The Good:
1996 Merlin custom road frame, extra large: 63cm seat tube C-C, 57cm top tube, 23cm head tube, 130mm rear spacing, recent decals. Time Vectran carbon fork with 1" threaded steel steerer, VGC. Nearly new satin silver Tange Passage headset.
The Bad:
Downtube shifter bosses rotate a little, although this was not a problem if I ran the cables without crossing (i.e. rear shifter to right hand boss). What is a problem is the sheer size: it's too big for me at 1m92 (albeit short legs).
The Ugly:
The frame had a hairline crack at the base of the seat tube, which I had welded by Enigma Titanium. They advised me that it wouldn't last forever, however I've done 300k on it with nary a squeak. This appears to be a problem with Merlins of this era, on which the seat tube is not fully welded to the BB where it joins to the downtube. Had this happened to a NOS frame, I'd have been quite narked.
The bottom line:
Yours for 400 GBP posted in Europe.
https://www.flickr.com/photos/discust3/ ... 870027594/
1996 Merlin custom road frame, extra large: 63cm seat tube C-C, 57cm top tube, 23cm head tube, 130mm rear spacing, recent decals. Time Vectran carbon fork with 1" threaded steel steerer, VGC. Nearly new satin silver Tange Passage headset.
The Bad:
Downtube shifter bosses rotate a little, although this was not a problem if I ran the cables without crossing (i.e. rear shifter to right hand boss). What is a problem is the sheer size: it's too big for me at 1m92 (albeit short legs).
The Ugly:
The frame had a hairline crack at the base of the seat tube, which I had welded by Enigma Titanium. They advised me that it wouldn't last forever, however I've done 300k on it with nary a squeak. This appears to be a problem with Merlins of this era, on which the seat tube is not fully welded to the BB where it joins to the downtube. Had this happened to a NOS frame, I'd have been quite narked.
The bottom line:
Yours for 400 GBP posted in Europe.
https://www.flickr.com/photos/discust3/ ... 870027594/
