359:, the Pro Tour models featured a longer wheelbase with longer chainstays for smoother ride especially while loaded, full (all eight tubes) chromoly construction for ride compliance, cantilever brakes to allow room for fenders, internal wiring for a bottom bracket generator and numerous braze-ons: two mounts on the fork for the cantilever brakes, two eyelets in back for a rack and a fender, two eyelets on the fork for a rack and a fender, low rack mounting points on the fork, mounts for two bottle cages, mounts for downtube shifters/cable stops, and seat stay mounts for a rack.
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1097:
35:
270:) brand. While the brand Centurion had become well known, under the new brand name the company's market for road and touring bicycles soon evaporated. Early Diamond Back models (ca. 1990) carried a top tube decal reading "Centurion Designed" and stickers near the bottom bracket reading "Designed in the USA" and "Exclusively built for WSI."
333:
components: Columbus SL tubing; chrome chain stay, Cinelli chromed sloped crown, head lugs, bottom bracket shell, handlebars and stem; new-style
Cinelli logos embossed on bar and stem, fork crown, seat and seat stays, rear brake bridge and under bottom bracket; Campagnolo dropouts, derraileurs and shifters; Universal 'AER' non-aero brakeset;
300:
Cozy
Yamakoshi, product and development manager, worked with Mike Bobrick (Executive President of WSI) and Sandy Finkelman (1947–2005)(Diamond Back team manager and product development) and left Diamond Back in 1986, to start Parkpre Mountain Bike in 1989. Parkpre USA was based in Moorpark, Southern
337:
Mistral headset, bottom bracket and crankset; Gipiemme seatpost; Regina chain and CX-S freewheel; Miche "Competition" hubs and Fiamme, Hard Silver tubular rims. Other markings include a "Cinelli Equipe" decal on down-tube just above shifters and on left chain stay; an "Italia: Made in Italy" decal
253:
Cozy
Yamakoshi served as the company's product development manager, designing the bike's frames, coordinating the manufacture of the bikes by Japanese manufacturers, and importing the bikes into the US. Subsequently, around 1986, Centurion introduced their first Taiwanese built model, the Signet.
374:
W = a letter, purpose uncertain, possibly indicates a manufacturer or
Centurion; X = a number, indicating the calendar year of manufacture; Y = a letter, indicating the fortnight of manufacture (A = wk 1 & 2, B = wk 3 & 4, etc.) ZZZZ = four digit number, probably indicating frame number
332:
for model year 1984/85, as a joint-venture, designed by Cino
Cinelli several years after he retired in 1979 and sold Cinelli to the Columbo family, manufacturers of Columbus tubing. The Cinelli Equipe's production was coordinated and supervised by his staff. The bike featured all Cinelli frame
378:
N4E0283, as an example, would indicate this is the 283rd frame made during the period of weeks 9–10 in 1984. Barring a major components upgrade at some point in a bike's history, one can confirm a bike's age by the dates found on the majority of components in its groupset.
224:
model. Raleigh
America ordered 2,000 bicycles from Tano and Company of Osaka but their parent company in England, TI-Raleigh, disapproved — concerned that the Tano-built bikes were too well made and would have outsold their own British bikes.
308:
in 1991. Renner had imported
Centurion to Germany since 1976, including made-extra models like the first German mountainbike "Country". Today, Centurion remains as a German brand with design and engineering in-house.
261:
Early bike sales were limited to the West Coast, with the brand receiving wider exposure by the late 1970s. WSI stopped using the
Centurion brand name in 1990, consolidating their road and touring bikes under the
338:
high on seat tube; Columbus tubing decals on fork ("Forcella
Originale") and frame ("Acciaio Speciali"); Centurion decals on down-tube (left and right), and a Centurion "C" decal badge on head tube.
317:
Centurion eventually marketed a full line of road and touring bikes, with steel construction ranging from full (all eight tubes) high-tensile 1020 steel at the lower end, to full (all eight tubes)
368:
Centurions (except the
Cinelli\Centurion) have serial numbers on the underside of the bottom bracket shell. One way to date a Centurion is to try to find date codes on the bike's components.
1426:
209:
1411:
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included the Centurion Pro Tour (ultimately manufactured from 1976 to 1984) on his list of "Best Bikes" in both the 1978 and 1982 updates of his book — along with the
610:
1401:
301:
California, USA., producing bikes from the early 1990s until 1998. Ken Yamakoshi, son of Cozy Yamakoshi, is in the process of re-launching Parkpre in the US.
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97:(initially Wil-Go Imports) to design, specify, distribute and market the bicycles. The bikes themselves were manufactured initially in
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242:
after merging with Rick Wilson's company, Wil-Go of Santa Clara, California. Because the bikes had all been intended as Raleigh
393:
143:
485:
447:
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17:
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205:, offering a warranty without time limit. For a brief period the bikes carried a "Centurion Bicycle Works" headbadge.
212:, which still exists, imported Centurion bikes from Japan to Germany from 1976 on and bought the name-rights in 1990.
