2 dollar garage sale buy
08-15-10, 06:30 PM
#1
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2 dollar garage sale buy
Just now discovering the classic 10 speed steel bikes. So started looking for the fun of it and came across this Centurion Lemans for only 2 dollars at the city wide garage sale weekend. Looks to even have the original tires on it and just minor flaws. Still doin my research on what year it is and all, but when i get the info i will post it. Just could not pass up for 2 dollars.
08-16-10, 02:57 PM
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"I'd buy that for a dollar!" (or two). That was a veiled movie reference, public adulation to the first person to identify the movie...no Googlers please 
BTW, OP, love the lugwork on that frame...
BTW, OP, love the lugwork on that frame...
08-16-10, 03:00 PM
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um, I'm going to have to say Robocop, where there was an old dude who said that about random stuff in a commercial. In college, one of the guys started us all saying that about any particularly fine piece of tail.
08-16-10, 06:53 PM
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Believe it or not! Not that long ago...maybe 10 years ago...it wasn't unheard of to find bikes like that at garage sales for under $10.
08-16-10, 07:38 PM
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08-16-10, 07:51 PM
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08-16-10, 07:59 PM
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Well so far have not found out the year, and the only numbers on it i have found are on the seat tube under the seat stays R194. Still looking for info. I will get back later
08-16-10, 08:45 PM
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OH yeah, can't pass up a 10 speed for $2 and a Centurion too! Nice. Good find.
As I'm looking at that bike, it looks like one of the early Centurions that were supposed to be Raleighs. The story goes that Raleigh was supposed to buy a load of bikes from a west coast firm. They backed out of the deal and the jobber was stuck with a bunch of bikes. He put Centurion decals on the bikes, sold them to LBS as a no-name nicer entry level bike. Then realized he had a winner when the LBSs asked for more bikes. Your bike looks like it could be one of those. The decals, the locations, look at those lugs, look just like Raleigh lugs of the era.
As I'm looking at that bike, it looks like one of the early Centurions that were supposed to be Raleighs. The story goes that Raleigh was supposed to buy a load of bikes from a west coast firm. They backed out of the deal and the jobber was stuck with a bunch of bikes. He put Centurion decals on the bikes, sold them to LBS as a no-name nicer entry level bike. Then realized he had a winner when the LBSs asked for more bikes. Your bike looks like it could be one of those. The decals, the locations, look at those lugs, look just like Raleigh lugs of the era.
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08-17-10, 09:38 AM
#13
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Thanks for that info Roccobike, that is kinda of where my research was going to that it was an earlier centurion with the numbers being so small. I will keep looking. There was a small sticker on the chain stays on the bottom that said designed by paul mitchell, if I am not mistaken..
08-17-10, 10:18 AM
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It was on a game show that played during RoboCop. Remember it being on during the convenience store robbery where the safe is hidden behind the wall of beer cans. BTW, my El Camino was used on the street scenes in RoboCop, which was filmed in Dallas.
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08-17-10, 02:18 PM
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Just now discovering the classic 10 speed steel bikes. So started looking for the fun of it and came across this Centurion Lemans for only 2 dollars at the city wide garage sale weekend. Looks to even have the original tires on it and just minor flaws. Still doin my research on what year it is and all, but when i get the info i will post it. Just could not pass up for 2 dollars.
I hate you.
Just kidding!
Nice catch.
08-17-10, 02:22 PM
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Dang, that even beats my $5 garage queen Raleigh Sports 3-speed. Nice find!
08-17-10, 07:13 PM
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08-17-10, 08:11 PM
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Beats my $5 Continental and my $8 Fuji Touring III but doesn't beat my $1 1975 GMC Jimmy. 
08-18-10, 12:13 AM
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I once bought a 6000 SUX for $499....but $2 for a Centurion Lemans has that beat.
08-18-10, 04:14 AM
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I,ll give ya 3 bux for it ,thats One Buck profit !--------- your a WINNER !
08-18-10, 08:46 AM
#22
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Got the lemans out last night and looked over the bike again, and I was wrong on the sticker. It actualy said designed by mitchell. I plan on riding it tonight to get a feel for it.
08-18-10, 10:32 AM
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08-18-10, 02:13 PM
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This is one of the things that I like about vintage bikes - the hunt and result. Many of the bikes I have found, over the years, have very interesting how found stories attached to them. Stories that I report in MY "TEN SPEEDS". A two dollar find is, indeed, a great how found story to attach to the bike. Nice going.