You might want to PM A.Winthrop (he's a member) and ask him. Or T-Mar. Both of those gentleman contributed to the article on Sheldon Brown's site (A.Winthrop wrote it, with contributions by T-Mar).

East Hill

Very elegant look there! What colour is that? It looks like an aubergine/purple on my monitor.

Oh, and Welcome to Bike Forums!

East Hill

I believe it is cobalt blue, and you can't see from the picture, but there is very thin brown and tan pinstriping as well.

Centurion offered some lovely pinstriping colours on their machines...perhaps a close up if possible?

East Hill

I picked up this LeMans two days ago. It had been hanging in a barn for 15 years unused. It is very dirty but in good condition.This Centurion has all blue color with chrome forks. It weights just under 24 pounds with the arm rest on it. Stand over height is 30 inches.No rust or corrosion except the derailer cables.I think it is a late 80's bike but maybe you can help me get the year correct.
sn = F3105691
Bio Pace and all the rest is Shimano 105 with click detents on the shifting
Rims are Wolber GTX 700
Brakes and hubs are Shimano 105
Made in Taiwan Designed in US
Tange 2 cr/mo
Derailers are Sport LX
Tires are old Continental 700x23
Pedals are Shimano
Paint and decals are in nice shape. The "WSI importers" and the bike shop" Old Town Bike Shop Colorado Springs" look brand new. This is the best shape vintage bike I have found for very little money in quite some time.
Ed

Picked up this ladies LeMans over the summer; I'm in the process of cleaning it up to flip.

http://i128.photobucket.com/albums/p...506/LeMans.jpg

Serial # is N609914, SunTour, DiaCompe, and Sugio comps.
And the handlebars have a very neat Centution logo embossed on them!
Top

Really? Got photos?

East Hill

Always a pleasure to grant a lady a favor....

http://i128.photobucket.com/albums/p183/top506/bars.jpg

Thank you! That's different...I will have to examine mine more closely, but I'm fairly certain I don't have anything like that! Trade you :p ?

East Hill

In my above post I should have mentioned the brakes are Shimano LXR . This with the Taiwan decal put the bike in the very late 80's. The serial number F3105691 make no sence as that is a 1983 number!!!. I weighted it again with all the extras removed and it weights 22.75 pounds. That seams light for a LeMans. Also the 700 wheels would make it very late 80's What gives? Thanks for any help.
EddyR

I tried opening the larger version of your pic, but couldn't, so I don't have a good visual reference. The 1989 LeMans used Sport LX components and had an advertised weight of 24 lbs. This is pretty close to yours. Assuming it was a 1989, it may have been manufactured in late 1988 and that '3' may actually be a poorly stamped '8'. Maybe you could try reposting the pic, so I can get some visual references. THe other thing is to check the component date codes against the info on the Vintage-Trek website. TIA.

T-Max Here are some better pictures and the Number seems to be a [3]. I have cleaned it a little bit but not to much as I have new tires and cables coming. The entire bike had a greasy coating on it and that may have helped to protect it as it sat all those years in a open barn.The paint is almost perfect. I think it is a 88 or 89 buy the components on it. This must be the last of the Centurion LeMans built.
Thanks EddyR

1986 Centurion
 

I have a 1986 Centurion Dave Scott Ironman. It has the oh so lovely purple and yellow on a lugged Tange 1 frame. Serial # is N6M67**. The saddle and stem have been replaced, otherwise it is all original. Shimano 105 all the way around. Wolber 700c rims with 105 hubs.
It is really quite a nice bike. Quite smooth and fast.
j

Another Serial number any info welcome
 

Hi Everyone

I just bought a CENTURION ELITE for $10.00 from a neighbor. I believe it is a 1980 model. but I can't find any solid information about this model year on the net. From what I have read the ELITE only dates from 1983-84? but mine seems to be older. This bike is also different from many other CENTURIONS because the serial number is stamped on the seat-tube not on the bottom bracket(see description below), also the serial number format is odd.

Serial number=N0 5581

There is a space between the 0 and 5. I first thought that the number was only 4 digits long, but now I think that the N0 is part of the serial number, and that the 0= year 1980. All of the date stamped components also point to 1980 or 81 (see below for date info).

Here is a description of the frame and its components. I am not sure if the NITTO stem and ULTRA 6 freewheel are original. I an pretty sure that the SR Crank-Set and Dia-Compe brake-Set are. Any other information about this bike would be greatly appreciated.

frame description

paint is a dark blue with tan and silver pinstripes
down-tube has CENTURION painted in white on the left and right sides
both chain-stays have the word ELITE painted in white
the head-tube badge is circular alloy with the words CENTURION BICYCLE WORKS circling the large letter C riveted
front fork has a semi-sloped cast crown that is chromed
fork blades are chromed under the blue paint
front fork dropouts are chromed and labeled TANGE
serial number is stamped vertically on the bottom left side of the seat tube not he bottom bracket
frame has only 3 braze-ons down-tube shift lever stop, cable housing stop for front derailler, rear derailler cable guide on bottom bracket
rear dropouts are horizontal without a derailler hanger
frame has very nice semi-ornate lugs

components

SR splined crank-set 52/40 chainring date stamped 05/79
dia compe G sidepull brakes date stamped 04/80
very nice SUPER CHAMPION 27"X1.25" rims
SUN TOUR V-GT Luxe rear derailler with claw adapter
SUN TOUR VST front derailler
SUN TOUR Ultra 6 freewheel 13-28
NITTO TECHNOMIC stem
SUN TOUR Downtube POWER ratchet shifters
SR seatpost 26.6
SR Champion road handlebars
unknown saddle brand

