For Sale 1997 Merlin Cycles (UK) Rare Tange externally spiral butted frame & Tange fork & extras

mclaren680

Marin Fan
***£140*** Merlin Cycles (UK) Tange Spiral butted frame and Tange fork set from 1997 - 18.5” measured from centre of BB to centre of top tube.

I believe that this is only 1 of 11 frame sets ever sold in the UK via Merlin Cycles (UK) with the spiral external butting ( see pics ) and only 4 of those were sold with the Tange fork set.

This set has been recently powder coated by Chicago Coatings in Ashton-Under-Lyne in metallic grey/ Matt black and given a gloss lacquer over the top for max durability.

Comes with -

Brand new BBB 400mm x 29.8mm seatpost (worth £30)
Brand new FSA Hammer 1-1/8” heavy duty headset (worth £23)
Brand new Truvativ 100mm x 31.8mm 7 degree stem (worth £15)

In totally unridden condition since being powder coated so looks amazing. Bottom bracket threads 100% (I’ve tested that with a BB myself). No knocks or dents and ready to be built into a one of a kind bike.

Cash on collection from Prestwich in Manchester, (but happy to post in the UK if paid by buyer.) 273506964_4756819407746941_7168631823655085327_n.jpg 272879591_5263394947004521_376175286762968472_n.jpg 273397867_5436398603041467_1178313253151273607_n.jpg 273461815_4910957088953870_8813771851717628948_n.jpg
 
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Hi, what’s the top tube c-c ? And do you have any idea on tyre clearance, I can see it has crimped stays ! Thanks
 
Hi, what’s the top tube c-c ? And do you have any idea on tyre clearance, I can see it has crimped stays ! Thanks
Hi, just measured...it's 23" exactly c-c top tube.

For tyre clearance...I did a build using this frame to gauge sizing and it ended up too small so on the same day I disassembled it and donated most parts to a larger frame I had that better fit me. The tyres I used were Maxxis Holy Roller 2.4's and there was 2-3mm room either side of the chain stays, a little more on the seat stays, but tbh 2.4 still slightly rubbed the canti bosses when fitting anyway so maybe I'd say 2.3 max would be a better real world fit. See this pic for reference... image0 (3).jpeg
 
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Sorry to resurrect an old thread. But how do we know there were only 4 sold with the matching tange fork? And if I were to have found one, theoretically how much would it be worth? Likely to be kept for a new build. But does the spiral really make them higher quality?
 
Not wishing to revive a an old thread...but....

Its called rifle cut tubing , same principle as the much older tange prestige superstrong "ditching".

I had 2 of those rifle cut frames.....so I doubt very much there were only 11! They were pretty cheap from merlin along with their standard "malt" versions.

Good budget frames all the same and rode nice.
 

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