Hi there,

I have been looking through the Centurion Database but not finding the specific info Im looking for.

What handlebars/brake levers came stock on the 1986 Centurion Ironman (red&white)?
All later Ironmans I've had had Nitto bars with shimano levers to match group.

My new '86 has ATAX Franco Italia "Guidons Philippe" bars w/ Dia compe aero levers.
I read in an old post from Tmar that the '86 did in fact come with dia compe lever/600 caliper combo. Were these bars OEM as well??


Thanks

p.s. what would the original tape have been on the red/white model?

I bought a new red/white '86 off the showroom floor.
Complete Shimano 600 (6207) w/Biopace 42/52 & 6s 13-24 freewheel, except for:
Stem: Nitto
Bars: (edit thx to 5T) Nitto Olympiade
Levers: Black hooded AGC (Aero Gran Compe)
Post: Graduated & Fluted (SR?)

The rims were Araya clinchers.
And a black Turbo saddle.

Mine had black tape.

Ok cool, same levers on mine. I would assume the bars would be japanese....

Any chance the black to white fade tape could be original ya think? I saw another in an old thread with the same tape except red to white fade.

Thanks for the help Ex Pres

I have four of various Ironmen and they are all Shimano 105 group with Nitto bars and stems.

I think the OEM bars on the early '86's were either Kusuki Winpista or Nitto B115. I think the Nittos came in with the '87s, as Loose Chain says above.

They were definitely Japanese. A.Winthrop still has an '86, so he'll enlighten us. I'm working from memory here.

Bar tape would not be fade. Black or white only, as far as I know.

Thank you Mr. Tunes sir. No all silver Kusuki Winpistas on ebay if that is what I need.
I had always planned on upgrading my past Irons, but there is just something about this one thats calling me to ride it the way it came...

[strike]ome[/strike] oem

I got ahold of an all original 86 Iron Man. It came with full 6207 except for the levers which were aero Diacompe with drilled (slotted) levers. The bars were Nitto Olympiade and the stem was Nitto. I changed some stuff to make it more fun to ride because I bought it as a rider. I kept all the parts so I can put it back to stock if I were to sell it. But I probably won't.

Thanks the the info on the Olympiade. I just don't remember that, but so many of the bikes have come through here, and I've always switched them to Cinelli, that I've lost track of the OEM bars for that year.

One small thing, off subject, but the bars are rotated too high, maybe you did that on purpose, but usually the bottoms are supposed to align with the frame top tube.

So Nitto Olympiade for sure. Thanks Fivethumbs & Ex Pres, thanks all.
Now just have to add these in a 42 to my ISO list.

As for my earlier comment...
"I had always planned on upgrading my past Irons, but there is just something about this one thats calling me to ride it the way it came..."

It did come with some chromed forks that definitely increase sexiness, so those stay.
And we'll see what else the future holds.

Thanks again for the help

First thing: the one bike posted in this thread isn't the OP's.

Second: A lot of people ride with the tops level and the drops angled. I don't know where you got the idea that having the drops level is "standard."

You're absolutely right. I never rode it. It came to me almost that way, I cleaned it, re-wrapped, and hung it back up until the right person came by.

I've ridden this one twice:

I've found, now that I'm riding the drops more on "non-modern" bikes, that a slight upward tilt in the bottom of the bars more nicely aligns my wrists when I spend long stretches in the drops:



That slight rise in the bottom of the bars really makes the difference for me...and I don't think it looks too put of place does it?

Of course, RobbieTunes would scold me for the anatomic bars

Dude, it is "standard" and I only pointed it out since it was such a nice bike. I don't care how people set their bars but there is a correct way for vintage bikes with drop bars. Many people do rotate them slightly for comfort and that is fine and in no way looks "horrid" but a purist might point it out, it is not a big deal. I am sorry you don't know what correct is.

Like I have said in another thread, this is a very unfriendly forum.