Centurion Dave Scott Ironman Expert Road Bike Bicycle Shimano 105
Very nice 1980’s Centurion “Dave Scott Ironman Expert” Road Bike. Designed in the U.S. Built in Japan.
*** USED BUT VERY GOOD CONDITION***
Tange 1 CroMoly seamless double butted tubing frame and forks.
Original violet and yellow color scheme with white decals in excellent shape.
***MEASUREMENTS***
58CM CENTER TO TOP
57CM TOP TUBE
***COMPONENTS***
58cm Lugged Steel frame, made in Japan, designed in the USA. Steel is TANGE “1”.
Shimano 105 Crankset FC-1050 175 with Shimano’s Biopace Computer Designed Drive System
Shimano 105 “Light Action SIS” Index Shifters
Shimano 105 front derailleur
Shimano 105 rear deraileur
This bike has 6 rings in the back and 2 up front, 12spd
Shimano 105 SLR front/rear caliper brakes. Pads in great condition.
Shimano 105 headset
Nitto Stem
Nitto 420 bar
Shimano SLR brake levers
Sugino Shaft Seatpost
Serfas Dual Density seat
Time Criterium pedals (made in France) with Avenir shoes size 11 still attached
Impero air pump (made in Italy)
Avocet 40 cyclometer
***WHEELSET***
Rear wheel is ABT Sun rims 144 with Shimano 105 hub
Front wheel is Araya Super Hard 700C CTL-370 with Shimano 105 hub
Tires are Continental 25X622. Front is holding air, rear is not
Frame #6M7886
Bike is being offered in “as is” condition. It appears to be in excellent shape although I have not had it tuned or lubed or trued. I would imagine that these services will need to be performed. The frame seems to be very solid and brakes work great. I can not tell if the wheels are straight or not and the rear tire is not holding air.
I have done my best to represent this bike as accurately as possible but please note that I am not an expert. Please feel free to ask any questions prior to bidding. I will do my best to answer any and all question.
Winning bidder to pay for actual UPS ground shipping. Local (60504 Illinois) pickup is preferred but I will box and ship the bike anywhere within the continental US. Estimated shipping will be $50-$80.
Centurion Ironman Model – a brief history |
Perfect example of the hand-crafted steel framesets were built in Japan during the late 70’s through the 80’s. These framesets are harder to find as collectors are grabbing them up. They represent the best of two cultures: 1st American frame building heritage and technology. As many of you old timers know, the Japanese industrial centers were destroyed at the end of WWII. With American help, Japanese industry was rebuilt, modeled after the successful US manufacturers like Ford. As labor prices climbed in the US during the 60’s, American industries looked to Japan for cheap labor. So, manufactures and American capital went to Japan as Tiawan and China today.
The 2nd component of the story is the Japanese work ethic-status in the community was reflected often in your status in your place of employment. Dedication to producing a quality product to bring honor to your employer was an important cultural component. What do you think accounted for Toyota’s success? In addition, the Japanese urban population was well-educated and high literate unlike the sweat shop of Asia today. They understood quality control and better built products meant job security.
So the marriage of American bike-building knowledge, Japanese work ethic and finally, the advances in creating lighter, stronger Cr-Mo steel tubing, like the high-end Tange 1 tubing, all came together and is represented perfectly in this Centrion Dave Scott Ironman frame.
Check out the lugging and drop-out adjustment screws. The braze-ons for frame pump or chain holder for when you are removing the rear wheel. When have you seen this kind of workmanship on a cheap Taiwanese frame set. Or even the high end stuff? The worse is yet to come-China will be building 1000’s of throw away aluminum framesets in this decade. In fact, some manufacturers are reconsidering steel but the problem is who will build them-there is so much detail work they can not be mass produced like the chain store bike shop frames.
The Italian framesets are getting top dollar and the Japanese ones are close behind. The reason is most of us are looking for a comfortable riding frame that doesn’t leave you feeling like we went 12 rounds with Mike Tyson. Unfortunately, most Aluminum bikes do that. Oh yeah, add a carbon fork and it helps a bit but steel-You gotta give steel a feel! This is what many of us are coming back too. Well were are you going to get a quality hand-made steel lugged frameset? And not spend a year’s salary at Waterford? Well, if this one fits grab it!
This one was spec’d with the Shimano 105 components including the Biopace chainrings- too cool! The geometry is not tri specific like tri-bikes today but more suited to road racing. And one final note-this was a Dave Scott signature series bike. This guy dominated the tri scene in the 80’s and is a legend. He personally oversaw the design of the Dave Scott line. In fact, it was so well received, Nishiki followed with a TRI-A series bike to compete with the Dave Scott Ironmans.
Sold For: $99