Classic & Vintage - Eddy Merckx Bike Value?

Recently acquired an older Eddy Merckx bicycle and have no idea how to find out the make, model, year, ect. I was hoping someone could point me in the right direction as to how to go about identifying the bicycle. Any help would be appreciated. -Wayne
Whausfeld@Hotmail.com

Got access to a digital camera? Post a picture here and I'll bet someone can ID it for you.

Got access to a digital camera? Post a picture here and I'll bet someone can ID it for you.

Hope it's an old one (Orange, with Eddy's picture on the seat tube). Those are cool. Saw one parked on a Seattle street. I wanted to find the owner and buy it.

I believe it is an older one. My father thinks it must be 30+ years old. It is orange with his picture on the front tube. From what I recall it was handmade in Europe (possibly Germany). I do have a digital camera and I will try to post pictures tomorrow. –Wayne

I believe it is an older one. My father thinks it must be 30+ years old. It is orange with his picture on the front tube. From what I recall it was handmade in Europe (possibly Germany). I do have a digital camera and I will try to post pictures tomorrow. –Wayne

I look forward to your pics! You should be able to find a country of origin (manufacture) on it somewhere.
This bike might have been made before Eddy Merckx started his own factory, hence your bike might have been made somewhere other than Belgium, Eddy's terre natale..

I started a thread about older Merckxs awhile ago and it became quite informative.

http://www.bikeforums.net/showthread.php?t=32653

Also check out http://sheldonbrown.com/vrbn-g-n.html#merckx

Post some pics, Merckxs are appreciated around here.

:beer:

Ok here they are.

http://bigusdickus.8m.com/EddyMerckx.htm

Sorry in advance for any pop-ups. The yellow sticker says Tour De France it just doesn't look very sharp. I have to clean the bike up and take better pictures if I ever want to sell it.

Notice one decal says "hand made in England by Falcon". Nice lugs

Well that is a falcon merckx it is, the first bike he put his name on as well as I know. I think the bike came out in the very early 70's or late 60's. Made in england, decent bikes of the time... If I remember right, there were only produced for one year, after that Eddy moved on to bigger and better companies (his own).

Phil

I'm trying to sell the bike actually. Can anyone give me specs (date, model name, size) that I could put into the auction? Also does anyone know what I might expect to get for it? I had read somewhere that these bikes were not selling as high because they were not the same quality as other Merckx bikes. Again...any help would be appreciated. -Wayne

Also my bike's frame looks very much like this (http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&category=7298&item=3690269164&rd=1) one. What are the differences? And can I expect to get as much...or even how much should I ask for?

Well that is a falcon merckx it is, the first bike he put his name on as well as I know. I think the bike came out in the very early 70's or late 60's. Made in england, decent bikes of the time... If I remember right, there were only produced for one year, after that Eddy moved on to bigger and better companies (his own).

Phil Concur with your post. Also, it appears that the crank, derrailleurs, shifters and possibly the hubs are Campagnolo Valentino. You should be able to make out some kind of writing on these components. As well, looks like you might have the original tubular tires. Have no idea what it's worth, but I'd hang it in my living room. The overall condition of the bike looks good. If you put it on e-bay, put a reserve price in which would represent the lowest price you would take from a buyer. It would be a good way of finding out what the real market value is...

I'm trying to sell the bike actually. Can anyone give me specs (date, model name, size) that I could put into the auction? Also does anyone know what I might expect to get for it? I had read somewhere that these bikes were not selling as high because they were not the same quality as other Merckx bikes. Again...any help would be appreciated. -Wayne

Also my bike's frame looks very much like this (http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&category=7298&item=3690269164&rd=1) one. What are the differences? And can I expect to get as much...or even how much should I ask for?

There is another Falcon very similar to yours with what looks like the same frame(it has the same lugs) but with better componentry on ebay now if you do a search there on Falcon. It's a purplish color.

With all due respect, your bike bears no similarity to the bike you linked to. That bike is an Eddy Merckx made in the Merckx factory and is a high grade competition level bike. The bike you have is an entry level bike for sport riding made by Falcon that happens to have Eddy Merckx decals on it.

That doesn't mean your bike won't have some value to someone though. However, it's hard to say what the value is. You'll just have to try it and see. The Eddy Merckx decals may give it some added value. Like Pedale said, decide what you want for it then set the reserve at that. If you don't get it, then you're out nothing and you can either try again or decide otherwise.

Looked at pics. Some of the Falcons were Reynolds 531 and quite nice bikes in their own stead. Not (nearly) as nice as a Merckx made Merckx but respectable.

Didn't see a Reynolds decal on your frame's seattube however.

I understand eBay has upped their charge for setting reserves so that might not be so cheap anymore. Set your opening bid at an acceptable price and see if you get a bite.

:beer: