Siu Blue Wind

My friend was gonna ditch this bike.

1977 Centurion Lemans.

I took it in but I knew it wouldn't fit me. I believe it's 21 inches.

Siu Blue Wind

I cleaned it up just a tad.













Anybody want it?

JoelS

What length is the TT? Might be fun to build a SS/FG.

1jacktripper

Oooh, yes, please! That's my size!!

Siu Blue Wind

I was told it was a 19 inch frame but since you asked for a TT measurement I verified that it was more like a 21 inch frame with a 22 inch TT.

I was also told I could sell it as a frame FOR SSFG. And to say that it has no braze ons. It's gonna need some wheels, they are really really rusty.

JoelS

Bummer. That's too big for me. Good luck with it!

x136 

Huh, that's true. Looks like the only braze-ons are the cable stops under the top tube for the rear brake, and a stop each for the front and rear derailleur. Everything else is clamped on.

Where's the rust on the wheels? If it's the rims, they're made of steel and need to be replaced anyway. (At least if the rider is concerned with "stopping." )

Nice find!

Siu Blue Wind

Spokes are brown and flaky if that tells you anything. And the rims are spotted like a Dalmation.

cccorlew

It sure looks bigger than 21" I have a 21 and the head tube isn't nearly that tall.

Siu Blue Wind

Maybe I'm measuring wrong? I went from center of BB to top of tube. Or should I have gone to where the TT meets it?

Somebody pretty much claimed it but I really don't think it's going to fit him and I'm concerned about that. I have a 30" inseam and I'm on tippy toes. He has a 28.5" inseam.

Oh and somebody asked me a price but it will be a gift if someone will fix it up and ride it. I'm hoping nobody takes it to sell it.

Siu Blue Wind

I found this through search on here, posted by A.Winthrop

https://www.bikeforums.net/archive/in.../t-438926.html


Here are full specs for the 1976 or 1977 LeMans, not sure.
Your specs should be pretty close. Check yours against
these and let me know where they differ. These specs are
exactly how they are listed in my undated but probably 1976
or 1977 Centurion catalog.
.
MID-1970s CENTURION LEMANS
.
FRAME SIZES: Mens: 19 3/4, 21 1/2, 23, 25"
Womens: 19 3/4, 22"
.
FRAME: Centurion hi tension steel tubing.
.
LUGS: Centurion Special.
.
FORKS: Tange hi-tension steel tubing; chrome plated
crown cover. Brazed end.
.
HEADSET: Centurion Delux.
.
BARS: Centurion Custom alloy.
.
STEM: Sakae SR-AH.
.
BRAKES: Dia Compe with extension levers, center pull.
.
DERAILLEURS\SHIFTERS: Suntour SL front and VGT rear with
power stem shifters.
.
FREEWHEEL: Suntour Perfect 14-30.
.
CHAIN: D.I.D.
.
CRANKSET: Sugino RJX-1 40-52 with alloy guard.
.
PEDALS: MKS 33.
.
WHEELSET: Araya 27 x 1 1/4 steel clinchers. IRC 27X1 1\4 GSW
hi-pressure tires.
.
HUBS: Sunshine QR with high flange alloy front and rear.
.
SADDLE: Racing or touring, padded, black.
.
SEATPOST: Sakae alloy ASP.
.
EXTRA: Alloy spoke protection, fully reflectorized.
.
WEIGHT: 30 lbs. (23").
.
COLORS: Metallic red, blue, silver, yellow, copper, green.


I think this is a generalization because it doesn't match all of it. And the original owner didn't change anything.

cccorlew

Measure Center to Center

x136 

It's funny that in most things, a metric measurement will have me shrugging my shoulders, but give a bike size in imperial, and I have no idea WTF it means.

taxi777

It's interesting, the color is the same color of my Monte Carlo 77...same year must have been a popular color. My favorite year, got married 7/77...77 monte carlo...taxi777
lot's of 7's

Red Rider

Seven is my favorite number.

No, I don't need to suck up...

Red Rider

That's a nice bike; if it fit me I'd take it in a heartbeat and make it a SS.

I hope you help it find a good home, Siu.

Siu Blue Wind

It will go to a nice home either way. Of all the bikes that I come across and given away (this is the third one in a few months), I just wish I can find one that fit me too. I'd really like an old bike.

BlastRadius

Siu, what size do you ride?

Siu Blue Wind

50cm compact. 52cm TT


By request I'm going to have to measure it again tomorrow. It's in storage and it's kinda cold and dark to go outside and get to it. Plus I'm in my jammies.

BlastRadius

That's my size. I'll keep an eye out for a frame your size.

Siu Blue Wind

Thanks, that would help. I'm just looking for an old school steel bike because there are rumors that steel is real or something like that. I'm not picky because I know nothing about the older bikes.

huytheskigod

I'll keep you in mind. I have a garage project that may be your size but not sure if will come together.

Pizza Man

Sweet bike! I hope to get an old steel bike like that someday. Does anyone know if you can put newer 700c wheels on an old frame set up for 27 inch wheels? I guess then you'd also have a problem getting an old 5 (6?) speed cassette on a newer hub made for 8-9-10 speeds.

Another question, would putting on a new shimano or SRAM type crankset work with that bottom bracket?

bigbossman 

1) You can swap vintage 27" wheels out for vintage 700c wheels (5/6 speed). The only worry is brake reach, but that is pretty easily overcome.

2) Vintage 5/6/7 speed rears use screw-on freewheels, not modern cassettes. Modern 8/9/10 speed rears use cassettes that slide onto hub bodies. Apples and oranges. You can take a vintage frame and put a modern drive-train on it - I've done it many times. You will typically need to have the rear dropouts spread out from the old-school 120/126mm to the current 130mm. Steel only - do not try to spread alloy or CF.

3) No matter what the vintage, crank-sets have to match to the bb they are designed for. You can put modern bb's into a vintage frame - they haven't changed the 68mm English/70mm Italian shell standards. A few vintage bikes are non-standard - French and Swiss bb's come to mind. They are a pain.

In general, older bb spindles are square tapered and modern cranks are not. If the SRAM crank-set you mentioned will mate to a square taper spindle, it should physically fit. Then you will need to consider the spindle length to get the correct chain line. Best to just use the proper bb/crank combo and be done with it.

***To anyone on this sub-forum that needs help working on a vintage bike - my garage, tools, and what meager expertise I possess can usually be had for a sandwich and liquid refreshment. Drop me a line.***

BlastRadius

Well on my Univega, I replaced the 27" wheels with 700c and they worked really well with some Tektro long reach calipers I got from Box Dog Bikes. The extra space makes fitting fenders OR cross tires a breeze. I did eventually get cantilever brake bosses added so I can get even more clearance to have fenders AND cross tires on at the same time. (The Tektros are available ) I wouldn't have spend the $$ to add the canti bosses except the frame is triple-butted cromo so it's fairly decent quality.

Outboard bearing cranks should work fine but the cranks that come with some of these older bikes may work well too. My Univega came with 165mm Sugino cranks with a 110bcd, perfect for me. A swap of the old fixed cup BB for a shorter spindled IRD sealed cartridge BB (again from Box Dog) gave the cranks a whole new life.

The 126mm O.L.D. rear spacing does take a stretch to accommodate the 130mm modern hub but having it cold set is easy (I had mine done when I had the canti bosses added). Or you could just stretch the stays each time you need to put a wheel on.

One thing if you want to put modern shifters and derailers on an older frame is the lack of cable stops so you may need to add those as well.