Centurion made a full range of bikes, from gas pipe basic transportation to some pretty nice double butted rides with nice parts. Unfortunately, I can't remember any model names. Details, as always, rule.
See what the frames are made of. If they are double butted Tange or Ishwata, be interested. Then check parts. Should be at least midlevel Shimano or Suntour. Look for Shimano 600 or Suntour Cyclone. Anything cheaper would detract from resale, if that's what your concerned about. If frame and parts seem interesting, check condition. Any rust? Can you pull the BB to check for corrosion? If not, at least peer down the seat tube and in the fork steerer, looking for rust. Check for crash damage. Best area is bottom side of down tube directly aft of the head tube. Frontal impacts often cause wrinkles or bulges here. Do bearings turn easily? Are chainrings usable? Crash marks on derailers? Does it ride straight?
Lastly, if everything checks out, the most important test. Is the bike telling you "take me home?" If it's a good quality bike, and you need it or have a friend who can use it, it's worth saving. If not, well there are lots of mid level Japanese bikes out there, and we can't save them all.
Tom Adams, saving up for a rust-ectomy operation for a poor orphan Trek 710
-----Original Message----- From: Paulie Davis <paulieflt@yahoo.com> To: Classicrendezvous@bikelist.org <Classicrendezvous@bikelist.org> Date: Tuesday, March 20, 2001 8:38 PM Subject: [CR]Centurion
>Hi gang,
>
>I have a chance to pick up a pair of Centurion
>bikes from the 70's -- from my dentist who says
>they have been gathering dust in his garage.
>
>Sheldon's site had some good info, but not much
>specifically about which models were top end.
>I'm trying to get a handle on *whether* I need to
>rescue these bikes, how much I should offer, but
>there is little to go on. And, of course, that
>garage is filling up somehow.
>
>If not deemed classic enough, a private reply
>would be appreciated from anybody with some
>knowledge on the Centurion front.
>
>Many thanks!
>Paulie Davis
>in Sunny Los Angeles
>(wondering about rolling blackouts and my new
>Dremel tool... might be back to elbow grease for
>that Orly cleanup)
>
>
>__________________________________________________
>Do You Yahoo!?
>Get email at your own domain with Yahoo! Mail.
>http://personal.mail.yahoo.com/