LOL.

the frame measurements in in the post made by user "Loose Chain" seemed to be buried and lost in this thread. i was surprised when going through old posts and the measurements were right there but hadn't been commented on.

front wheel sliding out.. scary. hope it was at least a bit thrilling : )

You have to realize, back then I often read and posted late at night, and was not always sober. I've got a chart for the '85, and I'm sure the specs are out there on the '86-89, and maybe even the "tweaked" specs for the '89. However, the effort required to find them, and the clarity they'd offer, would probaby inhibit our ability to BS on BF.

By the way, that Concept II Rowing machine on the second page? Awesome.

Well, it had me wondering where the chamois ended and something else began.....if my reaction time had been quicker, I'm sure I'd have high-sided. Sometimes, being dumbstruck is safe. Several years later, almost the same thing happened on a tight corner after some rough chip seal. I realized, in the corner, that my front tire was flat. The bike didn't turn a bit, just went straight into the ditch. That was on this:
http://i261.photobucket.com/albums/i...men/Latest.jpg

It once happened on a motorcycle, and I screamed and fogged up my helmet, creating an impromptu trip through a plowed field.

I need help identifying this frame. Hi-Ten steel, pretty light. SN F1B01113. Robbie, you said Le Mans 12? Did they come with that head badge, color scheme, and that type of decal font?

https://sphotos-b.xx.fbcdn.net/hphot...73938876_o.jpg
http://24.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_ma...o7fo2_1280.jpg
http://25.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_ma...o7fo1_1280.jpg

I'm going to say "probably" a Lemans of some sort. Before my area of familiarity, but pretty close to the NOS ones that were being sold in CA recently, probably a couple of years earlier. Font is late 70's, early 80's. That's a nice build.

Decals, head badge and serial number place it 1981. Frame fittings indicate an entry level model, but given the orignal componets are gone, it's impossible to say which model. However, it's all moot as the entry level models often used the same frame. Given the sales statistics, a Lemans is the best candidate.

A quick update from the Elite in post: http://www.bikeforums.net/showthread...1#post14068928

http://i.imgur.com/RdRVe.jpg

The stock Dia Compe brakes weren't cutting it so I replaced them with Campagnolo brakes. Great improvement!

http://i.imgur.com/cMCBk.jpg

I also switched out the Suntour power shifters to BarCons when they busted.

http://i.imgur.com/ltsc6.jpg

http://i.imgur.com/yVC0l.jpg

Think I could squeeze a 32mm tire here? I'm thinking Paselas. The ones currently on are Vitorria Zaffiro 25mm.

http://i.imgur.com/GyXV3.jpg

http://i.imgur.com/ilvJS.jpg

32s would probably be quite tight. You might have to carry a spoke wrench with you to keep the wheels true after every pothole and set and tracks you hit.:innocent:

Heh, It didn't even occur to me that I could just remove the stops in the dropouts and pull the wheel back a bit.

T-Mar, thanks for the insight. The frameset came with a rear derailleur- it was I think a Suntour 7 GT? Perhaps that was original?

Hi Everyone,

I'm hoping someone can help me ID a Centurion I'm thinking of purchasing off a friend.

Here is an album of the bike. It says "Cross Town" Centurion on the Frame. I've been looking it up everywhere for the past couple of days and I can't find anything from Centurion with that model name.

http://imgur.com/a/lV8aB

Upon closer inspection today, it has a made in Taiwan - designed in the US sticker. Does this mean it must have been an early 90's to mid 90's model?

It has a double butted Cro-Mo sticker on the seat tube as well.

Unfortunately I could not find the serial number as I didn't have enough time to do a thorough inspection this morning. I'll try take another look tonight and update.

I'm hoping for some information on the frame and how much would be a reasonable amount to pay for it.

Cheers everyone,

Kwando

wow very cool. didn't know that bike existed. looks like a great for city/commute : )

Interesting.. that is an early hybrid or cross bike. Mountain bike geometry and components with 700c wheels. Based on the paint job I would guess 1989 or perhaps 1988. Centurion ceased to exist as a brand name in 1990; the company that owned the brand name merged it with their other brand Diamondback. So it's from the 80s for sure.

Value where I live might be between $150-$250 depending on how much work it would need

Thanks for the responses guys.

The bike is currently covered in spider webs and dirt, and the paintjob is horrendous in my opinion. Other than the frame, the brakes and the tyres, everything else will need to be replaced.

