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Help ID a Centurion

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Old 04-27-26 | 12:34 PM
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Help ID a Centurion

Local ad, only one pic and no info
Appears to be Tange Champion tubing. Can't find a match in any of the available online catalogs on vintagecenturion.com


can't quite read top tube lettering?

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Old 04-27-26 | 01:11 PM
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Other than color, it strongly resembles the 1977 Super LeMans. Which was offered in Coffee color. Different shifters although those could have been swapped.

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Old 04-27-26 | 01:21 PM
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I would agree a 1977 or possibly a 1976 Super LeMans.
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Old 04-27-26 | 01:38 PM
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Originally Posted by cb400bill
Other than color, it strongly resembles the 1977 Super LeMans. Which was offered in Coffee color. Different shifters although those could have been swapped.
Originally Posted by fleslider
I would agree a 1977 or possibly a 1976 Super LeMans.
The '77 Super LeMans has the right graphics/binds on the seattube & similar chrome, but seem to have the narrow tapered seat stays and wrong color. The '78 & '79 do come in black, have the right style stays, but don't have the chrome socks & rear triangle.
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Old 04-27-26 | 02:03 PM
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That looks just like the Super Elite that was my very first "real" bike in fall 1980 (had probably been in a box or on Landis' sale floor for some time prior). SR Apex crank, Cyclone derailleurs, Suntour ratchet downtube levers, Araya rims, Sunshine high-flange hubs, Dia-Compe 500G brakes, awful Elina Pro saddle, and the exact same black paint, chrome stays & blade ends, and (peeling) decals.

Very confident it's a late 70s Super Elite - that's my final answer.

Edit: the Super LeMans had bar-cons standard, while the Super Elite had the ratchet downtube levers. The Super Elite also had a Tange #1 double-butted frame, while the Super LeMans I think had a decent but not butted frame.
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Old 04-27-26 | 02:25 PM
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Bikes: Cuevas & Cimmaron are my full time riders, small MB-3 and large Competition GS are my sometimers

Originally Posted by RCMoeur
That looks just like the Super Elite that was my very first "real" bike in fall 1980 (had probably been in a box or on Landis' sale floor for some time prior). SR Apex crank, Cyclone derailleurs, Suntour ratchet downtube levers, Araya rims, Sunshine high-flange hubs, Dia-Compe 500G brakes, awful Elina Pro saddle, and the exact same black paint, chrome stays & blade ends, and (peeling) decals.

Very confident it's a late 70s Super Elite - that's my final answer.

Edit: the Super LeMans had bar-cons standard, while the Super Elite had the ratchet downtube levers. The Super Elite also had a Tange #1 double-butted frame, while the Super LeMans I think had a decent but not butted frame.
ding, ding, ding, I think we have a winner. (seller got back to me "Super Elite" is what's written on the top tube) Seems to match up nicely with 1977 Centurion Super Elite Although no sign of "Super Elite" in '77 catalog? But maybe it was just left out? '78 and '79 don't have chrome socks or stays. That BF thread is the only '77 Super Elite I can seem to find
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