RobbieTunes

That bike is just the cat, man. I'd love to get my paws on it, clean it up like new, just to do it.
Those are the coppery Araya rims that came on the 1986 Ironman, too. I've never seen them on a Lemans.
Then again, I've never seen them in 26, either. Just a great bike. Unbelievable condition of those hoods, too.

I'm diggin' it. Wait 'til A.Winthrop catches those rims. He likes 'em too.
IMO, the best looking rims put on a Centurion bike.

RobbieTunes

I knew you'd like those rims. I had my '86 out in the sun the other day, first thing noticed by the other guys,...the rims.

dauphin

not sure how well you can see this (camera phone)

RobbieTunes

Looks pretty good. I love a white bike in good shape.

curbtender

Same set up as here, it seems they handed down to the LeMans whatever was working in thier upgraded models. NOT 26" wheels

dauphin

It seems like I wrote down the serial number somewhere before the powder coater went to work...I might have even posted it on BF many moons ago...better do a search.

Caferacernoc

That's all I'm doing to it. Cleaning it up. The paint is in great shape and it's all original except for maybe the tires. Even the little yellow and brown bits here and there in the pics are just grease stains, not rust. It was unreal filthy when I got it.
And it works perfect. First bike I ever got that needed no adjustment or repair of brakes, gears, wheel truing. Nothing. Just dirty.

riva

I have a pair of those wheels. I thought the rims had just tarnished to that color from silver!

RobbieTunes

Well, then, that's so abnormal, you must pack it up and send it to me for a thorough 20-year evaluation!

RobbieTunes

That is great looking. I just bought a set of yellow Looks to go on one of my Centurions, they were the wrong color yellow, more canary than gold, stuck out like a sore thumb.

riva

Managed to sneak n3n5206 back in the house. Me and my boy replaced the stinky cloth with some comfy black cork, finally took a full-on driveside shot. Diacompe hoods on the way from niagara, hope I ordered the right ones! After a wipe down its showing a nice metallic flake red.

Issac

Sorry this is not a Reply to the person before me. Just an owner putting his Centurion on the Database...

Hi I am new and A. Winthrop pressured me into getting on here. Glad to be here, as I love the brand, and this particular bike also- Equipe.

Its too long a story but I read A.Winthrops piece on Centurions, and especially the rare Equipe...
2 days later, no joke, one pops up on Craigs in my hometown. 30 minutes later I paid cash and there were 8 calls in that time. It is an unusual bicycle, it is an Enigma as A.W. likes to say.

A very nice bicycle and I have been in the game a while. This one impresses me.
Restored it, but with creative freedom because of lack of info and because Centurions decals left so much to be desired. But... it is way too big. 58cm C-T, perfect for my wife. So she is the lucky one. It is a keeper and I would rather have it than a Super Corsa from that vintage. I like unique Enigmas.
Parts are campy from the exact era and I had been saving them for a special bicycle. Didn't know it wouldn't be mine! My hope is to get a Pro Tour in the 50-53 range from that same time which I believe to be a Panasonic.
Hope to meet some of you on the thread and this is my first post here so sorry if I don't follow the rules etc. Thanks

RobbieTunes

That is really nice, definitely an "Elite." And it fits you, so you're smack dab in the middle of "lucky dog."

RobbieTunes

Velkommen! and super job on the bike. If there are rules, we're all major miscreants. Glad to have you; if you can send pics, great; and yes, the decals leave "much to be desired." So 80's.

I'll bet that bike is now a super ride. Thanks to A.W. for getting you here.

Issac

Just wanted to say I was/am thankful for the Centurion folks because I learned much about the value of these great bicycles thru bikeforums. next stop...ProTour in a midget size. And special thanks to A.W., because without his piece on Sheldon's site, I would have missed this unique bicycle. Centurion sure had some beautiful bicycles. Luckily a total "sleeper" deal still.

Issac

oh and thanks Robbytunes. I think I have seen you on ebay?

