1993 MERLIN Titanium retro MTB build-up thread with much Syncros and Ringlé

[GoGetter0508]

Sorry Falko! I just went through this whole thread and I see the pics and comments of the refinishing of the Revs. Beautiful workmanship!

 

[GoGetter0508]

One last question…Did you have to re-lace the front hub to fit the PowerLites? Just wondering as I’m going to be going through this this summer on my build!

 

[fguki]

Hi!...thank you for your nice comments. The hub fits perfectly! No problem at all.

 

[paulg666]

How does it ride?
Did you think about putting a suspension fork on it?
Did you think about putting 27.5/650b rims on it?
I have a 1993 Fiji Titanium xtr frame that originally had a 38mm travel fork. It's made for 26" but it can fit 27.5 x2.1 (with the correct cantis).
I was thinking about selling it but your bike looks great so I might build up mine.

 

[fguki]

It rides fantastic.

I put on a Manitou 2 fork on it originally but switched to a SYNCROS Powerlite rigid fork. I like the looks much better and I dont need no suspension anyways.

I would never put any 27.5 rims on it. Why would I?

 

[RockiMtn]

fantastic! i love what you've done. particularly, the restoration work on the syncros components.

black compliments ti bikes very well and i was considering a pair of powerlites for my 94 merlin early on building it just like you many moons ago, but opted to go a different route. i still tricked it out with plenty of Syncros parts, but not black and instead went with more ti with gold/champagne and white accents.

 

[No2ndPrize]

Nice build and restauration work with paying much attention to the details, well done!

I'm just wondering about...

Seatpost diameter: 27.0 with original aluminium shim

Seat post: SYNCROS 27.0mm

... because according to the `93 Merlin catalogue, the frame has a 27.2 mm seatpost diameter.
Is your list a typo or accidentally a too small diameter?

 

[fguki]

Nice build and restauration work with paying much attention to the details, well done!

I'm just wondering about...


... because according to the `93 Merlin catalogue, the frame has a 27.2 mm seatpost diameter.
Is your list a typo or accidentally a too small diameter?

Maybe the shim inserted in the seat tube isnt original after all.

 

[Augustus]

Its about time for me to post another build-up thread! So many bikes have arrived. Come and gone over the last 12 months or so when I posted my last build for my personal collection.

2 weeks ago, I took the opportunity to buy a beautiful 1993 MERLIN Titanium. 840 kilometers on the german Autobahn at 35 degrees Celsius was really worth it! At first, it looked hilarious. I knew that from the eBay auction I won it from. But hey! The previous owner (who was the original buyer and first and ever owner of this beauty) was 74 years already. So I guess we all understand his personal build of this bike The bike was/is fully equipped with SHIMANO XTR M900 and a mid 90s Chris King (black) which I will keep!

Serial number of the bike is: #9265

I am especially stoked about the Syncros Powerlite forks, that are currently on the way to me and which I managed to buy from a friend for an ok price. Dont know if I am going to use them here in the end. We will see!

Best thing about it! With selling several parts such as the Specialized Titanium fork, the RPM brake levers, the RPM wheelset, etc. I already got half my money back!

Here in this post # 1 will always be the latest picture I have of this build updated regularly! The rest, will be documented below.

Cheers! And enjoy

Here are the final specs:

