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History/Info on Merida bike
Maybe this bike is not old enough to be vintage/Classic, but I like you guys better than the folks in the Road forum ;) I aquired this Merida Extreme 903 in a trade a little while back. From what I've read around here and whats on Meridas website, they made a ton of bikes, but had names on them like Raleigh, Specialized and Trek. I actually have one with Merida written on it from probally the late 80's? (what do you think?). I started building it up with a Shimano 105 drivetrain and some FSA wheels. (nothing is original except the headset) I'm just sort of collecting parts on the cheap as I go along. If I like it, I'll likely keep it, but if its not a good fit, I'll sell it to someone in the area. I'm pretty much just trying to find out as much about this bike as posible for my own curiosity. Anyone have a Merida like this or similar model? Could this posibly be from the Germany Merida plant? (the fella I traded with said it may have come over from Europe).What year do you think this is? any comparable Treks or Specialized bike models out there? etc. etc. Anything would be fantastic.
A couple more tidbits of info: SN:M7AS0034 Tange Chromoly D.B. tubes 28.8 (or 28.6?) seat tube diameter. Thanks. Here are pictures: http://img267.imageshack.us/img267/3...3081903uh7.jpg http://img149.imageshack.us/img149/9...3081852kb7.jpg http://img372.imageshack.us/img372/8...3081852lr2.jpg http://img149.imageshack.us/img149/6...3081903ro2.jpg http://img87.imageshack.us/img87/2806/0313081902iu7.jpg |
no takers???? Maybe it isn'et old enough?
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Until now the only Merida I knew of was the capital city of Yucatan, Mexico. Nice place.
Looks like a nice bike but...no clue here. |
well at least you tried. Here is a link to Meridas website and their history.
http://www2.merida-bikes.com/en_INT/About.History |
I'm only seeing the last photo...
East Hill |
Originally Posted by Chuckk
(Post 6340979)
http://www2.merida-bikes.com/en_INT/About.History
http://www2.merida-bikes.com Lots and lots of contract bikes. I heard they were the biggest in Taiwan until Giant grew up. First I ever saw bikes with their name was early 90's and was told it was because with the collapse of the bike boom they were using their extra capacity to sell under their own name. Raleigh USA, Rampar, Jamis, who knows who else? I sent them e-mail trying to confirm their Raleigh USA connection, and got no response. all I see is a picture of wheel stays and a wheel. |
Originally Posted by Chuckk
(Post 6340979)
...Lots and lots of contract bikes. I heard they were the biggest in Taiwan until Giant grew up.
First I ever saw bikes with their name was early 90's and was told it was because with the collapse of the bike boom they were using their extra capacity to sell under their own name. That's when Maruishi and Yokota (two other big contract makers) also showed up with bikes under their own name. Raleigh USA, Rampar, who knows who else? I sent them e-mail trying to confirm their Raleigh USA connection, and got no response. Hope it helped the OP too. |
I finally got around to finishing up this bike and I thought I would finish off the thread. I still haven't found anyone who is familiar with the frameset, but I know its a relatively light, solid frame with nice geometry. There are a couple photos below. It worked out well, because after getting a killer deal on the wheels, I got a barely used BB and the derailleurs for free! Heres the list of the final product. The pedals belong on another bike, but they work well for now. I'll probally put on SPD-SL 105's...we'll see:
Merida Extreme 903 Tange Double Butted CroMo frame FSA RD-80 Wheelset with Hutchinson Top speed Kevlar tires Shimano 105 Bottom Bracket Shimano 105 Black 39-53 crankset Shimano 105 10sp FD 2006 Shimano 105 10sp RD 2006 Shimano 105 10sp cassette Shimano 105 10sp chain Shimano DuraAce 10sp downtube shifters Kalloy 26.2mm seat post Selle San Marco arrowhead saddle Nashbar brakes calipers and levers Nashbar 1" threadless stem adapter Oval Concepts oversized stem Nashbar oversized handlebars http://img146.imageshack.us/img146/9...0081130it7.jpg http://img146.imageshack.us/img146/6...0081134ft4.jpg |
Originally Posted by Chuckk
(Post 6340979)
[url]
Lots and lots of contract bikes. I heard they were the biggest in Taiwan until Giant grew up. First I ever saw bikes with their name was early 90's and was told it was because with the collapse of the bike boom they were using their extra capacity to sell under their own name. That's when Maruishi and Yokota (two other big contract makers) also showed up with bikes under their own name. I know that Maruishi was selling in the USA in the early 1980's. I have a 1984 or 1985, and I've seen a number that are older. They are a Japanese company (aka Jamis). Did they have production in Taiwan as well? |
Merida
hey, just wanted to let you know i recently discovered the frame im turning into a fixed gear is the same as yours. so far your the only other person in the world i know who has this model, i feel like their very rare.
dont you love how the seat stays meet up below the top tube. |
Its a good bike and the frame is quite light. After riding it a bit, I've determined its a bit too big in the top tube for me, so I'm swaping it out for a Lemond Buenos Aires.
How will you make it fixed without horizontal drops? ecocentric hub? half link chain? |
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