. They fear the dominating factor of orange bikes.
The reason people don't make comments about the orange is because they fear it. They fear the dominating factor of orange bikes.
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Commence to jigglin’ huh?!?!
"But hey, always love to hear from opinionated amateurs." -says some guy to Mr. Marshall.
Commence to jigglin’ huh?!?!
"But hey, always love to hear from opinionated amateurs." -says some guy to Mr. Marshall.
12-16-14, 12:20 PM
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As a huge fan of both orange bikes and Centurions from this era (I have a '77 Pro Tour), I say clean it, wax it and have fun with it. I know pictures can be deceiving, but that looks a lot better than all of my bikes!
12-16-14, 01:02 PM
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It is a known fact that orange bikes are faster than red bikes
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