Merlin Cielo...
11-09-08, 05:01 AM
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Merlin Cielo...
A few years ago, Merlin sold carbon fiber bikes along side the titanium ones. They quit about 2005 or 2006 I think. Anyway, "I know a guy" who has an unsold, unused, unassembled Merlin Cielo sitting in his shop. Does anyone know what these sold for new? It is a Frame & Fork.
Thanks!
Thanks!
11-09-08, 08:52 AM
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I remember seeing an advertisement in Bicycling Magazine in about 2003 or 2004 for the Cielo. It was one of those center fold, two page ads. I fell in love with that bike. It was beautiful. But it sold for over $10,000.00. I'm pretty sure I subsequently saw them selling for a few thousand less.
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11-09-08, 01:49 PM
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This website has a Cielo w/ultegra for $2700 pounds (about $4300 US).
https://www.awcycles.co.uk/brands/Mer...229/index.aspx
Honestly, I don't remember any Merlin's getting out to $10K (unless you put Lightweights on it). I thought the Magia topped out at about $6K. I don't know, could be wrong.
What size is it? Anyway, it's a classy frame. If you can get it for say $2k, that would seem to be a pretty good deal (albeit not a bargain).
https://www.awcycles.co.uk/brands/Mer...229/index.aspx
Honestly, I don't remember any Merlin's getting out to $10K (unless you put Lightweights on it). I thought the Magia topped out at about $6K. I don't know, could be wrong.
What size is it? Anyway, it's a classy frame. If you can get it for say $2k, that would seem to be a pretty good deal (albeit not a bargain).
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11-09-08, 05:10 PM
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I remember it going for about 7 grand w/ DA in 2004 when I got my Cyrene.
Gorgeous bike.
What size is it?
Gorgeous bike.
What size is it?
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11-09-08, 05:22 PM
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That is a way cool bike. It's lugged Ti with carbon tubes?
My advice: read a lot about these kinds of bikes before buying one - I seem to recall issues with some of the Ti/carbon bikes with carbon seat stays (Serotta maybe?) coming loose at junction between carbon and Ti.
What's the enginering behind this set-up, anyway? How are they bonded?
Looks nice, but I'd be wary.
My advice: read a lot about these kinds of bikes before buying one - I seem to recall issues with some of the Ti/carbon bikes with carbon seat stays (Serotta maybe?) coming loose at junction between carbon and Ti.
What's the enginering behind this set-up, anyway? How are they bonded?
Looks nice, but I'd be wary.
11-09-08, 08:04 PM
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Originally Posted by markwebb
Looks nice, but I'd be wary.
The shop owner of my LBS had one and put at least 10,000 miles a year on his. If I had the bread I'd scoop one up in a heartbeat.
Seven made a bike like that, so did Serotta.
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11-09-08, 08:59 PM
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Yeah...but a little googling turned up lots of issues with them. Cool look, but more a novelty IMHO. For less than $3 grand you can get a nice new all-Ti Merlin and have a lifetime ride.
11-09-08, 09:23 PM
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Originally Posted by BillyD
I wouldn't. It's a tank.
The shop owner of my LBS had one and put at least 10,000 miles a year on his. If I had the bread I'd scoop one up in a heartbeat.
Seven made a bike like that, so did Serotta.
The shop owner of my LBS had one and put at least 10,000 miles a year on his. If I had the bread I'd scoop one up in a heartbeat.
Seven made a bike like that, so did Serotta.
11-10-08, 08:58 AM
#9
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Originally Posted by markwebb
Yeah...but a little googling turned up lots of issues with them. Cool look, but more a novelty IMHO. For less than $3 grand you can get a nice new all-Ti Merlin and have a lifetime ride.
+1 IMHO, this was Merlin's effort to stay relevent when they thought everything was going to CF.
I can't see what the CF adds, other than more joints where the bonding could possibly fail.
I bet it doesn't ride any better than a Merlin Extralight, is heavier than an a Extralight, and almost certainly will be less durable. (both more joints, and the possibility of cracking/ scratching the carbon fiber parts.
The only reasons I could see to buy it would be 1) aesthetic, 2) novelty, or 3) you get a serious discount below what a brand new Extralight would cost.
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11-10-08, 09:11 AM
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Originally Posted by merlinextraligh;7822393[COLOR="Silver"
]+1 IMHO, this was Merlin's effort to stay relevent when they thought everything was going to CF.[/COLOR]I can't see what the CF adds, other than more joints where the bonding could possibly fail.
I bet it doesn't ride any better than a Merlin Extralight, is heavier than an a Extralight, and almost certainly will be less durable. (both more joints, and the possibility of cracking/ scratching the carbon fiber parts.
The only reasons I could see to buy it would be 1) aesthetic, 2) novelty, or 3) you get a serious discount below what a brand new Extralight would cost.
I bet it doesn't ride any better than a Merlin Extralight, is heavier than an a Extralight, and almost certainly will be less durable. (both more joints, and the possibility of cracking/ scratching the carbon fiber parts.
The only reasons I could see to buy it would be 1) aesthetic, 2) novelty, or 3) you get a serious discount below what a brand new Extralight would cost.
My advice is go with straight CF or Ti.
11-10-08, 08:53 PM
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Not sure why folks want to know what size it is? My current bike is a 56, but what I understand is the Merlin does their measurements a bit differently. The bike shop guy said that he believes it should fit, depending on how my dimensions fall within the expected range (high, low, middle).
