A short guide to Eddy Merckx Serial Numbers cadre.org
03-03-20, 07:31 AM
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A short guide to Eddy Merckx Serial Numbers cadre.org
Because for a dozen or so years it was the only source of knowledge about factory markings placed on EMC frames you will come across them everywhere... and it won't help you, unfortunately. The data needs to be more precise, especially the description of the frames mentioned there (and there are almost 100 of them !); I will add some construction curiosities, so that you don't fall asleep on it right away...https://cadre.org/Merckx/
B4 E771 - 1981 - Professional - head tube sticker in "old style" used only in 1980-1981; dropouts in "De Rosa" style, porta catena, early style of combining dropouts with chainstays and seatstays ("manual", not yet used "mechanical") characteristic for 1980 and 1981.
5 E4653 - 1982 - Professional - "new style" sticker on head tube, modified seat lug clamp (with "notch").
A5 E4799 - 1982 - Professional - described as Reynolds 531...unfortunately it is rather a "hybrid": Reynolds fork, Columbus frame (no factory designation R = Reynolds 531); painted on the pattern of Lotto 1988, stickers in later style. Dropouts combined with stays modern ("mechanically"), early version of FD mount.
P6 E9122 - 1984 - Professional - fork reinforcements characteristic for "flat fork crown" from 1980 - 1987. Stickers with "MEXICO Km 49,431" were used in 1980-1985 (up to ~Z3500). All the time dropouts "porta catena" appeared.
E5306 - 1983
E8829 - 1984
M5 E5317 - 1983
And E(not F!)6961 - 1983
A5 Z979 - 1984 - Professional (late) - described in another thread. New is BB cover MI 4 grooves without chain bridge.
P Z3744 - 1985 - Professional - team TeVe Blad 1985 pattern. Steering tube information (VRT) unencrypted...
P Z2612 - 1985 - Chrono Aero SLX (!); Much new: brake bridge Silva ver.1 with "Eddy Merckx" ver.1, top tube slides used only in "aero", "narrow" geometry (without SSC). At that time the X marking for Columbus SLX was not yet used. Frame repainted after 1991.
P5C Z4628 - 1985 - Corsa ver.1 (cut-out lugs) - Kelme/ TeVe 1986 pattern.
Z5167 - 1985 - Pro SLX - EDDY MERCKX in the font reserved for the Pro model.
A0X Z5460 - 1985 - Pro SLX - brake bridge Silva ver.1, but "Eddy Merckx" ver.2. The "Corsa Extra" sticker comes from the 1990s.
0 Z6052 - 1986 - ? - repainted, rebuilt, the sticker is 1994 at the earliest.
P4X Z6721 - 1986 - Pro SLX - brake bridge Silva ver.2
M6C Z7688 - 1986 - Corsa ver.1
7X Z7598 - 1986 - Pro SLX - the golden "Corsa Extra" sticker has not yet appeared; the "old" design of the Columbus SLX sticker was used.
9CX Z7931 - 1986 - Criterium - also without gold sticker...
And E4727 - 1982 - Professional - no description.
The first twenty are behind us - t.b.c.
Translated with www.DeepL.com/Translator (free version)
B4 E771 - 1981 - Professional - head tube sticker in "old style" used only in 1980-1981; dropouts in "De Rosa" style, porta catena, early style of combining dropouts with chainstays and seatstays ("manual", not yet used "mechanical") characteristic for 1980 and 1981.
5 E4653 - 1982 - Professional - "new style" sticker on head tube, modified seat lug clamp (with "notch").
A5 E4799 - 1982 - Professional - described as Reynolds 531...unfortunately it is rather a "hybrid": Reynolds fork, Columbus frame (no factory designation R = Reynolds 531); painted on the pattern of Lotto 1988, stickers in later style. Dropouts combined with stays modern ("mechanically"), early version of FD mount.
