New (to me) 1992 Merlin Titanium
08-31-18, 09:39 PM
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New (to me) 1992 Merlin Titanium
Today I became the 2nd owner of this 1992 Merlin Titanium. It is built up with Campy Record 8 speed and has a Willow Trilplizer. The wheels are Campy Vento. These pictures are as it was picked up. Since then I have changed the seatpost (I needed it to be longer and the Campy one on it was at its limit line) and the seat to my favorite Koobi PRS Alpha.
I have taken it for it for a quick ride around the area and all I can say is WOW...I like it. Looking forward to taking it out on a long ride tomorrow.
I have taken it for it for a quick ride around the area and all I can say is WOW...I like it. Looking forward to taking it out on a long ride tomorrow.
08-31-18, 10:54 PM
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Very nice indeed, timeless in fact. That stem must be enormous to have so much showing!
09-01-18, 06:19 AM
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Lookin' good!
Appears to be in wonderful shape. Post a ride report when you put in some miles
Appears to be in wonderful shape. Post a ride report when you put in some miles
09-01-18, 08:44 AM
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Beautiful!!!!
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Commence to jigglin’ huh?!?!
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Commence to jigglin’ huh?!?!
"But hey, always love to hear from opinionated amateurs." -says some guy to Mr. Marshall.
09-01-18, 08:53 AM
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Very cool, curious to hear about the ride after some miles. Ti is on the radar as a possible addition here. A work friend recently grabbed a similar Merlin and loves it.
09-01-18, 09:28 AM
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Well, I spent time cleaning and prepping yesterday. Took it out this morning for one of my usual 15 mile rides...and WOW!! I am in love. Yes, I am sure that it is partly because it is new, but the ride was like butter and the fit is PERFECT for me. I just wish that the cranks were 175 like everything else I ride...but that is minimal. I am glad I spent the money, and I am glad I didn’t change anything (thought about swapping my Shimano stuff in place of the Campy). I am sold.
09-01-18, 09:30 AM
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09-01-18, 05:08 PM
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Changed tires to Continental Grand Prix 4000 Sii, swapped the seat post to a carbon one from a different bike (needed more length), swapped the saddle, and changed the grip from camp to black.
09-03-18, 07:35 PM
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I decided to swap my 105 stuff on it. I like the looks a little better, it cut about 2 lbs, now I just need to see if I like it better on the road. What do you think?
09-03-18, 08:04 PM
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So, are you at the point yet, where people ask you how it rides, and you say "Well, not like steel, not like carbon. It's Titanium, and just hard to explain."
That's when you know you're there.
I shipped a nearly identical frame to Australia, because the guy just couldn't get anyone on ebay or CL to ship there (we combined about 17 orders into one 68-lb box). His son then won the Juniors on it.
That's when you know you're there.
I shipped a nearly identical frame to Australia, because the guy just couldn't get anyone on ebay or CL to ship there (we combined about 17 orders into one 68-lb box). His son then won the Juniors on it.
09-09-18, 02:02 PM
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I would like some feedback from the group please:
if you had a choice to build this bike up with any combo of the following, which would you choose and why?
Grupo: (crankset for either Shimano would be VO 54.5)
Campy Record 8 speed (Triple-ized) - Silver
Shimano 105 2 x 10 speed - Black
Ultegra 11 x 2 speed - Black
Wheels: (I have spacer set to make Shimano wheels work with Campy grupo)
Mavic Kyserium SL
Vuelta Super Light
Campy Vento 16 HPW (this would only be with Campy grupo).
Seatpost :
Campy Record Chrome (fits at max)
Specialized CF
Brakes:
Campy Record - Silver
Shimano 105 - Black
I have a feeling that I know what the answer will be, but I would like some real advice. This is going to be my main ride, it is going to be used for centuries as well as my usual rides. Help me out so I can stop taking everything apart.
Thanks in advance.
if you had a choice to build this bike up with any combo of the following, which would you choose and why?
Grupo: (crankset for either Shimano would be VO 54.5)
Campy Record 8 speed (Triple-ized) - Silver
Shimano 105 2 x 10 speed - Black
Ultegra 11 x 2 speed - Black
Wheels: (I have spacer set to make Shimano wheels work with Campy grupo)
Mavic Kyserium SL
Vuelta Super Light
Campy Vento 16 HPW (this would only be with Campy grupo).
Seatpost :
Campy Record Chrome (fits at max)
Specialized CF
Brakes:
Campy Record - Silver
Shimano 105 - Black
I have a feeling that I know what the answer will be, but I would like some real advice. This is going to be my main ride, it is going to be used for centuries as well as my usual rides. Help me out so I can stop taking everything apart.
Thanks in advance.
09-09-18, 02:05 PM
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09-09-18, 07:17 PM
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09-10-18, 03:01 AM
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In a general sense, Ultegra 11sp. I see you have Mavics that can handle an 11-sp cassette.
10-speed
Plan A: swap in the part from my PM and stay 10sp 105. You are limited to 30t rear, but that's still a pretty good range, and you don't buy anything.
Plan B: swap in the part from my PM, pick up a long cage 5700 RD, and you can use a 34t max cog on the rear.
11-speed
Plan A: swap in the part from my PM and go Ultegra 11sp. You'd need, at minimum, a set of shifters and an RD, from what I see in pics. You'd have to decide on range for the RD choice. The wheel decals detract a bit...my opinion only.
