Merlin XLM 1995 Titanium Project

[Al.Lugtenburg]

Here is my 1995 Merlin XLM build

Frame is from 1995 and the original XTR M900 group and Mavic rims were all NIB or NOS before mounting.

Portrait
1995 Merlin XLM Ti frame, size 17.5
RockShox Mag-21 SL Ti restored and upgraded with Ti hardware
Chris King headset
Original titanium Merlin handlebar, Ibis stem and Syncros seatpost
All Shimano XTR M900 group
SPD PD-M747 pedals
Jagwire Ice Gray cable kits
Onza Chill Pills cable hanger
John Tomac ATI clear grips
Onza Stogies bar ends
Merlin seatpost clamp
Selle Italia Flite Milano Ti saddle
Silca Especial Edition Ti bottle cages
Mavic 230 SBP rims
DT-Swiss Competition spokes and nipples
Tioga Psycho 26 x 1.95 tires

More details on Merlin’s serial numbers and years here: https://www.retrobike.co.uk/threads...serial-numbers-and-lost-history.464522/page-2

Small video here: https://www.facebook.com/groups/15182422729/permalink/10160296446652730/

First ride by May 2024

New again, ready to reach its 30 years old on the road by next year

Hope you enjoy the build,
Al (Alexandre)

 

[ferrus]

That is superb, I love it!

 

[kafer-k]

Absolutely stunning!

 

[Hotwheels.]

What is the weight of this stunning machine?

 

[Al.Lugtenburg]

What is the weight of this stunning machine?

10.48 Kg with pedals

 

[Frank69]

Hi Alexandre;
This is for sure one of the nicest and most tasteful builds I‘ve seen. Absolutely stunning.
Perfect choice of parts!!!
XTR 900 all around… what else. Couldn’t be better…
Mag 21 SL TI… restored… how did you get the color??? There are so many threads here and it seems nearly impossible to hit the button like this (if you don’t do it the old way: high polishing and clear coat with honey candy… which will look great until the green comes back in a couple of years)
Amber Tioga Psycho tyres… where did you get these??? Impossible to find!!!
Brown Flite and clear ATI Tomac grips… wow
Syncros TI post… what else???
Ibis TI stem… 100% fit
Merlin TI bar… is it real???
747 pedals… of course…

So… we are as near to perfection as it can be in my opinion. Great, great, GREAT Job

Three things I did notice:
The seat post clam is not original. The frame had a tube like titanium clamp as you will know…
I‘ve never seen any XLM with a little „Fat Chance“ like roller on the seat tube to redirect the cable to use a down pull front derailleur…
Has this been put on later or was the frame built like this?
The titanium looks very shiny, almost like polished… most Merlins I know are a bit more „brushed“

This is not criticism! The build is hyper clean with extreme attention to the smallest detail (golden ventile caps, golden bar plugs…)
It’s only out of interest…

Best Regards
Frank

 

[biker23]

@Al.Lugtenburg :
Your Merlin XLM looks stunning & superb indeed!
Very classy and tasteful build!
Très beau!