P6 E9122 - 1984 - Professional - fork reinforcements characteristic for "flat fork crown" from 1980 - 1987. Stickers with "MEXICO Km 49,431" were used in 1980-1985 (up to ~Z3500). All the time dropouts "porta catena" appeared.
E5306 - 1983
E8829 - 1984
M5 E5317 - 1983
And E(not F!)6961 - 1983
A5 Z979 - 1984 - Professional (late) - described in another thread. New is BB cover MI 4 grooves without chain bridge.
P Z3744 - 1985 - Professional - team TeVe Blad 1985 pattern. Steering tube information (VRT) unencrypted...
P Z2612 - 1985 - Chrono Aero SLX (!); Much new: brake bridge Silva ver.1 with "Eddy Merckx" ver.1, top tube slides used only in "aero", "narrow" geometry (without SSC). At that time the X marking for Columbus SLX was not yet used. Frame repainted after 1991.
P5C Z4628 - 1985 - Corsa ver.1 (cut-out lugs) - Kelme/ TeVe 1986 pattern.
Z5167 - 1985 - Pro SLX - EDDY MERCKX in the font reserved for the Pro model.
A0X Z5460 - 1985 - Pro SLX - brake bridge Silva ver.1, but "Eddy Merckx" ver.2. The "Corsa Extra" sticker comes from the 1990s.
0 Z6052 - 1986 - ? - repainted, rebuilt, the sticker is 1994 at the earliest.
P4X Z6721 - 1986 - Pro SLX - brake bridge Silva ver.2
M6C Z7688 - 1986 - Corsa ver.1
7X Z7598 - 1986 - Pro SLX - the golden "Corsa Extra" sticker has not yet appeared; the "old" design of the Columbus SLX sticker was used.
9CX Z7931 - 1986 - Criterium - also without gold sticker...
And E4727 - 1982 - Professional - no description.
The first twenty are behind us - t.b.c.
Translated with www.DeepL.com/Translator (free version)
Last edited by CyclesMakaron; 03-07-20 at 01:45 AM.
03-03-20, 08:51 AM
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Part 2 - description of the A series frames:
8C A0218 - 1986 - Corsa ver.1 (modified) - without chain bridge, flat fork crown, painting pattern 1987.
P0C A0318 - 1986 - BB cover used in 3-Athlete and Corsa models, early version of cable guide ("inside") top tube used from 1984 to 1991. Frame repainted.
6C 1512 - no information available.
A A1648 - 1987 - Corsa Extra or Criterium, repainted frame, "old" design of the Columbus SLX sticker. New number hanger model.
Y5X A1869 - 1987 - Corsa Extra.
? A1926 - 1987 - no information.
T7CX A1938 - 1987 - Criterium.
T6M A2118 - 1987 - Strada - "Columbus" dropouts, "cut-out" lugs, "old" Cromor sticker.
4X A2724 - 1987 - Corsa Extra - Hitachi pattern.
0X A3150 - 1987 - Corsa Extra - Lotto 88 pattern.
3X A3241 - 1987 - Corsa Extra - Breakthrough new developments: brake bridge Silva ver.3, new FD fixing pattern, new design of the Columbus SLX sticker and a different (thinner) seat stays profile - that is, the "thick" seat stays inherited from De Rosa frames and used since 1980 (as a result, the SSC shape has changed, they seem longer and thinner).
4C A5717 - 1987 - Corsa ver.1 (modified).
Y7X A6097 - 1987 - Corsa Extra - "old" stickers and brake bridge...it's called a transition period
sometimes it lasts a few years in EMC.
T5C A6292 - 1987 - Corsa ver.1 (modified).
T7C A6304 - 1987 - Corsa.
A8005 - 1988 - ? - repainted in 1992/1993 style.
S A8170 - 1988 - Corsa Extra 753 or Grand Prix (no sticker). "Narrow" geometry (no SSC).
L0X A8349 - 1988 - Corsa Extra.
S7X A8833 - 1988 - Corsa Extra - frame rebuilt ~1991 and repainted ~1996.
