I recently got my hands on an old used/abused Merckx bike.
It is so dirty it even has some traces of moss on it
The person I got it from, really didn't know any more info about it beside the fact that it was stowed away in some kinda barn of the house he is rebuilding.

From what i've read here I think that it is and old professional frame.
Is this a correct conclusion? And if so can someone date it?

The numbers/letters on the bottom bracket are really hard, close to impossible to read.
I think that they are a B on the left side, and the combination of the following numbers 9453 (last one could as well be a 7). On the right side slightly above the numbers is also a 5 or E placed.

Two weeks from now my vacation starts and I'm going to clean it entirely.
I would like to make it a period correct bike, what components do I have to fit on them?

There is some rust on the inside of the fork, where the paint is disappearing. I'd like to keep it in the colour that it is but the fork will probably have to be sandblasted and repainted. Or should I repaint the entire bike?






Some more pictures here => https://s1204.photobucket.com/albums/...deco27/Merckx/

I am sure the real experts will chime in, but it is an older Merckx. Note the over the top derailleur cable routing and older Columbus decal. Based on that, you cannot go wrong with Campag NR.

Now that is an interesting bike. An early Eddy Merckx. I'd like to talk you out of repainting anything. You will loose the patina as well as value. It amazing how well a frame will clean up with a little effort.

I'm sure other forum members will agree with me - don't do anything to the frame without reading and considering all posts - you have something special.

[From what i've read here I think that it is and old professional frame.
Is this a correct conclusion? And if so can someone date it?

The numbers/letters on the bottom bracket are really hard, close to impossible to read.
I think that they are a B on the left side, and the combination of the following numbers 9453 (last one could as well be a 7). On the right side slightly above the numbers is also a 5 or E placed.



I agree this is an early ('84 or earlier) Merckx, with the cables routed above the BB. Check out this URL for a collection of serial numbers for Merckx bikes and corresponding info. https://www.cadre.org/Merckx/ Very cool bike!

I think it's calling out for a Campagnolo Super Record Gruppo and Cinelli 1R stem and bar (looks like a Cinelli 1A stem from the photo). Nuovo Record would be nice as well (it actually looks nicer IMO).

I wonder what headset is fitted to the frame? This could be a clue as to what gruppo it originally had (Looks like a Nuovo Record headset from your small photo).

Here is one of my favorite resources for id'ing Merckx bikes.

https://www.cadre.org/Merckx/

Very helpful!

Otherwise, pestering OFG for some help seems to work well for me.

This site is also very helpful, and a spot to while away time dreaming about bikes I can't afford.

https://www.tearsforgears.com/

IMHO I would clean that frame carefully and start looking for a Campy NR or SR gruppo.

Looks like a "Professional" to me as well. I'd love to find one that fit me for a winter project.

edit:
BTW Looking at your pics, I see touch up work, not a repaint though. You will be absolutely amazed at the improvement with a thorough cleaning.

If you need cleaning ideas, please ask. I don't know your ability/experience level, but I'd be careful with some cleaners, especially if the decals are not clear coated.

Nice score!

The paint and logos are still in good shape, IMO, at least for a barn find. Should clean up nicely, and the small rust spots should come out with naval jelly. If there's rust inside the tubes, search this forum for threads on oxalic acid (goolge search for "site:bikeforums.net oxalic acid). Before giving one more thought to repainting, try out Meguire's Scratch X: https://www.meguiarsdirect.com/detail/MEG+G10307

I agree with previous posters about cleaning and not repainting.
Have a look here
and here
Should give you an idea of what they looked like.
What brake handles are on there? Is that Shimano 600? That could be another way to go, not sure if Eddy offered Shimano in those days...

Very nice bike. Like everyone has said, it's probably an early 80's bike based on the over the bottom bracket cable routing, brake bridge and chain stay bridge. I also agree that cleaning it up and NOT painting it is the way to go.

Here is a benchmark if I've ever seen one!

Seat stay caps are a little different but yeah, that's sweet.

The brake handles are Modolo Speedy and the gearing on it was all Rino. To be honest I've never heard of "Rino" before.

I've got a NR 1971 group lying around here but I'm gonna try and find a SR (from about 79-83) set to put on it. If anyone knows of a not too expensive group or wants to exchange one for the NR set, please do let know.

BTW: The bike is a size 53 (toptube) and I myself reside in Belgium (not to far from Aalst).

Honestly, I'd keep the Rino. After a certain point, it gets a little boring to always kit bikes with Campy..... Merckx is versatile enough to host any gruppo in fine style. If you had to choose and the cost was equal, I'd choose SR (though I think that NR is generally better looking), but I wouldn't bother with discarding the Rino. Just my opinion....

After keeping it the way it was for more than a year my old Eddy Merckx frame is finally going to be repainted this weekend. But I'm still in doubt which colour to go with. I've narrowed it down to 4 choices. It is either being painted entirely black with white decals. Completly red with white decals. Or a black/red frame with a chromed fork.

Which of the four choices would you go for?

* Black frame, black fork.
* Black frame, chrome fork.
* Red frame, red fork.
* Red frame, chrome fork.

Of those choices, I'd go black/black or red/red, although I liked the original white.

My '85 pro is a repaint, it was well done but I wish the "Merckx" font was in the older block style.

I still wouldn't paint it but.....

Red/red if your going to do it...

I would go with the one from the catalog, silver with black decals. But I think the white looks great, do you have any pics of the bike as you have been riding it for the last year?

I vote for a single color, no chrome. But preferably just the white paint it has touched up, or a new coat if you must.

paint looks pretty good(imo)I would just clean it and wax it.

Rino info in velobase;
https://velobase.com/ViewBrand.aspx?B...5-e789c48ca182

A red Merckx is just fine.

Red/red is always a good plan.

I just wish this Corsa I bought for my brother fit me!

I present you black beauty. In the end I went with black and black. I have already tested the bike. Last sunday I participated in the "6th Retro Ronde van Vlaanderen". More than 400 participants with old bikes dressed in old wool shirts. Rode the 70 km where the "Oude Kwaeremont" and other Flemish mountains had to be crossed, and had a blast.

Very, very nice.

More pics please and much larger.

Thanks for following up.

Wow - cool! I love the black and white - and the update; I see this thread began in June 2011

Always great to see an update/completion of a project like this. I vote for more pictures, too.

Show that beauty off like she was meant to be!

DD