Sgvpicker

Picked up this Falcon bike today, i think i screwed up on this purchase (SMH) and i should have known better. I believe its Giro D'Italia model 104 i think. Now that I've read up a little more on this particular Eddy Merckx falcon bike Im not sure what to do with it, is it even worth restoring?

repechage

merziac

You may be alright depending on how much you paid. While not a top model, it does have Campy dropouts, Superbe and other ok parts. Not a bottom model either. The experts should be along shortly.

verktyg 

Ignore the model based on components. They're a hodgepodge from different periods save for maybe the headset if its a Campy. These were early to mid 70's bikes. Falcon produced Eddy Merckx badged bikes in a number of quality levels.

The Falcon Ernie Clements San Remo was the top of the line all Campy model. They were quite nice bikes. Judging from the lug work, your bike appears to have almost the same frame only in Eddy Merckx kit.

This link shows a classic San Remo

Velo Classics: Falcon San Remo 1973 Model 76

The fork and rear stay end treatments speak of a quality build. The frame is most certainly Reynolds 531 throughout, maybe even lighter gage Reynolds that was used on better frames.

First thing, does it fit? If so clean it up, give it a minor tuneup and ride it. If you like it then it's worth putting some money into.

Depending on how much you paid for it, the frame parted out could be worth more than the whole frankenbike.

As noted above, the stem and seatpost are WAY TOO HIGH! Minimum insertion is 75mm - 80mm (~3") for both.

verktyg

T-Mar

Falcon made a wide range of Eddy Merckx models but I concur that this is one of the top models. The Camapgnolo dropouts and seat post diameter attest to that. My understanding is that the Super Competition and Giro d'Italia both used the same frame but that the former had chromed dropouts and fork crown while the latter was fully painted. Consequently, your frame would appear to be thge top Super Competition model, even is it missing the vast majority of its OEM components. The workmanship is good and consistent with the high end Falcon models, though it displays cost concessions and is not state of the art for the era.

This one is right around 1972-1974, when Eddy was at his peak, so it is a highly desirable frame. However, I'll echo the comments regarding apparent size and post/stem insertion.

Sgvpicker

kohl57

For what you paid, can't imagine much buyer remorse here. This is most certainly the top end Merckx model, the no. 102 Super Competition. All Reynolds DB 531. It is distinguished from the Giro d'Italia by having the chromed fork crown.

Other than the lack of chromed fork ends and head lugs, this was pretty much the equal of the Equipes and a beautifully made machine. The really good Falcons are actually rare. These were brazed in a stand-alone section of the main factory in Barton-on-Humber which was run by George Flavell.

But the "Dog's Breakfast" components on this do it no favors in initial impression I grant you!

Peter Kohler
Washington DC USA

SurferRosa

If you intend to flip, $350 plus consumables will be tough to recover unless you can salvage the paint/decals and you're in a place like Portland, OR.

Personally, I would try to build it up, but that's what I like to do. For me, there's no fun in parting out a bike.

It starts with the paint and decals. The good news is it's orange, a premium color in the vintage bike market. Try to use a liquid compound and see how far that gets you. It's not out of the question to spot spray the worst areas with a rattle can. For $30 you can get a powder can from us.spray.bike.

Then there's the seat tube decal. Hopefully, you can salvage it. I've painted these before to both good and marginal effect.

Sell the triomphe derailleur to offset a suntour one. Or part out all the suntour and go full campy. I might keep everything else, save the saddle.

Yeah, gonna be hard to break even after you refurbish it, but it's often a labor of love. You might end up with a keeper.

carbomb

Hah! I love it when a bike I was debating buying on CL vanishes, then re-appears on here =) I think it's cool, glad you didn't pay the full $400 they were asking. I hope it cleans up nice because even though it's a 'Falcon' build, it's still plenty cool.

vtchuck

I have an early Falcon San Remo 76.... 74-75 model? The one hallmark of top of the line Falcons that is missing on this bike is full wrap around seat stays. Maybe they changed for the Merckx signature models.

bikingshearer 

^^^This.

rustystrings61 

One of the few bikes I really regret letting go of was a lower grade Falcon San Remo, no chrome, but otherwise similar geometry and construction and I think it was full 531. Anyway, it rode very nicely. Sometimes that trumps the dollars and cents end - have you tried it out yet?

