Classic & Vintage - Merckx Faema Replica

This is not as exciting as getting a NOS Merckx from South Africa, but I've finally had time to get the Merckx I bought last year out of mothballs. I still haven't given it a good cleaning, or done touch ups, but here it is anyway.

It has a full panto group, flat fork crown, and over the bb cabling. Mavic 280/330 combo Vittoria Corsa CX tires. It's a 1983, I believe.

http://lh5.ggpht.com/ypsibikes/SGAVujJW9AI/AAAAAAAAAwQ/PGKDqwAZUXo/s800/P6232216.JPG

http://lh6.ggpht.com/ypsibikes/SGAV594ad9I/AAAAAAAAAxk/dlRV311GDtM/s800/P6232226.JPG


http://lh4.ggpht.com/ypsibikes/SGAVvYjW-6I/AAAAAAAAAwY/_VWJiFGholo/s800/P6232217.JPG

Very nice.. can we get a close up of the crank, it looks like the big ring has "eddy merckx" pantographing?

http://lh6.ggpht.com/ypsibikes/SGAVwUL8AII/AAAAAAAAAwg/Z7x_Xl81ocs/s800/P6232218.JPG

Here's my Arizona Faema, for comparison:
http://picasaweb.google.com/ypsibikes/AZFaemaMerckx

Wow! That is really beautiful.

Wow! That is really beautiful.

Thanks, I must admit that I always keep my open for a nice Sante Pogliaghi, one of the few bikes I'd like to own.

Gorgeous. I've seen 2 different Faema Merckx Corsa SL's for sale on SF CL in the last 2 months. One day I'll snatch one up to match my pista.
http://velospace.org/files/IMG_1557_web.JPG
http://velospace.org/files/IMG_1544_web.jpg

Dang, that's sweet! And the track bike too!

very nice.
now what's this about a Merckx in South Africa?

marty

very nice.
now what's this about a Merckx in South Africa?

marty

Marty,

There is a distributor in SA that has/had a stash of NOS steel, quite a few folks over at RBR bought from him, there was a group buy discussed, but it fell apart. Unfortunately, a handful of the folks that did buy from him got the wrong forks, some so short that they can't be used.

I was in on the deal for a bit, but dropped out, because there was not a frame in my 'ideal' size. I'm glad I did, due to the fork debacle.

See, I should have been involved with that, written in Afrikaans and
set up with some of my boets in South Africa.
this wouldn't have been van heerwarden would it?

Marty

See, I should have been involved with that, written in Afrikaans and
set up with some of my boets in South Africa.
this wouldn't have been van heerwarden would it?

MartyNo, I don't think that's who it is. Actually I communicated with him, and he was prompt and provided the info I sought. Unfortunately, no one had the foresight to ask him if the serial numbers matched on fork & frames, it was a poor assumption that they would.

I have heard he is trying to make it right, but I don't think any of the folks I know with short forks have had any satisfaction yet. I believe a few are trying to find out if A has B's fork, etc.

I think someone said the distributor is working with the factory on a solution...who knows?

No, I don't think that's who it is. Actually I communicated with him, and he was prompt and provided the info I sought. Unfortunately, no one had the foresight to ask him if the serial numbers matched on fork & frames, it was a poor assumption that they would.

I have heard he is trying to make it right, but I don't think any of the folks I know with short forks have had any satisfaction yet. I believe a few are trying to find out if A has B's fork, etc.

I think someone said the distributor is working with the factory on a solution...who knows?

Nice lookin'!

Thanks, I must admit that I always keep my open for a nice Sante Pogliaghi, one of the few bikes I'd like to own.

I have to admit that I only have a mid 60s Pog track bike and an early 80s Freschi Supreme. Emiliano Freschi was Pogliaghi's chief engineer and builder for 16 or so years. Here is a pic of my Freschi which weighs just 19 Lbs (titanium Campy BB, titanium spindle SR pedals, titanium stem bolts and alloy freewheel, alloy rail Unicanitor, Regina titanium side plates on chain! etc). Has custom Freschi dropouts and internally routed brake cable and front and rear derailleur cables. BUT I love your Merckx!!!

http://i233.photobucket.com/albums/ee237/Pogliaghi/Freschi1.jpg

That Freschi is awesum ! I know it dont belong but would,nt a "brooks" look good on it ! (it,s wall art,I,m envious)

Here is a picture of another Merckx Faema-coloured frame i just recently sold .....to Taiwan
It was too small, otherwise I would have kept it.
http://www.wooljersey.com/gallery/d/312526-2/E+M+F001.JPG

[QUOTE=Old Fat Guy;6932629]This is not as exciting as getting a NOS Merckx from South Africa

Not as exciting as...???? Tell that to my PC; I just drooled over the keyboard!:)

Thanks guys,

A visual feast. I'm envious of every bike / frame.

Thanks for the compliments.

Pogliaghi, your Freschi is gorgeous. I haven't weighed the Faema, but it too, has all TI parts, and in spite of being my oldest bike, it's my lightest.

Ampalabike, I have another Faema Merckx, but it's not a replica, it's like your frame. I've seen only one other replica here in the US. My understanding is that there weren't that many made.

Here's my other Faema:

http://lh6.ggpht.com/ypsibikes/SGAq6Kep7KI/AAAAAAAAAy8/g1PgMdMgxnU/s800/P3261743.JPG