The "Is this a Merlin" thread !!

[majoreyeswater]

Hi all.

It's been quite a while since I posted anything on the forums although I read avidly every day. Due to a lack of funds, a spot of illness and the kids occupying most of my spare time during the summer, bike building had to take a back seat!

I have a few potential projects on the cards at the moment and this is one of them. Picked it up yesterday evening and had a good look round this morning. Not a particularly old Merlin (or is it?) but I would be grateful if anyone could put a date to it? Also, what exact model is it please?

As you can see it's a mix of parts - LX Vs, front mech & chainset, GT stem+bars, Bontrager seat post, DMR pedals, nameless headset etc..... The frame needs a serious clean & polish. The RSTs seem to be passed their best with rust on the sliders with practically no movement!

Thanks in advance for any info or advice.

Steve.

 

[mikeekim89]

Are you quite sure it's a Merlin?...

 

[majoreyeswater]

Now you've got me thinking! I've therefore changed the thread title to something more appropriate!

The rear end looks like a Malt 4 with those curvy stays but don't know about the rest. I will take a few more pics of the drop outs etc which might help id it. Also there is a number stamped on the bb shell so will make a note and post it on here.

:?

 

[mikee]

dont recall seeing a merlin with such oversized tubes before
they're usually a lot less pronounced than that
looks quite good tho
how much you pay ?

 

[coomber]

Yeah I'm not too sure I can remember downtube that shaped on a merlin before. I think it's something rebadged but wouldnt know what.

 

[mikee]

looks like a gatecrasher
claud butler or townsend

nice gt type dropouts tho

 

[coomber]

I'm with mikeee on claude butler I reckon.

 

[majoreyeswater]

Oh oh!

Think you may be right. Does it look a bit like a Cape Wrath? Do they have those wiggly seat stays though? The guy who sold it to me was pretty genuine and I can't see why he would have stuck some Merlin stickers on. Perhaps he bought it genuinely believing it to be a Merlin!

That said, I do like the frame :roll:

 

[Harryburgundy]

Who cares...looks like a phile of sh*te anyway....ooops...theres me typing aloud again

Fine bike no doubt.
Not sure if it's a Merlin...but it's definately not a real Merlin

 

[gerryattrick]

Typing in your sleep more likely based on the typos. :roll: :roll:

I don't know if it's a real Merlin, but as someone said about my bike, why would they go to the expense of Merlin decals when they could have gone the whole hog and gone for something more obvious such as Kona/Specialized etc., yawn, yawn.

Btw, which came first UK or US Merlins?