kkascha

Hello everyone,

I recently bought a Centurion Turbo off ebay for a combination birthday and college graduation gift to myself. I cannot find a single example of this bike anywhere online.

I have seen Sheldon Brown's website which lists the turbo as a 1983-1984 model, but the serial code, Y8C4684, seems to indicate a 1988 model in reference to T-Mar's serial code theory. The Ole group set seems to be around 1989.

Does anyone know anything about my bike like an original price? Absolutely any information would be appreciated. Thank you all for your time. Here is the link to the ended ebay auction, it has many high quality pictures and as you will see the bike was NOS so everything is clear. Thanks again!

https://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll...nc7Lkw5so%253D



I tried to post a picture of the bike but this is my first post ever so I hope that works.

Chicago Al 

That is a mystery that I have been pondering along with RobbieTunes. We both have reason to be interested in Centurion bikes and particularly that model, or model name at least.

It appears that the Centurion name, graphics, model names etc were used outside the US but with considerable variation from the US. The 'Turbo' sold in the US was limited to the 83-84 market and was a simple higher-end racing bike. But there are those TT bikes like yours sold in Europe (seller was in Austria, if I'm not mistaken) and I have also seen a 'Centurion Turbo' from Australia that looks like a late 80s model, similar to an Ironman. (I suspect the 'Dave Scott Ironman' name would have meant exactly nothing there.)

Did Western States Industries, the US company, market the bikes to the Rest of the World but make changes to the product lines, or did they license the name and product line to other companies for different markets, or...what? Not that it matters!

I did find this 1993 Centurion catalog for the German-speaking market on a British website. By 1993 Western States seems to have dropped the Centurion name entirely, and was only using the Diamondback name, even for the few road bikes they still made. If you look through this catalog you'll see that, though by this time the age of lugged steel road bikes is largely over, there are still some distinctly familar model names: Accordo, LeMans, and even Equipe for a high end bike.

https://www.retrobike.co.uk/forum/gal...g2_itemId=3407

btw: did you also post this query on a site called 'Cyclebetting.com'? I have a google alert for the words 'Centurion Turbo' and it just alerted me to an identical post there.

RoboIsGod

WOW that bike rules! Good deal too, nice.

twolve

Hope you can figure out the mystery, but it looks like an awesome bike! Also congrats on graduating!

Bianchigirll 

I believe it is Rowing season and T-Mar will be tied up for awhile.

wasn't the seller of those frames in Italy? maybe it was a European market bike or they had some frames built and never released them

that is great looking bike. are the components just white Suntour or are they Ole'. if that bike is as nice as the pics look I would say it is certainly worth $450USD

frantik

the paint job definitely is late 80s, not early 80s.. also, unicrown fork

kkascha

Chicago Al,

Thanks! That all makes a lot of sense. Yes, the seller was from Austria (watching the tracking information was a nail biter). That catalog was really cool I loved the one mountain bike with the elevated chain stay. That reminds me of the Nishiki Alien and Ariel, and the drool worthy Yeti Ultimate. Very cool. Thanks so much!

Bianchigirll,

There is a seller currently listing 8 58cm frames identical to my bike, and yes he is from Italy, but my bike came as a complete built up bike. The parts are a complete and brand new Ole set, and I have played around with parting out the bike becuase it is so complete and in perfect condition. This truly is one of those "new" new old stock finds. I'm glad to hear you think its a good value for what I paid, I had a limit of very close to what I spent and I just couldn't find any current bike on the market with any character in my opinion that was within my price range. I know the technology isn't as light as a current road bike, but that's ok I don't mind.

RoboIsGod and twolve,

Thank you!

