Hi. I think I've got a Centurion, too.
The serial number is N4S5293, so late 1984 manufacture and probably a 1985 model.
Else, I don't have much to go by as I got it as a bare frame repainted black w/o fork.
I've seen the 1984 catalog somewhere and it's not in there. Mine already has the pump peg behind the head tube as it shows up on examples from 1985 on.
Unfortunately, I can't seem to find a 1985 catalog. And I can't match it to any of the 1985 examples that I find around.
A couple of frame/ design specs could help to ID if someone recognises them.
First, no eyelets for fenders/racks.
Second, fluted (concave) seat stay caps.
Third, It's a 56 cm frame weighing 2,225g but about a 100g could be the 'extra' paint in it's current state. Could be Champion #1 or #2, not sure for that matter.
Any clues?
Cheers

Unfortunately, one of the members deleted all his posts from this thread, so it is no longer as easy task to check the database for a specific year and model, then reference back to the original post for things like pictures. I take it that there is no embossing on the stay caps or fork crown? What brand are the dropouts? Can you post a pic of the stay caps, dropouts and fork crown? Based on the serial number, it's in that grey area where it could be either a 1984 or 1985 model. It also may be something other than a Centurion, as that serial number is for a contract manufacturer.

http://bikeforums.net/attachment.php...hmentid=233385http://bikeforums.net/attachment.php...hmentid=233386http://bikeforums.net/attachment.php...hmentid=233387http://bikeforums.net/attachment.php...hmentid=233388http://bikeforums.net/attachment.php...hmentid=233389
Thanks T-Mar,
I think it's safe to exclude 1984 as the catalog has only one model w/o eyelets, the turbo 12, but the turbo has a different seat stay arrangement. Also, no pump pegs on the head tube in 1984 anywhere.
As for the seat stay caps mine looks more like an Elite. Did they maybe lose their eyelets for 1985?
Here are the pics of mine. It think that'll clarify.
Drop outs are Shimano as far as I can see. Rear spacing 126, seat post 27.0 (easy fit) or 27.2 (goes in an inch and then gets difficult), bosses for two water bottles.

1986 Centurion Facet - only year made: YF63228

Where does this Centurion fit in the line up? It is a mid to late 80s model. The owner states it is an aveado. Never heard of it, and can't find it.

I doubt that it is a higher model then the Dave Scott Expert & Master.. Then again, I don't know. It seems to have 105 or 600 parts...

http://bikeforums.net/attachment.php...hmentid=233462


http://bikeforums.net/attachment.php...hmentid=233463


http://bikeforums.net/attachment.php...hmentid=233464

Just thought I would post my Centurion Mountain Bike if that is any use.

It is a Centurion MT 1800. Not sure of date, but would be earlie 80s due to old cantis on it. The shifters are early 6spd thumbies if if remember right.

The serial number is F8014218 and it is made with Tange Double Butted Mountain Tubing.

utedeej

The forum members will be itching for a picture of this. In the USA there were no Centurion ATBs. WSI marketed their ATBs under the Diamonback brand. FYI, its probably newer than you think. Based on the serial number, it should be a circa 1988, Taiwanese built bicycle.

Never heard of this model. It could be a froeign model. The closest USA model name would be Accordo. Looks to be very late 1980s. During this period the Accordo was equipped with Exage Sport, which had more than a passing resemblance to 105. Photos are poor but it could be Exage Sport.

It doesn't appear to be an Ironman or Prestige. The next Centurion candiadate would be an Elixe RS. We do have some in the database. Now all I have to do is find the original posts and hope any pics are still there.

Here's one that had been left infront of owners car by his son...

http://i256.photobucket.com/albums/h...r/DSC00859.jpg

The 85 Elite RS that I owned had eyelets for fenders.

Yep Taiwanese built. Here are the pics too. I'm thinking of turning it into a tourer at a later date. Hope the pics have details you might want. If not, happy to get more. It is the kind of bike that i first started to ride on really, similar setup and geometry but better components on the centurion.

http://bikeforums.net/attachment.php...hmentid=233525http://bikeforums.net/attachment.php...hmentid=233526http://bikeforums.net/attachment.php...hmentid=233527http://bikeforums.net/attachment.php...hmentid=233528

utedeej

Forgot that i've also got this Centurion Pursuit designed by Sid Patterson out the back. Sid was an Aussie world champ rider. It will be another that you haven't got over there.

The serial number is M5GV4126.

It is Tange 5 for the frame and HiTen forks so not the flashest. Had suntour and sugino on it. The hubs were sealed bearing suzue from memory with 27 inch wheels.

