Rocket-Sauce 

Is THIS eBay listing real? I thought the 7-11 Team bikes were Columbus not Reynolds? and had a full chrome rear triangle?

I owned a 1990 just like this one:
https://cozybeehive.blogspot.com/2007...-7-eleven.html
I would like to get another one, but prefer the looks of a chrome rear triangle.

USAZorro

Axel is 6'3" and started his Professional career in 1993 riding for Motorola. Axel would have been 17 when this frame was built. I won't speculate.

It does say 'in 7-11 Team colors', not, 'this was a 7-11 team bike'.

gr23932

I posted this on the ebay/craiglist thread. If they are willing to provide the email from the factory that confirms it then...... Or one can always try contacting the factory and asking for oneself. .

cyclotoine

whoa! Axel must have long legs for a guy, that TT is SHORT! and the seat tube is HUGE.. I prefer a 61x58 (with a 120 stem) I consider myself of average proportion not average height.

howsteepisit

Paint looks a bit dodgy to me, I have my doubts

oldbobcat

In top form Eddy was a whisker over 6' and of moderately lanky build, meaning his leg length was slightly less than half of his total height. His Molteni DeRosas measured 58.5 c-c, seat tube, and 57.0, c-c, top tube, only slightly shorter than most stock Italian frames at the time.

The dimensions of this frame indicate a custom build for an extraordinarily tall and lanky rider, which goes against the photos of Axel in action that I've seen. I'm skeptical.

luker

I saw that. And choked on the paint job, and the dates...everyone has a story, especially if they are trying to sell you something.


hello, THIS IS THE STORY OF THE FRAME : we bought this frame a few years ago. the previous owner (a MERCKX dealer) told us that the frame had belonged to AXEL MERCKX. as it is a
large frame, that could be possible. so I sent an email with some pictures and the BB number, to the MERCKX factory to ask them if this was true. a few days later they answered : 'de patron' as EDDY is called by his mechanics, confirmed that this frame was made for his son AXEL ! he also confirmed that the bicycle was still 100 % original !!!!. it is, as you say, true that AXEL never was a member of the 7-eleven team. he only used this bicycle for training. he also confirmed that the bicycle was sold after some time to a MERCKX dealer. THE SAME DEALER FROM WHOM WE BOUGHT THE FRAME !!! As I say in the description : this is a bicycle that was specialy made for AXEL : a one of a kind !!!!! A PRESENT FROM THE GREATEST TO HIS SON !!! normaly they did not use Reynolds tubes but Colombus. also the fork was normaly chromed. I can send you the MERCKX email, but of course it is in dutch. Hope I answered your question well. thanks for visiting my auction and thanks for asking. Kind regards, Karl

Personally I don't think that a copy of an e-mail is very good provenance...maybe Eddy lurks here and will add his stamp of approval.

Old Fat Guy

I know someone who knows someone who is trying to clarify it.
The seller is reputable, at least I know folks who have dealt with him and were pleased with the outcome.

I would not be in the least surprised if it was Axel's bike, perhaps built for a particular purpose by his dad. In any case, if it fits someone, it's a heckuva bike. A 753 Merckx is a bike dreams are made of.

luker

let us know. Some of these stories turn out to be true...I just would want some paper to back up the story. All I'm sayin'...

Old Fat Guy

The sale in question has been forwarded to the alleged first owner. If it' was built for him, I hope we'll have an answer before the auction ends.

As I said above, if the bike fits, it's an incredible chance to own a rare 753 Merckx, regardless of the provenance.

If Axel said so, would you still want paper?

Rocket-Sauce 

Yeah, it looks like a great frame. But the top tube is just too short for me. And I really want a chrome rear. There is a lot of fairly satisfactory explanations in the dealer questions -at least they sound logical.

According to the 1990 catalog, this looks like a Grand Prix but painted in 7-11 colors with a custom geometry. Heck, it might even be a 1990 since many of the model year 1990 frames were actually date stamped 89 since they were available for sale in late 89 (like getting 09 stuff now). https://www.bulgier.net/pics/bike/Cat..._Prix_753.html

redbarnlane

"The holy grale of 7-eleven"

No spell check? How lazy can you be?

Mike

USAZorro

Cut them some slack. I'd wager their English is better than your Flemish.

lotek 

Does anyone know whether Eddy spoke Flemish or Dutch?
and the shop? I would expect Flemish (although there are
dutch speaking regions of Belgium).

I don't know but it seems dodgy to me.

marty

gr23932

From what I know living here in Belgium; Flemish is the same as Dutch; only difference is that Flemish refers to the way the Belgian speak it. I gather it's the same as we, Mexicans, speak Spanish vs that to which the people from South America speak it.

gr23932

Also, the majority of the Belgians speak dutch as opposed to French.

lotek 

thanks for that clarification, always wondered why Kapaza.be was written in dutch!

Picchio Special

I believe Eddy could speak both Flemish and French, at least to some extent. He famously avoided getting caught up in the Fleming-Walloon antipathy in Belgium - which is a big reason why his son is named "Axel."

monogodo

My 7-11 Team frame does not have a full chrome rear triangle. It is TSX, though.

oldbobcat

On further examination . . . https://lh5.ggpht.com/_VWBUqQkgrUI/R0...I/image-11.jpg.

cudak888 

EDIT: Works now.

-Kurt

Old Fat Guy

No workie for me.

gr23932

I always switch Kapaza to the French version since that's what I understand and speak, though most of the ads are from those in Flanders.

luker

I don't want to disparage anyone. It more than likely is as the seller says, but...

I'm not very good at selling bike stuff, as anyone who has seen my garage and shop can attest. Whenever I buy a collector piece, though, a little voice says "maybe you'd like to sell this someday", so, yeah, I'd still want some documentation for the frame.

That is pretty normal procedure in antiques land.

You are right, if the lack of provenance keeps the price in reality land, then it would be a great bike to own (at that size, a great bike for two of me to own...)

Old Fat Guy

Not to change the subject from this particular bike, but there is another bike being touted as possibly Axel's right now on eBay.