1992 Merlin Titanium

[Once A Hero]

@TreaderSteve not just me having issues with a USE post then!
I have found in the past that post diameters vary by fractions of a millimetre, and even if they are marked as the correct size for a frame, it can actually be the difference between fitting or not. I had the same trouble with my now departed Yeti Ultimate, whereby the post needed to be comfortably below 26.8mm in order to fit without a fight, see here
https://www.retrobike.co.uk/threads/yeti-ultimate.420017/post-3157728

For this Merlin I've just pulled the trigger on an XT post (27.2 dia), and am waiting for it to arrive. I plan to attach my XT groupset, and found an XT post for a better price than Syncros items I was focusing on. I've got a Syncros post on my other Merlin and felt this one was becoming a clone, so made the decision to go XT.

I'll report back when it arrives...

I'm also flip flopping on the front end. I'll build it with suspension for now, but have a rigid set-up to try too.

 

[TreaderSteve]

Syncros is great, but something different is definitely a good way to go! My 27.2 post I borrowed off the tourer to test-fit is not swish enough so forging on with the post that came on it.
Not sure what brand my Ti post is, but for a tenner or so I've got another Cane Creek shim coming - 25.4 to 27.0 (not 27.2). I tried to measure the thickness of the shim itself - there appeared to be 0.1mm difference in thickness of material. Fingers crossed - otherwise the much shorter shim goes back on

 

[d8mok]

I've always been worried of using a shim. Especially on a nice frame.

 

[Once A Hero]

XT post arrived and installed. Quite snug so ample grease applied.

 

[Once A Hero]

Groupset sort of at the ready, just need to spend some time cleaning corrosion from the wheels/rims.



I may use silver cantis instead of black.

I’d like to use a set of ST-M092 brifters I’ve got on my Muddy Fox as I’ve never been fully happy with them on there, but in order to do so I need to find a set of ST-M091s’ to swap them with but I cannot find a reasonably priced set or keep missing out on them. Thumbshifters have been done to death but may be a temp solution.

I had planned to source a new set of original decals, but the ‘set’ offered by Merlin is missing several of the decals I need, so it would be a big outlay - especially as I may keep the original top and down tube decals. I’m waiting for Gil_m to return from his hols to see what he’s got.

No Grease Guard bb decal, no Designed by Rob Vandermark decal

 

[Mathes66]

Are the new stickers the same size as the ones on your bike? I once had some and the dimensions were different.

 

[Once A Hero]

Are the new stickers the same size as the ones on your bike? I once had some and the dimensions were different.

I've not bought them yet.
As the ones in the picture above are direct from Merlin, I'd expect them to be the same size.
I'm probably going to source reproductions.