I do vaguely remember Merlin making a burlier frameset a bit like that quite a few years ago but can't be 100% sure. Have you tried getting in touch with them? I have always found them to be helpful enough in the past. I do still like my steel one with the WCS tubing, never been a big fan of alu hardtails.
The "Is this a Merlin" thread !!
- Thread starter majoreyeswater
- Start date
majoreyeswater
Retro Guru
- Feedback
- View
Decided to wait until this AM to reply to the above comments.
The reason - a feeling of annoyance (to say the least) at the harsh statement from the above forum member ref my bike. Ok, it's a bag of bo**ocks right now and who knows, it may stay that way! It's also not very exotic but that's not to say that it's not worth doing something to.
To be honest I was looking locally for a disc compatible frame to build into a cheapish winter ride. This was going cheap and, looking past the tat, with a bit of effort it could turn out reasonably ok! I started this thread in the hope that I could retrieve some info on it and perhaps clear up a few suspicions with regard to the origins of this bike. Calling it a "phile (?) of sh*te" doesn't help me in the slightest :shock:
Anyway, enough of that for now. Thanks sic_nick for the advice. I was thinking of contacting Merlin and seeing what they say later today.
Steve.
The reason - a feeling of annoyance (to say the least) at the harsh statement from the above forum member ref my bike. Ok, it's a bag of bo**ocks right now and who knows, it may stay that way! It's also not very exotic but that's not to say that it's not worth doing something to.
To be honest I was looking locally for a disc compatible frame to build into a cheapish winter ride. This was going cheap and, looking past the tat, with a bit of effort it could turn out reasonably ok! I started this thread in the hope that I could retrieve some info on it and perhaps clear up a few suspicions with regard to the origins of this bike. Calling it a "phile (?) of sh*te" doesn't help me in the slightest :shock:
Anyway, enough of that for now. Thanks sic_nick for the advice. I was thinking of contacting Merlin and seeing what they say later today.
Steve.
kaytronika
Retrobike Rider
Merlin or not, I like the rear triangle.
I like the wishbone 
Are you sure this is going to be your winter hack? I think you just miss polishing aluminium after the success of your muni mula
If you replace the RSTs, which are meant to be ok now but were largely poor prior to this, then this should make a nice winter hack fella.
Are you sure this is going to be your winter hack? I think you just miss polishing aluminium after the success of your muni mula
If you replace the RSTs, which are meant to be ok now but were largely poor prior to this, then this should make a nice winter hack fella.
gerryattrick
Retrobike Rider
- Feedback
- View
I wouldn't worry about the negative comments, especially from someone who can't know what the bike rides like, which surely is the important thing.
It must be difficult to churn out 7000 posts without the odd bit of patronising sh*te. :roll:
Incidentally I doubt whether you'll get much help from Merlin about their older ranges: I didn't.
It must be difficult to churn out 7000 posts without the odd bit of patronising sh*te. :roll:
Incidentally I doubt whether you'll get much help from Merlin about their older ranges: I didn't.
One would have to ask the most pertinent question: 'why would someone fake a UK merlin?' it would be like taking a 2p coin and filing it down until it was the size of a 1p
UK Merlin was a later entrant to the market compared to the Ti guys, around the mid 1990s compared to the mid 1980s. They were a bike shop not a frame builders and just stuck stickers on whatever far east frame they got cheap enough. They basically took over where Heffs bike shop and their Popcorn Wizard range left off. They were meant to be a cheap, no frills, disposable option compared to the US boutique frames. I doubt Merlin would be able to tell you anything about it as they had no design input into these frames and probably kept no record of the thousands of frames they bought from various taiwanese frame wholesalers over the years.
My advice would be take the stickers off and not worry about the heritage, it hasn't got any.
UK Merlin was a later entrant to the market compared to the Ti guys, around the mid 1990s compared to the mid 1980s. They were a bike shop not a frame builders and just stuck stickers on whatever far east frame they got cheap enough. They basically took over where Heffs bike shop and their Popcorn Wizard range left off. They were meant to be a cheap, no frills, disposable option compared to the US boutique frames. I doubt Merlin would be able to tell you anything about it as they had no design input into these frames and probably kept no record of the thousands of frames they bought from various taiwanese frame wholesalers over the years.
My advice would be take the stickers off and not worry about the heritage, it hasn't got any.
gerryattrick
Retrobike Rider
- Feedback
- View
Possibly the same Taiwanese frame manufacturers that have made frames for GT, Kona, Scott, Specialized, Marin etc., as well admittedly as for Townsend, Apollo etc.
Generalisations are usually worthless, including those that use Taiwanese as almost an insult.
Generalisations are usually worthless, including those that use Taiwanese as almost an insult.
mountainloz
Gold Trader
- Feedback
- View
gerryattrick":3hmpfnhp said:
+1
yay someone that sees things sensibly
