Yeah, I believe they're original. We purchased the bike last year as well and the bike looked hardly used and must have been kept in storage as there was no rust at all. Since purchase, she has probably put only a few hundred miles and the shifters are still in working order (however, we don't shift very much living in Houston due to extremely flat terrain).

Thanks for the info and the heads up on the shifters! Truly appreciate it!

I just bought one that color; can't wait to see it.
Nice bike.

i have a super le mans bike and i notice an engraving on the upper seat tube, "x1012." anybody know what that means?

Joel

Here are my pictures. I'm deciding whether to repaint/powdercoat because the aqua color is pretty unique, although the frame has some nasty gashes, particularly the front fork and chainstay. Perhaps some touchup paint?


http://pics.apartment808.com/users/axelfox/cent1.JPG

http://pics.apartment808.com/users/axelfox/cent2.JPG

http://pics.apartment808.com/users/axelfox/cent3.JPG

http://pics.apartment808.com/users/axelfox/cent4.JPG

http://pics.apartment808.com/users/axelfox/cent5.JPG

http://pics.apartment808.com/users/axelfox/cent6.JPG

http://pics.apartment808.com/users/axelfox/cent7.JPG

http://pics.apartment808.com/users/axelfox/cent8.JPG

http://pics.apartment808.com/users/axelfox/cent9.JPG

http://pics.apartment808.com/users/axelfox/cent10.JPG

http://pics.apartment808.com/users/axelfox/cent11.JPG

A seafoam green Centurion Ironman, nirvana! I know if that was mine I'd mask the decals and repaint it as close as possible to the original color or close to Celeste. Nice!

I was gonna say touch up, especially in the aqua, then I saw the pics. Very unique color, but next to impossible to restore the graphics.
First, I'd scrub that frame with some Purple cleaner or something strong. Then take some WD-40 and commence to rubbing it down. A lot of the marks will come off. Then clean again with Purple...

If you go to an auto paint store, they can match it nearly exact, but it will cost you up to $75/quart.
Still, some painstaking time, maybe 16-20 hours, and then some rubbing compound, you may just be really surprised.
I think it's worth a shot. Destroy a weekend, then if that doesn't work, blast and paint.
Either way, it's a sweet Centurion frame.

I'm torn between leaving as-is because of the color and illustrations cannot be replicated and powdercoating it b/c it does have some nasty gashes. I'll probably just leave it because I want to put all the original parts on (and they look just as bad :))

Centurion LeMans 1989
 

My brother-in-law just found a pristine condition '89 LeMans for $40 for my dad and we were wondering what a current value would be. Looks like it was barely used and has just been sitting around for the past 19 years.

Serial: F9O34480
Color: Purple & White

sorry for all these questions, but how long in length is the centurion logo on the bottom tube (in inches)? im planning on getting a decal made

The decals can be reproduced. Use tracing paper to trace the decals on the frame. It takes an hour or two, but isn't that hard. Get a graphics package, and produce the graphics file yourself. They can then be printed by someone with an ALPs printer onto waterslide decals. I did this for one frame I had. The results were good(not fantastic), but was very cost effective. Also, you will have to cut the decals out yourself, and then it will require a clearcoat over the top to give a consistent finish.

Cheers
Roger

Hi all, I recently picked up a 87-89 Ironman Expert (haven't decoded the SN yet) http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v2..._3405Small.jpg

which has a mix of Shimano 105 & 600 components. I need to get new tubes + tires but am very eager to try it out!

It was made in Taiwan

http://www-hsc.usc.edu/~rpinder/Dave...rionNotes.html

This is how you would go about decoding the SN

I have the same bike, paid $200 delivered in really nice condition, including tires, and I feel like it was quite fair. I'd put current value in the purple smoked fade at $150-$200 or so if it's in good shape. I also have another of the same frame. Cleaned up, adjusted, lubed, ready to ride with new tires and a nice saddle, you could get $250 here in eastern NC.

Some of the Lemans models sell for more, especially the black and yellow. That color does look pretty good. The RS is worth a little more. With that bike, other than color, it's condition that rules. That Tange 2 frame is pretty nice, even if "Made in Taiwan, Designed in USA." It should have the Shimano Light Action shifters/FD/RD, and some LX hubs, 7-speed indexed. Very active decals, grey w/white accents on the shifters/FD/RD.

Stepping up in model in '89 to the Ironman Expert with Suntour GPX or Ironman Master with Shimano 600 adds about $100 to those figures, at least here in eastern NC.

Thanks for the info. It appears after looking at the bike a bit closer that the only mods were the removal of the water bottle holders and addition of a cateye computer...no included for the $40 of course, but they left the wiring and mount behind.

