bikenub4

Hi everyone,

I am 5'11'' 145 lbs and a complete beginner. I went to Amsterdam recently and loved cycling so I decided to start this as a new hobby. I saw this bike going for $160. Should I buy it? How much is it worth?

"Vintage seafoam green and white Centurion LeMans RS. Shimano light action groupset. Index shifting. Anodized gold rims. Newer tires. Tange 2 tubing, made in Japan, nice frame. Needs bar tape. 57cm. Over all condition is very good for its vintage. Will fit a rider 5'10" to 6'1"... give or take " <--- that is the description.



Thanks a lot. Please feel free to give me some advice.

I like biking but I am worried about prostate health. When I bike for long periods of time I get a little sore there. My friend says posture has a lot to do with it.

Cheers mates,

Walter.

StarBiker

Yeah, and although I think if the bike is in nice shape it's a good buy, but you need a bike that fits. And older Road Bike might not be for you.

Aubergine 

I have a red and white Le Mans RS. Nice bike, but I agree that a 57 cm frame is likely to be a bit small for you. If it does fit, $160 seems a good price.

oddjob2

If you are concerned about prostate health, make sure your frame size is as tall as comfortable, without reaching too far, to avoid excessive pressure in the region. Check out the thread on bike fit.

wrk101

Google bike sizing and take some measurements. You may find a 57 fits just right, or it may be too small. Everyone is different.

As far as the seller's comment on sizing, sellers are not experts on what is going to fit you. Yet buyers want private sellers to tell them whether their bike for sale will fit. So some sellers take a stab at it, giving a range.

Don't overlook top tube length either.

I had a buyer once that was 5-11 and wanted to buy a 25 inch (64cm) Centurion road bike from me. Since he was 1 1/2 hours away from me, I told him emphatically to save his time, the bike was way too big for him. I did everything short of calling him stupid. He came anyway, and the bike ended up fitting him just fine! Turned out I was the stupid one. Two factors were at play. First, he had very long legs for someone 5-11. Secondly, on many vintage bikes, as seat tubes get longer, top tubes don't (or go up slightly). So that 25 inch bike had a top tube not much longer than a 22 inch bike.

ramzilla

Go for it. Centurion LeMans with a Tange 2 frame w/anodized wheels is a very good bike. Add some points if it's late 1980's model. Add more points if it's 700 wheels w/6 speed Shimano Exage drivetrain. Old Japanese pedigree bikes are bullet proof.

gunrunner

About to buy a mid to late 80s Centurion LEMans RS 12 speed, 59" TANGE 2 frame, 700x23 tires, shimano light action front and rear derailleur group, Sugino GR 130 crank set, Die-compe brakes, new bar tape, Bontrager saddle and is in good condition mechanically and cosmetically. Well maintained. Looks brand new as far as I can see. It is selling for $175. Not really asking if this is a good price bc I have accepted it because it looks and sounds worth it. Will be offering less if I find rust or undisclosed (in the listing) wear. With that said, you seem to think highly of these centurion lemans bikes. What about them do you value in particular. You mentioned they're bulletproof. Can you elaborate? Thanks.

GR

ramzilla

I call them "bullet proof" because they are solid, well made, rugged, dependable bikes. With proper care and maintenance these bikes can keep rolling for tens of thousands of miles. Not unusual to hear stories about bikes with 100K miles on them. Built to last a lifetime. I just sold this 1988 LeMans a couple months ago to a young fellow. I think he got a pretty good deal. It was worth at least $100 more than he paid for it.

gunrunner

Nice. bicycles are cool especially vintage ones. I am not interested in newer looking (and more expensive) bikes. hooray for bikes. thanks for the response

GR

due ruote 

Centurions have a big following, especially the Ironman models. The Lemans is technically a notch down from the Ironman with Tange 2 instead of 1, and components are likewise a grade or so down the scale (but still good). OTOH, the Lemans has a bit more tire clearance, and fender mounts, so it is arguably the better choice for an all-rounder/commuter. The Ironman is more a pure go fast race bike, and typically a great bargain, considering its frame, components and build quality.