SYSTERS Merlin Mountain 1990-91 built Suggestions

[danaroby00]

so in the end,
my one has the grease guard bottom bracket but stright back, and serial #3159 how is it possible?

Roberto

 

[Augustus]

gorgeous.

Looks from the angle of view and frame size like a 29'er.

 

[novekili]

I repeat, these are Kellogg's words

"Just to let you know, #2368 dates your frame to production in very late 1990. Hope this helps. Take care."


So, yours might be a 1991 pre-production frame: older tubeset, new GG bottom bracket

 

[24pouces]

The year is not so important
If you take pleasure with your bike

A Merlin is over the time

 

[novekili]

pure pleasure... and to be honest I'm astonished by its performance even when compared to a modern handmade in Italy titanium bike

 

[GaryTurner]

Perhaps that ?

 

[24pouces]

pure pleasure... and to be honest I'm astonished by its performance even when compared to a modern handmade in Italy titanium bike

I 've got some MBA interview and and article of the genesis of Merlin frame, in the end of 90 and beginning of 91. Rob Vandermark designed the S stays for using bigger titanium diameters (and to keep a good tire clearance) for building stiffer bikes. But MBA says that they regreted the feelings of the first generation of Merlin, because they lost this particular elasticity.
Modern titanium are very stiffer. Litespeed are very near aluminum bike.

In comparison with modern titanium, your frame has perhaps keep this quality of the foirst Merlin

 

[novekili]

Probably you're right 24... I'm all for comfy bikes, and my Merlin is elastic while still being a great climber... It was a great purchase...

I meat, what's the point of a stiff ti bike? (Ok, durability+ Kook as Fu*K factor... :roll: )

Any chance of getting a scan of that article?

 

[24pouces]

yes…
Give me your mail by PM…

 

[Wsquared]

Those early Merlins have the sweetest welds on any Ti bike!