TLit

I had my Motobecane worked on this week, now a 10 speed. Also bought a lightly used Centurian Le Mans from the 1980s. I rode both today and I'm not feeling a lot of difference or advantage with the newer bike. 62cm vs. 68 cm. Is there a reason the newer one is not that much easier to ride?

repechage

The "tech" is nearly the same, the Centurion may have an additional cog in back.

markwesti

Please explain "not easier to ride" . 62cm to 68cm is a big jump are you having fitment troubles ? Also have you gone through the LeMans yet ? Ie : new grease for all the bearings ? I'll be interested in your comparison . But I'm with repechage they are a similar bike .

TLit

I just got it; is it hard to grease/access the bearings? The 68 fits better.

markwesti

To grease everything , headset , wheels , bottom bracket , it's not hard but you will need some tools . Wrenches for the bottom bracket , cone wrenches for the wheels and maybe wrenches for the headset . The mechanics section here is a good source of information and YouTube is nice because you watch it done on a video . If the 68cm fits better then for sure go with that . Good luck and keep us posted .
Mark .

canklecat

I had a 1975 or '75 Motobecane Mirage, bought new back then for commuting to and from base when I was stationed in SoCal. All hi-ten frame and fork, so not lightweight, but a very comfortable ride. Especially those extra-curvy French forks of that era.

But there's a huge difference in frame size between your Motobecane and Centurion. The frame that fits you best will be the most comfortable and satisfactory over the long haul. Depends on trail, wheelbase, stability, etc. It's gotta be tricky to build a frame for taller riders at a modest price point.

Also, the Motobecane Mirage will have steel rims, if those are the original wheels. The Centurion might have alloy rims. If you keep the Motobecane, consider switching to alloy rims for better braking in wet conditions.

Tires make a big difference too. The Motobecane has 27" wheels, with a more limited selection of tires -- although there are still some very good tires from Panaracer under the Soma and Rivendell brands. Makes a big difference in ride feel and comfort. Ditto, using latex tubes for a smoother ride, although latex tubes are pricey and trickier to install -- powder those tubes to make 'em slippery and reduce the risk of pinching. And tape the rims with Gorilla tape or tubeless tire tape, to protect the latex tubes from the spoke holes. Worth the extra effort for a smoother ride over rough pavement such as chipseal.

My bucket list still includes a 1975-1977 era Motobecane Super Mirage or better, with those luscious curvy forks. Possibly the ultimate in comfort for longer leisurely rides.

madpogue 

Sounds like the Centurion just needs a bearing repack, etc. as described above. In any event, you should go with whichever bike fits you better, because that's the hardest thing to change.

Tech level difference will be negligible in this case; later '80s bikes introduced indexed shifting, aero brake levers, possibly dual-pivot brakes, and more rear cogs. The Motobecane may have several French-threaded parts, considerably harder to find in the 21st Century.

TLit

Thanks for the feedback on this thread. The Centurion is next to new with very little in the way of real wear, scratches, etc.. Sort of mysterious for a bike that is from the 1980s, not sure what year it was made. The seller said that he put on handle bar tape and that was about it. The front brakes were rubbing somewhat so I used some WD40 on the metal springs. The whole point of buying a bike is to get maximum use and enjoyment out of it. It's always good to have a back-up bike.

HelpSingularity 

I don't know if I've ever seen a 68cm frame IRL.
Please forgive me if this is too personal; but may I ask how tall you are?

TLit

I was 6 foot six, now 6 foot four over 60, should have worked more on posture.

It does not seem that big to me.

madpogue 

The branding on the Centurion appears consistent with the 1984 model, going by the catalogs on vintage-centurion.com . You might be able to narrow it down via the https://www.bikeforums.net/classic-v...ber-guide.html .

TLit

Thanks for the analysis. Once I turned the bike over the digits are....N4G6978.

madpogue 

So depending on the interpretation of the N(1) code, it's from either June or early April (7th fortnight) 1984.