Frame: MERLIN "Titanium"
Production Year: 1993
Size: xxx
Steerer tube: 1" inch
Seatpost diameter: 27.0 with original aluminium shim
Forks: SYNCROS "Powerlite" 1" inch
Stem: SYNCROS Cattleprod 130mm
Handle bar: SYNCROS Hardcore 580mm
Seat post: SYNCROS 27.0mm
Saddle: 1993 Flite Titanium
Headset: 1993 Chris King nologo
Grips: ODI Attack
Shifters: SHIMANO XTR M900 series
Cable Housings: SHIMANO XTR series + original end-caps
Cables: Stanless steel black teflon coated
Cantilever hangers: Onza "Chill Pills"
Bottle cage: Ringle H2O purple
Water bottle: SYNCROS mid 90s
Skewers front & back: Ringle TiStix purple
Skewer saddle: Ringle TiStix purple
Front derailleur: SHIMANO XTR M900 series
Rear derailleur: SHIMANO XTR M900 series
Brakes: SHIMANO XTR M900 series
Brake-Pads: SHIMANO XTR M900 cartridge series (ceramic)
Rims: MAVIC SUP 117 Ceramic
Spokes: DT Swiss stainless steel 1.8mm
Front hub: SYNCROS
Rear hub: SHIMANO XTR M900 series
Tyres: Panaracer Smoke (front & back)
Pedals: SHIMANO PD-M737 + Aluminium tops
Bottom Bracket: SHIMANO BB-UN90 117mm
Crank set: SYNCROS Revolution
Chainrings: SYNCROS 46 / 36 / 26 teeth
Crank screws: SYNCROS "crank o matic"
Chain: SHIMANO XTR / Dura-Ace 8-speed

[update May 1st, 2023 - the very latest (full) picture of the bike]

View attachment 736136

Oh my...

Quite lovely.

 

[Augustus]

Its about time for me to post another build-up thread! So many bikes have arrived. Come and gone over the last 12 months or so when I posted my last build for my personal collection.

2 weeks ago, I took the opportunity to buy a beautiful 1993 MERLIN Titanium. 840 kilometers on the german Autobahn at 35 degrees Celsius was really worth it! At first, it looked hilarious. I knew that from the eBay auction I won it from. But hey! The previous owner (who was the original buyer and first and ever owner of this beauty) was 74 years already. So I guess we all understand his personal build of this bike The bike was/is fully equipped with SHIMANO XTR M900 and a mid 90s Chris King (black) which I will keep!

Serial number of the bike is: #9265

I am especially stoked about the Syncros Powerlite forks, that are currently on the way to me and which I managed to buy from a friend for an ok price. Dont know if I am going to use them here in the end. We will see!

Best thing about it! With selling several parts such as the Specialized Titanium fork, the RPM brake levers, the RPM wheelset, etc. I already got half my money back!

Here in this post # 1 will always be the latest picture I have of this build updated regularly! The rest, will be documented below.

Cheers! And enjoy

Here are the final specs:

Frame: MERLIN "Titanium"
Production Year: 1993
Size: xxx
Steerer tube: 1" inch
Seatpost diameter: 27.0 with original aluminium shim
Forks: SYNCROS "Powerlite" 1" inch
Stem: SYNCROS Cattleprod 130mm
Handle bar: SYNCROS Hardcore 580mm
Seat post: SYNCROS 27.0mm
Saddle: 1993 Flite Titanium
Headset: 1993 Chris King nologo
Grips: ODI Attack
Shifters: SHIMANO XTR M900 series
Cable Housings: SHIMANO XTR series + original end-caps
Cables: Stanless steel black teflon coated
Cantilever hangers: Onza "Chill Pills"
Bottle cage: Ringle H2O purple
Water bottle: SYNCROS mid 90s
Skewers front & back: Ringle TiStix purple
Skewer saddle: Ringle TiStix purple
Front derailleur: SHIMANO XTR M900 series
Rear derailleur: SHIMANO XTR M900 series
Brakes: SHIMANO XTR M900 series
Brake-Pads: SHIMANO XTR M900 cartridge series (ceramic)
Rims: MAVIC SUP 117 Ceramic
Spokes: DT Swiss stainless steel 1.8mm
Front hub: SYNCROS
Rear hub: SHIMANO XTR M900 series
Tyres: Panaracer Smoke (front & back)
Pedals: SHIMANO PD-M737 + Aluminium tops
Bottom Bracket: SHIMANO BB-UN90 117mm
Crank set: SYNCROS Revolution
Chainrings: SYNCROS 46 / 36 / 26 teeth
Crank screws: SYNCROS "crank o matic"
Chain: SHIMANO XTR / Dura-Ace 8-speed

[update May 1st, 2023 - the very latest (full) picture of the bike]

View attachment 736136

All my builds are monotone ti / black/ silver with one piece of garish colour - usually a Ringle H20.

So so nice.