Early Merlin Titanum 604 x Superbe Pro Build
03-06-23, 09:08 PM
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Early Merlin Titanum 604 x Superbe Pro Build
This was a fun one...
I have been infatuated with the Superbe Pro group since I got into bikes and this provieded a unique opportunity. I purchased the bike from the original owner who spec'd it with said group and took great care of it for a coupe decades. He replaced the original Kinesis fork with a Wound Up on advise from Tom Kellogg in the 90s
I took the bike and sourced some NOS shifters and hubs, laced those to Kinlin rims and finally got everything road ready. The grammo stem is a treat, but I may need a touch more reach/stack so a Nitto may sub in later. Overall I am very tickled with how it turned out.
I have been infatuated with the Superbe Pro group since I got into bikes and this provieded a unique opportunity. I purchased the bike from the original owner who spec'd it with said group and took great care of it for a coupe decades. He replaced the original Kinesis fork with a Wound Up on advise from Tom Kellogg in the 90s
I took the bike and sourced some NOS shifters and hubs, laced those to Kinlin rims and finally got everything road ready. The grammo stem is a treat, but I may need a touch more reach/stack so a Nitto may sub in later. Overall I am very tickled with how it turned out.
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03-06-23, 10:39 PM
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Brewsmith I think that's stunning! I've yet to try out a titanium frame (and Merlin in particular) or Superbe Pro, even though I've admired both from afar for years! Bravo, enjoy it... It looks like it must ride superbly, indeed.
-Gregory
-Gregory
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03-06-23, 11:09 PM
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Wow! (I rode Gwyn Jone's personal MTB around when that was made. Gwyn, Merlin co-founder and a distant cousin. I showed up at a family get together. A young cousin said "wait here. Gwyn want to see you." Gwyn shows up with his MTB, thrusts it into my hands and says "ride it". Yup - if that were a road bike to fit me - all there!
One caution - that rear wheel. It is laced outside pulling. If you ever drop the chain off the inside, those spokes will suck the chain down and do maximum damage to that beautiful chainstay. Re-lacing that wheel to inside pulling will lessen the damage done a lot. The mechanic at my shop used to praise inside pulling regularly, along with his friend and regular visitor, an unknown named Sheldon Brown. That was 45 years ago. I've been noting damage done and spoke lacing ever since. And the only outside pulling wheels I've had got re-built to inside pulling first opportunity. Front wheel's also outside pulling. I think that a rope caught in the spokes will toss you qui9cker over the bars though I have not tried that yet. Simple solution. Flip the wheel and run the skewer in the other direction.
One caution - that rear wheel. It is laced outside pulling. If you ever drop the chain off the inside, those spokes will suck the chain down and do maximum damage to that beautiful chainstay. Re-lacing that wheel to inside pulling will lessen the damage done a lot. The mechanic at my shop used to praise inside pulling regularly, along with his friend and regular visitor, an unknown named Sheldon Brown. That was 45 years ago. I've been noting damage done and spoke lacing ever since. And the only outside pulling wheels I've had got re-built to inside pulling first opportunity. Front wheel's also outside pulling. I think that a rope caught in the spokes will toss you qui9cker over the bars though I have not tried that yet. Simple solution. Flip the wheel and run the skewer in the other direction.
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03-06-23, 11:42 PM
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I love it. Have an EL myself - best riding bike ever.
Superbe is such an elegantly simple group - the elegantly simple round tubed Ti bike is a perfect match. I sometimes want to tear my brifter Sram group off that bike and put some downtube shifting old school stuff on.
But then it would be like the other 3 road bikes I have!
Superbe is such an elegantly simple group - the elegantly simple round tubed Ti bike is a perfect match. I sometimes want to tear my brifter Sram group off that bike and put some downtube shifting old school stuff on.
But then it would be like the other 3 road bikes I have!
03-07-23, 03:55 PM
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very nice bike 
thanks for sharing
thanks for sharing
03-09-23, 03:21 PM
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Thanks for the kind words, it's the perfect mix for me at just modern enough and I am convinced this last gen of Superbe Pro is the most elegant group out there!
03-09-23, 03:34 PM
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Beautiful. Echoing the Superbe love, it is just a really bomb proof nice group. Nothing flashy in the mechanism, just good old fashioned stuff.
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1987 Crest Cannondale, 1987 Basso Gap, 1992 Rossin Performance EL, 1990ish Van Tuyl, 1985 Trek 670, 1982 AD SLE, 2003 Pinarello Surprise, 1990ish MBK Atlantique, 1987 Peugeot Competition, 1987 Nishiki Tri-A, 1981 Faggin, 1996 Cannondale M500, 1984 Mercian, 1982 AD SuperLeicht, 1985 Massi (model unknown), 1988 Daccordi Griffe , 1989 Fauxsin MTB, 1981 Ciocc Mockba, 1992 Bianchi Giro, 1977 Colnago Super
1987 Crest Cannondale, 1987 Basso Gap, 1992 Rossin Performance EL, 1990ish Van Tuyl, 1985 Trek 670, 1982 AD SLE, 2003 Pinarello Surprise, 1990ish MBK Atlantique, 1987 Peugeot Competition, 1987 Nishiki Tri-A, 1981 Faggin, 1996 Cannondale M500, 1984 Mercian, 1982 AD SuperLeicht, 1985 Massi (model unknown), 1988 Daccordi Griffe , 1989 Fauxsin MTB, 1981 Ciocc Mockba, 1992 Bianchi Giro, 1977 Colnago Super
03-09-23, 09:55 PM
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03-09-23, 10:51 PM
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Classy inviting, looking ride! Superbe Pro is it. Campy gets boring.
Needs nothing more, but if one can't resist elevating the experience, I'd consider a premium tubular rim / tires or let the zany take you over and go tubeless.
Needs nothing more, but if one can't resist elevating the experience, I'd consider a premium tubular rim / tires or let the zany take you over and go tubeless.
03-10-23, 01:17 AM
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The rims are tubeless compatible, so I very well may go that route. The gravelkings on there are just a stand in. Still torn on whether to go black or gum wall but I don't love the brown color of these....
