Classic & Vintage - Wrong Decals on this Merckx?

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View Full Version : Wrong Decals on this Merckx?

markwebb
03-17-05, 08:05 PM
I was looking at buying this bike, but the head badge decals and seat tube decal don't look right. The farme looks like a "real" Merckx (not Falcon) but aren't those decals from a Falcon Merckx? Did Eddy's own bikes ever have those decals, or did someone just put the wrong decals on a Merckx frame (the decals also look newer than rest of the bike).

Here's the link:
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&category=98084&item=7142269579&rd=1&ssPageName=WDVW

lotek
03-18-05, 07:02 AM
I've always seen those "picture" decals on cheap french dept store bikes
the one that comes to mind is Anquetil.
The other decals and egravings on the frame look correct to my eye.
I'd say someone put those on as an afterthought.

Marty
avenan
03-18-05, 10:29 AM
Looks like an early-to-mid 80's merckx with an identity problem. Over the bottom bracket cable routing, recessed brakes, proper Merckx lugs. Looks right to me too. Definitely not a Falcon. (of course, I've been wrong many, many times...)

http://www.bulgier.net/pics/bike/Catalogs/eddy_merckx2/

I'd guess somewhere in that time frame -- I think the seatstays caps on earlier Merckx (Merckxs? Merckxi?) were different

markwebb
03-18-05, 10:42 AM
I know they used those decals on the Falcon Moltini-orange Merckx, before Eddy went into the fame/bike business himself. I just did not think that he used the picture decals on his own bikes. Either Eddy used the Falcon decals for a few early years (post-Falcon), or someone mistakenly applied the Falcon decals to an early real Merckx. The bike does look correct for an early Merckx, but the decals look like new ones someone put on the bike. The decals also look much newer than rest of the bike.
don d.
03-18-05, 10:47 AM
The King used his photo decals on his own rigs when he was riding and I may have seen the odd EM post-80 with the photo decals.
socalrider
03-18-05, 07:29 PM
I've seen a few Merckx bikes with the Eddy Head decals.. These were bikes that he personally had made for friends.. I have a friend who knows Eddy and had one with Junior Eddy on the Headtube.. Most likely this was a gift to a friend of Merckx and has found it's way back into circulation..