SYSTERS Merlin Mountain 1990-91 built Suggestions

[danaroby00]

some month of job on it , still not completed
fork waiting for a white painting??

SYSNCROS REVOLUTION PICTURE BEFORE CRANK GOES TO CANADA

merlin #3159 frame
bontrager fork
7v xt drive and thumbies
raceface crank
FRM seatpost and stem
flite TT
FRO canty brakes

swap xt levers for something machined
swap FRM seatpost new , just installed with controltech black 27,2 only VGC

let me know your suggestion

 

[Fudd]

If it's a '89 frame then you want some black decals on there

Keep the forks black to suit the original stickers, get them threaded and fit a quill stem as Aheadsets didn't appear until 1993 I think. And lose the mid 90's RaceFace chainset too.

Thats just my opinion mind, the frame is pretty timeless so you could fit the latest XTR kit and still get away with it....

 

[otherself]

Looks damn advanced for an '89 frame year!

 

[danaroby00]

hi,
decals has never been changed ( that what the original owner told) but has you say first decals where black, I can't understand why this timing difference, but serial # 3159 and stright back means around 1989

roberto

 

[24pouces]

Yes, strange Merlin for 1989…
4 things for a 1989 Merlin frame :
First : tubing diameter smaller (hard to see on the pictures)
Secondly : no S-bend stays (yours are straight)
Three : a specific noddle on the side of the seat tube for the rear cable routing (No on yours)
Four : A Merlin specific Bottom Bracket. (Not sure it was a suntour GreaseCard before 91)

The color of decals isn't enough, because they could being changed.

 

[danaroby00]

hi,
the snake pipe for rear brake has been removed to use v.brakes,
the bottom braket is grease guard system,
tube diameter is 31,8 seatpost and diagonal tube.
steer tube 1"

 

[novekili]

Not a 1989, but 1990...my Merlin's number is 2 thousand and something and Tom Kellogs told me it was built in the second half of 1990.

More, 1990 Merlins didn't have the Grease Guard, so I reckon yours is one of the last frames built before s-bend rigs entered in production.

Manda le foto a Alasa che te la data tranquillamente... abbiamo messo su un forum vintage anche in Itala se ti interessa

 

[danaroby00]

thank you all for the support, good to have found in the end the right year of manufacturing,
if someone knows how to find black decals, please let me know

roberto

 

[Fudd]

Black decals here- http://www.velocals.com/servlet/the-38/ ... cal/Detail

 

[24pouces]

The picture of a Merlin BB before 90-91 :

There's a collar in each side of the axle for tightening it

For the grease card (mine is 1992), there's only the axle