3alarmer 

...I think it varied with the years. Here is the seat stay cluster from a top of the line baby blue San Remo from the early 70's. Falcons are sort of mysterious, because there's not a whole lot of online catalog availability, and they were changing stuff (like the orange years for the OP bike).



I would consider it a project worthy of at least some minimal restoration as a rider. The blue one I have is a pretty solid bike, and appears to be full 531. I don't know if I'd spend the kind of money it would take to track down the original components, whatever they were.

vtchuck

Here's a photo of mine. You can see the stays. Falcon did do some unusual stuff. Mine has round section 531 track forks with road drop-outs and fender eyelets.

The front and rear brakes are Weinmann 750 CP's. long reach with room for fenders, yet steep frame angles and a short wheelbase.

BTW, you can find replacement decals on eBay. From Australia.

Sgvpicker

"Dogs Breakfast"

Sgvpicker

I haven't tried it out yet needs a little TLC before i can take it for a spin.

Sgvpicker

Very nice!

Sgvpicker

Well gonna put some elbow grease into to this thing and see if it will grow on me thanks again guys for all the input, ill be posting some before and afters.

SurferRosa

I don't think Greg has these Merckx decals, only the early '70s san remos. I bought my last set for an '87 san remo from H Lloyd Cycles. They sold me only what I needed for the seat tube, which was nice.

Greg does have a blue merckx decal that might work. Hit him up at his email here:
gtsoftley@ozemail.com.au.

Also ask H Lloyd if they might have a down tube decal for this. Velocals can certainly drum up one for the right $$.

unworthy1

Back when I first saw this frame I had (jumping to conclusions) the notion it might be a Holdsworth Pro. But after letting the C&V experts kick it around we concluded it was a Falcon San Remo, but the orange paint was also a red herring since there were flecks of red paint (and maybe other colors) under that orange. It had more chrome than the Merckx high-end Falcon, and full-wrap stays but flatter tops than most Falcons (slightly more like a Holdsworth but...no dice). This got built up for a co-worker but I didn't take pix of the "after" effects.

vtchuck

Here's one link to the decals on eBay: Decals

More choices available at different prices. I searched for "Merckx Decals" in Cycling

cfernandez 

Thought I should close this post by saying that I purchased this bike for my wife to ride in Eroica CA 2020. I shall lightly re-furbish it with new tires, cables and housing and personal touches to my wife's taste. If I get a chance I create a new post with the changes.

I also wanted to say thanks to your discussion I learned a lot about Falcons and the tie to Eddy Merckx. Cheers

cyclezen

Boy Oh Boy! Did I love that bike!
some how wandered into this thread ... brought back some great memories... NOT a San Remo. Falcon built these as a Merckx license/tribute.
I think they hit the shop floor in the late '73-74 years. I got mine new, had full Campy NR. Great 'Road' manners, 531, Continental Oval Fork Blades. Cinelli Buffalo saddle.
Kept and rode it until mid '79, and sold it... was always just a hair 'short' because I could never get a seatpost long enough for me to fit - was 58 cm. same as this one
great for the longer, hillier road races - 75+ mi...
Back then a 59-60 fit me well - preferrably 59...
Been looking for the few old pics I had of it... still not found...
Thanks a bunch for the memories!
Yuri

LibertyFLS

I wonder what ever happened with this bike

uh1ndrvr

I also have an old EM Falcon that I was given in about 1973....sent by my uncle in the UK to the USA as a gift. Don't know which model it is, but it came with Dura-Ace components (1st generation I believe), is 531 tubing and has the wrap-around seat stays that someone previously commented on as trademark Falcon. It has remained in a basement most of its life, although my dad rode it for a few years when I was in the military. Now have it hanging on the wall of my office. Would like to know more about it if anyone has any info on an EM Falcon with Dura-Ace components.