JaredRestores

Hello! I'm new to the forums and was looking for some help aging a bike I recently found at a thrift shop.

It is a Centurion Bicycle Works Sport. Not the DLX just the Sport with Hi-Tensile tubing. Where I'm getting a bit hung up is that the Centurion brand sticker is on the top tube, not the down tube like I've seen it on almost all Centurion bikes on the internet. The bike also has a metal stamped head badge, not a decal one. So far as I have been able to figure it is from the late 70's but I'm curious if any one here has some expertise that can help me nail down the year.

As a side note I'm going to strip and repaint the bike so I want new decals but the brand logo on my bike isn't in all caps like all replacement decals I've been able to find. Only the C is capitalized. Anyone seen a decal like that before?

Thanks in advance for the help/advice.

-J

T-Mar

I can't recall seeing Centurion with the brand name on the back of the top tube, so I'm wondering if it has already been re-decaled. Forged drop-outs, a hi-tensile frasme and top tube cable stops is an interesting combination. My gut feel is very late 1970s to very early 1980s. In which case, I would expect the round, metal head badge. If so, this is late enough that we may be able to get more accuracy from the serial number. If it's not on the underside of the bottom bracket shell, check the lower seat tube.

Link to OP's photo; https://www.bikeforums.net/g/picture/15350063

JaredRestores

Thanks for the response. Interesting if it's been re-decaled already but it could be. I wanted to restore as accurately as possible but if the decals were some weird custom job then I'll just use the all caps decals that seem much easier to get. I did try to get an idea from the serial number but the one on the bike is similar but not exactly the same as other examples. Ill post what the serial is once I can get a picture of it. I'll double check the seat tube as well.

T-Mar

The font on the decals is correct for the stated time period. It's just that I can't recall seeing the logo in that location.

cb400bill

pic assist

100bikes

Not a Centurion original decal set or color scheme.

Dropout brand?

cdmurphy

It's probably one of the German market models. They put "Centurion" on the top tubes of many models. From what I can see, it looks to be late 70s to early 80s. Maybe '79 to '82??

Highmass

It could also possibly be a Danish model. The first Centurions appeared on the danish market in the late seventies, and they quickly became a major player. The decal with the capital C, is common on older models with the metal headbadge. In fact I donīt recall seeing any Centurions with all the letters capitalized, untill the introduction of decals insted of metal headbadges. Although not common, I also believe Iīve seen older Centurions with the decal on the top tube. If the brake calipers are original to the bike, Iīm pretty sure, itīs pre 1980.

T-Mar

I've seen European market Centurion with the brand name on the top tube, but it was at the front, not the back. Placing it at the back of the top tube is generally considered a marketing faux pas, as the rider's thighs hide part or all of it during the pedal stroke.

If it's a Danish market model, it will evident from the VIN number.