Centurion Titanium SX from 1992/94

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Hi guys

I wanted to show you my Centurion Titanium SX built up project. One of my favorite and lightest bikes in my collection.


Centurion is a german brand and they build bicycles since centuries. In 1992 Centurion ordered a titanium frame from Sandvik in the USA. The Centurion Titan SX. The Centurion frames closely resemble the Dean Titanium frames of that era, which were produced at the same Sandvik facility in the USA.

These Titanium frames were produced for Centurion from 1992 to 1994. Price for the raw frame with Ringle clamp were 3700 DM (german marks) back in 1993.

I assume however that only a handful of these titanium frames were made at that time. I've never seen a serial number on these frames that went over #50. Mine is #18. So i guess it's from late 1992 or early to mid 1993 maybe.

The frame came without decals, but you could still see where the "Centurion" lettering used to be. My frame comes in 19 inch. The perfect size for my height.

From the start I wanted to build the bike with purple parts and a lot of titanium and already had a certain image in mind. But first it needed new decals. So I ordered some on ebay.

After this was done, the search for parts could begin. Purple Dia Compe 987 cantilever brakes from ebay UK

And a titanium tuning kit for the 987 cantis from ebay USA (very rare and hard to find). It reduces the weight from 176 grams to 129 grams a pair.



I decided to build up the bike with XTR M900 deraileurs and shifters

to be continued

Olli

 

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As cranks I wanted Grafton Joysticks in purple. They are not Topline or PBC as you can see on the pictures


Tech Lite brake levers. Light and nice

I wanted the M900 XTR shifters for this bike, so I had to modify some SL MC40 perches for the M900 shifters



As hubs I wanted XTR M900 too... but tuned with titanium axle and freehub body from an XTR M950 hub (with defective bearing).

This procedure reduces the weight of the rear hub by 54 grams. On the front hub I installed a SRP Ti axle what brings another 11 grams. So 65 grams in total for rear and front hubs. Not much.... but many a mickle makes a muckle

to be continued...

 

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A pair of light tires were also found quickly. Conti Twister Supersonic (360 grams per tire) and Tubolito tubes (40 grams each).


Marin Ti bar/stem combo replaces the Litespeed Tuf Nek stem which I mounted first. The tuf nek was too steep for me.

I managed to get a Syncros Ti seat post on ebay france for 67 Euros. The condition was very bad. But this we will change

Some abrasive fleece and new decals plus two Ti-screws and she looks like new again

A light saddle was also found in the meantime

Purple Chris King headset with aluminum baseplate to reduce a few grams of weight

and some very light RaceFace Ti bar ends (only 120 grams together)... abrasive fleece is used again


New stickers attached

to be continued...

 

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First I had a purple seat clamp from Ultimate Machine but the colour was not matching the other purple parts exactly...

So...


Ultimate Machine again... but this time the colour matches

The cassette BTW is not a XTR M900. I used a M950 because it is much lighter as the M900 cassette because of the three big cogs are made from Titanium. Saves around 60 grams.

Finding the right fork was a little of a challenge. I had tried several forks. The Kinesis aluminum fork was too bulky, 1991 P2 with 951 grams too heavy, P2 weight reduced (800 grams) too long....


and in the end I decided on a Shogun Zero Lite Fork that I liked both in terms of looks and weight: 799 grams (with shortened shaft 795 grams).

As pedals I decided to attach some Poggipolini Ti pedals from around 1993-94 in NOS condition

Blackburn Ti-Bottle Cage. With only 28 grams one of the lightest Ti cages and much nicer as the King Ti or Elite Ti cages in my opinion.

to be continued

 

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The first test drive in autumn... still with Litespeed Tuf Nek stem and P2 Kona fork

But the stem was a little to steep for me. I like it long an flat... here with Marin Ti bar/stem Combo

With P2 lite... but in my opinion a little to long
At the end I decided to install the japanese Shogun Zero Lite Fork to the CenTi. In my opinion the best alternative between lightness and good optics.


The weight of the bike is 8.4 kilos (without water bottle). The lightest bike in my garage so far



I hope you like it and I didn't bore you too much with the long thread

Regards
Olli

 

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I also found a vintage set of purple ControlTech axles

I used to mount modern titanium quick releases in purple because they were lighter than the purple Fast Feather Skewers.

Finally vintage instead of modern ones

Olli

 

[PeterPerfect]

Just wow !

 

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[Retro_Roy]

Really nice job. Especially like your shifter perches and pedals.

 

[Proto2000]

Way cool build and lots of exotic jewelry adorned on your bike, love it. So looking at the numbers from a Weight Weenie point of view which seems your path, these are below weights of what you have and not exotic. I have a few more to show you that were massed produced and stand up to or beat the Ti numbers. Specialized Ti spindle pedals made in Japan with composite body and steel screws (alloy or Ti would lose some weight), Ritchey Z Max tires, likely Japanese made, for race only (that's why we all bought them). You opened this up for debate since you wanted the lightest parts, just sayin...I hope this does not upset anyone, was trying to show and have a few more examples, that money does not produce light parts, innovation did. Titanium is not lighter than aluminum, just more durable.