robertj298 

I have 2 classic bikes . A 1984 Lotus Unique and a 1987 Centurion Ironman. I really like both bikes but to me the Ironman is a nicer riding bike.
Both faster and smoother. I'm wondering which Miyata or Fuji bikes would compare to the Ironman?

T-Mar

You don't say whether you have the Expert or Master version of the Centurion Ironman. In 1987, the Miyata 712 was the direct competition for the Expert, while the Miyata 912 was direct competition for the Master

uncle uncle

It appears that the Lotus Unique for 1984 was constructed from Tange Mangaloy... which most people would agree is a step down in racing type performance from the Tange 1/2 that's usually associated with the Centurion Ironman series. So, if racing type characteristics are your bag, I'm not surprised that you would prefer the Centurion.

mstateglfr 

Miyata 912. Has the little triathlon decal and everything. A lot of companies in the mid-late 80s marketed their mid-upper road bikes as triathlon bikes.

I just sold my '87 912 after riding ornfor many years because i got tired of making it fit. So much fun to ride, super cool company history, and really nicely finished frame.
just a touch too small.

canyoneagle

Mid 80's Club Fuji?

top506

Moving down a notch my '87 512 was Ironman-ish.

Top

Colnago Mixte

Gratuitous picture assist:

T-Mar

I'd be hard pressed to put a Club Fuji in the same league as a 1987 Centurion Ironman, especially the 1987 version of the Club. First off, the frame was VALite, as opposed to CrMo. Secondly, SunTour's 1st generation Accushift indexed shifting performed poorly in comparison to Shimano's SIS. The lower Fuji Roubaix was probably closer, as it had Shimano New 105, but it also used Valite. Stepping up the ladder, you had to leap all the way to the Titanium and got Santé.

While most Asian manufactured brands had direct competition for the Ironman models, there were two other brands which stood above the crowd in terms of status. - Bridgestone and Specialized. In 1987 Bridgestone had the Grant Peterson designed RB-1, which was direct competition for the Ironman Expert and had an excellent reputation as a value oriented competition bicycle. Specialized was held in also held in high esteem by virtue of a similar reputation for their Allez model and the exposure gained from the American Flyers film. They had an Allez variant that was direct competition for the Ironman Master, while the Sirrus was their Ironman Expert equivalent.

Another brand with celebrity triathlete endorsement was Raleigh with their Tri-Lite models being promtoted by Scott Tinley. However, they used Technium frames, which are unorthodox and not to everyone's liking. B-list celebrity status was achieved by KHS with their John Howard models, while Nishiki went after the female market with their Tri-A model endorsed by Sue Notorangelo.

cooperryder

This thread also makes me wonder how Centurion's
own 1979, 1980 timeframe or however long they were made Semi Pro's copare in ride quality to the Ironman bikes?

Perhaps folks who put both through their paces could comment.

RobbieTunes

All Ironman models = Tange 1.

The only difference was paint schemes and components.

That may well be true of the Miyata 712/912, but I have no idea.
A lot of brands had the same frame across different models and differentiated in schemes and components only.

RobbieTunes

I've had two Semi Pro's and a ton of Ironman bikes, and I rode the Semi Pro's in centuries, as well as many Ironman bike centuries.

The Semi Pro is easily equal in quality of craftsmanship, maybe better. Also has Tange 1 (called Champion No. 1 then) tubing.

It is not a racing bike by any stretch. It is a smooth, stable, very nice bike, a bit heavier and with a longer wheelbase than the Ironman. You will not be dancing in/out of a pace line on a Semi Pro, unless you have some kind of legs. Definitely easier to keep in a straight line with tired legs and brain. The second 100 miles, I opine, is where it shows it's advantage over the race-ready Ironman.

One of the prettiest frames Centurion offered, IMO.
Decals were a bit incongruous to the elegance of the frame's pin striping, etc.
On both of mine, I removed the DT decals with their phat 70's font.

RobbieTunes

I might add that, in the 1987 Buyer's Guide (Bicycling), the models T-Mar has noted were in the bottom 25% of the price range, of 91 models listed. They were sometimes 1/6 or 1/5 the price of other bikes sold in 1987. It would be difficult today to find, for example, a $1500 bike that would perform on par with a $7500 bike, but that's how it was in 1987. The frames were right there, and Shimano had a lot to do with some of the package.

jamesdak 

Well what about the Team Fuji with it's CrMo frame?









The Suntour Sprint on the Fuji seems to be working really well to me. The Team Fuji is a pound lighter than the 87 Ironman Expert I had built with Shimano 105. My 89 Expert is a pound lighter than than the Fuji with modern wheels and a Campagnolo Chorus Carbon 10 speed groupset on it.

I've got a problem being sorted out on the 1989. Once that's done I can do some comparisons between the Fuji and the Ironman

OldsCOOL

cooperryder

Thanks RobbieTunes.

In that timeframe of around 1987 I recall someone posted an interview on this forum with a Schwinn exec in part discussing the Circuit as an entry competing in the tri market as the mentioned Bridgestones and Specialized models did.

I have tried to find that interview again but have not been successful.

My guess is the Circuit would not hold a rider back racing against the Ironman or 912.
I have a flat black 87 Circuit I really like.

Of course the OP asked about Miyata and Fuji models.

I also have a black Miyata 912 frame I need to build up for the missus to try
It seems to be of excellent quality.

oddjob2

Chr0m0ly 

Classtime