Centurion Lemans RS
Serial # N7K6321 (1987 model ?)

Appears to be all original except for the saddle...had a Vetta, probably original, but I swapped it out for a Koobi Au Chrono the seller had in his seat box. Even the handle bar tape, though in poor condition appears original, yellow plastic tape that matches the bike color. Usual scrapes and small places missing paint. The only significant damage is the seat tube has a very small dent, probably to far down the tube to easily work it out with the methods I've seen.

My final cost was the asking, but the seller runs a bike repair shop, sells a few low level hybrid/comfort bikes, and deals in BMX parts and repairs (former BMX racer), so he did include some extras. For $65, I got the bike, two slightly used Gatorskins and tubes, both wheels trued, and the Koobi seat.

Haven't figure out how to post from an online photo site yet, so here's the link:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/greyloon/2705771358/

The bar tape now has been replaced with yellow Botranger gel tape...need the cushion for my hands.

You both stole those bikes....:thumb:

You should be ashamed of yourselves....:lol:

To rid yourselves of the guilt....perhaps you should donate them to R'tunes...:D

You'd feel better immediately.

Tuesday, I'll be back at the shop to talk the guy into selling me the very nice leather covered toe clips he has on a 58" or larger Raleigh. They need attention to the leather, but can be brought back. He has a few other neat road bikes for sale cheap. But this was the best one that almost fits me...would be a better fit a hair shorter.

Hi. I've recently gotten into researching classic/vintage bikes and this website has been great. Thanks everyone.

I picked up a Centurion off of ebay that looks similar to one curbtender posted http://www.bikeforums.net/showpost.p...&postcount=382. However the components on mine are different. Here is some of the branding on the components.

Tubing: Champion, Double Butted, made in Japan
Brakes: Gran Compe
Crank: StrongLight TS
Pedals: KKT Lightning
Front & Back De-railers: SunTour Cyclone
Stem: Compe Forged
Wheelset: Mavic sticker on front rim, Weinmann engraved on back rim
Hubs: Shimano VIA on front, Shimano Y H? engraved on back
Rear Dropout: SunTour GS

Serial on BB: M5B0018

It seems that at least one of the wheels may have been replaced at some point. Other than that I don't know enough to tell which parts are original, and I haven't been able to figure out a model or year. Any help would be appreciated.

I've posted some photos: http://picasaweb.google.com/mklangeman/Centurion/

Nice bike! I like the orange :)

Oooh, an M serial number, interesting! AFAIK no one knows specifically what the first letter designates, though they nearly all are N - there are only a few (two?) other people here who have a M serial number, so definitely take some time to read through the thread.

www.sheldonbrown.com/centurion/index.html has tons of great info too.

I recently got my first Centurion too so am still researching them quite a bit :)

More Centurion junkies. :thumb:

I got two more in today, but I don't post until I have them somewhat clean. :)

Having now gone through the entire thread (it's long!!) I believe it could be a 1975 Semi-Professional. http://www.bikeforums.net/showpost.p...&postcount=276 The frame matches and the serial number is only different in the last two digits. It's pretty crazy to think the frames likely would have been made together 30+ years ago in the same place.

It also looks fairly similar to this one http://www.bikeforums.net/showpost.p...9&postcount=40 but doesn't have the same seat stay tie-ins.

OK, here's my recents:
N4P5814 black w/silver head tube Lemans RS posted a couple of days ago, Japanese
KF513352 silver w/charcoal head tube Ironman that needs a little work, Japanese (no photo yet)
F9046720 purple smoked fade Lemans, Taiwanese
N9A520 grey marbled fade Ironman Master, Japanese, but with a Tange Levin CD headset.
60x62 ....carbon Ironman, just seeing if you were paying attention......:D

i found a Centurion Lemans 12 in the garbage the other day, its fully function and actually in very good shape.

Serial number is N2P5153

the frame has a badge on the seat tube that says something like "champion #5 tange industries)
its champagne and wine in color
dia-compe AC500 brakes
Suzue hubs
Araya rims (27'')
suntour sp-152 peddles
sugino crank (12 speed of course)
suntour ARX deraillers
sakae custom road champion bars
suntour stem shifters (i think indexed?)


if you can tell me anything about this i would greatly appreciate it.

It was manufactured in 1982, around the end of August, so there is the slight possibility that it could be an early 1983 model. The frame is plain gauge chromium-molybdenum (that's the Tange #5) but only in the main triangle. The forks and stays are lower grade, hi-tensile steel. The bicycle is an entry level, sports/touring model but not bottom of the line. Original price for a 1983 was $250 US.