Help Identifying A Merlin Frame
09-27-20, 08:27 AM
#1
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Thread Starter
Help Identifying A Merlin Frame
Merlin Cyclocross Frame with Cantilever mounts and all cables are ran on the top tube. Ixios written on the top-tube. The serial number is underneath the bottom bracket and reads M79153.
What I primarily want to know is if it legitimate and also the year.
Wrote Merlin and am still awaiting a reply. Not much luck googling either. Thanks in advance!
What I primarily want to know is if it legitimate and also the year.
Wrote Merlin and am still awaiting a reply. Not much luck googling either. Thanks in advance!
Last edited by jamesklayer; 09-27-20 at 09:29 AM.
09-27-20, 08:28 AM
#2
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Maybe it will help if you supply another picture where folks can see more of the frame?
09-27-20, 08:00 PM
#3
Clark W. Griswold
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Better send that frame to me I will check and make sure it is legit 100%. I will build it up fully with fine components and ride it carefully for a few years and make sure we are totally and completely sure that bike is legit. I won't stop till I am at least 1000% sure and will make sure to do the absolute due diligence required to make sure over the course of those years that the bike is genuine article. I don't play around with this matters and neither should you. This of course is a free of charge service I am offering to you, all you have to pay is shipping back and forth. You will get back a certificate of authenticity if I can truly verify that the bike is real if not I will test it till the ends of time if I must to make sure I get you the best possible answer on the subject.
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09-28-20, 07:22 AM
#4
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Better send that frame to me I will check and make sure it is legit 100%. I will build it up fully with fine components and ride it carefully for a few years and make sure we are totally and completely sure that bike is legit. I won't stop till I am at least 1000% sure and will make sure to do the absolute due diligence required to make sure over the course of those years that the bike is genuine article. I don't play around with this matters and neither should you. This of course is a free of charge service I am offering to you, all you have to pay is shipping back and forth. You will get back a certificate of authenticity if I can truly verify that the bike is real if not I will test it till the ends of time if I must to make sure I get you the best possible answer on the subject.
It's an ebay listing that i am sure will get snagged up before i bite the bullet. I am sure it is real but it's unfortunate that any database of serial numbers stops at the year 2000. I just like to know for sure what i am getting before i spend the cash.
I am desperately waiting merlin's reply on this frame. I will say, a titanium frame with canti mounts would be a dream come true.
Last edited by jamesklayer; 09-28-20 at 07:25 AM.
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09-28-20, 08:17 AM
#5
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Random stuff.
Is it a 1" or 1-1/8" steerer tube? 1" I think points to pre-2000
The welds look like Merlin quality
Any shots of the head badge? below is pic of my 2003 version fwiw
Doesn't necessarily mean anything maybe, but my dropouts have MERLIN engraved in them (see pic below)
FWIW, my 2003 merlin ser# begins with a low 80xxx number, so is about 1000 bikes perhaps later than yours?
Is it a 1" or 1-1/8" steerer tube? 1" I think points to pre-2000
The welds look like Merlin quality
Any shots of the head badge? below is pic of my 2003 version fwiw
Doesn't necessarily mean anything maybe, but my dropouts have MERLIN engraved in them (see pic below)
FWIW, my 2003 merlin ser# begins with a low 80xxx number, so is about 1000 bikes perhaps later than yours?
09-28-20, 08:25 AM
#6
Junior Member
Thread Starter
Random stuff.
Is it a 1" or 1-1/8" steerer tube? 1" I think points to pre-2000
The welds look like Merlin quality
Any shots of the head badge? below is pic of my 2003 version fwiw
Doesn't necessarily mean anything maybe, but my dropouts have MERLIN engraved in them (see pic below)
FWIW, my 2003 merlin ser# begins with a low 80xxx number, so is about 1000 bikes perhaps later than yours?
Is it a 1" or 1-1/8" steerer tube? 1" I think points to pre-2000
The welds look like Merlin quality
Any shots of the head badge? below is pic of my 2003 version fwiw
Doesn't necessarily mean anything maybe, but my dropouts have MERLIN engraved in them (see pic below)
FWIW, my 2003 merlin ser# begins with a low 80xxx number, so is about 1000 bikes perhaps later than yours?
Anyway, I am sure it is legit. I am just neurotic and need Merlin to write me back saying, "yes". The frame does look excellent. I just want to be absolutely sure.
Let me ask you, and even veganbikes this as well. He is asking $1300 but I am gonna' see if he'll go a little lower. What's the general consensus on that price range? Your input is greatly appreciated.
09-28-20, 08:55 AM
#7
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Sorry, can't help with price. But your Ser# format looks inline with how they did things
09-28-20, 12:37 PM
#9
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Ah! Thank you Sy Reene ! That is greatly appreciated. That helps a lot. This is the email I receive from Merlin just a few minutes ago.
09-28-20, 01:30 PM
#10
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Fwiw, the current owners I think bought the Merlin Brand name from Competitive Cyclist, who I'm not sure would know anything more. Your best bet may be to go all the way to the original source: spectrum.tom@gmail.com
Tom wrote me back in less than half an hour. It's real, early two-thousands, made in Chattanooga. He said Cross frames were briefly made but never found a big market so they stopped. After that, the only cross frames were custom.
Anyway, there it is. I got my answer. He was a very nice dude.
09-28-20, 01:46 PM
#11
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That was a great tip. Thank you.
Tom wrote me back in less than half an hour. It's real, early two-thousands, made in Chattanooga. He said Cross frames were briefly made but never found a big market so they stopped. After that, the only cross frames were custom.
Anyway, there it is. I got my answer. He was a very nice dude.
Tom wrote me back in less than half an hour. It's real, early two-thousands, made in Chattanooga. He said Cross frames were briefly made but never found a big market so they stopped. After that, the only cross frames were custom.
Anyway, there it is. I got my answer. He was a very nice dude.
09-28-20, 01:56 PM
#12
Junior Member
Thread Starter
Very cool. Yes, by all accounts Tom is a class act. Curious, did he confirm that that was the actual model name was originally Ixios, or did somewhere along the way in the past, did someone just have a custom model name decal created? FWIW I have a 2002 catalog PDF that I found somewhere on the internet; there aren't any CX models, but the cable routing looks similar to their mtn model XLM.
Anyway, time to make an offer!