11-10-08, 08:54 PM
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Originally Posted by merlinextraligh
+1 IMHO, this was Merlin's effort to stay relevent when they thought everything was going to CF.
I can't see what the CF adds, other than more joints where the bonding could possibly fail.
I bet it doesn't ride any better than a Merlin Extralight, is heavier than an a Extralight, and almost certainly will be less durable. (both more joints, and the possibility of cracking/ scratching the carbon fiber parts.
The only reasons I could see to buy it would be 1) aesthetic, 2) novelty, or 3) you get a serious discount below what a brand new Extralight would cost.
I can't see what the CF adds, other than more joints where the bonding could possibly fail.
I bet it doesn't ride any better than a Merlin Extralight, is heavier than an a Extralight, and almost certainly will be less durable. (both more joints, and the possibility of cracking/ scratching the carbon fiber parts.
The only reasons I could see to buy it would be 1) aesthetic, 2) novelty, or 3) you get a serious discount below what a brand new Extralight would cost.
11-10-08, 10:03 PM
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Buy a carbon frame, or buy a Ti frame, they each have their own advantages and disadvantages. Carbon/Ti frames sound like a great idea....but weren't.
11-11-08, 12:27 PM
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Or even carbon/steel. I had chance to buy a cool NOS Lemond with carbon cockpit and rest was steel, but after reading about them decided it wasn't worth it, and better to buy all one material.
When shopping for a new bike I also ran into some Ti Serottas with carbon stays, but stayed away from them, too.
When shopping for a new bike I also ran into some Ti Serottas with carbon stays, but stayed away from them, too.
Originally Posted by merlin55
Buy a carbon frame, or buy a Ti frame, they each have their own advantages and disadvantages. Carbon/Ti frames sound like a great idea....but weren't.
11-11-08, 01:36 PM
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(Just thought I'd put the picture in the thread vs a link.)
11-11-08, 02:05 PM
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Sure is purdy, I'll tell you that.
They may very well have had issues at the joints that I wasn't aware of -- it wouldn't surprise me with that design -- but I'm positive Merlin would resolve them without question. If you had a backup bike you'd hardly miss it while Merlin made things right.
I don't think the Cielol was "soft" or flexy . . . I test-rode one for about 20 miles and didn't detect anything like that. My LBS guy never mentioned anything like that either. Of course nothing is going to be as rigid as full carbon.
They may very well have had issues at the joints that I wasn't aware of -- it wouldn't surprise me with that design -- but I'm positive Merlin would resolve them without question. If you had a backup bike you'd hardly miss it while Merlin made things right.
I don't think the Cielol was "soft" or flexy . . . I test-rode one for about 20 miles and didn't detect anything like that. My LBS guy never mentioned anything like that either. Of course nothing is going to be as rigid as full carbon.
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11-11-08, 02:58 PM
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I always worry with those Ti-Carbon or Alu-Carbon hybrids....how strong is the "glue" that holds them together at the joints....especially when it gets old. Anyone see these debond with age/mileage?
11-11-08, 04:01 PM
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Originally Posted by BillyD
Of course nothing is going to be as rigid as full carbon.
I can't believe the number of miles that I suffered on that frame until I finally bought a "modern" bike in December 2005. And when I bought a "modern" bike it was steel.
11-11-08, 04:32 PM
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Originally Posted by mollusk
I have a 1986 Cannondale that will argue this point.
I can't believe the number of miles that I suffered on that frame until I finally bought a "modern" bike in December 2005. And when I bought a "modern" bike it was steel.
I can't believe the number of miles that I suffered on that frame until I finally bought a "modern" bike in December 2005. And when I bought a "modern" bike it was steel.
. . . . but that Cielo is sure purdy.
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11-11-08, 04:39 PM
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Originally Posted by BillyD
. . . . but that Cielo is sure purdy.
11-11-08, 10:34 PM
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Originally Posted by BillyD
Steel is the real deal . . . cf & Ti are just trying to improve on perfection.
. . . . but that Cielo is sure purdy.
. . . . but that Cielo is sure purdy.
11-12-08, 12:03 AM
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Had a friend with this bike and it came unglued pretty quickly under normal wear and tear. The same company that owns lightspeed owns merlin and he was able to warranty his frame with them and switch out for a full Ti lightspeed and has been happier ever since. So if you get it, make sure you can warranty it if it fails on you.
11-12-08, 01:35 AM
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It's interesting that Litespeed also dabbled in the ti/carbon combination frames (such as a few model years for the Ultimate), but has since gone back to full ti exclusively.
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11-12-08, 09:17 AM
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^ When everybody was going ga ga over CF frames, many Ti Builders thought they had to do something to stay competitive. Hence, the Cielo in this thread, the Merlin Proteus (CF with some Ti bling) and various Ti/CF frames from Litespeed, Seven, Serotta.
After awhile, I think most of them have realized that adding CF to a Ti frame doesn't result in any advantage over a well made all Ti frame. (other than perhaps a cost advantage of manufacturing a CF rear triangle) And that rather than try to compete against CF by adding CF to Ti, that they should concentrate on building good Ti bikes, and service the market that remains for good Ti bikes.
After awhile, I think most of them have realized that adding CF to a Ti frame doesn't result in any advantage over a well made all Ti frame. (other than perhaps a cost advantage of manufacturing a CF rear triangle) And that rather than try to compete against CF by adding CF to Ti, that they should concentrate on building good Ti bikes, and service the market that remains for good Ti bikes.
