Originally Posted by
kydeadhead
Nice set of ti bikes, I'm interested in any info you have on the Merckx, I bought the same bike used (with a 9 speed Dura-Ace group and LOOK fork) after test riding it at my local shop. I researched it on the internet and found that the AX was supposed to be flexy, which mine is definately not, but then read that it was supposed to have a threaded headset and round tubes. Mine has the bi-oval downtube and 1" threadless that yours appears to have, and I was wondering if you knew when they changed the specs?
I'm the original owner of the Merckx purchased in 1999 for $2467 spec'd with DA 9 and the Profile BRC threadless fork. I believe at that time there were two models of Merckx titaniums. The other was called EX. I believe they were only sold as framesets so threadless or threaded was the customer's choice. The frame was made by Litspeed and had Merckx geometry. The tubes are bi-ovalized for that year as you state.