Thanks everyone

Brian

getting ready to have this one sand blasted and painted...I think it is from 1979

http://www.pacfit.com/centurian1.jpg
http://www.pacfit.com/centurian2.jpg

Hi,

I'm about to toss a bent Centurion frame (drove into the garage with the bike on the car), but thought I'd post here for posterity sake.

Centurion Super Le Mans
"Made in Japan" - decal at base of seat tube
"Guaranteed built with double butted hi tension top and bottom tubes" - decal at top of seat tube
S/N 6R10070 (stamp on seat tube near BB)
Most recent time stamp I can find = April, 1977 [77 D on SR Apex crank arm]
Seat tube = 25" (63.5 cm) center-to-top
Dia-compe center pull brake
SR alloy stem
SR "World Randonneur" handlebars.

Looks identical to one pictured in post #163

Hope that helps.

Cheers.

Hi

Centurion Sport DLX
serial #: F8080172 (though the first 0 looks like a backwards C )
Also features the stamp "OJ 018" under BB shell

Dia Compe sidepull calipers and aero levers (black and white hoods)
Shimano Exage Action derail., cranks, Biopace rings

Bears frame sticker that says Made In Taiwan, so post-factory move dated at least.

Jim

Centurion Serial Numbers
 

I'll get back to you w/Dave Scott Master and Expert of same year, I think.

N7P0205, Centurion Ironman Master Dave Scott, Tange #1 w/Shimano 600 pkg, Selle San Marco Concor Lite saddle, 8-speed cassette (I think someone added the STI's). Purple "fade" to white paint. I was wondering if anyone knew what wheels came on it.

N8M5952, Centurion Ironman Expert Dave Scott, Tange #1 w/Suntour GPX pkg, Vetta Gel saddle, 7-speed cassette, Araya Super Hard CTL-370 rims (I think were OEM, not sure). Blue "fade" to white paint, has a sticker from W.S.I. on the bottom tube.

I'd guess they both were either 88's or 89's, but I saw a Carbon Fiber Ironman on eBay, and wondered if they produced both at about that time. Thanks for everything about Centurions.

Both frames are from the grey area.

The Master is 1987 or 1988. I don't have specs for the 1987, but I suspect it is 1988 based on the paint. The STI was definitely not original spec, as it did not even exist at this time. assuming 1988, the wheels were Shimano Ultegra, 32 holes hubs, laced to Araya CTL-370 rims and a 7 speed, 12/21T cassette.

The expert is 1988 or 1989. I don't have specs for the 1988 Expert, but the 1989 definitely had GPX. One thing that would help, would be to have pictures of the paint. Both years had similar colors and faded to white, but the 1988 scheme was smoke while the 1989 was marble. They look similar but are different.

FYI, the Ironman Carbon was available in 1988. This is the only year I have confirmed existence, though it may have been available other years.

D'oh! I just remebered that GPX was introduced for 1989 model year, so that definitely makes the Expert a 1989 model, though it was manufactured in 1988. FYI, the CTL-370 rims are original spec.

Any info on this serial: F5050834
Signet Model
Cherry red

Mystery Prestige frame. Centurion?
 

I have a mystery frame that I think might be a late Centurion, or possibly a higher-end bike made by the folks at Centurion. It's been stripped down except for a Tange Prestige II label, and a few spots of blue/pink pearl paint. The brake cable is routed through the top tube, and the rear dropouts are Shimano EF. In addition, the seatstays curl up around the seat lug--not something I've seen on too many frames. Here's the serial number (note how small the number is): N8S0043. According to what I've read so far, the serial number places the frame--if it is a Centurion--in the later months of 1988. Any help identifying this frame would be greatly appreciated!

Hey T-Mar.

I was given a Lemans RS today by someone cleaning out their garage.
Everything appears to be stock -
Shimano Light Action
Color is Black and Yellow
Tange #2
Arraya Anodized bronze 700c wheels
fluted 27.0 Sugino seatpost
sn# N7E7582
Shimano side pulls
6 speed shimano free wheel 13-26
Biobace rings

I assuming this is a 1987?

one more - T -Mar
 

T-Mar ,
Wish not to add info. of no use to o , however, can't positively ident. this onwe myself. Centerion with ser. no. N110188( second 1 cold be an "L" demonstrating sequence in production/pay period). Unmolested stickers verify Made in Japan - Champion No. 5 --- Chrome MolyBoen Steek ---Seamless R.G. Tubes .-------Tange Industusries.

I have beeen working on my own bikes for a number of years - this thread has been great -- but in this one instance I'm stymied ---Restore or maker a great Fixie?


Any help( Weigh in is appreciated)

THX , MLS
dashngracie