mealexy

Hello,

This is my first post on BikeForums, but I've been a frequent visitor for a couple of years now. This site helped me to get a 1980 Fuji America that I ride everyday. Now that I know a bit about bikes, I'm trying to help my partner get a bike of her own for commuting to & from school.

I found this Centurion Lemans (year is unknown, but vendor says it's a late 70's model): https://sandiego.craigslist.org/csd/bik/4028064323.html

My partner really likes the look of the bike and likes that it's outfitted with everything a commuter bike really needs. However, I'm having a hard time finding out if this purchase is worth the price tag for the following reasons:

1. I've seen Centurion Lemans' go for about this price somewhat frequently, and often times in much worse-looking conditions, but I've also seen the same bike go for much less.
2. I know that stem shifters are generally a deal-breaker for many people (supposedly a mark of lower-level frames?), but considering that this bike seems to have a pretty varied selling price, is this one of those few exceptions that could still be a solid bike regardless of the stem shifters?
3. With all the upgrades on this bike, I imagine that this bike probably feels very different than it did in the 70's.
4. It looks to me like this bike has a new fork, which I've read is commonly done on bikes that have been crashed. This makes me wonder if there are any cracks hidden under that new coat of paint.

Just a few more details that I got from an email from the vendor: The components are Suntour vx, Dia Compe brakes, Shimano shifters, aluminum 700c Araya rims. The bike comes with the fenders, light, and pump. So, what do you all think?

Also, I apologize if I've made a rookie mistake and posted in the wrong area. I'd be happy to repose this elsewhere if there is a better place to go. Just point me in the right direction.

chapel

it's super tiny.

mealexy

Haha. Yep, It's small, but the intended rider is about 5'3'' with a short-ish inseam. We tried a 50cm frame that seemed a bit large for her.

seely

The pictures are so bad its hard to say much about it. IIRC, the LeMans was a higher mid range model most years. That crank, from what I can see, isn't original and may be a cheap generic mountain bike replacement vs. the SR or Sugino that likely came on the bike.

Fork is not original, no way to really say if the seller got a fork of comparable quality or geometry, but chances are its a generic Dimension replacement, which isn't great but not terrible either.

If it's triple butted, it is not a low end bike. You'd see high ten or plain gauge chromo at best.

T-Mar

If it's bent, its very slight. There's no apparent distortions in the tube and the gap between the front wheel and down tube appears to be about normal. When inspecting the bicycle, even it's been repainted it's often easy to feel the distortion in the tube by running your fingers along the underside of the top and down tubes, immediately behind the head lugs.

Also, a crashed bicycle that has not been realigned will almost invariably pull to one side when ridden. If you don't feel it pulling try riding with fingertip pressure on the bars and if you're confident, no hands. If it passes these tests, it probably has not been crashed or it at least did not disturb the frame tubes and alignment.

Very small frames such as this command a premium and can be hard to find. if it's what you need, it warrants a visit. However, I am a bit leery of some of the claims. The general frame features say very ealry 1980s. Yet a Lemans of that era would have had 27" wheels. The pads are well centered in the adjustment slots, so they appear to be original size and not a conversion. Also, the tubing claim is suspcious. By the time the Lemans went to butted tubing, I believe it had lost the center-pull bridge and brake cable stops. To me, the frame features are typical of an entry level Centurion spec'd with 27" wheels and hi-tensile tubing.

CbadRider

Moved from C&V to Appraisals.

oddjob2

Then rattle can paint job bothers me on a $250 asking price as does the cheap crankset. "Everything a commuter wants?" A tail light, plastic fenders, and a pump are $40 total, brand new. And in San Diego, where it rains but 10 days a year, who needs fenders? Where's the rack?

I just bought a high tensile Centurion Super Lemans, with clamp on cable guides, for $40, high tensile frame. Crappy paint, but the barcons are worth the price of the bike.

I'd keep looking!