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...
The MTB’s I have from 95 and 97 have a seat tube of 34.9 external and to reach 27.2 internal they need a factory shim. Probably the road seat tube has a smaller diameter.
Besides the Merlin I have a 97 Litespeed that's supposed to be 27.2 too but the original 27.2 Litespeed seatpost was too tight. I needed to change the seatpost shim that was inside the tube, it was not easy but not too hard either. Maybe a previous owner changed it or maybe the shim got a little...
I am updating this thread with the latest information I have.
We can find the first mention to the Merlin XLM on a 1993 Mountain Bike Action article (posted earlier on this thread and mentioned on 95 Merlin catalog). The XLM is not included into the 1994 catalog though.
The 1995 Merlin...