rccardr 

OK, this one is kind of a re-do. Bought this frame off of Robbie a couple ofyeas ago and originally built it up with a mish-mash of DA, 600 and Campy parts. Now all Shimano 600 6207/6208 with those nifty Araya gold colored rims, although I replaced the fragile indexed 6208 shifters with later and more robust Shimano 105 1050 ones. Those Cane Creek/Dia Compe hoods actually work pretty well if you put two layers of shaped bar tape underneath the top portion.

seypat

I acquired a Miami Vice Ironman Expert yesterday listed as an 86. Serial # is N7D7150. Fork is crowned not uni and 105 all over. Copper Araya rims 105 freehub. Black Vetta Centurion anatomic saddle. He also had a black Miyata 912 frame that he threw in for a little more. That serial # is NG22250.

The marathons are killing the wife's knees. So we will start doing sprint duals and tris next year. This will be the perfect, "I'm old and my bike is old, but I am still going to crush you on the bike leg" bike! Or maybe I will rotate it with my Crescent Pepita. Hard to beat the orange and checkerboard graphics for intimidation! The 912 will be built up and used as well.

The wife will be rocking the 91/92 Team Miyata I acquired a while back.

heathmusic

T-Mar, thanks for all your efforts in the Serial ID department!

I have both a Semi Pro, and Pro Tour, from the same model era, 1978-1982.

My Semi Pro is: M1F15633
My Pro Tour is: M1F15735

I was originally thinking they would both be manufactured in the same place, 1981, 11th week of the year, and 102 frames apart. BUT, then I realized I have one too many digits (the '1' after the 'F') according to your analysis.

I just spoke with Velogarden, and his Semi Pro, from the same era, has a serial number M7M13647. His is certainly not from 1987, as I think 82 or 83 was the last year, so I am wondering if you have any other thoughts on cracking the code? Is it possible all three of ours are pre 1980, and that's why the serials are slightly different?

thank you!

Josh

RobbieTunes

Welcome to the forums, Josh.
We do like our Centurions here, and you're sporting two of the nicest.

inkandsilver

I second that. But we need photos ! ! !

sk0tt

heathmusic, have you checked the dates of the components? This site can help, https://www.vintage-trek.com/component_dates.htm

The fork steerer tube may have a date stamp as well.

beanteck

And I second said photo request.



Also, as it arrived to me yesterday. A master... in my size. Oh happy day.

revchuck 

beanteck - Sweet!

Hummer

I have read a lot of chatter about how nice the old Centurions road back when. Ya, okay.

I found this Centurion Le Mans frame at a scrap yard. A little small for me. Almost no components left on it.
There is damage to the frame. Top tube is dented on the middle top. Possible bend in tubes behind the head tube, usually due to a head on collision.

Cable guide: Suntour
saddle: NSC Osaka Japan.
crankset: Takagi Tourney. Stamped "910 S". Guessing: Showa calendar year 49 (1974), month 10 ???
BB spindle: 3S, star symbol, 7408. Calendar year 1974, month 8.
tubing decal: inverted triangle, can no longer be read.

frame serial number: S102 stamped horizontally around the lower seat tube.

The year, guessing from the components 1975, maybe 1974.

Just for fun, lets throw some old components on and see what happens.

Well, all the chatter may have been right. Responsive to the pedal and absorbs a lot of the road vibration.

I have a 1981 Raleigh Grand Prix. The original Le Mans was supposed to be a Raleigh Grand Prix for the USA.

I think the old Centurion Le Mans rides better than the Grand Prix.

uncle uncle

So 1974-75 would put the Lemans in the time frame of infancy of the Centurion Company, and your frame is one of the "source from Japan, but too good looking to be a Raleigh" group of frames? Would that be a fair assumption?

heathmusic

Thanks! Happy to finally be a user on here :-)

heathmusic

I will get some photos up asap!!

Hummer

My LeMans is several years after the first LeMans. The first LeMans, that where destine to be Raleighs, were supposedly in 1970.

In this thread, I don't think that anyone has posted information on Centurions earlier than 1973 or 1974. Has anyone ever seen a 1970 through 1972 Centurion LeMans or Super LeMans? It would be nice to see pictures and serial numbers from these first 3 years.

heathmusic

ALSO, my sunshine pro am hubs on the pro tour have an '81' stamped on them. So that would further my belief that they are in fact 1981 models..

wrk101

I had a set of those Pro Am hubs, they were very nice.

heathmusic

I am confident now, that both rides are from 1981. I think the models before 82/83 had 8 digit serial numbers instead of 7. I've checked with a few others who have models from my year range, and theirs show the same type of serial, and their hubs reflect the same.

Y'all can check out my Semi-Pro here

https://www.pedalroom.com/bike/the-collegiate--5126

meno

Picked this one up for $31 the other day. A Centurion Sport DLX with serial F8084010. Anybody have any recommendations on what I should do to it?

cb400bill

Appears to be in nice condition. I suggest cleaning it up, overhauling all the bearings, install new cables, and ride it.

meno

You reckon the brake cables might fail?

cb400bill

While they might not fail, old used cables tend not to move as smoothly as new cables. As a matter of course, when I acquire a used bike that I don't know the maintenance history of, I swap out the cables. I like things to work properly and I consider it cheap insurance.

revchuck 

Brake and shift cables and their housings are normal wear parts, just like tires. If it were me, I'd replace all the cables and housings, and probably the brake pads as well, plus have the bearings (wheels and headset) serviced...just like cb400bill recommended. I'd also take a close look at the tires to see if they're starting to crack; if so, add tires to the list. It might sound like a lot, but you'll end up with a good quality bike that works like new for less money than a cheapo out of Walmart.

$31? Ya done real good!

OldsCOOL

Did you beat the guy up or what?!?! Nice grab.

inkandsilver

That's a very handsome bike. Sure looks like a steeper headtube angle than my '77 in the same size. Is the fork a replacement? I thought they came with painted forks.

RobbieTunes

The forks were painted, but chromed underneath. In some areas on the bikes, the chrome is smooth enough to leave unpainted. In my experience, the back 1/2 of the stays and the bottom half of the forks were pretty darn smooth.

heathmusic

It is the original fork. I got the bike as a frame/fork only, and the paint was pretty rough, but like Robbie said, full chrome under paint. Had I known then, what I know now, I would've opted for a paint job instead of powdercoat, but I still dig how it came out, and it's an ode to the original blue. It's highly possible that the geometry is different on your 77', I believe the model change was in 78'.

Here are a few pics of my recent Pro Tour acquisition, the rehab is in process :-)

https://www.flickr.com/photos/116051...7641297796773/