Vonruden

I posted this one in a couple other threads, needs to be here as well. It was a craigslist find. I swapped out the control tech stem for a Cinelli, added new Vittoria tubs, picked up a Dura-Ace seatpost, replaced the beat up saddle, and gave her some new cables and Bar tape.







The Before pic

Blue Belly

I could sit here & stare at all of these Merckx all day. Nice bikes, everyone! I've owned 3, over the years. A Century, an AXM & now this MX Leader. I wasn't in the market for another bike, really. But I did need something I could put some 36 hole wheels on that had a nice smooth ride. Preferable w/o the compliance of a comfort bike. I had always dreamed of an MX Leader. They always seemed a little too much $$$ for my intentions in a bike that I can ride. Well, fate drew a hand & it all came together. I had to pull another bike apart(for now), what I ended up with was a dream bike. This one is a keeper, for sure. Such a smooth ride & great power transfer. I plan to lace up a set of lighter wheels, for special rides.

Blue Belly

What are your impressions of the STN saddle? I see them listed a lot. Been curious to try...you know how it is with saddles.

rccardr 

Haven't spent enough time on it to give an opinion. Built that Merckx and have yet to put many miles on it.

gomango

@ Von Ruden and Blue Belly

Really beautiful EMs guys. Can't imagine what anyone would do to make them look better.

Unfortunately the Leader I had was too small, so I couldn't really give it full shot.

Maybe someday again?

Thanks for sharing.

Vonruden

That MX is HOT!!

Blue Belly

Sizing is funky on them. I spent a lot of time researching & measuring geometry. Once the bike was at home I measured it next to my Pinarello Montello. I was shocked to find that the distance from the BB to the head tube was 1/2cm shorter(on a horizontal plane). The Merckx has a 58.2 Top Tube. The Montello a 56.5 TT. The MX is a much bigger frame physically, & longer. It must have been some sort of weird fate that it found me. On paper as a 60 cm, I would have never though it would fit. It does, & just about perfectly. It's a brilliant frame. The first pedal stroke was about all I needed. Just feels like it wants to always be moving forward.

Blue Belly

Let me know, when you do. It's a great looking bike! The saddle seems to work well with the build.

Broid

I can't wait to post on this thread!

Orvis

The research season is over and I did not get to ride as much as I wanted this last summer, but I have a set of Cinelli rollers (al.) now, so I can work on my spin in between ride days this winter....Still love to ride the Merckx. All Campy (Eddy Merckx engraved)

gomango

That's a very nice Merckx you have there.

Any pics of the fork crown and seat cluster handy?

Serial number would interest me a great deal as well to date the bike, but i understand if that's too much.

Also, is there a Columbus steel decal on the seat tube?

Blue Belly

Love the Molteni colors! Those are some serious bars!

Orvis

In the second pic you can see the Columbus sticker right under the top tube, on seat tube. There are 2 numbers and 2 letters in the Ser. # on the bottom bracket; it looks like this:

7 Z
A 490

Orvis

Thanks, They are the original bars, I just have replaced the tape. I bought a box of white cotton tape (when I bought the bike) since that was the tape that was original and figured that I may need it so I still have quite a few rolls left to re-wrap, but for know I like the yellow tape.

Thanks

Orvis

jiangshi

Appears to be a limited edition Molteni Professional model frame, fully pantographed. Merckx did both an earlier Faema and this Molteni a year or two later. Some said, at the time, it was to boost his disappointing early sales.

Very special bike, in any case. Lack of a FD hanger is a bit surprising.

rise1984

I started reading this post almost a year ago and dreamed of one day constructing my Merckx. Finally its' happening

Got the 1986(?) Panasonic Corsa Extra frame off Ebay. Assembled a full 1994 campy Chorus group set, brakes, crank, shifters, headset, seatpost, BB. The Rim's are FIR EA50's with Campy CHorus 8spd Hubs.

the stem is a 3ttt and the handle bars are a modern Civia emerson shallow drop in silver.

Putting on the rest tomorrow, will have some pics next week!

shoota 

Great first post, congrats! Can't wait to see the final product.

bigfred 

I second the motion! Great first post.

jet sanchEz

I picked up some Campy Neutron clinchers with wheelbags for $100 on CL, they are pretty sweet. They are lighter than my Zondas and I prefer the classic spoke pattern for my old Merckx.

bibliobob

Love it!

crandress 

Nice ride!

gomango

Agreed.

That's a steal for that wheelset. One of the nicer wheelsets I've ridden, but can be a bear to mount tires on, especially Veloflex.

gomango

So do I.

Bob, isn't that the same year as yours?

Vonruden

Nice Panasonic Rise!

Here is a nice one I picked up a few weeks back.