tendency 

Please, someone, tell me: why a triple crank on a sleek racing machine? c'mon just take the 52 off and run, say, 42-30 or so. Blasphemy!

bamboobike4

I can only give you my reason(s):
Legs, Age, Lungs, Heart, Lazy, Tired, Alcohol, Parts on hand

The explanation is partially supported below.

seypat

The rider wants more gearing? More importantly a small 3rd ring looks more stealthy than a big pie plate rear cluster. The bike still looks fast.

There will come a day when you also will seek lower gearing on your sleek racing machines. You'll dream about all the possibilities with 110/74, 130/86, and other 3X BCD, then take the plunge.

seypat

Hot!

himespau 

Don't forget "knees" and "because I can". I have a 54-44-32 crankset I tried to put on this bike, but the FD braze-on just wasn't high enough. If I can ever get out the Octalink BB (it's gritty, it's not just that it's Octalink) that's stuck in my 1996 Merckx Titanium EX frame (didn't check before buying and waited too long to return because I thought my LBS could get it out), that triple is going to be mounted on there (along with an 11-25 cassette). Not that I have any need for a 54-11 combo, but I like to dream. Triples let me go fast (especially when I'm riding on Zwift when I don't have to worry about things like safety on descents/corners), but still let me ride the hills around me without dying.

Wildwood

I can't speak to the paintwork - the original owner resprayed this one - smoothest bike I have ever ridden tho. And I've owned 2.


I always thought this was the prettiest, but a sucker for nice striping & cutout lugs.



apologies for fuzzy.

bamboobike4

I'll get it out for you and send it back.
The bottom bracket. Bike stays.

himespau 

I wish it were that simple. I'd pay good money if someone were able to get it out. Told my local shop to call me if the bill was going to go much over a couple hundred bucks to get it out (he ended up not charging me after he gave up after having it for a couple months) and have written Litespeed (who built it on contract for Merckx) if they would cut out/replace the BB shell and what it would cost (they said that they could in theory, but were currently too busy - this was a year ago - and declined to give an estimated cost, which I took to mean they didn't think it was worth it and/or if I had to ask I couldn't afford it). At the advice of some folks here, it's currently soaking with a mixture of ATF/Acetone and I'll hit it with some heat tomorrow, add some more, and then try to jar it loose (BB tool screwed into BB with Pedro's locking too, then long wrench, whack it with a mallet).

tendency 

Contact Paul Brodie: fussyframebuilder@gmail.com - he's a genius with bicycle and metal fabrication and may - if you're lucky - help you out (though he is retired). Good luck!

sincos

Uh ... iconic ???

This is iconic




4 Tours
2 Giri
2 Vueltas
2 World Championships
2 Dauphine Libere
2 Criterium International
Paris Roubaix
Liege Bastogne Liege
Giro di Lombardia
Tour of Romandie
Fleche Wallonne
Amstel Gold

Iconic.

smd4

Those bikes are “iconic?” I can’t even tell what the first one is.

BFisher 

Hinault 1980

Best looking 1980s bike:
Saronni

smd4

Thanks. Cool link (no pun intended).

The riders may be iconic, but certainly not the bikes— the subject of this thread.

BFisher 

Speaking of subject...

smd4

The Saronni link doesn’t work.

BFisher 

Yeah, it's an odd thing that happens on BF. I attached both links the same. If you click on it and it won't show, just go to the address bar and delete everything before the "www" and then proceed. It should work after that. The hows and the whys are outside my wheelhouse.

mhespenheide 

Iconic, yes. "Most iconic"? Maybe, but mostly to North Americans. Best looking? No; not in my opinion. The Panasonic Team had the better colorway:

styggno1

I am biased maybe... And in love.

1987 X4 - but if it has to be a team bike add some black and get an "Argentin"

Wildwood

The one I own looked like that before original owner had CyclArt repaint.

gaucho777 

As @non-fixie says, it's a 753 thing (re both the team Raliegh and La Vie Claire Look). Reynolds did not recommend chroming 753 tubes, though a few people tried.

botty kayer

There is a saying red and green should only be seen upon an Irish queen, so for that reason I'm out

I've got a Team Panasonic Merckx with full chrome front and rear that I've got running more modern 10 speed and 28c tyres, so not strictly 80's but think it still looks classic/vintage.

And I'm lucky enough to have one of the rarer Merckx 753's that did have chrome fork and partially chromed seat and chain stays, in the similarly rare green and white colour scheme. Apart from the modern wide Pacecnti Brevet rims this one is full 80's, with 1st gen Chorus 7 speed, Croce D'Aune hubs and down tube. shifters. and pedals with straps.

So I'm fine with the Merckx green, but the Merckx red should be on a different bike IMO

ManekiNico

This site defaults any embedded links to "https" (emphasis on the "s") regardless of whether the link is secure or not. If the linked site does not use TLS/SSL, as is often the case with older sites or blogs, the link may not resolve. You only need to delete the "s" after "http" for the link to work.

[Insert "The More You Know" GIF here]

EDIT: Just noticed there is a drop-down menu that lets you choose between "http" and "https" (among other protocols) when embedding a link.

Wildwood

There may be some Merckx differences for European/UK models.
The first one I owned (SLX) was from Belgium with the chrome fork. Also a race number hanger brazed on.
Here's the only pic i've got quickly
(wish I could find the file for that bike)

seypat

Have you tried BB tool mounted vertically in vise? Attach BB/frame in a horizontal position. Then 2-3 people grab frame at various points and turn it horizontally.

himespau 

The shop I took it to claims to have tried that. I don't have a permanently mounted vice, so I haven't tried it myself.