D0X A8968 - 1988 - Corsa Extra - repainted in 1990 at the earliest.
S A9490 - 1988 - Pista - "old" bridge Silva ver.2; General remark: On EMC Pista you can find parts that have not been used on "road" bikes for 5 years...
t.b.c.
Translated with www.DeepL.com/Translator (free version)
8C A0218 - 1986 - Corsa ver.1 (modified) - without chain bridge, flat fork crown, painting pattern 1987.
P0C A0318 - 1986 - BB cover used in 3-Athlete and Corsa models, early version of cable guide ("inside") top tube used from 1984 to 1991. Frame repainted.
6C 1512 - no information available.
A A1648 - 1987 - Corsa Extra or Criterium, repainted frame, "old" design of the Columbus SLX sticker. New number hanger model.
Y5X A1869 - 1987 - Corsa Extra.
? A1926 - 1987 - no information.
T7CX A1938 - 1987 - Criterium.
T6M A2118 - 1987 - Strada - "Columbus" dropouts, "cut-out" lugs, "old" Cromor sticker.
4X A2724 - 1987 - Corsa Extra - Hitachi pattern.
0X A3150 - 1987 - Corsa Extra - Lotto 88 pattern.
3X A3241 - 1987 - Corsa Extra - Breakthrough new developments: brake bridge Silva ver.3, new FD fixing pattern, new design of the Columbus SLX sticker and a different (thinner) seat stays profile - that is, the "thick" seat stays inherited from De Rosa frames and used since 1980 (as a result, the SSC shape has changed, they seem longer and thinner).
4C A5717 - 1987 - Corsa ver.1 (modified).
Y7X A6097 - 1987 - Corsa Extra - "old" stickers and brake bridge...it's called a transition period
sometimes it lasts a few years in EMC.T5C A6292 - 1987 - Corsa ver.1 (modified).
T7C A6304 - 1987 - Corsa.
A8005 - 1988 - ? - repainted in 1992/1993 style.
S A8170 - 1988 - Corsa Extra 753 or Grand Prix (no sticker). "Narrow" geometry (no SSC).
L0X A8349 - 1988 - Corsa Extra.
S7X A8833 - 1988 - Corsa Extra - frame rebuilt ~1991 and repainted ~1996.
D0X A8968 - 1988 - Corsa Extra - repainted in 1990 at the earliest.
S A9490 - 1988 - Pista - "old" bridge Silva ver.2; General remark: On EMC Pista you can find parts that have not been used on "road" bikes for 5 years...
t.b.c.
Translated with www.DeepL.com/Translator (free version)
03-04-20, 09:38 AM
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Part 3 - description of the B series
A4M B038 - 1988 - Strada - tutti frutti ! suspiciously early...
8X B321 - 1988 - Corsa Extra SLX - unusual BB cover pattern (used 1988 - 1990) and unusual cable routing in top tube (new or rebuild - I don't know).
F B1160 - 1988 - ?
A0X B1198 - 1988 - Corsa Extra SLX
D6X B1217 - 1988 - Corsa Extra in Kelme 1985... the favourite scheme of the German market.
H6M B1284 - 1988 - Strada ver.1 - Mintjens colours (dark blue).
F B1761 - 1988 - Pista
H7C B1779 - 1988 - Corsa ver.2 - normal lugs, no cut-outs.
D B1944 - 1988 - Corsa Extra - the new number hanger model (this is the third one...)
S B2078 - 1988 - Grand Prix - another name for frames made of Reynolds 753 tubes... Pro 753, Corsa Extra 753, Grand Prix and... again Corsa Extra 753 (change approximately every 2 years).
S B2079 - 1988 - Grand Prix.
? B2524 - 1988 - Team bike, 7-Eleven - Jack Pierce. Flat fork crown with EM logo. Bike built for the 1989 season.
D7X B3372 - 1989 - Corsa Extra SLX.
