Wow, very interesting. Here is inside the BB, hopefully this is what you needed to see.

https://cimg6.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...783fc39c9.jpeg
https://cimg9.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...70ead6199.jpeg
https://cimg0.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...7a40a8aca.jpeg

Last one... for now. Although I love them all, this one may very well be my favorite. I have always loved this Kelme paint scheme and this appears to be a team bike. I would love to know the rider, but probably will never know. BB stamp: A A2308. I love this bike! Thanks for any information on this one!


https://cimg0.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...db881b021.jpeg
https://cimg9.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...3afa72b7a.jpeg
https://cimg1.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...758cc733a.jpeg
https://cimg4.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...6ffdc9283.jpeg
https://cimg5.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...db8d6c787.jpeg

You left the best for last :)
If this is indeed a team bike built for Kelme for the 1988 season (and there is no reason to think otherwise) then.... just shattered my theory (actually two theories) of dating the EMC 1986 - 1989 frame.
...and very well - since they were wrong :)
At the same time he clarified some "anomalies" (as I thought so far) regarding the introduction of "teams" paint schemes in the A-series.
Sometimes it's good to turn the puzzle table over - especially if a picture of the Eiffel Tower emerges .... and on the box you have the Leaning Tower of Pisa....
Kelme was using 86/87 (red/white) paint scheme still in Vuelta a Galicia in August 1987 so our hero didn't appear until September 1987 at the earliest - so far I can't get used to the idea that maybe even later :)
So far I dated such a frame to the beginning (maybe March) 1987... this is enough for a whole comment
OK, I'm putting it together from the beginning - let's hope the Empire State Building doesn't appear :)

Naked MXL
 

Hello,
I have bought a completely stripped MXL frame (no fork) and would like to get some more insight on its year of fabrication and, possibly, the original paint. Two things stand out for me on this frame. The first is that the headtube and the headtube lugs are chromed. I suspect the headtube was painted and only the chrome on the lugs were visible. The second is that the chainstay and, in fact, the entire rear triangle, is *not* chromed. Frame stampings are "P" (drive side) and G6207 (non drive side). Thanks for any help giving this frame its original colors back!

P G6207 is a mid-1997 frame
Front lugs chrome plating is a paid option (1190 Belgian francs)
More interesting is the lack of chrome plating on the right chainstay - this was standard at the time.
Remnants of the main color may have been preserved inside the tubes visible through the BB cover.
There are several paint schemes to choose from:
- old, introduced in 93 and 94 VL and FN
- new, DR of 96 or RA of 97
- classic one-color
(to be seen in 1995-1998 catalogs)

Merci !

Hi cyclesmakaron, back again in here to ask about some merckx i found, its corsa extra with similar fork to mxl. Probably the newer one looking from the paint scheme (is it gan?)

The number is H D6928. Is this come with New SLX tube? Your feedback is well appreciated🙏
https://cimg3.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...2fdf18136b.jpg
https://cimg8.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...b2b3a06710.jpg

Heeelp
 

Regards,
Alex

H D6928 built in spring 1993, Corsa Extra frame, Mx Leader fork.
Repainted with M9B pattern used since 1998 (this is not GAN)
New SLX was not used then.
Unusual is the lack of X-marking (surely this is Columbus?) and the frame +fork combination.
I saw something like this only in profi team frame (Telekom)
Markings on the steering tube?

H4X 4258 - This is a 1992 Corsa Extra SLX, the "EMC man" forgot the letter D :)

Jacek, what is your opinion on the chainstays having no EM pantograph or engraved seatstay caps? Thanks, Sean.

"chainstay having no EM pantograph" - ?
"engraved seatstay caps" - "narrow" seatstay, it's just an option - introduced in 1984 with the Pro model.

Thanks, was unaware this was an available option :thumb: always learning :)

thanks mate! your "merckx" knowledge is second to none!

the corsa extra with mx leader fork quite unusual. lucky its a tad too big for me.

also found this mx leader with number L - D8586 - a repainted one. is it produced in 94?
https://cimg6.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...f24febecb2.png

L D8586 = Fall 1993

Thanks again, Jacek. Can you identify the type of paintwork from the frame number?

Trying to make the seller to ship the frame now, looks like it will be a quite challenging task in this pandemic :)

​​​​​​

Unfortunately the serial number is not linked to the paint scheme
Last chance: "old" paint on steering tube and "card" - maybe it survived
Over the past year I have shipped frames from Poland to the US, Australia and India - successfully :)

thanks Jacek! The thing is, the seller lives in a city/district that enforce strict lockdown, so he can't get the proper box for shipment. So sad.

