[CR]Centurion Professional Info Sought

(Example: Framebuilding:Norris Lockley)

From: <fricker414@earthlink.net>
To: Classicrendezvous@bikelist.org
Subject: [CR]Centurion Professional Info Sought
Date: Thu, 31 Oct 2002 01:38:54 -0800

Hi Folks-

I just bought a lovely old bike, and I was wondering if folks had any info or personal experience with this model. It's a Centurion Professional, from around the mid to late 70s, based on the components (first gen. Cyclone ders., Sugino Mighty cranks). Here's what it's like...

Orange. Lovely, metallic orange. Tange Champion Butted Tubes sticker on seat tube. The whole frame appears to have been chromed, then painted, leaving things like the top of the fork crown, and dropouts, and top of the seat stays chrome. The frame design looks decidedly Italy-inspired... sloping fork crown, like Cinelli, fastback stays, with that kind of squared off look to the tops. No brazeons to speak of, except the chain stay cable guide. Components: Cranks are Sugino Mighty, with the Super Record style rings, with extra holes drilled around the edge, and cutouts on each of the five arms. Mighty Victory?? Hubs are Sunshine ProAm, with the oil hole and clip, and dated '78. Rims, oddly enough, are Mavic, Module E, 700C. At first I thought they must not be original, but then I recalled that for a while, they were the only narrow clincher rims out there. Might they have been original? Or are they more likely replacements. What would this bike have had originally, if these are not? Derailleurs are first generation SunTour Cyclone, short cage rear, as are the levers, the lovely cutout ones with the band clamp. Speaking of which, part of them is damaged.. specifically the cast part that the stops fit over. Anyone have a spare set of these levers? Freewheel is a Regina Extra 5 speed, which I'm pretty darned sure is not original. Brakes are DiaCompe Gran Compe sidepulls, standard reach, early model, with older style "on/off" quick release, not the variable one like Campy. Oh, and they had the original pads, too, I think, since the metal part was stamped "Gran Compe". Brake levers are also Gran Compe, with black plastic adjusters and gum hoods. Stem is SR of some sort.. looks nice, with the slot in the middle of the clamp. Bars are SR "World Champion" bars, with circles cut out of center ferrule, and the old SR eagle logo. VERY nice bars... but only 39cm wide. Anyone have a set of these in 42 or wider? Probably not. Seatpost is a two bolt SR micro adjust, like Campy NR. Saddle was an old and awful Fujita, with the shell broken away from the rails. Oh, serial number is M7070019, on the bb shell, which has this cool cutout, sort of like a weird four leaf flower thing.

So, anyone know much about this bike? Looks like a good'un, and should be lots of fun to spruce up and ride. Anything I should know about it? And any sources of Centurion info I should check out? Let me know. Thanks!

Tim Fricker
Portland, OR (but relocating soon)