RobbieTunes 

Thx, I'll use that.

rahatawa

I need a bit of help. I bought a le mans frame and fork with nothing else attached. I am trying to build it up with spare parts i have lying around but i can't figure out the seat tube diameter and need to find out. It is a maroon frame and i will attach pictures. Any help with year or seat post size would be greatly appreciated

RobbieTunes 

I couldn't get the pictures to open, and when I opened "reply with quote," I got a screenful of code. I think I can help, and if I can't, A. Winthrop will be contributing, I'm sure. He knows LeMans.

First, I'm trying to figure out if you mean seat tube, for a FD clamp, or seat tube, for a seat post.

My Lemans is a 27.2 seat post, both of them. I have an '84 model, and an '89, so I'd say if your serial number supports something between those two, you'd be OK. My '84 was made in Japan with 27.2 for the seat post, and the '89 was made in Taiwan with a 27.2 seat post.

If it's a later 80's model, I have an OEM FD for it, the Shimano LX100. If it's earlier, it's likely to have a Suntour Cyclone or LePree. I'm pretty sure the clamp is the same size in both.

If you have the parts sitting around, why don't you just try them to see if they fit? Just don't try a 27.2 post in a 27.0 tube; that gets a little difficult. Been there, made it work before I realized it shouldn't, then had one mean time getting it out.

Good luck, enjoy your Lemans, no matter the model. Generally a nice bike, dependable, good frame and decent components. If you need anything I may have, hit me a PM, and Welcome.

jcsulser

by the way my centurion lemans has a chrome fork...is that normal and why? thanks

RobbieTunes 

I haven't a clue on that one. Neither of mine do.
A. Winthrop and/or T-Mar will have to answer that question.
Sounds like a nice bike.

ACH57

My '81 Super LeMans has a chrome fork. I stripped it and left it that way because I like chrome forks.

RobbieTunes 

I'll check again, because I do happen to have a couple of 27.0 seat posts and I have no idea where they came from. I'm wondering if I stuck a 27.2 back in those bikes by mistake. It was not fun the last time I did that. I've also got a 26.8 sitting here, and they all look a lot alike. I'd better lay eyes on them.

Thanks for reminding me..

jcsulser

i know its an 82 model and its base color isnt maroon but actually a copper/champagne color with maroon on the headtube and on the lugs (she's very pretty). it has the circle headbadge with the C emblem.

p.s. did i mention i found it in the garbage?

RobbieTunes 

I need to shop in your dumpster.

In my severely limited opinion, those components are easily removed, cleaned, lubed, and re-installed. The bike will likely be very smooth, but I'd buy a new chain "just because," and maybe some cables (not the housings if they're OK).

You may be very surprised at how nice a bike you end up with there. What size is it?

jcsulser

my guess is its a 58 cm

i would do all the maintenance you suggested but the strangest thing is...it doesn't need it!
im 75% sure that the person who owned it had it redone or whatever within months of throwing it away.

the chain has been cleaned and relubed i can tell
the cogs are way too clean for an 82
the headset had fresh grease in it
it pedals sooo smoothly

East Hill

I will need to see this one in person.

East Hill

jcsulser

here is a link to some pictures of my 1982 centurion lemans 12 (and my nishiki sebring) i took a close picture of the chrome fork.

https://s518.photobucket.com/albums/u345/josh_sulser/

RobbieTunes 

Nice fork. I just sold one like that a few months ago. I don't think it's the Centurion fork, but it's clean and shiny and I think it looks great. A heck of a find in that dumpster.

rahatawa

It looks as though i have the maroon early 80's frame. It has the brazed on brake cable guides and the round head badge with the "C." thanks for the help. I will try the 27.2 and see how that goes.

RobbieTunes 

Found a serial number on the 1988 Centurion Dave Scott Ironman Carbon:
Inside the L chain stay- 88C0163
Under the BB- 60x63.8

The bike measures 58cm from the center of the BB to where the top of the seat tube would be if it didn't have the alloy fitting for the carbon tubes. The top tube measures 57.5 from the center of the seat tube to the center of the head tube, which is why I can ride it at 5'6". I didn't measure the standover height.

(I'm 5'6" and the bike is basically a 58cm, so it doesn't really matter....)

