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-   -   Decoding of Eddy Merckx frames (https://www.bikeforums.net/classic-vintage/1171913-decoding-eddy-merckx-frames.html)

CyclesMakaron 05-15-20 11:17 AM

M8 E5184 - EMC Professional built at the turn of 1982/1983; it is one of the earliest frames in Molteni colours (even before the "official" Team Issue series)

Holm 05-27-20 04:57 AM

Hi just found this thread. So great of you to help out! I just purchased a Corsa extra and it has an unusual pain scheme plus its chromed all the way up to the seatpost lug and the fork is all crome and fork crown sloped.. I can see if I can upload an image.


But the question is what kind of bike is this? The serial is like this:


4 X T on left side (Drive side looked on up from ground) and A 2171 on right side (Non drive side)


I guess its 86/87 Corsa extra SLX tubing. size 54? But the paint job i cant find anyone like it.


I see that the BB shell is like the one on the CX bike further up in this thread.


The color is a metallic dark grey with white details. Internal brake cable.

CyclesMakaron 05-27-20 10:45 PM

T4X A2171 - Corsa Extra SLX 1987... so you know everything about it:) dark grey painting is unusual (it was a time of very clear colours and painting schemes), chrome plating has always been an option - the photos would be priceless

Holm 05-27-20 11:34 PM

Thx for the help.Il get the pictures up when i get 10 posts. I have seen one picture of the same grey color and it was a track bike wirh totally different decals. I dont think its a repaint. If so its a very god job as the must have done all the crhome aswell. Thanks again.

CyclesMakaron 05-28-20 08:31 AM

The frame could have been repainted in EMC (original paints and stickers - guaranteed) even 10 years later...

Holm 05-28-20 11:53 PM

https://cimg0.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...94b2590657.jpg
This si the bike i purchased
https://cimg2.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...2d23dc1257.jpg
https://cimg0.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...eb167c377d.jpg
https://cimg4.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...098d15e041.jpg

Holm 05-29-20 01:32 PM

And I just purchased a new set of Ambrosio Nemesis wheels for it aswell.

CyclesMakaron 05-29-20 10:51 PM

100% original 1987 :) such varnishes were introduced ~1985, a super elegant bicycle (all stickers fit - nobody tinkers with it) - how is the cable on top tube routed - sideways?

Holm 05-30-20 12:51 AM


- how is the cable on top tube routed - sideways?
Yes, it's internal on the side. 😊
.Very happy to hear it's original. It's a very nice bike .

nomadmax 05-30-20 04:07 AM

A Corsa Extra with only one set of bottle mounts?

Holm 05-30-20 04:30 AM

:D Yes, its some custom build from 87. Weird color, sideways internal cabling (not on top) and the badass descision to only have one bottle cage mount :D :D

CyclesMakaron 05-30-20 09:56 AM

Can you show a photo of slides on top tube? The second set of bottle mounts was an option... the customer had very strong ideas: color, chrome plating, slides on top tube, bottle mounts... a unique frame

Holm 05-30-20 10:18 AM

Monday ill be home to get photos of the toptube details.

Holm 06-02-20 01:43 PM


Originally Posted by CyclesMakaron (Post 21505802)
Can you show a photo of slides on top tube? The second set of bottle mounts was an option... the customer had very strong ideas: color, chrome plating, slides on top tube, bottle mounts... a unique frame

https://cimg2.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...d37b42ac02.jpg
https://cimg6.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...89a6016b58.jpg

benoit.obled 06-10-20 12:26 PM

Merckx bike 1980 ?
 
Hello to you all from France. My name is Benoit.
This is my first post so I couldn't upload pictures.
I'd like to identify an Eddy Merckx Cycles frame, which I've literally found in a dump.

left side : G
Top right side : E
bottom right side : 1664
THANK YOU VERY MUCH !

CyclesMakaron 06-10-20 10:35 PM

E1664 = 1981; by the way, check the frame for "aero" or "flattened" tubes... ...maybe I'll go to France to visit the dumps... my motivation has increased

CharlieB123 06-13-20 02:03 PM

Hi. First post so no picture which is not a bad thing as I'm embarrassed at how chipped and spoiled my MX Leader frame is. I'd really appreciate some info on the bike as I know nothing. (If I knew anything I'd likely have not commuted on it for 4 years!!)

MX Leader
Paint very similar to the Motorola Costa paint job but with more turquoise blue/green top tube, pearlescent white on down tube/seat tube and black rear triangle. Chromed chainstay and dropouts. I've only seen one other bike like it when searching google.

Left side of BB is "H" (poorly stamped)
Right side of BB is "D 8600" Would that make it 1992/93 ish?

