Decoding of Eddy Merckx frames
#576
Junior Member
Joined: Jul 2021
Posts: 11
Likes: 1
Finally got my 10 posts so here! the photo album: https://imgur.com/a/u8OWvoT
edit: one more pic: https://imgur.com/a/95HlTBF
can you confirm what rear spacing this should be? i'm worried the frame is bent but it may be that the previous owner made the rear wider to fit a 130mm wheel. a buyer is coming probably tomorrow to have a look so i need to fix that in the right way...many thanks, much appreciated!
edit: one more pic: https://imgur.com/a/95HlTBF
can you confirm what rear spacing this should be? i'm worried the frame is bent but it may be that the previous owner made the rear wider to fit a 130mm wheel. a buyer is coming probably tomorrow to have a look so i need to fix that in the right way...many thanks, much appreciated!
Last edited by identity; 08-10-21 at 03:11 AM.
#577
Junior Member
Joined: Sep 2020
Posts: 22
Likes: 8
The bicycle was brought to me from France.
I have seen some other post asking for info about an older EM frame (I think also from France) using just about this same gear as in mine.
I guess I will put it back rolling like this and later try to find a campagnolo period group set to "dress" it properly.
Thanks again for your help.
#578
Senior Member

Joined: Sep 2020
Posts: 60
Likes: 47
From: Sweden
Found this Corsa Extra for sale locally and became a little curious... Is anyone able to tell the approximate year and what the tubing might be?
https://photos.app.goo.gl/5L1TRUfy5pzTwMzu7
https://photos.app.goo.gl/5L1TRUfy5pzTwMzu7
Last edited by th0m; 08-14-21 at 02:16 AM.
#580
Newbie
Joined: Aug 2021
Posts: 2
Likes: 0
First post so descriptions only unfortunately... A couple of years ago I picked up a green with yellow detail MX Leader. Pretty scratched and chipped original paint, with some surface rust, but I was looking for a project frame anyway. The guy I bought it from said it was a custom frame used by a semi-pro Belgium team at the time, I know the number hanger doesn't mean much, but the frame is 54/56, does this mean it is custom, i thought all the standard frames were square 54/54 or 56/56? The serial is L -- D 9551, with the L on its own on the left, so I paid particular attention to this post earlier in the thread:
A long, long time ago, the EMC factory in Meise was getting ready for the new season - 1994. It was the Belgian autumn of 1993, it may have been November, and it was the month in which the frames for professional teams was being built... Slightly earlier a frame was built (for sure) for Jan Schur (Motorola - D9563) and after about a week a frame for Frank Vandenbroucke (Lotto-Caloi - D9674) was built (also for sure).
So a frame built around the time of the two above, November 1993? The colour scheme is the green/yellow in the '94 brochure beside the Team Telekom.
There was a name on the frame that was scraped off...
Second frame is new to me: A -- D3586, size 54, dark blue original paint, doesn't have the MX-Leader fork, and has a pump peg instead of the number hanger. 'A' builder should be 'prototypes to B3000', how come I have 'D' series number? What year would this be?
A long, long time ago, the EMC factory in Meise was getting ready for the new season - 1994. It was the Belgian autumn of 1993, it may have been November, and it was the month in which the frames for professional teams was being built... Slightly earlier a frame was built (for sure) for Jan Schur (Motorola - D9563) and after about a week a frame for Frank Vandenbroucke (Lotto-Caloi - D9674) was built (also for sure).
So a frame built around the time of the two above, November 1993? The colour scheme is the green/yellow in the '94 brochure beside the Team Telekom.
There was a name on the frame that was scraped off...
Second frame is new to me: A -- D3586, size 54, dark blue original paint, doesn't have the MX-Leader fork, and has a pump peg instead of the number hanger. 'A' builder should be 'prototypes to B3000', how come I have 'D' series number? What year would this be?
#581
Thread Starter
Senior Member

