Emptei

I think I'm going to bite the bullet and snag this bike https://www.socalnets.com/100_2971.jpg anyone have any advice or comments?

bassplayinbiker

Does it fit you?
How much are you willing to pay for it?
Have you considered carbon?

Emptei

I'm new to cycling, I wanted this as a beginner bike, it's 57cm, fits perfectly for me. The color scheme on the other hand, doesn't. I would like to jump into Carbon eventually, but not as a beginner bike.

This bike will cost me roughly $300.00 what do you think?

Surferbruce

how big is the bullet?
those lugged centurions are actually very well made bikes, but it is about 20 years outdated. i'd go maybe 300$ but more than that i'd keep looking.
you could convert that into a sweet fixed gear though....

ME.Alex

awful color scheme but nice-looking, vintage steel frame

Emptei

Here are some details of the bike, for those who are interested.


1998 Centurion LeMans.
57cm center to center.
14 speed, non-index shifting but the RD is an 8 speed, index compatible model so it can be upgraded very cheaply (you'd just need the levers)
White to purple/smoke fade, classic late 80's paintjob.
Tange 2 Seamless Double Butted Tubing.
Avenir spandex seat.
Shimano 600 Cranks (FC-6207). Shimano BB.
Shimano 600 Front Derailleur (FD-6207).
Shimano 600 Rear Derailleur (RD-6400).
Shimano 600 Brake Calipers (BR-6207) with NEW Shimano pads.
Exage Sport aero brake levers.
Shimano Exage Hubs HB-A450 front, FH-A450 rear.
Araya 700C single wall rims.
Centurion bars.
Kalloy KA80 stem.
NEW Hutchinson Fusion Long Distance tires and tubes.
NEW derailleur and brake cables and bar tape.
NEW Topeak computer with cadence.
NEW Alloy bottle cages from Performance.
Less than 50 miles since total overhaul/tuneup.
Original pedals with clips/straps included, not the clipless ones in the photo.

CardiacKid

This was a decent bike for its time. I think $300 is to much. The Dave Scott Ironman was a better bike, if you want a Centurion. They go for under $250 on Ebay all the time.
That bike was not made in 1998. The Centurion name did not exist after 1990. I would guess that it is an 1988 or 89.

Alonso22

I agree with cardiacKid..

Emptei

Wow, thanks for the heads up.

Hanzo

Yeah, $300 is too much for that bike.

mezza

$300 is relative though.

I love vintage steel. If the S600 stuff works well then its might be great for that price. I suspect it'll still be running long after the majority of carbon fibre bikes have been repaced with all new 'Bling'aranium.

unbelievably

$300 for your first road bike would be fantastic.
I'd go for it...

littledjahn

I think $175-200 is more reasonable for that bike. Old Shimano 600 is good, but the rest of it is just decent. Tange #2 is 3rd tier tubing, too, so this was probably a mid level bike when it came out. Check with the Classics & Vintage guys, though, they'll know more.

All that said, I love the old Centurions. The more hideous the paint, the better.

Surferbruce

well. i said MAYBE 300$, and that was before seeing a component list, i thought it might have some campy stuff on it.

CardiacKid

I agree the Shimano 600 stuff is good. I believe it was equivalent to present day Ultegra in the pecking order. Those components weren't standard on the LeMons(edit: Freudian slip-LeMans). That puts the components on par with the Ironman Master. However, the frame remains well behind. For that price you should be able to find a mint condition Dave Scott Ironman Master.

Chucklehead

my first road bike was a centurion lemans rs back in '86. great bike, wish i still had it. that would be a neat name to bring back one of these days.

btw, i have the ironman version of that frame in good condition(same size, same color) if anyone is looking for one.

vpiuva

I sold 3 Dave Scott Ironmen last year, an '86, an '88, and an '89, mostly with 600 but a smattering of other compenents between them. 600 +other @ $175, complete 600 @ $200, 600+little DA @ $225. All 3 were ready to ride, good tires, chain, cables, lubed.

The Ironman was made with Tange #1 tubing, this LeMans with #2.

Nachoman

You know what, if you love it buy it. You'll probably hang on to it for years and years so whether you pay $300 or $250 is going to be completely irrelevant 5 or 10 years from now.

mwrobe1

I'd go for it too. But try to talk the price down to $250.

BTW...you don't HAVE TO "go carbon". Get some saddle time in and revisit that notion in a couple years.

Emptei

Wow, thanks for the helpful information. I think I've decided to hold off on this bike, maybe I should just save a little extra for something newer, maybe a Trek 1000?

cmh

Shimano 600 stuff came out in about 1985, so it could be even older.

rooftest

You'll probably enjoy riding it more if you go for something with modern components (8,9, or 10 speed, especially one with the shifters in the brake levers). You can probably buy something used in this category for around the same price, even more.

Forget about trying to update that 1980's bike if you're a beginner.

Phantoj

I just sold my old Centurion... it was a Sport DLX (Tange Infinity), 57cm, upgraded to a full 105 downtube-index-shifted groupset. Sold it for what I paid, $100, back to the previous owner.

I liked it, but I wouldn't pay $300 for one.

I would give $150-200 for this bike, IF you think it's cool. (I think it's cool!)