512:
996:
726:
1131:
1116:
941:
781:
220:
According to Frank J. Berto, Raleigh Industries of America had been looking at a Japanese source for their
681:
1056:
1031:
876:
230:
371:
Centurion models manufactured in Japan between 1980 and 1990 use a serial number format WXYZZZZ with:
179:
1342:
1171:
861:
122:
Centurion and WSI competed in the U.S. against domestic and European bicycle manufacturers including
1206:
1196:
1111:
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294:
174:— itself a line of Japanese-manufactured bicycles that were specified, distributed and marketed by
57:
1156:
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776:
721:
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P-13, a bike that sold for two to three times the price of the Pro-Tour. Like other full-fledged
159:
127:
94:
182:
in the late 1980s made them less competitive, leading companies to source bicycles from Taiwan.
178:— a U.S. company similar to WSI. Japanese-manufactured bikes succeeded in the U.S. market until
1226:
1061:
896:
851:
771:
321:
bikes at their high end — with top quality componentry. Notable models included:good speedster
1211:
1151:
836:
631:
53:
297:. After Weiner died, the company continued its growth under the management of Mike Bobrick.
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created in 1969 by Mitchell (Mitch) M. Weiner and Junya (Cozy) Yamakoshi, who co-founded
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The Cinelli Equipe Centurion of 1985 (only) was a joint-venture of WSI and
190:
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was eventually sold to Raleigh USA, and manufacture was moved to Taiwan.
238:
decals on the bikes and marketed them successfully, subsequently forming
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139:
246:
models, as Centurions, they carried the colors of the Raleigh America
113:. The Centurion brand was consolidated with WSI's mountain bike brand
966:
911:
816:
796:
766:
526:
473:
The Dancing Chain: History and Development of the Derailleur Bicycle
435:
The Dancing Chain: History and Development of the Derailleur Bicycle
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The rights to the brand name Centurion were sold to Germany's
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Defunct manufacturing companies based in Greater Los Angeles
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431:
106:
228:
Raleigh's sales agent, Mitchell Weiner, who was reading
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72:
Junya (Cozy) Yamakoshi, Co-founder, Product Development
1412:
Vehicle manufacturing companies disestablished in 2000
463:
425:
432:
Berto, Frank J.; Ron Shepherd; et al. (2008) .
1407:
Vehicle manufacturing companies established in 1969
480:, USA: Cycle Publishing/Van der Plas Publications.
442:, USA: Cycle Publishing/Van der Plas Publications.
618:
328:WSI/Centurion and Cinelli offered the co-branded
1383:
469:
234:at the time, took receipt of the bikes, placed
1402:Companies based in Ventura County, California
604:
413:
411:
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199:"Where Centurion leads, others must follow"
109:and later in Taiwan by companies including
611:
597:
1437:American companies disestablished in 2000
1392:Cycle manufacturers of the United States
406:
197:in the United States using the tag line
119:in 1990. WSI ceased operations in 2000.
542:
501:
281:, and eventually maintained offices in
14:
1432:American companies established in 1969
1384:
551:Has the rights to the original company
519:
509:"Japanese Bicycles in the U.S. Market"
470:Berto, Frank J.; et al. (2016) .
394:List of Japanese bicycle manufacturers
592:
144:other nascent Japanese bicycle brands
1422:2000 disestablishments in California
24:
421:. Sheldonbrown.com, Ashley Wright.
25:
1448:
1417:1969 establishments in California
537:
375:during fortnight of manufacture.
363:
1366:
1365:
1095:
527:"A brief history of Parkpre USA"
293:— in addition a headquarters in
33:
91:Western States Import Co. (WSI)
619:American bicycle manufacturers
277:WSI later opened an office in
70:Mitchell M. Weiner, Co-founder
28:Western States Import Co. Inc.
13:
1:
572:"Centurion Pro Tour Review",
399:
7:
1397:Mountain bike manufacturers
561:
382:
45:circa 1969 (ceased in 2000)
10:
1453:
215:
1361:
1270:
1104:
1093:
624:
326:Centurion Cinelli Equipe:
312:
64:
49:
41:
32:
349:"Richard's Bicycle Book"
330:Centurion Cinelli Equipe
295:Newbury Park, California
58:Newbury Park, California
777:Independent Fabrication
101:by companies including
95:Canoga Park, California
1152:Gormully & Jeffery
568:1984 Centurion Catalog
727:Ellsworth Handcrafted
240:Western State Imports
180:currency fluctuations
54:Camarillo, California
782:International Surrey
557:an unrelated company
543:Modern Manufacturers
511:. Sheldonbrown.com,
279:Van Nuys, California
272:Diamondback Bicycles
203:"A Lifetime Bicycle"
1257:Western Wheel Works
555:Centurion (Denmark)
342:Centurion Pro Tour:
208:The German company
29:
18:Centurion (bicycle)
549:Centurion (German)
345:Richard Ballantine
291:Dayton, New Jersey
231:The New Centurions
27:
1379:
1378:
1032:Turner Suspension
578:, December 1976,
487:978-1-892495-77-8
478:San Francisco, CA
449:978-1-892495-59-4
440:San Francisco, CA
419:"Centurion Bikes"
389:Nishiki (bicycle)
353:Schwinn Paramount
185:WSI marketed the
176:West Coast Cycles
76:
75:
16:(Redirected from
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1062:Wilderness Trail
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476:(5th ed.).
