Classic & Vintage - Date my new Merckx (LG picts )

HI ,
i have picked up a Merckx this evening .
I have never seen this type of merckx around , but i couldnt resist .
its my size and in lovely condition .
Oversized Columbus MAX tubing 55cm
Weinmann /Livery .
merckx rear dropouts / Columbus dropouts on the forks .
the closest merckx i cound find was this .
http://www.retrobike.co.uk/gallery2/main.php?g2_view=core.DownloadItem&g2_itemId=40879&g2_


and here are a couple pictures of my latest merckx .

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3233/3024892397_bb9a191baa_o.jpg

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3045/3024891903_56c633f584_o.jpg

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3176/3024892765_e0dc42b12b_o.jpg

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3017/3025719580_9212ce24d8_o.jpg

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3221/3025719906_749440d89c_o.jpg

650 front wheel 700 rear .

Cheers for any ID help !!
T

**EDIT**
more on MAX
Tube set for special racing bikes made from the exclusive Nivacrom® steel with exceptional strength characteristics.
The elliptical cross-sections are oriented in such a way that the major axes are directly opposed to the highest active and passive stresses.
This set has been designed to optimize efficiency under the demands of extreme bads: sprint, time trials, climbing
and strong centrifugal acceleration when descending. Nivacrom Steel - Weight: 1900 g

Sorry no help with the ID bu God, that frame colur scheme is gorgeous!

Usually a small front wheel was used on either a time trial bike or a very small frame size (50cm or less). Perhaps it's got the wrong fork? Maybe mount some wheels in it to see what it looks like?

@oldpeddaler .
Yes it is so lovely .im happy .
A mix mavic + modolo will be the start of this project . almost all is NOS .
:)

@hhabca
Yes it s a TT frame set . im looking for a year

If you email the serial number to Eddy Merckx (info (at) eddymerckx (dot) be), they'll tell you all you want to know.

Usually a small front wheel was used on either a time trial bike or a very small frame size (50cm or less). Perhaps it's got the wrong fork? Maybe mount some wheels in it to see what it looks like?

Given the presumed year, it probably is a TT bike.

iit is a TT .. i guess i should have stated that in the first post .
i have sent many mails to eddy merckx.com and no one has replied about any of the merckx cycles i have . so i have sort of given up on that .
i have also checked tearsforgears . no answers there as well , so here i am , asking here .
T

Serial # on both sides of the BB? That may help ID it.

Weird!!! Glad you found your Merckx. I said weird because the bike I told you about is that same color. I've had two Merckx in that same color. They were both Corsa Extras made of SLX. Also, can you post a pic of the fork. It looks a lot like the MX Leader fork. Sweet frame! I'll post pics of my new Merckx on Friday. Here is the last Merckx in that Color I had. I wish it had been my size.:cry:

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3192/3025157263_24a2fd2454_o.jpg

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3271/3025157489_0c5b6ff055_o.jpg

Oh yeah, here is my MX Leader that looks a lot like the one on the catalog. This is how I got it.
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3137/3025182919_996ebe72fb.jpg

Hey GIlbertp --
yes my speculations as well ,MX leader fork . only thing is there arent any EM stamps on the forks & there are 2 bikes just like this . one is a 63cm and then this one i bought .
both are the same frame but different colors . and each ash the same fork . columbus dropouts on the fork .

@old fat guy .
the numbers are
L C 9071
i dont have any reference to these numbers , they are "off the chart" . maybe you can
Cheers .

I love those MX Leaders. I want one so bad I can't see straight, but it is hard to find a good deal on one. I'd like to get one for my all around bike. I've never ridden one but have heard nothing but good things. Would you consider an MXL to be a classic or does it need a few more years to go.

Mutt

I'm guessing a 1990-91.

I'm guessing a 1990-91.

i would say that sounds about right . 90-93 - internal top tube cable routing is a clear give away ( to me ) . i have a couple other corsa extras 89,90 merckx and they have top tube cable routing NON internal . but my 93merckx has internal , was that the first year on internal cable routing of was it dependant on model ..
i really cant sleep until i pin this one . first time in a hile i cant pin the year .
bugging me :)
Cheers
T

C= 1990-91

PS-- I may know of a 56cm De Rosa Professional that will soon be available(not mine), but don't know about shipping to Sweden

edit: C also = Corsa, depending on where it is on the BB

does anyone ahve any other links to catalogs online for E.Merckx ?
would be interesting . 90-93
Cheers


@oldfatguy
thanks for the info .

iit is a TT .. i guess i should have stated that in the first post .
i have sent many mails to eddy merckx.com and no one has replied about any of the merckx cycles i have . so i have sort of given up on that .
i have also checked tearsforgears . no answers there as well , so here i am , asking here .
T

That's odd. I got a response to my info request in 4 days. I sent the email on a Friday, and had a response on the following Monday.

Try sending it directly to Patrick Josephi at patrick (at) eddymerckx (dot) be. He's the guy who responded to my email.

I would be glad to date your Merckx. Tell her i will pick her up on Saturday, for a day at the lake.

I would be glad to date your Merckx. Tell her i will pick her up on Saturday, for a day at the lake.

the hard part is trying to breed them . i have put 3 different Merckx models in 3 different sizes in a dark room and i keep waiting to see maybe a strada or a baby corsa one day . nothing so far .but i keep wishing .

Cheers
T

HI ,
i have picked up a Merckx this evening .
I have never seen this type of merckx around , but i couldnt resist .
its my size and in lovely condition .
Oversized Columbus MAX tubing 55cm
Weinmann /Livery .
merckx rear dropouts / Columbus dropouts on the forks .
the closest merckx i cound find was this .


I've only seen 2 before, but the first MAX built Merckx frames were designated as Corsa Extra's. The tubing sticker on most MX Leaders is MXL - Merckx specified some tubing differences from the stock MAX set - my memory is failing me, but it think it was a different draw on the down tube.

These earliest models actually use the Columbus MAX lugset, which has a different fork crown than were used on the MX Leaders. I think this may be it:
http://www.cccycles.com/images/MAX_Crown_Top.jpg

and here's one someone else built against the (maybe?) same lugset:
http://www.m-gineering.nl/cormax.jpg

Does that fork look like yours?

@avenan .

the link wit the fork crown seems to be it .
here is a picture of a Derosa TT with an identicle fork
http://tinyurl.com/5v2vxe
The person i bought this merckx from has another 1 exactly the same but in a size 63cm . he is a large person .
same fork and same color scheme .so i dont think that this fork is a replacement .
i have also been in contact with one other person here in Sweden who has the same same frame but unfortunatly doenst have the original fork, so i cannot compare it to that one .

but i have been searching everything online that i know of to get some info about this . it seems to me that these are rare and isnt much info out there .
anyway rare or not i love it and am very happy i had the opportunity to add this to my collection .
thanks for your help .

Cheers
T

HI .
well i received an E-mail from merck.be .
they state this this was a custom build for a guy here in Sweden which apparently never used it . He had it made and that was the end of it , sat in his attic until i received it .
and also the year is 91 .

@monogodo .
thanks for the tip on the email adderss . they were nice enough to reply .
Cheers for that .
and to everyone else , thanks !
Cheers
T

That's a small headtube for a 55 cm. This frame has "inverted sloping" top tube, right?

hi ,
12cm headtube
55cm seattube C-T
56cm toptube C-C
Cheers
T

"inverted sloping" top tube, right?
^ YES