1987 Eddy Merckx Century, 57 X 56cm, Tricolor/Deore
 

For sale is this truly lovely 1987 Eddy Merckx Century bicycle. Seat tube is 57cm CTC, top tube is 56cm CTC. Stand over height is 32.5 inches. Flat fork crown with ‘logo’ pantographs. The original owner dented the top tube in his garage and had it replaced by noted frame builder Ed Litton, hence the top tube cable guides instead of hidden cable routing. In 2014 it was resprayed in the original blue pearl color scheme by Al Wanta.

Components are what I refer to as “Hill climbing Tricolor”. Shimano 600/Ultegra 6400 Euro-spec non-aero levers, 6402 double pivot brakes, 6402 eight speed indexed down tube shifters, Deore compact 50/34 crankset, Deore RD, CT70 FD, and 12-34 cassette.

Wheels are hand-built Shimano 6402 hubs laced to Mavic Open Elite rims with Sapim double butted spokes. Tires are Continental GP 4000 SII in size 28. Saddle is a Merckx branded ProLogo mounted to a 6401 aero seat post. Bars are Nitto Noodles mounted to a Nitto stem. Cable housing is Jagwire with Shimano stainless drawn shift and brake cables.

No pedals (unless I happen to have a set of road pedals that work with your shoes). Pictured CatEye cyclometer not included.

As you can see from the photos, everything is in excellent condition. Bike rides beautifully and presents well.

Would REALLY prefer to sell this as a complete bike at $900 because everything works together so well but am also offering as a frame/fork/headset for $600. Note that price does not include shipping, but I will pack and ship it myself and use Ship Bikes as they are the least expensive right now. No worries on the shipping, I’ve never had one damaged.

Questions? Just ask.

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This is a cool bike for sure. I really like the gearing on this as well. There's a lot to be said for an MTB derailleur on a road bike.

Very nice and probably a better setup than your Super for the eroica. Also much better price. For me, a 58 is my lower limit which also requires a 100+ stem. How closely does it matchup with the Colnago? Maybe the same tubing and geometry??

Colnago is likely Columbus SL, the Century is Columbus TSX.

Both are great all-day riders.

The Century is set up with gearing specifically intended for steep hill climbing, with a 34/34 bottom gear vs. 42/28 on the Colnago.

IMO would be a great choice for Eroica. Dont think there is a issue being an 87 vs 1986 especially since its a EM.

Eroica doesn't really care what year your bike frame was made, as long as you have friction down tube shifters.
There is no examination of equipment or certification of 'legality'.

Why are all the cool EMs in the US? It's very unfair :) especially since I don't have EM Century yet... It's not 1987, it's 1988 at the earliest - the markings?

A3083

I would have guessed 1990 because I thought ‘89 was the first year of the Century (Merckx Century that is) and it was Reynolds 653 that year. Regardless a fantastic bike and IMO with maybe the exception of the Peter Mooney, the best deal in the “Doc Cannonsale”.

rccardr: A3083 - this is definitely 1987... but that's only half of the factory designation. What is on the left ?
Spaghetti Legs: Both versions of Century (653 and TSX) were produced "in advance" of the catalogues. Century 653 appeared in 1988, Century TSX in 1989 (first TSX appeared in the Corsa Extra in 1988). Unless it's all out of date, because the A3083 will verify it :)

Size (7) and the T indicating TSX. Pretty sure Columbus introduced TSX in 1986, but my memory may be incorrect.
Fork has flat crown with Logo pantos, although that was an option for other models at the time.
Bike is definitely a Century, per the original owner who purchased it in 1988. Has the slack seat tube geometry of a Century as well.
So, yeah, weird on the time line vs what we all 'know' about Merckx model introductions.

Sorry: T doesn't mean TSX, it's an EMC employee code... The T-code can be found on Corsa Extra (SLX), Corsa (SL), Criterium (SLX), 3-Athlete (R501), Strada (Matrix/Cromor) - the T-code is definitely from A06xx to A66xx (it corresponds to around 1987); Columbus TSX is a TT code (Corsa Extra, road racing geo - the oldest known serial numbers are B03xx, ~ summer 1988) or TTB (Century, century geo - the oldest known serial numbers are B67xx, ~autumn 1989). The oldest known to me EM Century serial number is A 91xx ( ver.1 or Reynolds 653 ) - your copy is 6000 numbers ( ~1 year of manufacture) earlier... If Century TSX had been produced in 1987, it would have been included in the EM catalogue in 1988 (the latest, similarly to Century 653), and only appeared in the EM catalogue in 1990 (653 - 1989). If the tubes do not have "riflings" it could mean Reynolds (maybe even 753), if they do: SLX/SPX. There is no confirmed information about the launch of Columbus TSX tubes in EMC before 1988, I have not found any TT or TTB frame manufactured in EMC before 1988, I have not found any Century model frame built before 1988 or any century geo before 1988.
Unfortunately, the cadre.org website is reaping a poor harvest - for 10 years it has been causing a lot of disinformation and confusion on many important issues - for collectors, sellers and buyers.
If it was SLX/SPX, I would immediately paint it in Panasonic colours - exactly such frames they used in 1987 (even brake bridge and flat fork crown would fit flawlessly).
Translated with www.DeepL.com/Translator

Would definitely be considering this if I had room for a garage queen. I would hate to ride this hard and put it away wet like the rest of my stable. That and I just bought a Lemond Poprad on Sunday! GLWS! I am sure someone will enjoy this very much.

I'm seriously considering pulling this off of the market until I can figure out what to do with the frame. Apparently there's no way this could be a Century, is more likely some flavor of Corsa Extra.
Not that a Corsa Extra from 1987 would be a bad thing, but I do believe in accuracy of representation.
Don't think there's any way I can change the Century and TSX decals without doing a total repaint, but would appreciate any suggestions.

Guess I just got bamboozled over five years ago by the previous owner...but it does ride beautifully.

The previous owner may not have known what he was selling... At that time (1985-1987) not all SLX frames were "X", and if he used cadre.org in his description, he must have made a mistake. You don't need to remove the stickers, just cover them with new ones ("old" SLX pattern, and gold Corsa Extra - you will need blue "background"). It's still a great EM Corsa Extra 1987 worth every dollar you want for it (that EM Panasonic from 1987 will already be haunting me...)

Translated with www.DeepL.com/Translator

Am I the only that is seriously impressed with the DeepL translator??

You are right. Translators are usually horrible. This reads like english is his first language.

Not only that but @CyclesMakaron makes it tell us exactly what he needs it to, win, win. ;)

I'm going to take your advice and give that a try. Had a high end repro SLX decal that fit right over the TSX one. And in my R/C decal collection found some blue pearl decal material that was an exact match for the paint. Ordered a CE decal from Velocals.

Will start a new thread for the sale of this bike when all of that is done.

Thanks to all
Doc

Mistakes happen.....

My 1987 Paramount was repainted by Waterford shortly before I picked it up from it's then owner. Waterford screwed up and put a SL decal on it instead of SLX, not the end of the world and caught by the sharp eyes of folks on this forum.

This bike is tempting. I like all of doc's bikes (and they all fit me) but this one is closest to how I'd set up a bike to be a rider.