Diamondback axis / apex... I think...

[ulsterfifer]

I had this bike up on ebay last week, had a couple of bids, both of which where retracted... and i have to say, I wasn't that gutted as I kind of fancied keeping this fella... nice and shiny...

It's soon to become my regular commuting bike, once it's had a service from the local bike shop geezer...

One chap who mailed on ebay said it was definitely a Diamondback Apex/Axis from the late 90s, based on the fact that he had 5 of these frames... I've had a bit of a browse and whilst a lot of the different years look very similar, this has the cables running along the top of the bar rather than along the side...

Basically, I'm just keen to know for sure what I've got... (I cant believe I'm getting carried along by this whole retro thing!) Anybody out there able to confirm?

Serial number is WF96C2124
And it looks like it has 59 IS stamped behind the dropouts on each side...

Pretty well 100% it's not a merlin... and really dont know why merlin stickers were put on it, especially with the mega gel seat - but as I said in my previous posting the stickers will be off sharpish before it gets nicked... My magnet says it's certainly not titanium anyway!

 

[T'boo Ted]

doesn't look like late 90's, still has the canti stop, and doesn't look like a DB, all the ones i've seen that were earlier, had a collar on the top of seat tube, and later ones had snake stays... and plain dropouts

 

[was8v]

Jeez I know EXACTLY what that is.

How do I know? I bought this exact frame new, undecaled direct from Merlin Cycles (Preston) in a sale in 2004/5ish, bought the forks used and hand painted them black. I had the stickers made by Gil on here after my mates encouraged me to do so (after I ribbed them it was a genuine Merlin USA).

I think it must have been sat round their warehouse for a while given the canti hanger, and I seem to remember they only had one on sale (may have been an earlier sample?).

I sold it on (with a full explanation) with that rubbish stem and the Marin Ovation chainset around a year later after not riding it much and needing the space.

Its a great frame (top drawer Tange Ultimate Superlight tubing) and I have been looking out for one since. No idea who the factory or designer was, would be some Taiwanese where Merlin source from.

 

[unkleGsif]

Something about horses mouths....?

Bloody brilliant, that




G

 

[ulsterfifer]

That is awesome! Thought that things weren't just quite adding up when I was looking at the cable runs...

Just goes to show you cant believe everything you read... except from Was8v of course

I'm a total newb at all things biking (aside from fixing punctures and perhaps replacing brake blocks...) My delight could only be increased further if you could direct me to what's kak on the bike and worth replacing... and if i was to swap forks what size fits...

Thanks again...

 

[was8v]

A frame of that class deserves some decent wheels first, these will make a big difference. Then i'd look to upgrade the stem & seatpost for nicer items.

Anything else is just jewellery!

 

[mikee]

get along to a macretro rideout and we'll help put you straight

theres a fife one most sundays

mike

 

[ulsterfifer]

Cool, the back wheel is knacked so i'll get something reasonable for both rather than "the cheapest" available... but excellent to know that it's worth putting cash into some extra bits... as there was a little bit of me that was wondering was I throwing good money after bad...


Ahhh MacRetro east clan... had a browse through a couple of threads... "2 hours and I'll have barely started to sweat" and "nothing too tame, there needs to be a chance of bloodshed" suggest you guys do a different kind of cycling to me...

off to get me a testosterone upgrade...

Would love to have a bash at this kind of thing but I'd be kidding myself on got to the time to get on ma bike for commuting but with maniac toddlers in the house and a squash game that's disappearing down the pan , it's just not going to happen In another life I'm there...

 

[was8v]

Its defo a great frame, top tubing and just look at the neatness of those welds!

I'd rate it as higher quality of construction and finish than the nickel P7 I had new in 1994, and ride wise very similar.