First World Problem - Centurion version...
 

I posted three weeks back about a pair of really nice 1981 Centurions I picked up; one a Pro-Tour, the other a Semi-Pro. Fast forward to today when this arrives on my doorstep. A very nice, very original circa 1976-1977 Centurion Semi-Pro. I took a few photos before the daylight faded, it still needs a bit of assembly and adjustment, but you get the idea.

I've included photos of both Semi-Pro's; I'm afraid that I may be only able to hang onto one of them, unless another one of my bikes were to go away. Which one would you keep? Points in favor of the 1977: it's orange, it is the sister bike of a 1977 Pro-Tour that I own, and did I mention that it's orange? Points in favor of the cobalt blue 1981: it's gorgeous, unblemished, and has that fantastic set of drilled chainrings.

Which one would you choose?

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I was right in an earlier post, there is an enormous collection of rare and vintage Japanese bikes in mint condition up where you live. There are so many that they randomly move around, perhaps by Brownian motion, then randomly show up on your doorstep.

I remember seeing an orange one in a bike shop in Fresno around that time. Full, excellent chrome with a pearlescent paint over it, correct? I remember everything else in that shop seemed dull in comparison-it practically glowed like whatever was in that box that Jules opened at the diner in Pulp Fiction. It was up on an upper bike stand, as if on a pedestal. If one showed up at my doorstep I'd take that one.

Gugie - the orange Semi-Pro was an EBay deal; reasonably priced and just my size (54cm). I'm actually in the SF Bay area, but have a cottage up on Orcas island that we visit in the summer.

It may be a bit premature to mention it now, but I'm planning to build out a couple of small, no frills "camping cabins" for vacationers and bike travelers to use when they are visiting Orcas. The San Juan Islands are a beautiful place to visit on a summer tour, and I'm planning to stock some spares and bike tools should any guests need to make repairs while traveling. Basically a bed, hot shower, limited kitchen, small deck and fire ring. I will let the C&V crowd know more as I get these built. It would be nice to meet some of the forum's contributors if they are in the area.

Pull both cranks and swap them out. Keep the orange one.

Maybe swap the RD too, as the blue is a Suntour Cyclone. Can't figure out the other.

Blue Semi
Orange Pro

I just like the blue with the chrome lugs....

I have seen blue semi pro's before, but never an orange one. I'd keep the orange.

If it were me, the 1977 because: orange (especially nice with the black bits), bar ends, love the old Centurian Logo.

Maybe replace the crank set off the blue and move it along?

Ok, I'll bite. I don't post here often, given the lingering influence of Samuel Clemens and his famous quote regarding foolishness, but I really think the correct answer is to find a way to keep both. They're both beautiful, and looking at them makes me want to ride.

Keep the blue one, you have an orange one.
The blue bike was the era where Centurion surprised everyone with the new aesthetic, it worked, copied by Alan Goldsmith with his Niko line of bikes. Color co-ordinated saddle, bar tape and brake cables, not seen on production bikes till then. Restrained graphics, a classic of the time.

That pearl/orange is one of my favorite but the blue is the better set-up. Howdy neighbor...

Well, I'm a Bay Area transplant in Portland (I know, a cliche). Me and my family are just starting to explore the PNW, the islands are on our list. I typically do a credit card tour (or 2) a year, your camping cabin idea is exactly what I'm always looking for!

Honestly I have no idea how you decide between these two but if push came to shove, I'd keep the blue.

Having attended Clemson University, I am VERY partial to orange! But...in this case, I would hold on to the blue one. To me, it is simply more striking, yet refined...the orange one, with the black bits, sends me into Halloween mode...which is not good for bicycling...

Blue, blue, blue!

Or...if you can...both, both, both!

Both. I might, under spousal pressure, put one up for sale ... but the asking price would be $7000 or something. ;-)

If I HAD to sell one, I'd keep the Orange, but I might swap the cranks if the drilled chainrings were important enough to me.

I'm glad I don't have your problems. I like them both. Don't know what else you have , but I would be looking for something else to get rid of. Hold a gun to my head and I'd let the blue one go.

Id disassemble both, build the one I like best with the nicest bits and sell the other.

The components on each are remarkably similar. The orange 1977 has early Cyclone derailleurs, Gran Compe brakes, Sugino Mighty crankset, etc... just like the '81 does, but they came in an anodized black finish. I also get a bit of a Halloween feel from the orange and black motif on the '77; thinking about going with some silver braided Jagwire brake cables and a different color bar tape to tone it down a bit...

I like both. Why can`t you keep both?

The blue bike is not even in the same league as the orange. Orange trumps all.

i'd keep the blue one. :)

They are both lovely - what a tough choice. I am partial to the older version and the orange is amazing.

A brown Brooks, tanwall tires, and the cables and bar tape as you mention (maybe deep blue tape? orrrr... brown leather?) will do the trick.

Inkandsilver - I remember seeing the thread you had regarding your 1977 Semi-Pro, and what a lovely bike that turned out to be. I think I will look it up again; I recall that you made some really nice choices when you modified it a bit. I took the '77 out for a quick 10 mile shakedown this morning after making a few adjustments to fit, and it was quite nice. I like our suggestions about the bar tape and saddle - the brown leather wrap and saddle would look classy! Think I'm going to look for a wider range freewheel as well; were you able to get a 30 tooth rear to work with the rear Cyclone derailleur?

I like the looks of the blue one. But, but, but...who in their right mind would name a bike "semi-" anything? That's like calling it "half-great". Oh wait, it is calling half-great. I've never liked black rings because they look faux-modern, or perhaps just pretentious-modern. But orange & black is a lovely combination.

It is an odd moniker for a bike. Centurion made a "Professional" model for a bit, perhaps this was just their attempt at distinguishing the two. I remember that SR made a Semi-Pro also; any others?

I like blue, but next to the orange bike it just looks boring. Give it cream or white (but not both) tires, cables, and seat.

I think we are all dancing around the real question:

which one do you like riding more? take em out, come back and you will have your answer. Another trick I use, if its too close to call: flip a coin. if it comes up how you like it, you know.. if it comes up the wrong, you know..

All wrong anwers. The correct answer is that you need a blue pro-tour. And keep them all. See My Bikes to the left there if you have any further questions about which bike to keep.

The number one important feature of a bicycle is fit. Number two.... is the color.

Both bikes are the same size (54cm); both fit equally well. I also have a 1977 Centurion Pro-Tour (in blue) that is a nice match for the orange 1977 Semi -Pro. I'm leaning toward keeping both Semi-Pros in the short run; I do need to move something along for space and domestic tranquility reasons. The 1984 Specialized Stumpjumper Sport seems to be edging it's way towards the door...:(

Yeah... I can relate. I "rotate" my bikes. Buying, selling, and sometimes regretting missed deals, or bicycles sold.