What year Eddy Merckx?
01-05-19, 10:13 PM
#1
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What year Eddy Merckx?
Litespeed-made frame. Serial 19xxx. I notice the stays are capped differently than all the other Merckx titanium frames I've seen. These have welded flats, instead of points.
Can anybody help me date this frame more precisely? I would guess it's an AX from mid or late nineties.
Can anybody help me date this frame more precisely? I would guess it's an AX from mid or late nineties.
01-05-19, 11:51 PM
#2
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Bikes: Cheltenham-Pedersen racer, Boulder F/S Paris-Roubaix, Varsity racer, '52 Christophe, '62 Continental, '92 Merckx, '75 Limongi, '76 Presto, '72 Gitane SC, '71 Schwinn SS, etc.
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That is interesting about the welded caps.
If it has a taper to the seat tube, I believe it would have to be the better EX version, though my own EX has the tapered bullet ends.
The 7410 model crank was offered only in '95 and '96 iir, so if it was built at that time it is an early EX (mine has the later hollow-arm 7700 crankset but is only a 1997).
Check your derailer and shifter date codes, if they are years later than 1996 then likely your bike received the newer 9s shifters and derailers as an upgrade.
Are your brake calipers also 74xx parts?
If it has a taper to the seat tube, I believe it would have to be the better EX version, though my own EX has the tapered bullet ends.
The 7410 model crank was offered only in '95 and '96 iir, so if it was built at that time it is an early EX (mine has the later hollow-arm 7700 crankset but is only a 1997).
Check your derailer and shifter date codes, if they are years later than 1996 then likely your bike received the newer 9s shifters and derailers as an upgrade.
Are your brake calipers also 74xx parts?
01-06-19, 07:27 AM
#3
Full Member
Thread Starter
That is interesting about the welded caps.
If it has a taper to the seat tube, I believe it would have to be the better EX version, though my own EX has the tapered bullet ends.
The 7410 model crank was offered only in '95 and '96 iir, so if it was built at that time it is an early EX (mine has the later hollow-arm 7700 crankset but is only a 1997).
Check your derailer and shifter date codes, if they are years later than 1996 then likely your bike received the newer 9s shifters and derailers as an upgrade.
Are your brake calipers also 74xx parts?
If it has a taper to the seat tube, I believe it would have to be the better EX version, though my own EX has the tapered bullet ends.
The 7410 model crank was offered only in '95 and '96 iir, so if it was built at that time it is an early EX (mine has the later hollow-arm 7700 crankset but is only a 1997).
Check your derailer and shifter date codes, if they are years later than 1996 then likely your bike received the newer 9s shifters and derailers as an upgrade.
Are your brake calipers also 74xx parts?
I will check the codes, thanks. I suspect most of the components are upgrades, though I bet the 600 headset and the (bonded aluminum?) fork are original.
I am thinking the vertical dropouts and non-ovalized tubing on this one mean it's not an EX?
01-06-19, 07:36 AM
#4
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Thread Starter
The calipers are 7403 date code TF (June 1995). Crank is TD (April 95) and rear derailer is XF (June 99). Front derailer is TD.
Last edited by belacqua; 01-06-19 at 08:03 AM.
01-06-19, 11:39 AM
#6
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Bikes: Cheltenham-Pedersen racer, Boulder F/S Paris-Roubaix, Varsity racer, '52 Christophe, '62 Continental, '92 Merckx, '75 Limongi, '76 Presto, '72 Gitane SC, '71 Schwinn SS, etc.
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Might be the first year of the EX?
Mine does have the "Made by Litespeed, Designed by Merckx" sticker on the seat tube (which is actually a tapered tube, not just ovalized).
I don't really know much more about these. Mine turned up in well-used condition in a distant rural location at a very low price, sold by an ex-Ironman competitor in his 70's who was also a former professional flat-track racer (BSA team).
Though very large for my size, the bike does exhibit perhaps the best steering behavior of any bike I've owned, under conditions of riding technical back roads at highest-possible speeds.
There is something about the steering that prevents anxiety, the ability to change direction instantly at will, but without any tendency toward a flighty steering feel.
It has an effortless, accurate, linear response that actually stands out from the others, yet stability and comfort are excellent.
Large picture here, hope this helps.
Mine does have the "Made by Litespeed, Designed by Merckx" sticker on the seat tube (which is actually a tapered tube, not just ovalized).
I don't really know much more about these. Mine turned up in well-used condition in a distant rural location at a very low price, sold by an ex-Ironman competitor in his 70's who was also a former professional flat-track racer (BSA team).
Though very large for my size, the bike does exhibit perhaps the best steering behavior of any bike I've owned, under conditions of riding technical back roads at highest-possible speeds.
There is something about the steering that prevents anxiety, the ability to change direction instantly at will, but without any tendency toward a flighty steering feel.
It has an effortless, accurate, linear response that actually stands out from the others, yet stability and comfort are excellent.
Large picture here, hope this helps.
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