I just bought a centurion lemans in rough shape paint wise and i was wondering how old it is the ser # U887 iam in the process or rebuilding and painting it . so any info would be great . it did have a sticker saying " made in japan " and one saying " designed by micheal " thanks agian for any info.

im no serial # expert, but pics may help to if you can get them up

Hopefully it has some original components on it. Just look up the date codes at the vintage trek site. In addition, often the fork steering tube will have a date code on it, many times the code is pretty easy to break. I had a Nishiki with a "2K" code which was either October or November 1972 on that bike. Almost all parts have codes: stem, calipers, seat post, bottom bracket spindle, sometimes bottom bracket cups, derailleurs, crank arms, QR levers, etc. I have seen them just about everywhere. The trick is the parts need to be original to the bike, otherwise, it really doesn't tell you anything. Add about six months to the date of the newest code, and you will be very close.


Google "dating vintage bikes". The first entry listed is for the vintage Trek site. Serial numbers are often useless (but not always).

hope these pics help . the bike is in the middle of being rebuilt .still in stage one !!

That certainly pre-dates the 1984 I have in the basement. RobbieTunes is one of our resident Centurion experts. I think MKeller is also pretty good at Centurions. Either of them should be able to narrow it down.

Be sure to check out T-Mar's Centurion Database (https://www.bikeforums.net/showthread...umber-Database) He helped me to identify my 1976 Super LeMans recently, and I'm sure the addition of another serial number would be appreciated.

That's a 1970s headbadge. Look up the date code on the crankset.

hey guys
thanks for the info but i found the date i believe on the crankshaft arm its numbered 75 so iam figuring 1975 . iam just about done my rebuild the paint was bad on this but i removed all the rust and painted it a nice flat black i found a set of japanese alloy rims that are 700C to finish it off . its my winter commuter for now . check out my pics thanks agian for the info .

While the frame is obviously 1970s, I wouldn't assume 1975 on the basis of the single crankset code. It could be a replacement, especially given that some other components are incorrect for a 1975 LeMans. It would be appreciated if you would check and report on other date codes, specifically the derailleurs and stem. Also, were there any large white panels on the three main tubes?

heres what it has before i rebuilt the bike .
LeMans sticker on top tube
centurion sticker on bottom tube
seat tube had a small pink triangle unreadable at top of tube another sticker unreadable and made in japan at bottom of tube .
on back bottom tube small sticker Designed by micheal
the crank is stamped tourney and japan 75.3 s in a circle
rear derailler SUNTOUR V-GT LUXE
front derailler SUNTOUR SL
shift levers SUNTOUR POWER
brakes DIA -COMPE
handle bars SAKAE CUSTON ROAD CHAMPION
ser# U887

hope this can date it thanks T-MAR

It doesn't sound like a 1975 as they were were still being modeled after the Raleigh Grand Prix that year and had the contrasting color bands on the three main tubes. The Tourney crankset could be an example of poor stock totation, so it may be a 1976 LeMans. Check the back side of the SunTour derailleurs for a two letter code and pull the stem for a date code located below the insertion mark.

+100 The Suntour stuff will have date codes. Seat post and handlebar stem will both have date codes. I have also found codes on diacompe brake calipers and levers. Crankset could be original, but the bike might still be a 1976. I usually add six months to the newest original part date code.

You are certainly pretty close, late 70s.

more info - i checked all the places you asked and cme up with a list of numbers :
Handlebar stem - CFR 5355 "symbol " 74 12 japan
Front Derailler - Maeda Industries ltd japan QS 4532
brakes sets front - 74-6
rear brakes- 8-74
crank shaft japan 75.3 and a wheat grouping symbol

Well, sounding more and more like a 1975. Based on TMar's comment, maybe you can push it out to 1976. It won't be any newer than that. QS is not a date code on the derailleur. Look around it more, it is stamped on there separately from any model # or other info. First letter is year, second letter will be the month (highest month code is an "L"). No "S".

Before my era.
Nice bike, and I like what you did for it.
Sometimes the best thing to do is clean up what it has, and use it.
You often realize that the engineering back then was pretty good, already.

ya I do love taking these old bikes apart and rebuilding them and riding them . they are classic bikes and not to hard to re-assemble !