'81 Centurion Super LeMans
 

Picked this up a few days ago for two score $. Excellent condition and a bike for those recovery days in fine weather. This is "As is" from storage (20 years?) by the owner. His father passed and the son wanted the bike to go to a good home but couldn't bear to part with it for two decades. All original and literally as purchased as it appears the father didn't change a thing. Aside from dirt, slightly worn bar tape, and very minor surface rust on headset and fork crown..damned fine shape. New SS spokes & tires and a Saturday of elbow grease and she'll shine like new dime.




http://bikeforums.net/attachment.php...hmentid=311602

She does look awfully pretty. That saddle looks like it's never been sat on (though, to be honest, I'd still want to replace it with a Brooks). The tracing of the lugwork really pops against the black since the paint is in such good shape. Great find!

Really nice, pretty bike, and a solid performer.

Thanks guys.

Yes, I'm thinking old school Brooks 17 with chrome rivets (not copper) or equivalent. Stem is high, seat too low, needs tires, less reflector, spokes, tape, etc. Brown saddle would be ok as the light pin-stripping (can't believe that looks so good!) and tan hoods, cables, light decals all sorta work. A buddy suggest mustache bars but I like this look as it reminds me of my Grand Jubilee (8 years older) in simplicity.

and robbietunes..that Cinelli Equipe Centurion, some bike!

Like your game plan, I would skip the mustache bars too.

Be sure to attack all the bearings, on a bike that has been sitting for 20+ years, the grease will be toast. Ditto the rock hard (by now) brake pads.

Bump. The words "total tear down" came to mind late last night.

Nice acquisition. It could definitely stand to have the rear brake cable routing addressed. The loop at the front is too big and that at the rear too short. Also it looks like the clips are positioned to the non-drive side of TDC, making the cable cross over awkwardly at the rear of the top tube. I never did understand why WSI spec'd different colors of brake and derailleur cable housing during this period. Regardless, you should consider adding the bicycle to the Centurion Serial Number Database thread.

T-Mar, yes the back clip rolled over to the non-drive side and i suspect loose clips resulted in some funky cable alignment. Not sure why wired flex became popular (I've always liked its look though on the rear derailleur only). Could you point me to the real? Centurion data base link? I found some material in the bike bag including a coin purse full of coins, bar matches, ticket? stubs? & receipts and the accessories including a Specialized helmet & Zefal pump...so I'm going to do some cross referencing on years as the owner thought early 80's and the serial number indicates likely '81 (if I'm reading it correctly).

That looks really, really good. The black color looks really classy and it will undoubtedly make touch-ups in the future really simple.

Based on the pinstripes, you could be right on the date. They were also used in the very late 1970s. Centurions from this era, and earlier, are some of my favorite bikes.