Also, I'm in no mind to sell it as it was given to me by my uncle. However, I do what to try to keep it from getting worse and intend to treat rust spots and paint chips. Am I correct in assuming that to have it stripped, re-painted, re-chromed and re-decaled is sacrilege?

I live by the sea and I wish kept it in the house rather than in the shed :-(

Thanks.

CyclesMakaron 06-14-20 12:55 AM

D8600 = 1993, general vicinity of September :) such a painting pattern was shown in the EMC 1993 catalogue and marked as TS - a beautiful thing, take care of it...

CharlieB123 06-14-20 02:32 AM


Originally Posted by CyclesMakaron (Post 21532781)
D8600 = 1993, general vicinity of September :) such a painting pattern was shown in the EMC 1993 catalogue and marked as TS - a beautiful thing, take care of it...

Thanks so much. With a clean and a polish it's not looking as bad as I first feared. I promise to give it the TLC it deserves to last as long as possible. I'll put a picture somewhere on the forum once it's built up again and looking happier.

Thank you.

benoit.obled 06-15-20 05:14 PM

Thank you so much !

AUPedla 06-22-20 04:06 AM

What an amazing thread and so much history.

I'm a new EMC owner, it's a two colour red/yellow same style as the '85 two colour Kelme blue/white. I'll post some pics when I have enough posts.

LHS reads 8C with a P underneath
RHS reads Z9516


I assume it's a 58 Corsa late '85 early '86

CyclesMakaron 06-22-20 01:58 PM

...almost perfectly :)
fall 1986...
no team known to me has used such a combination of colors... but I haven't deciphered some of them yet: English Schils 86, Australian Mainline 84, some American teams... who knows?

AUPedla 06-22-20 02:53 PM


Originally Posted by CyclesMakaron (Post 21547853)
...almost perfectly :)
fall 1986...
no team known to me has used such a combination of colors... but I haven't deciphered some of them yet: English Schils 86, Australian Mainline 84, some American teams... who knows?

Thanks, it is fitted with '83 Super Record 6 speed, however it has '85 cranks.

The mystery contintues on the paint :)

It has a race plate mount and the infamous 'P', I assume that is the stamp of the person who built it?

CyclesMakaron 06-22-20 11:14 PM

Number holder is an option available for everyone (manufacturer's designation: FF = Foto Finish, you can find it in EMC catalogues)
P is the code mark of the employee responsible for careful "smoothing" of the frame before chrome plating and painting - it was about quality control, in case of problems it was known who would not get dessert as punishment...

AUPedla 06-23-20 02:50 PM


Originally Posted by CyclesMakaron (Post 21548713)
Number holder is an option available for everyone (manufacturer's designation: FF = Foto Finish, you can find it in EMC catalogues)
P is the code mark of the employee responsible for careful "smoothing" of the frame before chrome plating and painting - it was about quality control, in case of problems it was known who would not get dessert as punishment...

Thanks, I'm going to get it serviced and I'll get the fork removed to see if it has a card on the steerer, hopefully that will reveal some more hostory.

AUPedla 06-24-20 04:14 PM

Finally here are the pics of my unique Eddy, she's curently at the day spa getting some work done by CycloRetro

https://cimg1.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...43fe84f033.jpg
https://cimg2.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...661fc1ab2.jpeg
https://cimg3.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...b900f90a05.jpg
https://cimg5.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...1bd9302b28.jpg
https://cimg6.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...2403fe69d6.jpg
https://cimg8.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...3358cf4873.jpg

https://cimg1.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...a6a2cbb500.jpg

https://cimg3.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...03360d5678.jpg
https://cimg4.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...6d39c0719c.jpg
https://cimg5.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...00d73f44ec.jpg

CyclesMakaron 06-24-20 11:56 PM

Beautiful Corsa ver.1
It doesn't seem to be a team painting, but it definitely looks like a factory-made EMC (custom color set)
Same scheme, banal colours :)https://cimg2.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...0c2c574b4c.jpg

AUPedla 06-25-20 12:45 AM


Originally Posted by CyclesMakaron (Post 21552271)
Beautiful Corsa ver.1
It doesn't seem to be a team painting, but it definitely looks like a factory-made EMC (custom color set)
Same scheme, banal colours :)

Thanks, were the sloping fork crowns available in '85? Could it be other tubing than Columbus SL? There are no Columbus frame or fork stickers.

CyclesMakaron 06-25-20 08:04 AM

Columbus SL didn't have "his" designation... but Corsa Reynolds 531 should have an R, and if you don't see it... it should be an SL
"Slope fork crown" has been in common use since 1983

AUPedla 06-25-20 03:33 PM


Originally Posted by CyclesMakaron (Post 21552643)
Columbus SL didn't have "his" designation... but Corsa Reynolds 531 should have an R, and if you don't see it... it should be an SL
"Slope fork crown" has been in common use since 1983

Thanks again for all your help!


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