Here are some pics

http://bikeforums.net/attachment.php...hmentid=233529http://bikeforums.net/attachment.php...hmentid=233530http://bikeforums.net/attachment.php...hmentid=233531

utedeej

I've just been through the whole thread. OMG, what a monster. Anyways, I was able to make a few observations with a focus on references to Elite RS.
An early post (#54) shows a 1986 Elite RS w/o eyelets but with flat seat stay caps. A few references to 1985 didn't show the caps clearly and one example (thread #1069) shows a 1985 Elite RS with front eyelets, but none in the rear, again, caps not really clear.
The funniest thing is that my bike here was discussed in this thread by the previous owner (#810) w/o outcome. Small world when the thread gets big enough.
Another observation is that rear brake bridges tend to be slightly curved whereas mine is straight.
Blue303, how about your seat stay caps?
The the other thing I keep wondering about is the weight. How much is a bare mid sized frame in Champion #1 and Champion #2 sopposed to weigh?
I've seen tube set tables putting them at around 2200 but other putting them similar to 531 or SL around 2000. (Notable differences between sources only pertain to the Tange tubesets). Do we have some evidence here from all those #1 amd #2 bikes...?

Depending on the years involved, Tange 1 vs. Tange 2 can be as low a difference as 2.2 ounces, but Tange Champion 1 vs. Tange Champion 2 may be much different, and I don't know.

The Elite came in a couple of versions, both "early" and "modern" (the mid-80's).
They were two very different bikes, especially the mid-80's Elite RS, which was set up like the Ironman, but with Tange 2 vs. Tange 1 and whatever geometry change the model differenc entailed. I don't know enough about them to really comment other than that.

Yes, definitely circa 1988. The unicrown weren't available much earlier than that.That would make a decent touring rig with some high pressure, narrow, 26" tires. You don't see too many ATBs with lo-rider mounts on the forks.

And other serial number format! I assume the extra letter is a market or distribuor indicator, but which one? The G or the V? I don't suppose you know the name of the Australian Centurion importer/distributor?

Yes, I admit it, I created a monster. Maybe I should change my forum ID to Dr. Centurienstein? It was even bigger before one of the members deleted well over 100 of his posts.

If you've gone through the entire thread, then I won't bother. I'm pretty sure Centurion never featured the '85 RS in an ad. They were too busy pushing the Cinelli Equipe and the new Ironman models. Hopefully, something will pop up. I also wouldn't dismiss the possibility of it not being a Centurion. BTW is that original paint or not? If not, are there any remnants of the OEM paint color inside the BB shell, head tube or on the steerer tube?

They were flat.

Okay, I think I found the answer.. This was a typo by the seller. Somebody in an earlier post has asked about a Centurion Avendir.
http://i1111.photobucket.com/albums/...Centurion5.jpg

Robbie commented on this bike and said it was not an Ironman. Looking at the photo above, it is the same, and a Sport DLX, with the name Avenir on the TT.. The seller wanted $150 for it. This is not good enough or cheap enough for my next Centurion score.. ;)

Thanks much

Sorry T-Mar, no help on the distributor for Aus. The Centurion Sid Patterson was a tip find under a load of rubbish. Still got most of the parts for it will try and just clean it up and put it back together at some stage.

The Centurion ATB has got some old Araya hard anodised rims on it and boy are they hard to get tyres on and off. It's another fix up for the future. I've also got a 700 touring bike that i made up (Aussie Spokesman frame) but am not really doing any long riding on yet. That's my problem, too much finding bikes and fixing them up and not enough riding!

Also, I'm concentrating on my Bottecchia (also a tip find) for now and trying to source parts for it.

utedeej

Thanks T-Mar.
I've double checked on the paint. While at first I thought it was not the original color (also, no decals/stickers at all) by now I'm not so sure anymore. At least there is nothing but black where ever you look (BB shell, steerer tube).
As a summary, this is most likely a 85 model but a combinmation of the concave seat stay caps and no fender eyelets did not exist either in 84 or 85.
So it may not be a Centurion after all, or a variation for the Australian market.
Are you or is anyone aware of this serial number formant N4S5293 distributed by some other brand? Something to send me off to have a look?
Lastly, has anyone ever put a bare #1 or #2 frame onto scales? Just curious.

There was one other brand that was a Centurion clone and made by the same factory. It was called Niko and was the house brand for Bikecology.

Personally, I wouldn't put too much faith in trying to determine the tubeset via the weight. The difference can be offest by the choice of lugs, BB shell and other fittings. If the frame is a different size, that's another complicator.

Could be a DLX, but the component group looks slightly better.

This frame weighed in at right about 4-1/2 lbs. It's a 1987 Panasonic, either DX-4000 or 5000. It is either made of Tange 1 or Tange 2.
http://i649.photobucket.com/albums/u...g?t=1326742111

Here is the original thread on it: http://www.bikeforums.net/showthread...nic?highlight=