A quick build this one as It's just a parts transplant from my Raleigh Ti, so apologies in advance if your looking for a long and epic build thread .
Its taken me over three years to get to this stage though as that's how long I've been searching for a XLM in the right size. I had the build in my head and started gathering the various parts and after a year only needed wheels, a BB and brakes. Then the Raleigh appeared on ebay and I bought it so that my box of parts could be used while the search for a XLM continued...
Fast forward almost two years and a XLM the same size as my old Merlin Mountain appeared on here. It had a dent on the seat tube which probably explained the reasonable asking price but still, it was a XLM from '97 and one of the last true Merlins before the company was sold. PM's were exchanged with the seller and a deal was done!
I had to wait a few weeks for the seller to get back from his holidays but it finally arrived on Monday and I can now furnish this thread with some pictures -
This is how the frame arrived. Can't fault the packaging.
Finally unwrapped and time to start refinishing it with a scotchbrite pad -
And finally built up with some pics from the first ride -
Weld porn -
And a close-up of the dent in the seat tube -
My initial plan was to remove the dent by getting a long piece of 27.2 tube and pressing it out from the inside but I then remembered that XLM's have a shimmed seat tube rendering that idea useless. It doesn't detract from the ride so I guess I'll live with it.
The spec as it sits is as follows.
Frame: Merlin XLM '97
Fork: Pace RC36 Pro Class
Headset: Chris King
Stem: Pace RC45
Handlebar: USE Atom Carbon Riser
Grips: ODI Attack
Brakes: XTR M951
Shifters: XTR M952 9sp
Front Derailleur: XTR M951
Rear Derailleur: XTR M950
Cassette: XT M770
Chain: KMC X9 Gold
Cranks: Middleburn RS3
Crank Bolts: Titanium
Chainrings: Pace Extruder Groove
Bottom Bracket: Hope Titanium
Pedals: XT M730
Hub Skewers: X-Lite
Rims: Mavic 217
Hubs: Hope Titanium
Tyres: Panaracer Fire XC 2.1
Saddle: Flite Titanium
Seatpost: Syncros Titanium
Thanks for reading and comments always welcome .
Its taken me over three years to get to this stage though as that's how long I've been searching for a XLM in the right size. I had the build in my head and started gathering the various parts and after a year only needed wheels, a BB and brakes. Then the Raleigh appeared on ebay and I bought it so that my box of parts could be used while the search for a XLM continued...
Fast forward almost two years and a XLM the same size as my old Merlin Mountain appeared on here. It had a dent on the seat tube which probably explained the reasonable asking price but still, it was a XLM from '97 and one of the last true Merlins before the company was sold. PM's were exchanged with the seller and a deal was done!
I had to wait a few weeks for the seller to get back from his holidays but it finally arrived on Monday and I can now furnish this thread with some pictures -
This is how the frame arrived. Can't fault the packaging.
Finally unwrapped and time to start refinishing it with a scotchbrite pad -
And finally built up with some pics from the first ride -
Weld porn -
And a close-up of the dent in the seat tube -
My initial plan was to remove the dent by getting a long piece of 27.2 tube and pressing it out from the inside but I then remembered that XLM's have a shimmed seat tube rendering that idea useless. It doesn't detract from the ride so I guess I'll live with it.
The spec as it sits is as follows.
Frame: Merlin XLM '97
Fork: Pace RC36 Pro Class
Headset: Chris King
Stem: Pace RC45
Handlebar: USE Atom Carbon Riser
Grips: ODI Attack
Brakes: XTR M951
Shifters: XTR M952 9sp
Front Derailleur: XTR M951
Rear Derailleur: XTR M950
Cassette: XT M770
Chain: KMC X9 Gold
Cranks: Middleburn RS3
Crank Bolts: Titanium
Chainrings: Pace Extruder Groove
Bottom Bracket: Hope Titanium
Pedals: XT M730
Hub Skewers: X-Lite
Rims: Mavic 217
Hubs: Hope Titanium
Tyres: Panaracer Fire XC 2.1
Saddle: Flite Titanium
Seatpost: Syncros Titanium
Thanks for reading and comments always welcome .