If I ever find an identical frame in 58 or 56, I'd bid serious sawbucks.

roccobike

I recently sold this 1988 Centurion Accordo. Actually, as I took these pics, it no longer belonged to me. It's a very sweet bike considering it's not high end. I only took it on a couple of rides however I found it to be a very smooth rider that handled quite well. The Centurion paint job lived up to its reputation, excellent after all these years. This bike lived in Hawaii for at least two years (the two stickers on the seat tube) so it saw some salt air but does not reflect it. A fellow who wants to start road riding purchased it. I liked the Shimano components, very nice for that vintage. The shifters are BOTH index, not just the right side like I've found on other Shimano SIS of that vintage on lower or mid range bikes. The brakes have a release mechanism for easy removal of the wheels. The frame is Tange Infinity, double butted. According to the rear derailer its a 1988 model. The serial number lines up with T-Mar's post number 62. It is 80105461. The first digit lines up with the correct year of the bike. I'm not sure about the rest of the numbers (possibly the "01" refers to the month the frame was made?). The rear derailer is code LJ, very late 1987.
I don't know what the price of this bike was, but it compares very favorably to the Univega Nuovo Sport 450 that I have similiar vintage. Actually, I should have sold the Univega and kept the Centurion.

cstamper

84 Comp TA
Serial: 4F07811

grayloon

Finally figured out how to post photos, so here it goes:

grayloon

Thanks A. Winthrop. Your spec is the same as is on my bike. I've been pleased with how the bike rides and handles. My other road bike is a Nishiki Cresta. Comparing the two, the Lemans is like a sports car, the the Nishiki a station wagon. The tape in the photo is not what was on the bike when I bought it. I replaced it with Bontranger cushioned tape, though I'm not sold on it yet. I've read a lot of negatives about biopace rings, but I've liked them to this point. Its definitely a keeper bike.

T-Mar

That's not surprising. The Nishiki Cresta is a grand touring model complete with wide range gearing, cantilever brakes and a very relaxed geometry. Your Lemans is a Road Sport model, hence the RS suffix. However, I would be reluctant to compare it to a sports car. That ananlogy better suits a Centurion Equipe or one of their Ironman models. The Lemans is more along the lines of a family sedan. It's a basic, general purpose bicycle, though it is sportier than a grand touring bicycle, which is more along the lines of a mini-van or as you state, a station wagon.

boys5

OK - I am out of my league of expertise here - but I've got some motivation - so anyone willing to help give me some tips on updating my 89 Centurion Accordo.

It's in very nice condition - been in the garage since about 91.

I'd like to make it more of a hybrid / cyclocross kind of bike. The first thing I'd like to is put wider tires on it. And unfortunately I don't even know if that means I need new wheels to do that or not.

Anyone wanna make a project out of me?

-jb

RobbieTunes 

PM me.

EddyR

T-Mar You should find this interesting. I sold my like new mint 1987 Ironman for the really big bucks on CL just a few hours after listing it. I loved the bike but it was much to big for me. When I went to CL to delete the listing there sat another 1987 Ironman. A few hours later it was mine and it is my size. I check CL several times a day and have never seen another complete Ironman. This Ironman has a mixture of 105 and 600 parts on it plus some changed parts. The front wheel is original but the rear hub and rim are changed to a Mavic open CD-4 with flat spokes and I do not know what the hub is. Anyone know? Handlebars are Scott Drop-In, and they have to go for shure. The Stem has been changed and it is going on my black Cannondale and the Cannondale is coming over to this bike. Also this bike is NOT Bio-Pace. I got this bike for a good price as it has a lot of rust on it. I have been looking for a light frame for a long time to build a replica Team 7/11 bike.This Ironman has a lot of rust where it needs to be taken care of so it will soon be in a 7/11 paint theme. Serial number # N7K5095
EddyR
My Photo bucket link didn't work so I will add them the low resolution way

alpha708

I´ve picked up a CENTURION bike with the nr. M0E 5893. The colour is silver, but I believe the first colour was red. The bike has a rear derailleur CAMPAGNOLO Nuovo Gran Sport, stems and handlebars from 3ttt, cranks and headsets and brake levers from ZEUS (spanish parts, copied from CAMPAGNOLO) and SUNTOUR brakes. To my opinion the bike comes from spain, because of the ZEUS components. The letters "Centurion Gran Sport" at the frame are not oiginal but handmade. What´s the type and age of the frame?
Thanks and greatings from germany.
Here are some pics:
P1000546.JPG

P1000547.JPG

P1000545.JPG

T-Mar

Apha708, based on the serial number and seat stay attachment, you frame is a 1980 Centurion Pro. The components are non-original. Of course, this all based on North American models that I'm familiar with. The European models could be different, but given the component mix, most, if not all, are rpelacements.