Centurion Elite RS
#1
Thread Starter
Senior Member
Joined: Aug 2008
Posts: 146
Likes: 1
Centurion Elite RS
Does anyone know anything about this model designation?
Mr. Wright's excellent article [https://www.sheldonbrown.com/centurion/index.html]
says:
And Mr. Marshall's index states:
I'm considering making an offer on an ebay bike that has tange #2 stickers and am wondering what the fork is made out of. It has 600 sis components, so presumably it's more recent than 1984.
Mr. Wright's excellent article [https://www.sheldonbrown.com/centurion/index.html]
says:
The Elite RS and Elite GT appeared in the mid-1980s and, like the Super LeMans and LeMans which followed them in the pecking order, appeared with progressively improving frame materials and components over the years. These two Elite models were a step down from the Comp TA and Pro Tour, respectively, with only their three main tubes of Champion #2.
ELITE GT (1984): Entry level touring model with a single butted, Tange #4 frame, SunTour MounTech derailers, Sugino triple crank and Dia-Compe cantilevers.
#4
The guy I bought it from was a wrench. I think he may have swapped out some parts, namely the stem, bars and seat, maybe the brakes. This is what it has:
Shimano 600 crank, rd, fd
Dia-Compe Royal S brakes
Cinelli bars
Dura-Ace stem
Suntour Sprint hubs, Weinmann black areo rims.
Selle Italia saddle.
I put some 105 pedals on.
It rides smooth and fast.
Good luck-
Shimano 600 crank, rd, fd
Dia-Compe Royal S brakes
Cinelli bars
Dura-Ace stem
Suntour Sprint hubs, Weinmann black areo rims.
Selle Italia saddle.
I put some 105 pedals on.
It rides smooth and fast.
Good luck-
#5
aka: Mike J.
Joined: Apr 2005
Posts: 3,405
Likes: 60
From: between Milwaukee and Sheboygan in Wisconsin
Bikes: 1995 Trek 520 is the current primary bike.
I had an ELite RS that had 7-speed Shimano 600 on it and 700c wheels. Downtube shifters as well. Nice bike but a bit large for me (top tube length fit well which is why I rode it). Sold it a few years ago for probably too low of a price but the buyer was happy when he saw the condition it was in. Not sure what else I can tell you about it. I always referred to it as an "E-Lite"(e-light) model instead of "Elite"(e-leet), don't know how it was supposed to be pronounced. Don't know what model year mine was, bought it used in Sacramento before I moved to Wisconsin.
#7
aka: Mike J.
Joined: Apr 2005
Posts: 3,405
Likes: 60
From: between Milwaukee and Sheboygan in Wisconsin
Bikes: 1995 Trek 520 is the current primary bike.
The guy I bought it from was a wrench. I think he may have swapped out some parts, namely the stem, bars and seat, maybe the brakes. This is what it has:
Shimano 600 crank, rd, fd
Dia-Compe Royal S brakes
Cinelli bars
Dura-Ace stem
Suntour Sprint hubs, Weinmann black areo rims.
Selle Italia saddle.
I put some 105 pedals on.
It rides smooth and fast.
Good luck-
Shimano 600 crank, rd, fd
Dia-Compe Royal S brakes
Cinelli bars
Dura-Ace stem
Suntour Sprint hubs, Weinmann black areo rims.
Selle Italia saddle.
I put some 105 pedals on.
It rides smooth and fast.
Good luck-
You're not the guy who bought my bike, are you********** Your description of your bike sounds real familiar. Mine had the stem with the cap in the bend with the hidden bolts for the handlebar clamp and stem nut access, I don't recall if it was a Dura-Ace stem that had those or some other brand (real clean looking stem though, probably should have kept it and put something else on the bike when I sold it). Small world if you're the guy who bought it though.
#9
Senior Member

Joined: Nov 2004
Posts: 23,212
Likes: 3,122
While I don't specs for the 1986/1987 Elite RS, I do for the Lemans RS. It was spec'd with a Tange CrMo fork, though the actual tubeset is not mentioned. Presumibly, the Elite RS and LeMans RS are the same frame with the difference being the components, New 600EX on the former and an L & Z-series mix on the latter.
BTW, the RS designation stands for Road/Sport and refers the intended function of the bicycle, having slightly less aggressive geometry than the Dave Scott Ironman models.
BTW, the RS designation stands for Road/Sport and refers the intended function of the bicycle, having slightly less aggressive geometry than the Dave Scott Ironman models.
#11
"Purgatory Central"
Joined: May 2005
Posts: 1,757
Likes: 4
From: beautiful "Cypress Gardens" florida
Believe the bike you're bidding on is no earlier than '86. I have an '85 Elite RS that was all original, down to the 600 EX toe-clip pedals and its all Tange #2 tubing with Tange cro-moly fork blades. Mine has the red sticker on both fork and seatstay. It also has Shimano 600 derailleurs and non SIS (friction) 600 DT shifters. The crankset on mine is Sugino ALP and looks just as good as the 600 parts, as do the Dia-comp 'Gran-comp' drilled levers and 'Royal S' brakes.
The stem is Nitto 'technomic' with Nitto 'Olympiad' drop bars. I think you should bid on it and try to get it, because if its anything like mine you'll love it. They are very decently made bikes.
#12
Jet Jockey
Joined: Jul 2005
Posts: 4,941
Likes: 30
From: St. Paul, MN
Bikes: Cannondale CAAD9, Ritchey Breakaway Cross, Nashbar X-frame bike, Bike Friday Haul-a-Day, Surly Pugsley.
Accompanying Mr. Wright's article on Mr. Brown's website is the actual 1984 Centurion Catalog. If you go to the back page, it has a lot of details about the various frames.
__________________
Good night...and good luck
Good night...and good luck
#13
Thread Starter
Senior Member
Joined: Aug 2008
Posts: 146
Likes: 1
You guys are awesome. Please don't bid me up 
It seems like during the mid 80s the japanese companies were rapidly changing their bicycles. The bike listed has very different equipment (largely suntour). I was hopeful that some of the high tensile tubes had been replaced with tange 2.

It seems like during the mid 80s the japanese companies were rapidly changing their bicycles. The bike listed has very different equipment (largely suntour). I was hopeful that some of the high tensile tubes had been replaced with tange 2.
Last edited by canonizer; 10-15-08 at 09:51 AM.
#15
I had an Elite RS for about an hour, then found the seat tube was cracked. The seller didn't have the human decency to give my money back. Oh well, at least I got some halfway decent components...,,,,BD
__________________
So many bikes, so little dime.
So many bikes, so little dime.
#16
#17
aka: Mike J.
Joined: Apr 2005
Posts: 3,405
Likes: 60
From: between Milwaukee and Sheboygan in Wisconsin
Bikes: 1995 Trek 520 is the current primary bike.
I'm up in Port, but I think the guy who bought it was from down that way. I wish I remembered if the bike had a shop sticker on it or not, but if it did/does then it'd be one in California. Post a pic of it if you can.
#18
Banned.
Joined: Dec 2007
Posts: 27,199
Likes: 1,462
I think if you have Tange #2 designated on the tubes, you'll simply have Tange Chro-Moly on the forks decals. I don't have any Tange 2 bikes that get any more specific than that on the forks. Tree and Lefty, is it LINE inkugel or LIN inkugel?






