Go Back  Bike Forums > Bike Forums > Classic and Vintage Bicycles: Whats it Worth? Appraisals.
Reload this Page >

Need help figuring out old(-1978) centurion model

Notices
Classic and Vintage Bicycles: Whats it Worth? Appraisals. Use this subforum for all requests as to "How much is this vintage bike worth?"Do NOT try to sell it in here, use the Marketplaces.

Need help figuring out old(-1978) centurion model

Old 07-14-17, 05:39 PM
  #1  
Newbie
Thread Starter
 
Join Date: Jul 2017
Posts: 4
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts
Need help figuring out old(-1978) centurion model

The serial number is n8a6243. From the badge and logo font. It seems to be from 1978. However no model information is on the frame. imgur(dot)com/a/FchHL
Etonien is offline  
Old 07-14-17, 05:40 PM
  #2  
Newbie
Thread Starter
 
Join Date: Jul 2017
Posts: 4
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts
Thanks in advance!!
Etonien is offline  
Old 07-14-17, 08:50 PM
  #3  
Forum Moderator
 
cb400bill's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jul 2007
Location: Kalamazoo MI
Posts: 21,146

Bikes: Fuji SL2.1 Carbon Di2 Cannondale Synapse Alloy 4 Trek Checkpoint ALR-5 Viscount Aerospace Pro Colnago Classic Rabobank Schwinn Waterford PMount Raleigh C50 Hybrid

Mentioned: 58 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 2992 Post(s)
Liked 5,921 Times in 3,463 Posts
Pic Assist


cb400bill is offline  
Old 07-14-17, 09:30 PM
  #4  
Senior Member
 
Hummer's Avatar
 
Join Date: Sep 2010
Location: Rupert's Land
Posts: 1,182

Bikes: 1981 Raleigh GP, 1985 Norco Bush Pilot, . . .

Mentioned: 13 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 222 Post(s)
Liked 156 Times in 113 Posts
Looks like the Omega model. Based on the lugs, seatstays, braze-ons, dropouts, stem shifters and center-pull brakes.

The model name at that time was usually on the chainstay.
Hummer is offline  
Likes For Hummer:
Old 07-17-17, 09:13 PM
  #5  
Senior Member
 
fleslider's Avatar
 
Join Date: Feb 2014
Location: Fort Collins, CO
Posts: 1,504

Bikes: 1974 Paramount ~ 1974 Raleigh Pro ~ 1977 Pro-Tour ~ 1978 TX900 ~ IronMan 85,87:E/M,88:M/Pro,89:E ~ 98 Peugeot Festina Replica

Mentioned: 92 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 471 Post(s)
Liked 151 Times in 84 Posts
given the headbadge and centurion font i would say a 1979 Model. The odd part is the centurion name on the top tube, not on the downtube like all the other ones i've seen.

Are you in the US? the reason i ask is that in other countries i have seen things like this that was off of what the US models had.
fleslider is offline  
Old 07-17-17, 11:01 PM
  #6  
Senior Member
 
cdmurphy's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2015
Location: San Marcos, CA
Posts: 567

Bikes: Too many, but sometimes not enough.

Mentioned: 32 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 225 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 16 Times in 12 Posts
Originally Posted by fleslider
given the headbadge and centurion font i would say a 1979 Model. The odd part is the centurion name on the top tube, not on the downtube like all the other ones i've seen.

Are you in the US? the reason i ask is that in other countries i have seen things like this that was off of what the US models had.
I concur - that headbadge was introduced for the 79 model year, but your frame was likely made in late 78 according to the serial. Many of the German market Centurions placed the logo on the top tube, rather than the down tube. (The German importer wasn't a direct subsidiary of the US company, so while they imported a number of similar models, they did specify some differences, especially starting in the 80s.)
cdmurphy is offline  
Old 07-18-17, 06:47 AM
  #7  
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Nov 2004
Posts: 23,233
Mentioned: 649 Post(s)
Tagged: 1 Thread(s)
Quoted: 4718 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 3,020 Times in 1,864 Posts
The commonly accepted view (myself included), that the round badge was introduced for the 1979 model year, appears to be based on two undated catalogues that are reportedly from 1978 and 1979. However, if the OP has transcribed the serial number correctly, here we have a frame that was built in the first fortnight of 1978 and therefore should be a 1978 model. If we can get the OP to confirm that the serial number does indeed start with N8A, then perhaps it is time to modify our view on the the dates for the head badge style and the extant catalogue.

Also, while the frame may indeed be an Omega, I wouldn't rule out the possibility of a LeMans. Both frames had similar external features, with the exception of the stay caps and head lugs. The subject frame has the head lugs of a Lemans but the stay caps of a Omega. Of course, one or both features could have been year and/or market dependent. The seat post size could confirm a LeMans, if it a latter version with the double butted, hi-tensile tubeset.
T-Mar is offline  
Old 07-18-17, 07:05 PM
  #8  
Newbie
Thread Starter
 
Join Date: Jul 2017
Posts: 4
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts
imgur dot com/7BcWcZB
It is indeed a 8. I have no idea where the bike is originally from. I found the frame next to a dumpster. I would feel kinda bad if a vintage looking bike frame ended up in a land fill. The position of where the the logo is confused me too when I was researching what model it is.
Do you guys think this frame is worthy for a build?
Etonien is offline  
Old 07-18-17, 07:11 PM
  #9  
Newbie
Thread Starter
 