I plan on stripping it down and giving it a respray since I need to be putting on new components anyway.

Interesting that this is a cross bike. I had no clue. Any ideas on how a cross bike would ride as a single speed for recreational purposes?

awwwww i like the paintjob!! pure 80s goodness

Me too. Like the smoke effect they had, too.

That is basically an early Diamondback Outlook with 700c wheels. Same frame, components, from what I can tell. It's not a cyclo-cross bike, but sort of a "cross" between a mountain bike and what was then called a "city" bike, such as the Raleigh Horizon, Specialized Crossroads, etc. The "hybrid" idea was an accurate term but had not yet developed into a bike "model." Late 80's, 1990 at the latest, and not a US model.

Made to look like a mountain bike, but don't go hammering trails, or you'll be buying new wheels in short order. For the price, Outlook was very competitve, aimed directly at the Specialized Crossroads, Nishiki Montana, and a myriad of others. Generally, the GS200 components work pretty well, the chain rings are steel, as are the stem, bars, seatpost, etc.

For the price of destroying some very unique 80's funk, you can buy another Outlook that isn't so horrible to you. Heck, I'd send you one, because to me, the paint job and the Centurion labeling are worth as much as the bike, any day. Each to his own, though, but the offer stands.

WSI did not introduce their hybrid line until 1991. Given the 200GS components and Centurion branding, it is obviously a non-USA model. The 200GS, assuming it's OEM, places it circa 1991-1992 and this would seem reasonable given the paint style. The closest US model is the 1991 Diamondback Approach with Shimano 100GS.

If I could have preserved this one, I would have, but it had a dent and was pretty scarred up, to the point where the touch-up area was simply too large to get straightened out. So I punted.

http://cdn.velospace.org/files/P1080843[2].jpg

http://cdn.velospace.org/files/P1080842[2].jpg

http://cdn.velospace.org/files/P1080845[2].jpg
http://cdn.velospace.org/files/P1080838[2].jpg

since you put the most wild decals back on it, I think you can be forgiven ;)

Note: I was just reading about the Specialized founder/CEO in this months Bicycling (not much in it this month). However, as I read the article, a name popped up as a consultant to Specialized: Alan Goldsmith. He worked for WSI and negotiated the Cinelli project on Centurion's behalf, and then had a hand in the design of the later Ironman models. I believe he also was part of Park Pre bicycles, and owns a shop or something in California. He still practices law, from what I understand. Busy guy, one of the behind-the-scenes movers and shakers since the early 80's.

He still doesn't quite get the fuss about Ironman bikes. I may have to go speak with him.

What I really want is to have my name put in the Centurion font and "float" it in the squiggles. One of my earlier decal sets had a miniature version of the DT decals included. If I could get that miniature version, with my name in it instead of Centurion, that would be cool.

I once thought about buying up a bunch of Ironman frames, and then gettng them powder-coated, new decals, modern components I got here and there, and then do the seat stay decals with my name in the decal instead of Centurion. I figured I could sell them for $650-$750, in as close to new condition as I could afford. We priced 4 frames, 4 sets of Veloce 10-sp, and 4 sets of Khamsin wheels. We could sell them at about $750-$800 and break even. I've given it serious thought, still do. RobbieTunes Remakes. Profit isn't the motive, but losing money would not be acceptable.

I figured lsdmt and I could do 4 on a Saturday, if we stayed sober. Amani76 and drrobwave could keep us in line.

I've got 4 Ironman frames I'm not using at the moment...

If one of them is a 60 or 62, I'll be Rob's first customer. :)

We take checks, whiskey, and women on loan.....

I just got a beauty in today, to start on. Not an Ironman, but way cool and worth the effort.
It's a good thing it's a 60cm, so I can't throw a leg over and wreck it.

Stop tormenting the old guy!

1 with 105, all new, 1 with 10-sp DA's on the DT, all used stuff.
1 with Veloce, all new, 1 with 8-sp or 9-sp Ergo.
Get the owners together and start an argument, walk away with their beer.

...sorry, none of them are that tall. A 52 MV, a 54 MV, a freshly powder coated 56 that I boiught from Robbie last winter, and a red and white 57.5 (?) that came courtesy of Horatio. Measured by me, CTC.

All are scheduled for winter builds, plus a pair of '85 Pelotons, a pair of Circuits, a pair of Cannondale SR's, a Cannondale ST, a Prologue, three Tempos, a Fuji and five Merckx frames. Yes, 21.