Joined: Oct 2016
Posts: 939
Likes: 415
L D9551 - Mx Leader had a "century geo", check the tables on BigSourcEMerCkx; the frame is from the same period as profi frames, but they didn't build "profi only" frames back then - anything is possible (I don't know of teams using this paint scheme)
A D3586 - built late summer 1992; "EMC worker" A markings also appear after "B3000", updated information in BigSourcEMerCkx
A D3586 - built late summer 1992; "EMC worker" A markings also appear after "B3000", updated information in BigSourcEMerCkx
#582
Newbie
Joined: Aug 2021
Posts: 2
Likes: 0
Thanks, great information there. hours lost yesterday...
D3586 is a standard 55 - 55cm seat tube, 55.5cm top tube.
D9551 is definitely custom - 55cm seat tube, 57.5cm top tube.
Odd one- as you said, that colour combination wasn't used for a pro team, not a nice colour scheme, dark metallic green and bright yellow. It is a different colour now :-)
D3586 is a standard 55 - 55cm seat tube, 55.5cm top tube.
D9551 is definitely custom - 55cm seat tube, 57.5cm top tube.
Odd one- as you said, that colour combination wasn't used for a pro team, not a nice colour scheme, dark metallic green and bright yellow. It is a different colour now :-)
#583
Junior Member
Joined: Apr 2019
Posts: 159
Likes: 34
Bikes: Colnago Super (panto) - Gios Professional (1st Generation C-Record) - Eddy Merckx Corsa Extra (Team USA) - Barellia Reynolds 531 - Fully chromed Columbus steel bike (Patelli?) Super Record Titanium
My friend owns what we consider an early "Professional".
The frame number on the bottom bracket reads
"6." ("six dot") on the left and "749" on the right.
The seat stay caps have the signature on them. The fork crown has "Merckx" engraved.
Can you date it?
There is something unusual on the underside of the lower frame tube, a marking that reads "MPS - STC 06548" (?, sorry for the bad pictures). This marking is not engraved but raised, like Braille. What is that...?
Thank you very much in advance!







The frame number on the bottom bracket reads
"6." ("six dot") on the left and "749" on the right.
The seat stay caps have the signature on them. The fork crown has "Merckx" engraved.
Can you date it?
There is something unusual on the underside of the lower frame tube, a marking that reads "MPS - STC 06548" (?, sorry for the bad pictures). This marking is not engraved but raised, like Braille. What is that...?
Thank you very much in advance!







Last edited by Nuovo Record; 08-27-21 at 08:37 AM.
#585
Junior Member
Joined: Apr 2019
Posts: 159
Likes: 34
Bikes: Colnago Super (panto) - Gios Professional (1st Generation C-Record) - Eddy Merckx Corsa Extra (Team USA) - Barellia Reynolds 531 - Fully chromed Columbus steel bike (Patelli?) Super Record Titanium
I see... Thank you, Jacek!
#586
Senior Member




Joined: Oct 2015
Posts: 16,096
Likes: 9,461
From: PDX
Bikes: Merz x 5 + Specialized Merz Allez x 2, Strawberry/Newlands/DiNucci/Ti x3, Gordon, Fuso/Moulton x2, Bornstein, Paisley,1958-74 Paramounts x3, 3rensho, 74 Moto TC, 73-78 Raleigh Pro's x5, Marinoni x2, 1960 Cinelli SC, 1980 Bianchi SC, PX-10 X 2
[MENTION=448872]CyclesMakaron[/MENTION]
Do you know what tubing they used on 06-07 7-11 tribute bikes?
Do you know what tubing they used on 06-07 7-11 tribute bikes?
#587
Thread Starter
Senior Member

Joined: Oct 2016
Posts: 939
Likes: 415
The idea behind the 'special editions' was to get rid of excess old steel tubing... in an elegant way 
As 7-Eleven is a Corsa Extra frame, you should expect SLX or TSX (but I don't know for sure, I have never seen such a frame "from the inside")

As 7-Eleven is a Corsa Extra frame, you should expect SLX or TSX (but I don't know for sure, I have never seen such a frame "from the inside")
#588
Senior Member