I might need to ask you privately in hunting the MXL one haha. a bit out of topic, I found an interesting forum post that states there's a seller in Poland that sells a few of NOS Merckx frames, have you heard about this?

Yes, frames without forks - mostly Arcobaleno; these are frames sold off after the 2008 inventory, they look OK.

My Merckx bikes
 

Hi ,
I ‘m new on this forum. Like to enter my Merckx codes.
A-E6717
G-E632
4 ( nothing more)
G4 - 858
tnx in advance.

Merckx codes
 

Hi ,
I ‘m new on this forum. Like to enter my Merckx codes.
A-E6717
G-E632
4 ( nothing more)
G4 - 858
tnx in advance.

A E6717 - 1983, I have it in "my registry" as Aero
G E632 - 1981, also in the registry, Professional (matt black)
4 - Professional 1980, I have something similar in my registry - if your copy has "mixed" lugs (short in front, long in back) this could be it; if "unmixed" - it's a novelty for me
G4 858 - Professional 1980, I haven't seen this one yet :)

My wife's Hitachi Merckx, possibly a former team frame as it came with a Mavic group and a bunch of Mavic decals on it and has a number hanger plate.

I found it in Belgium.

B
5267

https://i.imgur.com/fbYXUzi.jpg

https://i.imgur.com/yLsdSqB.jpg

Frame built ~May/June 1989.
During the 1989 season Team Hitachi used Reynolds 653 frames (mostly with flat fork crowns).
Definitely check the card attached to the steering tube :)

Yes, it Is made of Reynolds 653, I forgot to mention that

Eddy Merckx Corsa Extra Team USA P0X D 6015
 

https://cimg0.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...403db6874b.jpg
https://cimg2.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...68059d4032.jpg

These are pictures of my Eddy Merckx Corsa Extra Team USA as it looks now, with a Campagnolo C-Record group. The original fork is painted but it was cut for a Shimano Dura Ace headset, i. e. too short for the Campagnolo headset. The chromed fork is of the same type.
I have already learnt that this paint scheme was dedicated to Lance Armstrong´s winning the US National Championship in 1993, but maybe the frame number reveals some more information.

It reads: P0X and D 6015

Would be curious to learn more. Thank you very much in advance!

P0X D6015 - Frame built in early 1993
Corsa Extra SLX road racing geometry
Rose - German mail order distributor

We have another one, of a different kind. My friend owns this ladies´ bicycle (aluminium frame with "EM" engravings, carbon fork, 3x8 Shimano group).

The frame numbers are:

Left side: P 0253
Right side: U06 1813 43

The system seems to be different from the one described in the first post of this thread. Do you have any knowledge of this? Thank you very much in advance!
https://cimg6.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...b153c1e4a4.jpg
https://cimg0.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...3598cd0f03.jpg
https://cimg1.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...1b491ee3c2.jpg

You are probably the first person to ask about this issue - congratulations :)
This system applies almost exclusively to alu frames (but not all).
As you can see from the old system the serial number P 0253 remains
But since 1996 a second serial number appeared - probably because the frames were produced outside Meise, somewhere in Italy.
This second number is the manufacturer's or order number. Until 2002 it looked like this, for example:
980013 where 98 is 1998 (year of production/order) and 0013 is the next frame from that year
From 2002 it looked like this:
U061813 where 06 is 2006 and 1813 is the next frame from that year
The dates of the second serial number precede those of the classic EMC serial number - this is quite logical.
Attention!
The two systems are not linked i.e:
An earlier frame from the second system may have a later number from the EMC system, e.g:
J6366 020069
J6843 020002
or
H9062 200252
H9537 200068
Your frame:
P0253 - indicates early 2007
U061813 - ~autumn 2006
43 - frame size
Some alu frames manufactured since 1996 do not have a second serial number
Some of them were built in Meise for profi teams
EMC alu designations are a galaxy closely watched by me but not yet explored :)

O-kay. Read my friend´s response to your post:

"I am in awe. Jacek's knowledgeability leaves me speechless."

I am, as always, impressed by your knowledge, too. So we have started a new chapter of the saga? "To boldly go where no one has gone before".

I guess there must be another number system for the titanium frames then. :foo:

EMC's aluminium frames are the most mysterious piece of the puzzle - so far I have not been able to track down the Italian manufacturer (or manufacturers); this happens with subcontractors.
The "German trace" leads to the Faggin company, but it doesn't fit me as a "contractor", but as an intermediary in contact with the real manufacturer - yes.
Research is in progress :)
The titanium frames from Meise had the same serial numbering system e.g:
H581
J0212
...and nothing else
Frames produced by Litespeed had Litespeed markings - this did not distinguish frames sold as Eddy Merckx.