Bianchigirll 

what size are the wheels? is the front smaller or is in an illusion?

kkascha

Chicago Al,

I did not post this anywhere else. Out of curiosity, could you estimate the quality of my Turbo verses the US one? I do not know much about tubing qualities. Would this be considered an entry level TT bike like a Shogun Kaze was?

kkascha

The back wheel is 700c and the front is 650c. I'm not sure if that's because it's women's specific for toe overlap like a Terry bike or for aerodynamics like a "funny" bike.

cb400bill

It is posted on there. Probably some kind of Spam Bot program.

https://www.cyclebetting.com/?s=centu...&search=Search

Chicago Al 

kkascha, your next post is also on cyclebetting.com, word for word, though none of our replies are. Bill's right, it's some kind of aggregation program. The 'content' there all looks like stuff copied from other bike-related sites, the real purpose is apparently to get you to bet on bike races through the site. People bet on cycling races? Ha! Next thing you know, they'll be saying that bike racers take drugs!

Anyway, I don't have any particular advice to offer on your Turbo; it is cool but I would bet (!) that a major portion of the people anywhere who would appreciate it are regulars on this forum. Shimano Sante is certainly a desirable group, but I don't know about the copycat Ole'; you barely ever see it mentioned here.

If there is value in that bike I would think it's in the whole package. As you say it's likely unique, certainly in the US (assuming that you are). Have you received and ridden it yet? If so what's it like?

kkascha

I had it shipped to my house and I'm still away at college for a little more. I have seen pictures from home and it looks just as good as the pictures in the listing, but I am VERY excited to put it together and go for a ride. I got a white disc wheel cover from wheelbuilder and think it's going to look pretty cool. I even think the original tires are in good condition so I will be riding it completely stock. If the frame was made in 1988, it's older than I am!

PDXaero

I see no reason to get rid of the ole group. it is not as nice as sante but very similar and a perfect fit for the bike. It is rare to see a full white group forf sale in one place be it shimano suntour or gipiemme, but even if it sold for a great price it would be hard to replicate a good groupset for the turbo at that cost. If you are lucky youcould get a full 8 speed dura ace group or somthing like that for the value of the ole group, but it may not be worth the time and effort when you have a great bike ready to go.
Keep the ole. Love the bike. Enjoy every ride you take.

bennie222

The call for T-MAR got me thinking that I hadn't seen any posts from him in awhile, and sure enough, his last post was 2/26. Anyone heard from him? He's an invaluable resource here and I hope nothing bad has happened, or that he's now hanging out on some other forum..

Chicago Al 

T-Mar takes long breaks from time to time but has always returned. BG above suggests it's because he is involved with the sport of rowing. I have always assumed it was because 'M' gave him a mission.

VintageTTfan

It is a legitimate time trial bike and it thus for aerodynamics.
I have studied this bike because it is my holy grail bike and I own a couple of them.
Good information is very very hard to come by and I am always hunting for new information.
If anybody knows anything please post it.

ryansu

watch out for Zombie threads

xiaoman1 

^^^^^

markwesti

OK , zombie big deal . Anyone have a picture ?

VintageTTfan

Thank you sir!

markwesti

Haha that's funny , ok my bad . I thought you guys were talking about a Turbo , but you are talking about a Turbo TT . I knew that but then I forgot or something .
Here is a cool thread , that I'm sure you have all seen and read but I really can't remember . https://www.bikeforums.net/classic-v...experts-5.html
I think this bike by @cdaniels is the best version of this bike I have ever seen . Allowing time for RT to finish up .

VintageTTfan

Thanks.

T-Mar

A handful of these bicycles have surfaced in the past. The serial numbers all indicate 1988 manufacture by Yamaguchi of Japan. Circumstantial evidence suggests they originated with the German Centurion distributor, while the variety of builds suggest they were offered as a frameset. The S-shaped top tube, which is a cost concession that allows them to be built with standard lugs, in conjunction with the Tange Infinity tubeset and era, suggests an entry level TT frame.

For a more detailed discussion on these frames, please see; https://www.bikeforums.net/classic-v...experts-3.html

riva

There is that Greece one on ebay.. seller told me its the only one they have for sale. And here is the "Please somebody buy it..." before my mastercard goes in the red and it ends up in my hoard shed for 15 years. +1 waiting for Robbie's build!