treebound 

Well, here it is, from the off and on again craigslist to my yard. Not completely sure what I'm going to do with it since it's a bit small for me. Seat tube measures about 53cm ctt and the top tube is about 53cm ctc. It does have newer tires on it.

I picked up some yellow bar tape on the way home with it and also ordered a new headset since the one on the bike has a go straight notch feel in the bearings/races. Either had a lot of miles or was a soft headset or both. The seller said she won a couple of triathlons on it though.

I do have two pair of clamp-on aero bars down in the basement which one of them might have found a home with this bike.

Anyway, on with the pics.

treebound 

Any guesses to what year it might be from? 6 cogs on back.

treebound 

It was about dusk and the flash was right between flashing and not flashing and it was starting to rain with a thunderstorm about to roll in. I didn't get a chance yet to air up the tires and run it for a lap around the block.

Do you think the yellow bar tape will work out on this color scheme?

T-Mar

1987 model. Serial number will confirm.

The headset may possibly have been misadjusted at the factory and not caught by the LBS. A loose headset causes the bottom bearings to impact the races each time a bump is struck. This causes small indents in the races, which the bearings tend to self-center into. The process is generally called "Brinnelling', after the hardness test which uses a similar impact process to gauge the hardness of metals.

NYC_zx10

Nice bike..

Question..What year is that seat post from? My Miyata that I picked up this past weekend has that same one (Sungino, right?) and I'm trying to figure out what year it's from.

treebound 

According to the digital fish scale the bike weighs in at about 24 pounds give or take 4-8 ounces, sort of settled in around 24-4.

S/N is N7B5199. Is the 7 the year?

Edit:
I'm going to have to look at some of the triathlon sites for bike setup. I know they like to steepen the seat tube and I think they tend to place the rider farther forward on the bike so the old "hide the front axle behind the handlebar" to set reach may not apply. Does anybody have a good link to the geometry of these bikes? Maybe I can put the big chainring on it that I got from one of the folks here and set it up as a TT bike. Still thinking ....

T-Mar

Same year as the bicycle - 1987. It's a Sugino SP-KC.

T-Mar

Yes. Manufactured during week 3 or 4 of 1987. FYI, official weight for a 56cm model was 22.5 lbs (4.55 lb frame, 1.5 lb fork). Original price $520 US.

For more info on Centurion and lots of pics of the various Ironman models refer to the Centurion Serial Number Database thread. It also tells you how to decode the serial number.

knoregs

Thought you passed on this? Some excited girl was about to snatch it?

~kn

treebound 

I did pass on it but when the ad for it remained I got back in contact with the seller. She didn't know why the father / daughter passed on it except that maybe they decided to get something newer. Or maybe dad felt the dimple in the steering and didn't want to hassle with a headset repair or replacement. Don't know for certain, just that they passed on it too. And so it goes sometimes.

dit

Your Ironman is identical to the one I carried home last week. I just tried to remove the pedals but they seem to be welded to the crank arms. I am soaking them in Kroil over night to see if that helps. I was tempted to apply some heat to the arm to expand the aluminum a little but I refrained. I bet there was not anti-sieze applied when assembled in 87'.

knoregs

It was calling you.

I wish one would pop up in my area. I dig 'em.

~kn

RobbieTunes

Yellow wrap will look great, just get the golden yellow, not the canary.
Then add the same color tires and it will jump.

Good job, well done. We'll send you the cult certificate in the mail.....

leftthread

Suitable for framing?
Treebound, I'm still really liking that Elite RS you sold me a coupla years ago.

yepyep

I find the yellow Deda tape to be the perfect match for my Centurion like yours. Great bike. Enjoy!

treebound 

Hi,
I liked that Elite RS, just a hair tall for me. I'm glad it went to a good home.

One too tall, now this one a hair too small, would sure be nice to find one that fits just right.

I may decide to exchange the bar tape as the Fizik yellow might closer to Canary than golden. I'll check on Friday if I can get the Deda tape at the shop.

And having slept on it now (not literaly 'on' it), I'm thinking I'll just be an interim custodian of this one. I'll get it fixed up, replace the headset and bar tape, maybe slip on the aero clipons and take it for a few laps around town when the rain stops (will it ever stop? This has been a weathered summer so far), but I'm feeling more like an interim holder than owner. And that's okay with me.

I am looking forward to putting a few miles on it to see how it rides. And then there's the thought that people say folks shrink as they get older so maybe it will one day be the right size for me. Who knows. Bikes are a funny hobby at times.

Ex Pres 

The geometry is not like current tri/TT bikes. The ST angle is only 73 (maybe 73.5) on the DS 85-87 models, as compared to 76+ used today. Now you could install one of those odd looking forward seatposts to accomplish the same effect.

treebound 

Took the bike out around the neighborhood this morning and while it's a nice riding bike it is just too short for me. I'd never feel comfortable on it so I've decided I'll pass it on.

I pulled out two sets of Profile aerobars I had down in the basement. Set one is an old style with the take-apart center so it could mount into old quill style stems, and it has the bullhorns integal to it. To use that set I'd have to get different brake levers and other stuff so that set returns to the basement. The second set are clipon style with the spring loaded flip up arm rests, those went right on and sort of look period correct. I've got to play around with the brake cables and will take care of that when I rewrap the handlebars. That will all wait until I have the headset sorted out. That will wait until the headset arrives at the shop. I'll post a pic when I'm done with it.

I'm really thinking I want a legitimate touring bike complete with lowrider rack on the forks and in a lugged steel tube construction. That's my next quest at the moment, perhaps the Scott Ironman will get me in that direction.

It was fun, I'll turn in my Dave Scott Ironman badge at the next convention.

roccobike

Welcome to the Ironman Cult Club.

Griffin2020

I just picked up one of those yesterday. The bar tape was horrendous (dark grey Cinelli that had seen its better days). Rewrapped with yellow and black mottled tape. Cleaned up a bit. The rims are straight and true. Everything is in grat condition, except the front brakes seem to hold a bit to the right (the pad is against the rim), but that should be easy to fix.