Joined: Oct 2015
Posts: 16,096
Likes: 9,461
From: PDX
Bikes: Merz x 5 + Specialized Merz Allez x 2, Strawberry/Newlands/DiNucci/Ti x3, Gordon, Fuso/Moulton x2, Bornstein, Paisley,1958-74 Paramounts x3, 3rensho, 74 Moto TC, 73-78 Raleigh Pro's x5, Marinoni x2, 1960 Cinelli SC, 1980 Bianchi SC, PX-10 X 2
Well unfortunately, I traded the 10th Anniversary TSX frame for the tribute frame from Steve at Millfield Velo without scrutinizing it inside as I should have (what was I thinking), should have looked it over good as I had to strip and pack it.
Maybe if I follow through with this you can help me figure it out, this gives me what I need for now, I assume you know some? of these have no tubing sticker as this one does not.
#593
Newbie
Joined: Sep 2021
Posts: 13
Likes: 0
Hey,
I just got an EM in Motorola colors
Serial number
Left side. Drive Side
M Z9496
Following the serial number this should from end 87, but Motorola colors didnīt come until much later, no?
Also there is a columbus sticker with SLX and eyelet racer
Info in the steerer tube is
Z9496
TM
2p. chromé later
Maybe you can give me more information about this frame?
Thanks a lot!
I just got an EM in Motorola colors
Serial number
Left side. Drive Side
M Z9496
Following the serial number this should from end 87, but Motorola colors didnīt come until much later, no?
Also there is a columbus sticker with SLX and eyelet racer
Info in the steerer tube is
Z9496
TM
2p. chromé later
Maybe you can give me more information about this frame?
Thanks a lot!
#594
Thread Starter
Senior Member

Joined: Oct 2016
Posts: 939
Likes: 415
Z9496 is a fall 1986 copy.
TM is a Motorola paint scheme
2p. chrome (p=pattern, chrome pattern)
later=information about repainting the frame at Merckx.
Not sure what model it is - no markings (M is EMC employee code)
What does the brake bridge look like -
"cube" or with Eddy Merckx lettering?
What do the lugs look like - with or without "cutouts"?
TM is a Motorola paint scheme
2p. chrome (p=pattern, chrome pattern)
later=information about repainting the frame at Merckx.
Not sure what model it is - no markings (M is EMC employee code)
What does the brake bridge look like -
"cube" or with Eddy Merckx lettering?
What do the lugs look like - with or without "cutouts"?
#595
Newbie
Joined: Sep 2021
Posts: 13
Likes: 0
Thanks for the info!
Lugs without cutout and brake bridge with Eddy Merckx lettering, like the silva one?
Brake cable routing inside the top tube, front and back coming in and out from above
And no graving close to the seatpost clamp...
Sorry I canīt upload pictures, otherwise would be easier...
Thanks again!
Lugs without cutout and brake bridge with Eddy Merckx lettering, like the silva one?
Brake cable routing inside the top tube, front and back coming in and out from above
And no graving close to the seatpost clamp...
Sorry I canīt upload pictures, otherwise would be easier...
Thanks again!
#596
Senior Member

Joined: Sep 2012
Posts: 1,107
Likes: 108
From: Upstate South Carolina
Bikes: 1980's Spectrum 10 sp Campagnolo Centaur, 1990 Eddy Merckx 10 sp Campagnolo Centaur, Bushnell Tandem, Co-Motion Speedster Tandem
Thanks for the info!
Lugs without cutout and brake bridge with Eddy Merckx lettering, like the silva one?
Brake cable routing inside the top tube, front and back coming in and out from above
And no graving close to the seatpost clamp...
Sorry I canīt upload pictures, otherwise would be easier...
Thanks again!
Lugs without cutout and brake bridge with Eddy Merckx lettering, like the silva one?
Brake cable routing inside the top tube, front and back coming in and out from above
And no graving close to the seatpost clamp...
Sorry I canīt upload pictures, otherwise would be easier...
Thanks again!
#597
Senior Member




Joined: Oct 2015
Posts: 16,096
Likes: 9,461
From: PDX
Bikes: Merz x 5 + Specialized Merz Allez x 2, Strawberry/Newlands/DiNucci/Ti x3, Gordon, Fuso/Moulton x2, Bornstein, Paisley,1958-74 Paramounts x3, 3rensho, 74 Moto TC, 73-78 Raleigh Pro's x5, Marinoni x2, 1960 Cinelli SC, 1980 Bianchi SC, PX-10 X 2
[MENTION=448872]CyclesMakaron[/MENTION]
How about this one?
Driveside
U06475
Nondriveside
L
7105
TIA
How about this one?
Driveside
U06475
Nondriveside
L
7105
TIA
#599
Senior Member




Joined: Oct 2015
Posts: 16,096
Likes: 9,461
From: PDX
Bikes: Merz x 5 + Specialized Merz Allez x 2, Strawberry/Newlands/DiNucci/Ti x3, Gordon, Fuso/Moulton x2, Bornstein, Paisley,1958-74 Paramounts x3, 3rensho, 74 Moto TC, 73-78 Raleigh Pro's x5, Marinoni x2, 1960 Cinelli SC, 1980 Bianchi SC, PX-10 X 2

So, you think SLX or TSX?












