Hello All

Saw a 1985 Cinelli Curturion on Craigslist.
Went to see it, in good shape, no dings or
scarps. They want 250.00 for it. It's 19
years old,and has orignal compts. Does it sound
like a good deal. Owner seemed , not to want to
come down on price.
There's also a Paramount Series 3 on Craigslist
1991, the owner,said the bike shop owner
told him it only had 10 miles on it, when the owner traded it in.
And had been at the bike shop. The new owner
bought it to ride in Calvins 12 hour ride last
week end here in Ohio. He flying back home, and don't
want to, pay to have it shipped. He bought it for 350
is asking 250.00 now. Thought maybe I'd wait till
end of week, and see if he lowers the price, he flying out
on Saturday. Of the two bikes, which one sounds better

I'd research the Paramount a bit so I could tell whether or not it's all original. If it was, I'd be all over that one.

One thing you need to look at with these vintage bikes is the condition of the spokes. If they've spent too much time outside and show too much corrosion the wheels might need a rebuild even if they're true and strait.

DanO

You would probably have better luck with this question in the Classic & Vintage forum.

The Paramount name attracts attention, for example, but I think those with the "Series" designation were Asian imports - nice, but not as highly regarded as the Waterford Paramounts from Wisconsin. Centurions, on the other hand, were generally low-to-mid-level Asian bikes, but WSI had some made in Italy by Cinelli in the mid '80s. So, I think you're looking at are one Asian bike with an American name and one Italian bike from what was generally an Asian line. That's the kind of comparison that should be irresistable to those who hang out at C&V.

If you can ride the Cinelli,it fits,it shifts,all the more reason to buy it,it's a "full" price but a RARE find.Does it have Mavic? Anyway,I have a personal preference.The Scwinn sounds like a great deal,all things considered.I don't think the Paramount ia a Waterford built,easy enough to confirm.If it's not,it's a strong deal from a logical standpoint but that's your mid-level bike.I'd disagree with the statement that Centurions were low to mid-level when it came to Japanese frames,more like better than average to high.Centurions were an early triathelete favorite,they were very good in the Tange 1 frames.Cinelli's had funky distribution issues for years,I believe they decided to have Cent. rep. them to sell bikes because it was a logical choice,Centurion was riding high in the earl-mid to late '80s.Luck's the term to use in finding it.You saw it! Who knows what the vintage forum will say,most of us old guys check most of the posts.

I guess I didn't recall those. Centurions were imports "private labeled" by Western Sports Inc. (They eventually dropped the Centurion name and called them Diamondback.) Several bikes in their Centurion line were hi-ten steel. Others had just a cr-mo seat tube. By the time you got a straight-gauge cr-mo triangle, you were well up their line. I owned a Dave Scott triathlon model, but even it was a Cr-Mo main triangle with hi-ten stays. That bike weighed almost 28 pounds.

i got one of the later japanese paramounts and it rides great.

if the components are in decent shape (and higher end old stuff) either sounds like a good deal.

Save one of them for me...