texaspandj

That would be the 1986 model otherwise known as the classic.

texaspandj

R.T. does that make us your CIM brigade? Or your Ironman posse? Wait I got it, if you're the Sheriff, that makes us your Barney Fife? Wait a miiinuuttte.(in my Homer j Simpson voice)

RobbieTunes

They were always aero on the brake levers, if I recall. The only '85's I've come across were frames, but A.Winthrop has one, I can ask him.

For the '85 Original, one only needs to look at the '84 Comp T/A, which was the same bike but with Tange 2 tubing.
It included that "new" polished 6200 group with the aero levers that did not have springs in the levers, if I recall.
They also had Araya rims that were a little more box section-type than later wheels. Headset was 6200 star nutted.
The font was the "current" Centurion font with the "U" and "R" combined, thick with a background contrast.

For the '86 Classic, a few showed up with the 6200 stuff, bronzed accents and rings, but most had DiaCompe aero levers.
These levers had springs in them, and a "leader" cable attached to the brake lever body. It made cable routing easier.
While some of the '86 models had Araya dark anodized rims, many had the beautiful coppery Araya rims.
Headset remained 6200 star nutted. The font changed to a more modern look, but the letter thicknesses were fairly uniform.

For the split in '87, of course you had the "new" 105 stuff that was as good or better than the 6200, and polished, on the Experts.
On the Masters, you had the full 6200 series again, but this time with the bronze accents on rings, FD, RD, and brake levers, which I think were sprung.
The subtle frame differences in '87: the Masters had sloped crown forks, the Experts had unicrown forks. (Seypat's ex-patriot model excepted)
'87 saw the use of Wolber Super Champion Alpine rims, under 400g, dark anodized, regardless of model. The headset went to Tange Levin CD.
The font didn't change, but some accents were added in the decal layout, and one may notice the letters started thin and got a bit thicker in a linear way.

'88 brought the Master into time immemorial with the 6400 "tricolor" group, no changes other than color to the Expert.
However, Araya got back into the rim game with CTL-370 rims, so named for the claimed 370g/rim weight.
Using the Panaracer Technova II tires, in 700x18 kind of defeated that rim, causing it to be trued constantly until one changed tires.
Funny thing, the tires were "stamped" 700x18 and "labeled" 700x19. Both models by then had Tange unicrown forks, Tange Levin CD headsets.
The font's change in letter thickness became a bit more pronounced, I think. I could be wrong, I'm too lazy to go to the garage and check.
1988 was the year of the heavy squiggle graphics, and saw the Tange decal change from "traditional" to "80's."

'89 saw grey carry the day, component-wise. The Master kept the 600 tricolor, the Expert went with the dark grey Suntour GPX.
The wheels carried over and everyone, again, was unicrown. Rumor has it the geometry was tweaked, but we'll never know.
The Tange Levin CD headset carried over. A Tange rep told me the unicrown forks were Tange Prestige, more for the convenience of Tange than spec.
The graphics dropped most of the squiggles.

Next, folks, we all get tattoos.

RobbieTunes

Not only was a Centurion a Roman soldier, I believe that in earlier years, the Centurion was a 10x10 group of soldiers.
Perhaps that was a legion, but I don't know. I lose count at 20, for obvious physical reasons.

No posses, pilgrim, no brag, just facts....courtesy of the Duke... (would that be possi?) I'll quite that line while I'm ahead.

If this were Mayberry, (and I'm 2 hours from there), I'd be Otis.

I second the choice for Homer. DOH!

texaspandj

I'd settle for jerseys. Yeah, let's put that back on the table.
Or the everybody meet in Kansas ride. Yeah lets put that back on the table as well. I think the hard part would be deciding which CIM to bring, for those of us who have multiples. (Which happily now includes RobbieTunes ) hah

nesteel 

I'd be up for a meet in Kansas ride. As long as everyone's okay with riding with a slightly chubby slow guy.

texaspandj

You just called out 3/4 of the forum, (including me) which slightly chubby slow guy are you referring to? Hah

RobbieTunes

Kansas, I can probably do, east side....I'm 6 hours from the TN line, another 6 to the Big Muddy, then across MO.