L7X B4261 - 1989 - Corsa Extra SLX
L9X B3552 - 1989 - Corsa Extra SLX in the colours of Domex/Weinmann 1989. In this team, the frames had unusual cable guides in an unusual location - "9 o'clock" position, external guidance, only 2 guides.
F4X B4710 - 1989 - Corsa Extra SLX - repainted frame.
H9X B4826 - 1989 - Corsa Extra SLX
? B4972 - 1989 - painting Kelme 1990.
S6C B5637 - 1989 - Corsa - the only way to distinguish (without any consideration) from Corsa Extra is... The font of "Eddy Merckx".
H B5742 - 1989 - Pist - obviously the "old" elements of the frame...
7CR B5765 - 1989 - Corsa Reynolds 531 painted in Weinmann 1991.
L5X B6170 - 1989 - Corsa Extra SLX for the Swedish market...
D B6871 - 1989 - Pista
H7TTB B6661 - 1989 - Century TSX in 10th Anni colours.
H5X B6861 - 1989 - Corsa Extra SLX - Domex/Weinmann colours 1989.
L7X B6984 - 1989 - Corsa Extra SLX colours ADR or Westwood
L B8334 - 1990 - ?
5X B7482 - 1989 - Corsa Extra SLX in 10th Anni colours
L3X B9131 - 1990 - Corsa Extra SLX
L4TT B9850 - 1990 - Corsa Extra TSX in 10th Anni colours.
t.b.c.
Translated with www.DeepL.com/Translator (free version)
A4M B038 - 1988 - Strada - tutti frutti ! suspiciously early...
8X B321 - 1988 - Corsa Extra SLX - unusual BB cover pattern (used 1988 - 1990) and unusual cable routing in top tube (new or rebuild - I don't know).
F B1160 - 1988 - ?
A0X B1198 - 1988 - Corsa Extra SLX
D6X B1217 - 1988 - Corsa Extra in Kelme 1985... the favourite scheme of the German market.
H6M B1284 - 1988 - Strada ver.1 - Mintjens colours (dark blue).
F B1761 - 1988 - Pista
H7C B1779 - 1988 - Corsa ver.2 - normal lugs, no cut-outs.
D B1944 - 1988 - Corsa Extra - the new number hanger model (this is the third one...)
S B2078 - 1988 - Grand Prix - another name for frames made of Reynolds 753 tubes... Pro 753, Corsa Extra 753, Grand Prix and... again Corsa Extra 753 (change approximately every 2 years).
S B2079 - 1988 - Grand Prix.
? B2524 - 1988 - Team bike, 7-Eleven - Jack Pierce. Flat fork crown with EM logo. Bike built for the 1989 season.
D7X B3372 - 1989 - Corsa Extra SLX.
L7X B4261 - 1989 - Corsa Extra SLX
L9X B3552 - 1989 - Corsa Extra SLX in the colours of Domex/Weinmann 1989. In this team, the frames had unusual cable guides in an unusual location - "9 o'clock" position, external guidance, only 2 guides.
F4X B4710 - 1989 - Corsa Extra SLX - repainted frame.
H9X B4826 - 1989 - Corsa Extra SLX
? B4972 - 1989 - painting Kelme 1990.
S6C B5637 - 1989 - Corsa - the only way to distinguish (without any consideration) from Corsa Extra is... The font of "Eddy Merckx".
H B5742 - 1989 - Pist - obviously the "old" elements of the frame...
7CR B5765 - 1989 - Corsa Reynolds 531 painted in Weinmann 1991.
L5X B6170 - 1989 - Corsa Extra SLX for the Swedish market...
D B6871 - 1989 - Pista
H7TTB B6661 - 1989 - Century TSX in 10th Anni colours.
H5X B6861 - 1989 - Corsa Extra SLX - Domex/Weinmann colours 1989.
L7X B6984 - 1989 - Corsa Extra SLX colours ADR or Westwood
L B8334 - 1990 - ?
