TI frame ID please

[Zanoli]

Hi all,

First post after many months of reading / learning from this forum...

I'd need some help to identify a frame i bought (actually half of of it, second half will be paid upon pick up next week).
According to the seller, it's a second hand titanium frame from the mid 90's, manufactured by Merlin and sold through another brand, wich he doesn't recall, and there is no decal or badge to help. Does that sound possible ?

The serial number located under BB and reads R0911. 1 1/8 steerer, no canti bridge or wishbone so i my guess is that the frame was built around '96-'99. It was built with unmatching parts (some late 90's XT but not everything). The decal on the seat tube doesn't help much and the seller can't send a better pic of it. Pics attached (links below) : do the "plain" rear drop out with two holes, or the decal layout ring a bell ?

I know people from the forum will make better guesses than what i could. Depending on what frame this is, i will - or not - negociate the price, so thanks in advance for your help !

Z.

PS : i mailed Merlin cycles but i have little hopes...

[img=//www27.zippyshare.com/thumb/afpkq2U8/file.html][/img]
[img=//www27.zippyshare.com/thumb/2VI9UaMt/file.html][/img]

 

[Hotwheels.]

Need better photos.

 

[Woz]

Re:

Can you pop the pics here directly?

Merlin not my strong area, but they have some distinct features like the seat tube.

 

[Zanoli]

Thanks for your replies.

Unfortunately i can't get better pics from the seller

Searching further, i found the frame looks like a Russian made Rapid (sold as Titanium Red in Uk, Tecmo in France during the 90's) just like this one :http://www.retrobike.co.uk/forum/viewtopic.php?f=6&t=180158
I can't find any pic of a Tecmo to compare seat tube decals, but rear dropouts and geometry look similar.

What do you think ? Is it a match ? More infos about Tecmo / Titanium Red and their quality level ?

Thanks again for your help.

 

[Retro Spud]

Well you’ve gone from a top draw boutique brand to a generic import frame for domestic market rebranding.

To me the kudos of the brand suggested originally has gone up in smoke leaving you with nothing more than a nice Ti frame and little else,

As for price - it’s a lot less than where you started

 

[24pouces]

Re:

They are not Merlin Dropout style.
Tecmo was a french importator of Russian ti parts but around 98/2000. They sold lot of ti parts and frames, for cool prices but in those years, titanium were not in the fashion wave.
Russians welded for a lot of european brands. Quite quality product in my opinion. I rode a russian ti frame since 2000 without problems. But not as Mythic as Merlin or Seven

 

[Zanoli]

Thanks guys.

My expectations dropped dramatically (hopefully the price will do the same). A TI frame remains a cool thing, especially if from an unsual alloy (i read here and there Russian TI had a different standard than 3AL 2.5V).

Thanks for your insights.

PS : John from Merlin kindly responded to my message explaining the serial numbers archives weren't included in the lastest MMW sale, and offered to help with a picture. Nice reply !

 

[24pouces]

Re:

3Al/2,5V are quite the same alloy around the world. Some tubes are certified for aircraft and some not (aerospace or domestic titanium). In early 90, Raleigh used some russian titanium which was less expensive and noone really knows if aircraft certification was necessary for making a bike.
The main difference is how tubes are made. In USA, tubes from Haynes, Sandvik or Ancitech are extruded or rool up and That's why Merlin or Kona HeiHei didn't give the same ride.
You have to add design and weld job too !

 

[mk one]

Re: Re:

and noone really knows if aircraft certification was necessary for making a bike.

it is when i ride, cos i fly :facepalm: sorry

 

[Woz]

Re:

Mmmh. I've see those dropouts before somewhere - the ones that actually form the closure of the chainstay tubes if I interprete the crappy photo right.I'll need to dig in my archives but the Parkpre Pro Elite had a similar construction and that was from the far east - China. (BTW it is not a Parkpre Pro Elite, only one large hole in the drop out).

Alot of the Russian stuff had milled headtubes; there is a a slightly thicker portion for the headset cups.

Really crap Ti frames have often skimped on dropout width, tube guage and tend to be polished.