Join Date: Jul 2017
Posts: 4
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts
I'm located in the US. The inner diameter of the tube is about an inch. The od near the top is 1.26. The od in the middle is 1.13.
Etonien is offline  
Old 07-18-17, 10:00 PM
  #10  
Senior Member
 
fleslider's Avatar
 
Join Date: Feb 2014
Location: Fort Collins, CO
Posts: 1,504

Bikes: 1974 Paramount ~ 1974 Raleigh Pro ~ 1977 Pro-Tour ~ 1978 TX900 ~ IronMan 85,87:E/M,88:M/Pro,89:E ~ 98 Peugeot Festina Replica

Mentioned: 92 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 471 Post(s)
Liked 151 Times in 84 Posts
If it is in fact a german Centurion then the badge rules that we generally use for the US are not always correct.
fleslider is offline  
Old 07-19-17, 06:33 AM
  #11  
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Nov 2004
Posts: 23,233
Mentioned: 649 Post(s)
Tagged: 1 Thread(s)
Quoted: 4718 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 3,020 Times in 1,864 Posts
Originally Posted by fleslider
If it is in fact a german Centurion then the badge rules that we generally use for the US are not always correct.
Here's a Pro Tour with the round, metal head badge. It was built by Miki in January 1978 and has 1977-1978 component codes. Bought used, in the USA, with USA Centurion decal location.

https://www.bikeforums.net/classic-vi...r#post13204235
T-Mar is offline  
Old 07-20-17, 10:42 PM
  #12  
Senior Member
 
fleslider's Avatar
 
Join Date: Feb 2014
Location: Fort Collins, CO
Posts: 1,504

Bikes: 1974 Paramount ~ 1974 Raleigh Pro ~ 1977 Pro-Tour ~ 1978 TX900 ~ IronMan 85,87:E/M,88:M/Pro,89:E ~ 98 Peugeot Festina Replica

Mentioned: 92 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 471 Post(s)
Liked 151 Times in 84 Posts
Originally Posted by T-Mar
Here's a Pro Tour with the round, metal head badge. It was built by Miki in January 1978 and has 1977-1978 component codes. Bought used, in the USA, with USA Centurion decal location.

https://www.bikeforums.net/classic-vi...r#post13204235
Interesting, that it was built early 78, but looks to be a 1979 model.

I have a Early 1984 (February) Comp TA with a 1983 Headbadge and Downtube logo.


If you look at German Centurion models they did not follow the same headbadge logo scheme as the US.
fleslider is offline  
Old 07-21-17, 11:38 PM
  #13  
Senior Member
 
Hummer's Avatar
 
Join Date: Sep 2010
Location: Rupert's Land
Posts: 1,182

Bikes: 1981 Raleigh GP, 1985 Norco Bush Pilot, . . .

Mentioned: 13 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 222 Post(s)
Liked 156 Times in 113 Posts
As to the model. The fork crown is the same as the Omega model. The LeMans had a different fork crown.
Hummer is offline  
Old 09-21-23, 02:47 PM
  #14  
Senior Member
 
Vintage_Cyclist's Avatar
 
Join Date: Nov 2013
Location: Big Apple
Posts: 1,612

Bikes: yes

Mentioned: 17 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 502 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 372 Times in 163 Posts
In addition to the brand decal being on the downtube, the catalog shows pin-striping on the fork blades and front of the top tube. The pin striping and lug lining is more of a cream color as well.

Then there is this: Cleaning up an old Centurion Omega

I believe this was the first year of this model, so maybe there were some early models where the factory tried out different styling, before settling on the catalog style and they simply sent the mock-ups into the wild.

Vintage_Cyclist is offline  
Old 09-21-23, 04:41 PM
  #15  
Senior Member
 
zukahn1's Avatar
 
Join Date: Oct 2011
Location: Fairplay Co
Posts: 9,415

Bikes: Current 79 Nishiki Custum Sport, Jeunet 620, notable previous bikes P.K. Ripper loop tail, Kawahara Laser Lite, Paramount Track full chrome, Raliegh Internatioanl, Motobecan Super Mirage. 59 Crown royak 3 speed

Mentioned: 26 Post(s)
Tagged: 1 Thread(s)
Quoted: 749 Post(s)
Liked 1,582 Times in 580 Posts
I agree it is likely Omega I have seen these from the same time frame with several colors of pin stripping and some with none they seemed to very pin stripping depending on color and or intended market or maybe the day of the week the paint was finished. It was pretty common for Japanese bikes from the late 70's to have varied degrees and quality of pin stripping with out much logic.
zukahn1 is offline  
Related Topics
Thread
Thread Starter
Forum
Replies
Last Post
tomhailand
Classic and Vintage Bicycles: Whats it Worth? Appraisals.
16
03-19-19 05:21 AM
eugew23
Classic & Vintage
13
01-11-19 03:56 PM
brebla
Classic & Vintage
6
10-24-12 06:49 PM
Stockton350
Classic and Vintage Bicycles: Whats it Worth? Appraisals.
12
10-05-12 02:10 PM
temon00
Classic & Vintage
7
03-21-10 07:43 PM

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off
Trackbacks are Off
Pingbacks are Off
Refbacks are Off


Thread Tools
Search this Thread

Contact Us - Archive - Advertising - Cookie Policy - Privacy Statement - Terms of Service - Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information -

Copyright © 2023 MH Sub I, LLC dba Internet Brands. All rights reserved. Use of this site indicates your consent to the Terms of Use.