lonesomesteve

This frame came to me as a nearly bare frame (headset included) a little over a year ago. I've set it up as a single speed randonneuse, and I've been enjoying the heck out of it. Until recently I had assumed it was an '80 - '81 Centurion Semi Pro, based on the color, the chrome lugs and dropouts, and what appears to be Tange Champion #1 tubing.



But recently I've noticed that quite a few details don't match with pictures of other Semi Pros I see online. For instance:

• The head tube lugs on mine have a cut out that other Semi Pros don't have.
  
  Mine is on the left, the image on the right was a 1980 Semi Pro found online.
  
• The fork crown is quite different than the crown on the 1980 SP shown above, though it is similar to the crown on some earlier SPs.
  
  Mine on the left. The one the '76 on the right is similar, but the lug is still different.
  
• The dropouts and fork ends on mine are chromed like other Semi Pros, but they're Shimano, rather than the Suntour dropouts others have.
  
  
• Mine has no brazed on cable guides or stops. Others seem to at least have a brazed on drive-side chain stay derailleur cable stop.
• The top tube is ever-so-slightly downward sloping on mine (you can see it in the picture at the top of the post). I've never seen that on another Semi Pro.
• Mine has no serial number, or at least none that I could find. Typically it's on the BB shell, but mine just has "Champion."
  
  
• The head tube has no sign of ever having a Centurion head badge riveted on.
• The seat post cluster has the same chromed wrap-around stay ends as others I see online, but the lug has that diamond shaped cutout that others don't have.
  
  Mine on the left. A 1976 found online on the right.

So anyway, not that it really matters much, but I'm curious what this frame is that I have. Superficially it's pretty Semi Pro-like, but if it is a Semi Pro, it's quite different from the others I've seen online and in person. If it's not a Semi Pro, then what is it?

And of course, I know that you frame detectives out there like a challenge, or like to show off when it's not enough of a challenge.

Thanks!

P.S. Apologies for all the poorly lit pictures!

ehcoplex 

I can offer nothing, ID wise, but that’s a sweet looking ride!

Andrew R Stewart 

Check out Japanese Steel (by William Bevington) or hang out in https://groups.google.com/group/class...es?hl=en?hl=en. If you do post photos in the Classic Rendezvous don't show the single speed drivetrain (At least the der hanger is still there and not hack sawed off). Andy (who has a 1974 Fuji Finest and think that these early Japanese bikes were under appreciated)

I should add that these higher end bikes were often outsourced to smaller batch builders and the details, bits and pieces, can vary through the number of batch productions in any one year.

unworthy1

I'd say the diamond in the headlug and seat lug sockets points to a Miyata or Miyata-made Univega, and yes...they are also nice frames!

clubman 

Centurion also used Shimano drops on some of their top-tier bikes.

romperrr 

My thought as well. I know Miyata built bikes for Univega, but I've never seen a univega with crhomed lugs (italavega on the other hand...) sorry I can hep further. It does, indeed, look like one sweet ride.

unworthy1

I have this very vague recollection that there may have been a Nishiki model (or 2) that also had main lugs pierced with the diamond shape (which was an "homage" to De Rosa, I guess) but have nothing by way of exact info, if this is even accurate...Miyata/Univega definitely did it.

himespau 

Whatever it is, it looks pretty.