Eddy & Robbie,

I've done some more research and believe you are in the possession of 1989 models. I came up with a road test on a 1988 LeMans and it is spec'd with Exage Sport, so they are not 1988 models. Exage Sport morphed into Sport LX, , making them 1989 or a late 1988 transisiton models, and explaining the mix on Robbie's bicycle. We know they can't be 1990 or more modern, as Centurion rebranded itself as Diamondback for 1990. We also know that the smoke paint was first used in 1988 (on the Ironman models) so that also fits, at least for Robbie. The road test also mentions the 1988 as coming from Japan and both these bicycles have Taiwanese serial numbers, so again they should be late 1988 or 1989. BTW, the 1988 Lemans did have a traditional fork crown.

I'm still at a loss to provide a non-speculative reason as to why the serial numbers are F3xxxxxx and not F8xxxxxx or F9xxxxxx, but given that the serial numbers are so close (F3105691 and F3105697 are only 6 frames apart!) they should be from the same year. All the evidence is pointing towards a late 1988 transition model or a 1989 model. Personally, I suspect that they are 1989 models produced in very late 1988. Knowing the component date codes may help to corroborate this.