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Decoding of Eddy Merckx frames

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Decoding of Eddy Merckx frames

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Old 09-26-24 | 12:32 PM
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Originally Posted by joesch
Fantastic restoration thread for this bike. Why not add some ride information to it? How does it compare to other classic rides?
Thanks! I have not yet tried it out. Went for a trip abroad for the summer vacation, then had to catch up with my training (using my user racers) - and then I got/had some back problems. Now when the summer is over and the back is fine again the Swedish autumn takes its toll on bike riding. It is already dark when I get home from work. Test ride has to wait until spring (late April/early May)

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Old 09-26-24 | 03:29 PM
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Hi, I recently acquired an Eddy Merckx Alu Mega and while I realise this is much younger than most bikes in this thread but its size has been torturing me. It sits between a 53 and a 54 from my measurements and according to the sizes I've seen from catalogues. While researching I stumbled upon this thread. I don't think I can post pictures yet since I haven't gone through the 10 posts needed to post pictures. So until I get there, and while hoping I can dig a little further myself tomorrow, here is the information I've gathered on the bike : horizontally, it is written G 7033 and vertically I can read out 97 2223. I expect to see a size under the cable guide as what's written vertically is "quite" close to it but I don't have access to anything to remove it until tomorrow. Does anyone have insights into how I could absolutely tell the size of my bike ?
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Old 09-27-24 | 01:53 AM
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They didn't generally put a size on the Alu Mega frames, but they were only built in ‘even’ sizes from 52cm to 62cm - in this situation you have a great chance of 54
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Old 09-27-24 | 03:19 AM
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ah alright, because I saw sifting through the catalogues that when they weren't special order, EM bikes came in even + 53, 55 and 57 (?). I couldn't see the Alu Mega explicitly being only even sizes, so I assumed it was possible it was a 53 still.

To get more on topic, from reading the thread it looks like it's a late 97 (according to the vertical sn)/early 98(according to the EMC sn), is that correct ?

EDIT : the greater idea about the size was to be able to follow the catalogues' size chart to be able to figure out seat tube/head tube angles. according to them, a 54 measures 54,8cm on the top tube and 73,3° seat tube angle (which I assume to be the same for the head tube)

Last edited by louison; 09-27-24 at 03:31 AM.
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Old 09-27-24 | 07:30 AM
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Dating ok.
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Old 09-27-24 | 08:06 AM
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Originally Posted by louison
ah alright, because I saw sifting through the catalogues that when they weren't special order, EM bikes came in even + 53, 55 and 57 (?). I couldn't see the Alu Mega explicitly being only even sizes, so I assumed it was possible it was a 53 still.

To get more on topic, from reading the thread it looks like it's a late 97 (according to the vertical sn)/early 98(according to the EMC sn), is that correct ?

EDIT : the greater idea about the size was to be able to follow the catalogues' size chart to be able to figure out seat tube/head tube angles. according to them, a 54 measures 54,8cm on the top tube and 73,3° seat tube angle (which I assume to be the same for the head tube)
you have the bike. Measure the angle yourself
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Old 11-09-24 | 09:14 PM
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Originally Posted by Robvolz
I’m looking at this one. Faema colors. Fork crown has that Eddy on the DS, and Merckx on the other
Hey y'all,
I picked up an early bare metal frameset with a BB shell/fork like this one. It's been stripped from a blue at least around the bb. I would love any help with identification, though I know it's a 58.
My BB numbers are:
Left: A 8
Right: E 4466

Thanks and GL to any cx racers out here,
John
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Old 11-14-24 | 08:51 AM
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1981 Professional, Columbus SL/SP tubes.
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Old 12-24-24 | 04:18 PM
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Bikes: 1968 R.E.W. Reynolds Touring 1981 Eisentraut Model A 1983 Specialized Expedition 1985 Merckx Professional 1986 Tommasini Racing 1986 Merckx Team Panasonic Corsa Extra 1989 Basso Ascot 1989 Sancineto Max Jim RedCay

Help decoding this Merckx

Does anyone know what type of Merckx framework this is and from what year?

Left Down A only- no other markings
Right up X
Right down 4814

Bike has red/pearl fade with number hangar.


Thanks!
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Old 12-25-24 | 11:21 AM
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Bikes: 1968 R.E.W. Reynolds Touring 1981 Eisentraut Model A 1983 Specialized Expedition 1985 Merckx Professional 1986 Tommasini Racing 1986 Merckx Team Panasonic Corsa Extra 1989 Basso Ascot 1989 Sancineto Max Jim RedCay








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Old 12-26-24 | 12:19 AM
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Bikes: 1968 R.E.W. Reynolds Touring 1981 Eisentraut Model A 1983 Specialized Expedition 1985 Merckx Professional 1986 Tommasini Racing 1986 Merckx Team Panasonic Corsa Extra 1989 Basso Ascot 1989 Sancineto Max Jim RedCay

One last thing, a faint Columbus stamping was found on the backside of the head tube...not sure if this matters in the id'ing of this frame, but i found it odd.




