markwebb

Is comparing these three makes like comparing 3 female super models - all gorgeous, well proportioned, and top of their class? Or is one significantly better than other 3?

I'mFromVirginya

if you ever visit the seven factory youll see they are all brainwashed, and serotta is better than them for sure, dont know nothin about merlin.

none of them are still very personal, its like cannondale making custom bikes. if i ever bought one id want it to be a personal experience. indy fab!

BananaTugger

Merlin or IF.

IF is an amazing company. Merlins are very hard to come by on the road.

dekindy

I would say to go with the one that your favorite or closest LBS handles. I have had a Serotta Fierte and now have a Legend because my favorite LBS has them and their fitter is Serotta trained. Also Serotta gave me fantastic turnaround when my dropout cracked including overnighting the frame so that I could have it back in less than three weeks for the one annual event that I ride which is RAIN (Ride Across Indiana).

The ride leader at my favorite training ride has a Seven and I see a lot of them and Roark's around Indianapolis. I have seen a couple Moots but have not noticed many Merlin's in the area.

Roadbikereview.com has a lot of bike and frame reviews so you could read a lot of comments about the brands there.

I assume that you are talking about a titanium or are you considering a mixture or carbon only also?

markwebb

Why is Serotta better than Seven? Serotta's bigger now, more factory-like and institutionalized. Seven's smaller/more personalized. If I were to rate them with no experience other than looking at them and riding a few, plus what I read on 'net, I would have said Seven and IF are very similar and #1, followed by Serott and Merlin.

I'm not arguing - I don't know. But your response surprised me. Please explain. Thx.

markwebb

Yes, Ti

Carbon Unit

I would buy the one that fits the best. I believe that Seven makes all of their bikes to order, but I would test ride all of them before deciding.

However, there are companies that can build just as good a ti bike for half the money. For example, Kish will build a custom ti frame for $2,300

celerystalksme

Crisp

Or someone local!!!! If I were gonna go custom titanium, I'd get it done by Scott Quring right here in Michigan.

Coyote2

As usual, you ask some rhetorical question for which there is no objectively true answer, and then proceed to argue with anyone whose opinion differs from your own.

markwebb

Coyote2 - get that chip off you shoulder.

My first impression was that we'd see a lot of kudos for Seven because it's most similar to IF - small enterprise, rep for quality. I thought Serotta would obviously get great remarks as would Merlin, but not as good as Seven because the other two are bigger and now more corporate than Seven. His response actually surprised me. Nothing sinister or rhetorical - I was just surprised, and I asked for more details. I'm not arguing one way or the other because I don't know and I don't think I have the answer.

Geez - chill, dude. Ya still ain't got no good Karma You're still following me around BF trying to take me down. Get a real life and quit hijacking any thread I post.

Now, please let me get back to the purpose of my OP - opinions on these 3 companies.

stevesurf

They're all amazing, Seven, Merlin, IF, Serotta; that's the order I'd put them in.

Sevens and Merlins are readily available at the right dealer: Bay Ridge Bikes keeps a nice selection of both.

Every company has their legends:

Seven: Axiom SG
Merlin: Cyrene, Extralight, XLM Hardtail

you'll have to fill in yours

markwebb

Yeah - I think the Merlin Cyrene is maybe my all time #1 road bike to lust for from modern era.

An IF mint Ti CJ slipped almost unnoticed through eBay a few weeks ago and went for $800 with new fork. OMG I missed bidding on that beauty.

I have a Litespeed. Nice but kinda utilitarian and a little heavy for a Ti bike. So I was looking at several great deals on eBay Ti bikes priced at about half retail.

I passed on a Serotta that had carbon seat stays just now. I just don't trust myself with carbon. If I damage a fork I replace the fork. Seat stays are different.

There's an awesome Seven going in about 15 minutes. I'm close to pulling the trigger. There's also 2 or 3 knock-out beautiful Merlin's, too, at dealer cost.

markwebb

There are several custom Ti makers that create outstanding rides at good costs from what I hear.

I think there are 1 or 2 up in Indiana. I'm just not that patient.

Several complete Ti Sevens Merlins & Serottas now on eBay complete full gruopps and wheels for about same cost as a retail frame. Lots of bargains right now.

Habenero is also a good option - high quality albeit built in Asia. Pics of welds show excellent workmanship. Full Ultegra bikes around $2,500.

dekindy

How about a 953 stainless steel bike? Independent Fabrication and Waterford are the two that I have my eyes on. I am not sure what your price range is but if you are considering top of the line titanium models then the price of 953 would be reasonably close. I got a great deal on my Serotta Legend demo but if I were getting a custom fit and paying full retail then stainless steel might get my vote. Something to think about.

dietzpa

I haven't visit where Sevens are built, but I have visit Serotta in Saratoga and it is a pretty small production with a very personal feel. I showed up unannounced and they brought me around, introduced me to everyone who touched my bike, showed my frame in the oven, and spent a LOT of time with me given all I wanted to do was say "hi."

Based on #'s of bike's I see on the road, I'd assume Seven was bigger than Serotta, but thats just an observation, not a statistic.
My local shop carries Seven, IF and Serotta: put them all side by side and I think you have to go on personal aesthetics as they all have great craftsmanship. Seven for the carbon lines, IF for the lugs, and Serotta for the classic look.

SpongeDad

I have a Merlin, which I'm very happy with. Buddy has a Seven - he's a big guy and they picked the tubes to match his needs. I'd ride all three on crummy rodes if I could with the same set of wheels so that I see how which one suited me best.

tobycat

Moots

GP

Exactly.

markwebb

Yeah ya hear lots of good things about Moots, too. Maybe more so with their non-road models, though?

BananaTugger

They're all good.

benbaconlewis

The answer to the original question depends on which frame material the OP is looking for.

BananaTugger

I don't know.

BillyD

That's a damn good question. I have one of these, but I love both the others also and if I had to choose one . . . . . . . . damn, I don't know, I don't know.

markwebb

I think the Cyrene is the most beautiful modern frame produced. It ranks with the Cinelli's, Holdsworth Pros, and Paramount Chrome frames and a few select others of the past as ultra-classics. As a matter of fact I'm not sure there is a contemporary frame in it's class that will be considerd a classic. Ya gots a good one there, BillyD

markwebb

Here's the one I settled on. I had to sell a Litespeed in order to afford it, and I'll be selling a wheelset and a few of my astronomical telescopes, too. Hopefully it will be worth it - around 17.5 pounds and fairly upright position once I adjust seat. If this don't work for my back, it's either give up cycling or succumb to 'bent world.