i thought I dated my litespeed!

[bikeworkshop]

I've owned this around 20 years.
I'm sure I used to know what year it was.
I wanted to put the date into the thread about ti welds

Thread 'The titanium weld and detail appreciation thread.'

Jul 13, 2025

As a result of previous (is it / isn't it) ti threads, I thought I'd put something together to display the details of certain ti welds. I've taken these pics of bb shell, dropout, top of stays and head tube.
Against a basic cardboard box background gave me the best colour match of the frames, others made them look yellow.

Merlin XLM 2000ish

• Twozaskars
• Replies: 95
• Forum: Retro MTB Chat

• 

but found all the Litespeed catalogue photos seemed to feature vertical dropouts, unlike mine.

even 1991.
It's a very short frame number
7393 (XZW)- I know i can send them £21 for details, but let's see if anyone has an idea?

 

[grantoury]

Sexy thing, I would love to date her.

 

[pigman]

Is it 1" or 1 1/8 headset?

If 1", I'd say late 90s, if 1 1/8 then early 2000s.
By mid 2000s there were different frame transfer designs

 

[bikeworkshop]

It's 1"
I know it's earlier than 97
The frame shapes are all quite simple.

 

[Rapparee87]

In my dreams I have a titanium frame..

 

[highlandsflyer]

You'll never know a better time to get into a titanium rim bike.

 

[bikeworkshop]

It's 1"
I know it's earlier than 97
The frame shapes are all quite simple.

I've found the catalogue on Mombat:

Mine's a 1994 "classic"
I've owned it for 2/3 of its life

They didn't make many with sloping dropouts, even from 1988, but European racers are resistant to change.
By the late 90s vertical drops were normal in a pro race

 

[Coalfield]

If you rebuild it - silver components will upgrade the visuals.

 

[bikeworkshop]

If you rebuild it - silver components will upgrade the visuals.

It was a working bike components get worn out.
It's currently got almost-worn-out Sora gears

In fact I'm restoring the Mektronic i had on it years ago, but became unreliable after 5000 miles commuting in all weathers.

That's black too,
And looks unbelievably cool

 

[Frankenorange]

Look into my eyes, not around my eyes.....give this to Frankenorange.....when i click my fingers...