5X B7482 - 1989 - Corsa Extra SLX in 10th Anni colours
L3X B9131 - 1990 - Corsa Extra SLX
L4TT B9850 - 1990 - Corsa Extra TSX in 10th Anni colours.
t.b.c.
Translated with www.DeepL.com/Translator (free version)
03-04-20, 10:05 AM
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Part 4 - description of the C,D,F series
H2X C711 - 1990 - Corsa Extra SLX
N1X C 4134 - 1991 - Corsa Extra SLX
H C4306 - 1991 - ? - a little early for the "12 stars" sticker... frame repainted?
H7X C5290 - 1991 - Corsa Extra SLX - a beautiful photo showing a new construction of dropouts and their combination with chainstays (standard for 130, instead of "old" 126).
L6M C6071 - 1991 - Strada - painting from 1994-1995, another BB cover model used in EMC. Columbus Strada is Columbus Cromor or Cromor/Gara.
L7X C6455 - 1991 - Corsa Extra SLX - Telekom colours
L9X C6164 - 1991 - Corsa Extra SLX
L7C C8275 - 1991 - Corsa
? C9446 - 1991 - no data
? D1079 - 1992 - MX Leader ver.1
H1WW D1400 - 1992 - Strada - new Strada model designation (WW instead of M).
L2X D2018 - 1992 - Corsa Extra SLX - new model cable guides on top tube.
D8X D2952 - 1992 - Corsa Extra SLX - Weinmann colours 1991
? D4819 - 1992 - Corsa.
L D5188 - 1993 - team bike, Motorola - Michel Dernies.
P2X D5886 - 1993 - Corsa Extra - Weinmann colours 1991.
X D7342 - 1993 - Corsa Extra SLX - Motorola pattern.
4X D8059 - 1993 - Corsa Extra - "old" cable guides, ADR pattern.
H D9383 - 1993 - MX Leader - cool front top lug.
? 44 ? - ?
8 F5904 - 1995 - Motorola pattern.
That's all; you will find the explanation of all these "strange letters" in my other threads. If you got here and you're not crazy, you're a serious Merckxist. Thank you.
Translated with www.DeepL.com/Translator (free version)
H2X C711 - 1990 - Corsa Extra SLX
N1X C 4134 - 1991 - Corsa Extra SLX
H C4306 - 1991 - ? - a little early for the "12 stars" sticker... frame repainted?
H7X C5290 - 1991 - Corsa Extra SLX - a beautiful photo showing a new construction of dropouts and their combination with chainstays (standard for 130, instead of "old" 126).
L6M C6071 - 1991 - Strada - painting from 1994-1995, another BB cover model used in EMC. Columbus Strada is Columbus Cromor or Cromor/Gara.
L7X C6455 - 1991 - Corsa Extra SLX - Telekom colours
L9X C6164 - 1991 - Corsa Extra SLX
L7C C8275 - 1991 - Corsa
? C9446 - 1991 - no data
? D1079 - 1992 - MX Leader ver.1
H1WW D1400 - 1992 - Strada - new Strada model designation (WW instead of M).
L2X D2018 - 1992 - Corsa Extra SLX - new model cable guides on top tube.
D8X D2952 - 1992 - Corsa Extra SLX - Weinmann colours 1991
? D4819 - 1992 - Corsa.
L D5188 - 1993 - team bike, Motorola - Michel Dernies.
P2X D5886 - 1993 - Corsa Extra - Weinmann colours 1991.
X D7342 - 1993 - Corsa Extra SLX - Motorola pattern.
4X D8059 - 1993 - Corsa Extra - "old" cable guides, ADR pattern.
H D9383 - 1993 - MX Leader - cool front top lug.
? 44 ? - ?
8 F5904 - 1995 - Motorola pattern.
That's all; you will find the explanation of all these "strange letters" in my other threads. If you got here and you're not crazy, you're a serious Merckxist. Thank you.
Translated with www.DeepL.com/Translator (free version)