Plan B: go all in Ultegra 11-sp and those Mavics.
My choice: Swap in my PM part and a 10-sp 6700 GS RD in the lighter grey Ultegra that matches the Ti color. Keep the FD and shifters, get a wide-range 11-32 or 11-34 10-sp cassette. Ride the wheels off.
In any case, get the best cables/housing you can, find some Slick50 1-lube, and get those cables as slick as you can at installation. it's tedious and messy, and you have to clean your hands often during the install, but the shifting is really a lot smoother. The lube and good cables/housing tend to mitigate the issues with bar-routed shift cables.
10-speed
Plan A: swap in the part from my PM and stay 10sp 105. You are limited to 30t rear, but that's still a pretty good range, and you don't buy anything.
Plan B: swap in the part from my PM, pick up a long cage 5700 RD, and you can use a 34t max cog on the rear.
11-speed
Plan A: swap in the part from my PM and go Ultegra 11sp. You'd need, at minimum, a set of shifters and an RD, from what I see in pics. You'd have to decide on range for the RD choice. The wheel decals detract a bit...my opinion only.
Plan B: go all in Ultegra 11-sp and those Mavics.
My choice: Swap in my PM part and a 10-sp 6700 GS RD in the lighter grey Ultegra that matches the Ti color. Keep the FD and shifters, get a wide-range 11-32 or 11-34 10-sp cassette. Ride the wheels off.
In any case, get the best cables/housing you can, find some Slick50 1-lube, and get those cables as slick as you can at installation. it's tedious and messy, and you have to clean your hands often during the install, but the shifting is really a lot smoother. The lube and good cables/housing tend to mitigate the issues with bar-routed shift cables.
09-10-18, 03:22 AM
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Modern campy, e.g. Veloce or Potenza, in silver. Use a more traditional bend drop bar. Use a silver quill stem.
And add some colour! Light green or light blue bar tape would look nice.
And add some colour! Light green or light blue bar tape would look nice.
09-10-18, 04:10 AM
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Hmm...so now I am really confused. I was under the impression that because of the Merlin press fit bottom bracket, I had to stay with square taper cranks.
Is this not true? If not, what type of bottom bracket can be used?
Is this not true? If not, what type of bottom bracket can be used?
09-10-18, 04:57 AM
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Unfortunately I think that's true; however, I don't think that would stop you from using a 10 or 11 speed chainset and groupset. I'm reading frequently that people use 10-speed chainsets with 11-speed chains without problem, as the spacing of the teeth is the same. It just has to be a square-taper chainset, and you should be able to get Campy Record or Chorus (and others I presume) 10-speed cranks that are square-taper.
09-11-18, 06:02 AM
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Square taper does limit a bit.
My latest hierarchy, if I had to go square taper:
1-Dura Ace 7410
2-Superbe Pro
3-A couple of the newer Sugino's
If you go modern, and black, the FSA Vero would fit the bill, in either full or compact.
"The truth is out there, Mulder."
My latest hierarchy, if I had to go square taper:
1-Dura Ace 7410
2-Superbe Pro
3-A couple of the newer Sugino's
If you go modern, and black, the FSA Vero would fit the bill, in either full or compact.
"The truth is out there, Mulder."
09-15-18, 10:34 AM
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So, this is what I ended up going with.
Velo Orange “Rando” crankset. 50.4 offers nice gear selection of 46/30 for me. I wish it was black...but oh well.
Shimano 105 10 speed everything else.
Replaced the standard stem adapter for an Innicycle headset/adapter. This is a gorgeous piece of engineering and allows for a slight rise of the handlebars as well as a slight weight cut.
Vuelta Corsa Super Light wheels and Continental GP4000 s 2 tires.
Seatpost is Specialized Carbon Fiber.
Seat is Koobi PRS Alpha (I have this seat on all of my bikes...and may stationary).
I just got got back from my quick 15 mile ride and DONE. I’m officially in love.
09-17-18, 09:15 AM
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I have a very high opinion of these bikes...my first Merlin was, in many ways, the bike that established my standards. They're comfy, quick and good climbers. Yours looks great! Enjoy! I have a 92' model year as well (built late 91').
I have not ridden many bikes that I think offer a more balanced ride than the Merlin.
Is yours butted? 92' was around the transition point when they started offering the extra light as I recall.
Assuming it has the press fit bottom bracket?
As far as which group, this comes down to your preference; to me, the real choices involve the gearing options and contact points while the brands are preferences. I have mine set up with Shimano 9sp DA, mostly. Ultegra crank (because of BB). Personally, I'd use a modern campy gruppo with compact gearing if it were my primary bike I was doing distance on. I'll gladly show you a photo if you'd like.
I have not ridden many bikes that I think offer a more balanced ride than the Merlin.
Is yours butted? 92' was around the transition point when they started offering the extra light as I recall.
Assuming it has the press fit bottom bracket?
As far as which group, this comes down to your preference; to me, the real choices involve the gearing options and contact points while the brands are preferences. I have mine set up with Shimano 9sp DA, mostly. Ultegra crank (because of BB). Personally, I'd use a modern campy gruppo with compact gearing if it were my primary bike I was doing distance on. I'll gladly show you a photo if you'd like.
Last edited by KonAaron Snake; 09-17-18 at 09:22 AM.