RobbieTunes

That would be affirmative. A red "re-do" of another Equipe is in the works, frame goes to a painter named "Porkchop" today. Right now, looks like '89 Chorus group with 7-sp synchro II. But.....the possibility of 8-sp Chorus Ergos has been raised and is a distinct possibility. I really like the decals, by the way.

tgcal

Here is my Centurion. I bought it for $20 at a second hand store up the coast. It still needs a good cleaning. Serial Number MOE00112. I can't find any other Centurions with the 'Equalizer' sticker. It has shimano 105 group set, Araya rims.

Bike: 19?? Centurion Equalizer 14sp
Color: Grey and white
Frame Material: Tange 1 Co Moll Double butted Serial No. MOE00112
Stem and Handlebar: winpista
Seatpost: SR SAKE
Saddle: unkonwn suede (I can't make out name, i have attached picture)
Shifters/Derailers/Crankset/Brakes/Levers: Shimano 105
Crank arms have NL172.5 on right arm and OA172.5 on left arm?? I don't know how that works are they meant to be the same?
Wheelset: Araya rims on Shimano 105 hubs (700c)

I hope this helps a bit more. Sorry it took so long to edit.

riva

I hate you.

Edit: Just kidding. Sort of. Another one for the database. Not mine, but its another red 1983 elite RS.. Serial # N3P5358.....

Banzai

$20?!?

I'll join riva in saying that I hate you too.

I never find any of these crazy deals that I seem to constantly see in this forum.

RobbieTunes

Incredible Find. I'm saying 1989 based on the graphics and the 105 group, which matches that found on some Specialized and Panasonic models of that year. The supplemental graphics and the fonts make me think this, as they match the '89 Expert pretty well.

I pretty much agree with A.W, this is a version of the Dave Scott Ironman Expert with 105 instead of the Suntour GPX. And you stole it.
You should send everyone a Cold Chisel CD in celebration of your find.

T-Mar

I'm pretty pretty certain that is a 1990 Shimano 105SC group, which would be a perfect fit with the serial number format. We know the Centurion brand was retained in some other countries, even though it was replaced by Diamond Back in the USA for 1990 onwards. If tgcal checks the two character date codes on the back of the Shimano components, I believe he'll find they are are Nx or Ox codes, indicating 1989 or 1990 component manufacture.

During this period, the US models, besides being renamed Diamond Back, were using oversized, TIG welded frames on the higher end models. It would appear that the USA may have been used as a test market for new concepts, as the Americans are typically more receptive to technological changes. Rightly or wrongly, once things have been accepted in the USA, they often are accepted elsewhere in the world. Given the obvious difference in the frames, it would be impractical to use the same model name, though it would not be uncommon to have different names and colour schemes, soley due to local preferences.

dauphin

so...today..just by chance..I'm moving my Centurion out of the garage...and I noticed...on the seat tube, just above the bottom bracket... N9H6093....It was not underneath the bottom bracket part of the frame..

Super-Swede

Hi I've got a Centurion Super Elite that I bought a couple of months ago here in Sweden.
I have gone through this thread to try and establish the age of it, my serial number doesn't really match the other ones, mine is 9 characters long, it feels like it's from the early 90īs after the name Centurion was droped in the US. A sticker says made in Japan and another one on the seat tube tells me itīs tange infinity cro-mo tubing:
Ser.no.: WAK17481H
Groupset is: Shimano 500 Exage, 14 gears
The back wheel is original: Araya
Seatpost and handlebarstem: Sakae
Handlebar: CT, made in Japan

Would be great if anyone could help me out with additional information...

The bike is changed quite a bit,
I have submitted pictures showing the bike when I bought it and again after my intervention.

Thanks

minority

Oh that yellow goes really nicely with the purple paint!!

(and I have another couple of Australian Centurions that I should take some pics of and add to the database. A Turbo7000 and some form of Ironman I think (decals have been painted over))