Originally Posted by
JMacabre
I picked up a Centurion Sport DLX in almost mint condition last night. Everything seems to be original except for the seat. I've been trying to figure out the date and as far as I can tell it's a 1985. I'm noticing that about 99% of the serial number I see begin with "N" mine doesn't Y5E2782. Does anyone know what the difference is?
Yes, it's a 1985. The Y simply indicates that Western States Imports contracted the manufacture to somebody other than their prime source, probably Yamaguchi, who did use this serial number format.
Originally Posted by
steelnutcase
I picked up an older Centurion yesterday and would appreciate help identifying the model,,,
SN 6R5011. There is no letter in front of the 6. The date code on the Suntour derailleurs is RL (Dec 75) so it appears to be a 1976 model.
Derailleurs are SL front and VGT Luxe rear. 5 speed Pro-Compe freewheel, suntour bar-end shifters
Most other components are SR including handlebars (Randnner), Custom seatpost (26.0mm), stem, cranks (Apex 5 RG with 118 BCD). DiaCompe centerpulls (no braze-ons on the frame) with cable release on levers and with safety levers
The lugs on semi-ornate on the headtube but with very long points on the top and seat tube. As long as on my 77 semi-pro. They might be chromed under the paint but I don't know. The dropouts are single-eyelet chrome without adjustors.
There are braze-ons: top tube cable guides, down tube cable stops, water bottle bosses (one pair) and a BB rear derailleur cable guide.
Any guesses on the model and tubing type?
Serial number indicates 1976 and it's early enough in the year that it's probably, though not positively, a 1976 model. 26.0mm post is thicker than typical for CrMo but thinner than your garden variety hi-tensile. I suspect this my be a Tange butted hi-tensile tubeset, which would make the most likely candidate a Super LeMans.