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438:(3rd ed.).
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287:Denver, Colorado
195:touring bicycles
103:H. Teams Company
60:(later location)
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977:Shinola Detroit
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927:Ritchey Design
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538:External links
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529:. Parkpre.com.
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364:Serial Numbers
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922:Richard Sachs
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632:American Star
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513:Sheldon Brown
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357:touring bikes
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283:Dallas, Texas
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142:— as well as
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1323:L.H. Thomson
1012:Terrible One
897:Quintana Roo
671:
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521:
503:
491:. Retrieved
472:
465:
453:. Retrieved
434:
427:
377:
373:
370:
367:
348:
341:
329:
325:
316:
303:
299:
276:
267:
264:Diamond Back
263:
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207:
202:
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186:
184:
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121:
114:
102:
90:
78:
77:
50:Headquarters
1147:Gary Fisher
997:Specialized
937:Rhoades Car
707:Diamondback
697:Cycle Force
637:Bike Friday
268:DiamondBack
156:Bridgestone
116:DiamondBack
1386:Categories
1271:Components
1162:Iron Horse
1127:Clark-Kent
1042:Van Dessel
1007:TerraCycle
952:Santa Cruz
942:Roadmaster
662:Cannondale
400:References
258:of Italy.
248:Grand Prix
244:Grand Prix
222:Grand Prix
146:including
140:Motobecane
66:Key people
1343:Speedplay
1288:Bontrager
1072:Yamaguchi
1057:Waterford
932:Rivendell
837:Milwaukee
817:Litespeed
797:K2 Sports
767:Hutch BMX
712:Dynacraft
677:Co-Motion
672:Centurion
575:Bicycling
236:Centurion
210:Centurion
189:brand of
187:Centurion
160:Panasonic
79:Centurion
1371:Category
1338:SureStop
1333:RockShox
1308:Fyxation
1247:Sterling
1177:Kogswell
1142:Fat City
1112:American
1067:Worksman
982:Softride
882:Priority
842:Mongoose
787:Italvega
742:Fyxation
692:Cruzbike
682:Columbia
652:Brooklyn
647:Bohemian
562:Original
383:See also
319:chromoly
87:bicycles
1242:Stelber
1232:Serotta
1222:Rambler
1212:Overman
1202:Monarch
1157:Indiana
1122:Chicago
1105:Defunct
1037:Univega
1017:Tommaso
962:Schwinn
957:Santana
917:Redline
892:Quality
872:Pacific
862:Nishiki
807:Kestrel
747:Gendron
722:Electra
687:Cortina
667:Catrike
642:Bilenky
625:Current
493:May 30,
455:May 30,
266:(later
256:Cinelli
250:model.
216:History
172:Nishiki
164:Univega
132:Peugeot
128:Raleigh
124:Schwinn
42:Founded
1328:Lezyne
1293:Burley
1262:Wright
1252:Stover
1237:Shelby
1217:Pocket
1207:Murray
1197:Merlin
1182:LeMond
1052:Volagi
1022:Torker
867:Novara
657:Calfee
584:Page 2
580:Page 1
484:
446:
335:Ofmega
313:Models
148:Miyata
136:Gitane
111:Merida
81:was a
1318:Hayes
1298:Coker
1192:Melon
1187:Lotus
1172:Klein
1137:Eagle
1047:Villy
1002:Surly
972:Seven
947:Salsa
912:Razor
857:Niner
847:Moots
827:Marin
822:Magna
792:Jamis
762:Huffy
702:Dahon
168:Lotus
99:Japan
83:brand
1353:Zipp
1348:SRAM
1313:Giro
1278:Bell
1227:Ross
1087:Zigo
1082:Yuba
1077:Yeti
1027:Trek
992:SOMA
987:Solé
907:Rans
887:Pure
877:Pope
852:Next
832:Masi
812:Kona
802:Kent
772:Ibis
757:Haro
737:Fuji
732:Felt
717:DYNO
495:2017
482:ISBN
457:2017
444:ISBN
289:and
201:and
193:and
191:road
170:and
152:Fuji
138:and
107:Kobe
56:and
1303:Fox
1283:BTI
1167:JMC
1117:AMF
902:R+E
347:'s
158:,
105:of
93:in
85:of
1388::
967:SE
752:GT
582:,
408:^
285:,
166:,
162:,
154:,
150:,
134:,
130:,
126:,
612:e
605:t
598:v
515:.
497:.
459:.
20:)
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