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Centurion Vintage General

Old 03-30-20, 06:40 AM
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Centurion Vintage General

Hey all, Sorry if this is in the wrong place but didn't find any threads that might match. I had a beautiful Centurion Super Le Mans in Robins Egg Blue in the 70s and 80s that I did a double century on among other rides and then foolishly donated to a charity. Long story short, 4 years ago I wanted it back and rebuilt one. Finished it yesterday with correct decals. Picture coming. Purpose of this message though is that I saw a Centurion Pro Tour in the same color for sale. I am wondering you all's opinion on a fair price. Nice bike, great color, original components, but used condition and still just an old lugged steel Japanese bike. Opinions please. Thanks.
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Old 03-31-20, 10:30 PM
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Please post pics, big Centurion fan here.

I have a 77 Pro Tour that im working on restoring and was recently given a 1974 LeMans

The Super LeMans was a nice bike , it is often overshadowed by the Pro-Tour, Semi Pro, and the Coveted Professional models. So to most its just a late 70's mid level bike
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Old 03-31-20, 11:34 PM
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Originally Posted by dougdunn
I am wondering you all's opinion on a fair price.
Thread moved from C&V to C&V Appraisals.
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Old 04-01-20, 04:34 AM
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The Pro Tour is a very nice and well regarded Grand Touring bicycle. However, it is difficult to assess a fair value with out pictures, as condition is the prime factor. Also, the current pandemic has played havoc with markets. Some markets (mine) has fallen off the cliff and turned into a buyer's market. Other have reported cases where bicycles are selling for higher than normal.
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Old 04-01-20, 07:55 AM
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I would consider the Pro Tour to generally be worth about 50% more than your Super Lemans, maybe more.

No pictures, no idea. But you can assess based on condition, consumables, and so on. Has it seen recent service? Typical tune up excluded as a tune up usually just involves adjusting cables. Last time bottom bracket opened up, inspected and serviced? Ditto head set and wheel hubs. Rusty cables? Rock hard old brake pads?

Everything I mentioned can be addressed. A D-I-Y'r can do at minimal cost. Such service by a bike shop will tend to make the bike a BAD DEAL (its all about the labor). DIY = "free" labor. Shops here tend to charge $75+ per hour for labor. A full tear down, service and rebuild can take 4 hours, plus parts.
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Old 04-01-20, 06:19 PM
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Thanks and about a photo

All,
Thanks for the input. I would post a pic, but seems I can't attach a photo until I have done 10 posts. So here is one more! The idea of a Pro-Tour being worth 50% more than a Super LeMans sounds right.

When I can post photos I'll put up a nice shot of my finished Super LeMans project with specs. I am getting the last piece to the puzzle this weekend - a head badge! Have to let my artist wife do some touch up on it first. More later. Thanks again.
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Old 04-02-20, 05:26 PM
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To me it would depend on what year LeMans it is. The last couple year models 1987 & 1988 were dramatically better bikes than earlier models.
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Old 04-02-20, 07:39 PM
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Although there aren't any SLM's for sale near me at the moment , my opine is around $150 for a rideable one . Also I think size matters in price .
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Old 04-04-20, 11:05 AM
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OK. It's time to post some gratuitous Centurion LeMans photos.









Hope every body is doing well & staying alive through all this ****.
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Old 04-04-20, 08:36 PM
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I owned a very nice Centurion Elite Rs with Cyclone derailleurs and Gran Compe anodized brakes . The bike was a dream to ride and I ended up selling it for 3 times what I paid for it . I am not sorry I sold it , but I am really glad I got to enjoy it for two years.
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Old 04-06-20, 07:23 PM
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Size always matters, eh?
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Old 04-08-20, 04:06 PM
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'78 Centurion Super LeMans project - finished!!

I think I can post photos now, so here goes! If it posts, I'll finish this post.

My re-built beauty - recapturing my youth!
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Old 04-08-20, 04:39 PM
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Hey, Great! Looks like I can post photos now. OK, for the first part of the story look in the "The Bike You Gave Away" thread in Vintage and Classic. So, I gave the bike away - stupid, but.... In 2011 I got to missing that bike so much that I started combing eBay, BikeForum, Craigslist, etc,for one. No joy as you can imagine. I pushed on. Finally just bought a '78 Super Le Mans frame in black and 23" to fit. Then started collecting components to build it the way I wished it was in 1980. First was a set of wheels with Ultegra hubs and Mavic rims. Next the drivetrain - 105 triple crankset and front and rear derailleurs. (I remember touring that bike with a big load and crying out for three chainrings!) 105 brakes and STI shifters. (I loved the barcons, but opted for the STIs anyway as keeping with the update theme.) Next came an original stem and original Sakae Randonneur handlebars, and an Avocet saddle. It was coming together. Blasting and powdercoating (including the rack) at a place that did under-hood work for several of my vintage / customized Saabs. Here I have a regret - I did not get the Robin's Egg Blue original color right - I may have to do another one! Got the frame back and it all went on the back-burner as I retired to Florida, hated it, and moved back. Got back into the project by assembling the bike. Oh, forgot, Had to search down a welder/brazer to do the braze-ons that I bought from someplace online. Cable guides, pump peg, downtube mounts, bottle mounts. I think 13 in all - then the powdercoating. Found a beautiful set of original Super Le Mans decals on eBay, and finally found a head badge. The decals went on a few weekends ago and the head badge will go on this weekend with screw nails that I learned about here on BikeForums. I love my new/old Centurion and am riding when I can. Thanks for sharing my 9-year project! I don't think I have another double-century in me, but there will be miles put on this bike.

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Old 04-14-20, 03:24 PM
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Head Tube Badge

Yep, I got the last piece or my build, the head badge installed this weekend. It went well, but damn those tiny screw nails are slippery little devils. They littered my garage floor by the end. so here is the process. Locate the badge, ask wife if centered, mark holes, punch dimples and drill holes. used wrong drill, too small, drill again, can't get little screws to sit in holes, hands too cold. Finally got screws to stay and hammered (very carefully) in and it was done! A real beauty.


Also used a little silicon glue.

Pretty
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Old 04-14-20, 05:48 PM
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Wonderful bike

The only recommendation I have is for some yellow handlebar tape once you wear through your current wrap. That shade of royal blue with sunshine yellow bar tape will simply pop!
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Old 05-27-20, 06:05 PM
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My "new" Pro Tour

Originally Posted by T-Mar
The Pro Tour is a very nice and well regarded Grand Touring bicycle. However, it is difficult to assess a fair value with out pictures, as condition is the prime factor. Also, the current pandemic has played havoc with markets. Some markets (mine) has fallen off the cliff and turned into a buyer's market. Other have reported cases where bicycles are selling for higher than normal.
So, I did pull the trigger on the Robin's egg blue '76 Pro Tour. Spent a bit more than a Super LeMans plus 50%, but I think it was worth it. After new tires and tubes, a complete tune-up, stripping the handlebars (had to "burn" off the barcons) and put on new bar tape. Looks pretty good, eh?


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Old 05-30-20, 02:22 PM
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WOW the aesthetics of that are amazing!

Edit: Whoops, that was supposed to be a reply to ramzilla's post.
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Old 05-31-20, 08:51 PM
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Old 06-01-20, 10:36 AM
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in the late 80s our shop was the largest seller of Centurions in San Diego County
we sold them since their very start The first year of the Super LeMans it had a cool
sticker on the left chainstay that said designed by Mitchell. Mitch Weiner being
the co-owner of the Centurion name
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Old 06-01-20, 07:25 PM
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Old 06-02-20, 06:50 PM
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