I'm considering bidding on this MM Harrogate on eBay (Dibs!) It looks like a repaint, as there are no decals. However, the frame does look very similar to this bike posted on CR. I'm wondering, though, if the fork on the eBay MM is original. CR reports that the last MKM (K was added later for another builder who joined the company) was built in the late 70s. Does the unicrown design of the fork on the eBay MM indicate it is a replacement? I have asked the seller this, but no response yet, and I'd like more than one opinion if anyone can provide one!

EDIT: Apologies for the misspelling in the title!

That's actually a "fully-sloping" crown rather than a unicrown. The crown sockets inside of the blades, rather than the other way around on the box crowns we all know and love. With unicrowns fork blades are curved at the top and are welded directly to the steer tube. Forgive the explanation but I'm gearing up to build my own frames and I guess that makes me feel like I have to . I know Cinelli was producing crowns very similar to the one on ebay before investment-casting became a widespread method of production. However, I don't know when they started and if they were available in the early- mid-70s. I can't recall seeing fully-sloping crowns on anything from around that timeframe but that doesn't mean much. Since there are no decals (excepting the 531 of course) and since the headbadge could've been re-riveted a fork replacement/repaint seems like a definate possibility. Also, the frankenbike build may indicate a previous owner who wasn't necessarily as crazy as I am about correctness. The funny thing is that I can't see any obvious signs of it having been repainted so I'm inclined to believe that if it has been, it was a professional job, which wouldn't fit with the frankenbike thing. I guess I'll just sum it up by saying that if I could afford it and if you didn't already have dibs I'd think seriously about picking it up. It looks to be nicely made and the non-Campy parts ought to keep the price reasonable. Yeah, I'm such a big help, huh? -Chris

That's a very nice looking bike JYB (yes, your dibs). My Capo has a somewhat similar fork crown, though not quite as much slope. Pic below (which also shows a remnant of the 531 decal).

Neal

Thanks. After posting this, I was thinking I may have used the wrong term. I appreciate the explanation cinco!

Still not sure I'll go for this. I want something with longish chainstays, and I can't tell from the photos how long these may be. They look to be on the short side. Still haven't heard back from the seller.

I'm not worried about the frankenbike setup, as I plan to build up my own frankenbike on the frame.
Hoping to build a nice all-around sport tourer on a 531 frame.

I'd wonder if that shorter top tube (57cm) relative to the seat tube (59cm) would not quite be the best setup for all-rounder use, i.e., that's more "sport" than "tourer." This might be personal preference, but a more "square" geometry or a longer top tube is my preference for a more stable ride. I'd start talking "trail" dimensions and such, but I haven't quite figured out how that dimension applies! I also can't tell if there are eyelets on the fork.

Neal

You may be right. I've found BF member pinnah's website a great help. I guess trail is a combination of decent fork rake (it looks like the fork on the MM has this), and a moderately declined headtube angle, I think. pinnah prefers a 73 degree headtube angle with a 5.5 cm rake and ~43cm chainstay. It does look like the geometry on this MM is relatively tight, which leads me believe, again, that the fork is not original (as it looks to have a decent rake). That and the Specialized headset...

By the way, I tentatively withdraw my dibs...

Looks like a beauty. I doubt that it's a replacement fork, as stated in the auction Q&A the K in MKM was Ron Kitching and RonKit was undoubtedly the supplier of most of the frame parts used in this frame. He sourced parts from France (Milremo) Italy (the Cinelli sloping forkcrown) and this looks like a very high-grade frame made in the "Italian style" (which accounts for the geometry, the simple/clean lugs and the forkcrown), it WILL be more sporting that touring in ride quality. It's possible that this was given a respray (very common practice in UK) and *may* have had the toptube cable eyelets added at that time, they could also be original. If you like the frame (and I do) and the 27" wheels, I wouldn't be too put off by the mish-mash of components: some of it is "B" grade, but still completely usable until you get it together to upgrade.

I can vouch for the fact that it is not a replacement fork - I bought a Wes Mason frame (one of the M's in MM) in 1975/76 timeframe after he left to build frames on his own - he was the main builder of the MKMs. In any case, mine had the same sloping fork, and a very tight rear triangle. In fact, other than the colour and decals, mine looked remarkably like the one in the auction.

Lovely bike to ride - of course, having spent all my money on the frame I couldn't afford the really good components but like the one in the auction I used reasonable quality Japanese stuff (Crane, Comp V, Sugino Mighty Comp, etc). Not a tourer though!

Shame the auction closed with no bidders. I paid almost $200 for my frame over 30 years ago!

Mark