Two very fine-looking 1980s race bicycles.

The blue frame has EM86 code decals meaning it is very likely a repaint, as they were introduced in 1986.

The white frame has code EM80 decals as introduced in 1980 so that fits with the date of purchase.

EM80 decals remained available to order after 1986 for those distributors and customers who preferred that style…

A3677 Y - this should be a Corsa Extra, tubes unknown (not all SLX frames were marked with an X)
Z2896 M6 - Professional or Pro (all depends on brake bridge model) from early 1985, non-original stickers.
E2290 B - Aero 1981, Columbus SL, full version, logo-stickers may not be original. Fork original - "borrowed" from De Rosa.

Uploaded them in an album as requested.
Framenumbers:
Left: Y (No frame size, collector says it is 58CC)
Right: A 3677

Thanks for the help!

seagrade based on the condition of the paint on the blue frame, I would agree it is a repaint. What decals would be period correct for that frame?

Thanks for the information. The Aero is original decals. My dad purchased new and it has been in the family ever since. The pantographed stem cracked in the early 90's so was replaced with the stem you see. Other than the stem, tires, cables/housing, it is pretty much original.

I'll snap a pic of the brake bridge on the blue frame.

The two photos are from 1980s Merckx catalogues, the first from the early 1980s (production started around 1980) and which shows the EM80 decal style. This was the only style in common usage before 1986 and would be period correct for the repainted blue frame. The second photo is from around 1987, and shows the EM86 decal style introduced in 1986. Interestingly the Corsa Extra and Criterium frame at that time had EM86 decals while the Corsa and Strada had EM80. Possibly to differentiate the less expensive models or to use up old decal stock.

The blue frame in the centre of the first photograph would indicate yellow EM80 decals with black outlines would be a good choice for the repainted blue frame.

The EM80 and EM 86 "decal styles" are your original idea?

Not at all - these were written references in the factory price list when I was involved in importing Merckx frames into New Zealand in the late 1980s and early 1990s.

I recall the designations well because we continued to order frames with EM80 decals even though the EM86 style was available - we, especially me, thought they looked better! We did switch to ordering EM86 style before too long because that was used on pro team frames which of course became what most customers wanted… EM86 was certainly the default style from 1986 and certainly would have been supplied unless an exception was specified by the customer.

Whenever I see race number braze-ons put forward as evidence an Eddy Merckx frame is an old pro team frame I always smile a little - the race number braze-on was simply a factory option for any frame at an extra cost of a maybe 15-20 Belgian francs and could be ordered by any importer/distributor/customer. I think we selected the option for almost all the frames we imported because it made them look “pro”.

Memory fades after 30-35 years and unfortunately I never held onto old factory export price lists, but the above at least I still remember pretty well…

CyclesMakaron I've added a pick of the brake bridge to my profile album. I'm guessing this leans towards Professional vs. Pro..?

Can you watch at your leisure :
BigSourcEMerCkx Eddy Merckx (Meise) steel road frame
Part 05 #36 - #45
I would be grateful if you could identify which stickers belong to the EM80 and EM86.
But the fact that you didn't keep the price lists is a painful disappointment - I have to live with that

Professional Columbus SL

Thanks!

What year did the sloped crown fork come out?

also, what year did the chevron shaped brake bridge begin?

thanks

1981, 1987

That’s an incredible resource and goes into far more detail than we ever considered as an importer/distributor in the late 1980s and early 1990s.

We didn’t start importing Merckx frames from Belgium until around 1988, and continued for several years. Almost all the frames we imported were Corsa or Corsa Extra. By the time we started importing the Professional model was long gone.

I _suspect_ that the factory used the designations EM80 and EM86 to differentiate between two quite different styles of decal only for the few years after the newer style was introduced. The factory definitely used code EM86 to refer to this new style, although it may have been introduced in mid/late 1985 at trade shows and on pro team frames ahead of the 1986 season. For all I know the code EM80 may not have existed until the new style was introduced, as there would have been nothing to differentiate it from, other than perhaps minor evolutions of the earlier style when the Professional was replaced.

From our perspective we only used the two designations to confirm which style of decal we wanted for our orders when both were available. We certainly never specified variations within the basic two basic styles - it was left up to the factory to decide what colour decals to use with what colour frame, and because most of the frames we ordered were in pro team colour schemes there was really no choice.

I hope that makes some sense. With language and translation involved I wasn’t sure, but I sensed that it was unusual for importers to specify the older decal style after the new version was introduced, although it wasn’t difficult for the factory to accommodate the request, and distinguish it on our order through the two different codes - the factory seemed exceptionally organised and professional, and everything had a code to make sure the frames ordered were produced correctly. With some other frame manufacturers unpacking orders was more of an adventure and you never quite knew you’d receive the frames you thought you’d ordered!

One other little thing I remember - the head tube decal with the rounded letters “EM” appeared years before the EM86 decal style, yet the two appeared designed for each other, and the head tube decal never really matched the EM80 decal style. Details…



The above is what we meant and what the factory supplied when we specified EM80 decals on frames ordered well after 1986…



The above is what the factory supplied when we specified EM86 decals from the factory export price list. We didn’t specify different decal colours.

That definitely makes sense - thank you very much for the valuable information

Vi, im glad i found this lovely forum and Thread!

Please, may i ask any pro EM expert for info om my bike?

on the BB markings ”1”and underneath it an ”A”
on the Other side ”Z” and underneath the z its ”898”

best regards

dura ace , modolo proffesional brakes (30709)
and rest campognolo all over derallieur back/front pedals, shifting crankset ”stronglight”

color is very similiar to panasonic?

please 😶

Patience grasshopper, and we need pics so get your post count up while you're waiting.

Go around, say Hi and comment on any posts you want 5 X 2 days for 10 to get there.

Indeed 🫡😇 trying 😅

Z898 - In my secret records I have this frame described as 3-Athlete, nevertheless I would prefer to see pics: lugs, under BB cover, dropout.

Hello,

I finally got Merckx signature
What do you say about this number:
left: GT8
rights E 816

G - EMC employee code
8 - 58cm ST (c-c)
T - 1980-1982 marking of very rare dropouts: with Eddy Merckx inscription and no holes on Porta Catena
E816 - frame built in early 1981

Thank you very much.
Is this a columbus frame? There is a lot of rust under the paint, I absolutely have to renew it, so I hesitate only whether to leave the original blue color or choose some other.

Columbus SL/SP