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Old 12-26-24 | 09:11 AM
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Frame built in late fall of 1985. Brake bridge used on Professional model, type inscription EDDY MERCKX matches Pro model. The only way to resolve doubts is to check the tube ends visible through the BB cover.
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Old 12-26-24 | 10:39 AM
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Bikes: 1968 R.E.W. Reynolds Touring 1981 Eisentraut Model A 1983 Specialized Expedition 1985 Merckx Professional 1986 Tommasini Racing 1986 Merckx Team Panasonic Corsa Extra 1989 Basso Ascot 1989 Sancineto Max Jim RedCay

Thank your the the info. Dropouts are campagnolo as well. I will be removing bottom bracket and posting pictures shortly. can I ask what the main difference is between the Professional and Pro?
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Old 12-27-24 | 09:00 AM
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Columbus SL or SLX.
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Old 01-06-25 | 05:58 PM
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Bikes: Bianchi Specialissima, Trek Fuel EX9.8, 1985 Clamont Professional, 1979 Gios Torino Super Record, Colnago C40 Lampre Panaria Team Frame, Colnago C50 World Champion Edition, 1983 Cinelli Supercorsa, Colnago EPQ, Colnago EPS



If I’m correct,
Professional Columbus SL
A - Employee
4? - 64cm !!
E8501 - 198?

Thanks for this page, invaluable.
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Old 01-07-25 | 06:44 AM
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1983
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Old 01-09-25 | 05:52 PM
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can't figure it out

hi
i have this eddy merckx bike and i can't figure out it's pedigree.

drive side looks like 1 or 7, A, and left side is E 9432.
it has a pump peg on the seat tube.
anyone have an idea?
thanks
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Old 02-03-25 | 05:45 PM
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Hi,
I think I'll leave it that way and the cinelli added charm


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Old 02-06-25 | 03:02 PM
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What year for X7 - A9310 I guess it is Columbus SLX
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Old 02-06-25 | 05:08 PM
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Bikes: 1968 R.E.W. Reynolds Touring 1981 Eisentraut Model A 1983 Specialized Expedition 1985 Merckx Professional 1986 Tommasini Racing 1986 Merckx Team Panasonic Corsa Extra 1989 Basso Ascot 1989 Sancineto Max Jim RedCay

Originally Posted by CyclesMakaron
Columbus SL or SLX.
So after teardown and rebuild, i could not see rifling in the seat tube (not to say its not there, I jay couldn't see more than 1-2 inches up from bb shell), however fork definitely does have rifling. Could the pro have sl tubing for frame and slx for fork. Fork is original to bike. Frame size is 57 cm tt c-c. Thoughts?

Last edited by sillverchevy; 02-06-25 at 06:15 PM.
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Old 02-06-25 | 10:25 PM
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Originally Posted by sillverchevy
So after teardown and rebuild, i could not see rifling in the seat tube (not to say its not there, I jay couldn't see more than 1-2 inches up from bb shell), however fork definitely does have rifling. Could the pro have sl tubing for frame and slx for fork. Fork is original to bike. Frame size is 57 cm tt c-c. Thoughts?
By the mid/late 1980s all Columbus fork steerers including and above Cromor had helical reinforcements. Whether the box the tube set came out of said SL or SLX the fork steerer and blades were identical in specification (as were the fork blade decals, as best as I can recall, with only the larger frame tubing decal differing).

SLX and SPX tubesets have rifling at the bb shell end of the seat tube, down tube and chainstays. The rifling is pretty obvious, much like in the fork steerer, if you can’t see any the frame isn’t SLX/SPX.
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Old 02-07-25 | 06:38 PM
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Originally Posted by seagrade
By the mid/late 1980s all Columbus fork steerers including and above Cromor had helical reinforcements. Whether the box the tube set came out of said SL or SLX the fork steerer and blades were identical in specification (as were the fork blade decals, as best as I can recall, with only the larger frame tubing decal differing).

SLX and SPX tubesets have rifling at the bb shell end of the seat tube, down tube and chainstays. The rifling is pretty obvious, much like in the fork steerer, if you can’t see any the frame isn’t SLX/SPX.
Understood. Thank You.
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Old 02-18-25 | 06:14 AM
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2
Y(?)

A
2503

Picked it up for the 7410 seat post, curious what it is exactly. Remnants of a Columbus transfer, guessing SL tubing (~1800 grams) so Corsa or Strada?
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Old 03-07-25 | 02:23 PM
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Thread readers and monitor,
I'm curious about the Merckx Corsa 01 that I purchased decades ago but just rebuilt.

On the BB there is an H to the drive side and to the non-drive side there is F 8556.

The frame was sold to me as a NOS respray in the early 2000s.

Still a Newbie so can't post photos yet...

Any info would be appreciated.

Thank you

Last edited by lebonfrago; 03-07-25 at 02:30 PM. Reason: add info
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Old 03-09-25 | 10:56 AM
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Originally Posted by Mackers
2
Y(?)

A
2503

Picked it up for the 7410 seat post, curious what it is exactly. Remnants of a Columbus transfer, guessing SL tubing (~1800 grams) so Corsa or Strada?
Corsa
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