I'm working on the jerseys. My bud just designed and ordered some custom ones for a community college team here.
If that's successful, I may ask him to knock out some Centurion designs, see what he can do.

nesteel 

Cool idea on the jerseys. Last year I scored a set of N.O.S. Centurion riding gloves made my Avenir. Now I'll have a use for them

lord_athlon

My 87 had the Wolber Super Champion hoops and a Shimano 600 headset. The brake levers are also non-slr

RobbieTunes

Looked at some photos, appears the headsets were same as the group until 1988, not 1987.

texaspandj

Here's the reason I thought no aero levers in 85.
Side note: The only sis available in 85 was dura ace. Shimano did not release the sis 600 until 1986. And nice work btw.

rccardr 

Hunh. Was just going to mention my '85 that had bronze components but the non-aero brakes from the 6207 series. Have only built maybe 15 or 20 IM 's, far fewer than Robbie, but that was easily the nicest one, although a little too tall to be a perfect fit, always my issue with the IM frame sizes.

The '86 I just purchased (next size down and silver, in what appears to be original and as-new condition) has the later indexed 6208 stuff with the Dia Compe aero levers (not my preferred lever, so these will be replaced) but the Super Champion rims. I thought perhaps a very late '86, but it has the sloping crown and not unicrown, so may just be an in-year production mix based on available components.

Jersey? Kansas? H$ll yeah!

Frog33

Texas, thanks for the info. I may try to work with the extended stem and seat post and see how it goes. That being said, I will keep my eyes open for a 58/60cm as well. I know there are a few for sale up in the DC area...not too far from me. May have to make a trip, not trying to spend too much on a new one, but you never know. Thanks again.

rccardr 

Yeah, there's a guy out in Reston who has a couple of tall-ish ones, look to be 60's to me but hard to tell unless seen in person with a tape measure. His prices are high, but it looks like he puts a lot of time into servicing them.

texaspandj

Did you say you may compete in a ironman triathlon? Here's a pic of Dave Scott's winning bike from 1987. He rode the 112 mile bike leg in 4:53. Then ran a 2:49 marathon. Just a walk in the park for him as he would improve both times 2 yrs later (4:37 bike, 2:41 marathon). However he came in 2nd to mark allen by a minute. Coincidently Dave Scott is 6' like you. BTW mark allen was also 6'. Anyways, check out his bike setup. Looks kinda like yours. Ok maybe a bit bigger.

MikesChevelle

Keep riding all the way out to Boise and Ill make you a sandwich

fleslider 

RT,

Although the 1987 catalog calls that the Levin CD headset was not on either model .

Expert: Shimano 105 (my Expert does have the 105 Headset.)
Master: Shimano 600 EX

RobbieTunes

The rest of us mortals had to deal with the factory colors.....

nesteel 

I suppose Campy 9 speed on an Ironman would be blasphemous?

RobbieTunes

Not at all. I ran 8-sp Campy Chorus on a Miami Vice, with Campy Vento HP deep polished rims, silver accents, and then black with Mavic hoops.
It looked great. cudak888 even approved. Lots of conversation ensued at large rides.

I've run Campy on a couple of Ironman models, and there was a guy near Boston, named Oppenheimer, who ran 10-sp Campy with Khamsin wheels.

And, lest we forget, there was a Centurion model with Campy, original equipment, so the "connection" is there.

Hell yeah, run with it.

nesteel 

I have a 600 tricolor group with 105 hubbed wheels, a Suntour/Dia Compe mixed group that would involve lacing rims to the the Suntour hubs, or A mixed Campy 9 group. Frameset will be here Monday, so I have until Tuesday after work to decide what build it gets.

RobbieTunes

The Campy Ergos just look real nice "leveled out" on any steel bike.

texaspandj

I was in that same position just a couple of weeks ago (not sure which way to go) and now so close to posting pics. Took R.T.s advice and listened to what my inner Ironman wanted. One more thing you could always change it later, I promise the bike won't even skip a beat.
Sidenote: You could get you "one last Ironman" - famous last words.

texaspandj

To quote R.T. " you can't destroy the soul of an Ironman " that's what makes them so Cool. You can do Whatever fits your style and it won't complain a bit. And nor should we.