Eddy Merckx 7-11

[Julz]

Evening all, new to this forum so thought I would say hello and introduce you to Eddy. This is a road bike my husband acquired from a lovely old gentleman he was doing work for, he wanted to sell it as his health was getting pretty poor and his wife worried about him when he was out on it so rather randomly we have ended up with it. We've tried to do some research on it, find out the age etc but are struggling to find any others that are exactly the same (possibly looking in the wrong places), the main differences we have found have been the cable routing and the gear shifters. Does anyone out there have any clues about it's age, model (if anything other than the Columbus SLX, Team 7-11 colours) and potential value (need to stick it on the insurance but there is the potential to sell, bit like taking it to the Antiques Roadshow!)

Hope the photos work!! :?

Thanks in advance!

[url=https://flic.kr/p/Tream7][img]...com/3/2873/33759675466_4cf8c3e1a7_z.jpg[/img]IMG_20160807_211145 by Julz Anderson, on Flickr[/url]

[url=https://flic.kr/p/Sdja1w][img]...com/3/2832/32957178674_50af83aae4_z.jpg[/img]IMG_20160807_211708 [3844] by Julz Anderson, on Flickr[/url]

[url=https://flic.kr/p/Tg2nd3][img]...com/3/2835/33644209062_285c1773cc_z.jpg[/img]IMG_20160807_211254 by Julz Anderson, on Flickr[/url]

[url=https://flic.kr/p/SUQ5Db][img]...com/3/2917/33415677180_2f361c6292_z.jpg[/img]IMG_20160807_211232 by Julz Anderson, on Flickr[/url]

[url=https://flic.kr/p/SfZdzp][img]...com/3/2893/32987433033_160e757b8d_z.jpg[/img]IMG_20160807_211344 by Julz Anderson, on Flickr[/url]

[url=https://flic.kr/p/SUQfgY][img]...com/3/2903/33415709590_a2d6f19d24_z.jpg[/img]IMG_20160807_211453 by Julz Anderson, on Flickr[/url]

 

[Jamiedyer]

Hi Julz
This looks to be a 1990/91 Corsa Extra in highly desirable and great condition Team 7/11 colours.
The gear shifters are fine for the period though for all, either downtube shifters or STI shift levers can be used. Cable routing is right for the period as well, later ones like mine, can have either external cable routing or internal within the top tube.
Price can vary for Merckx Corsa Extras but this is a desirable colour, fitted out with good components and is in very good condition. Best thing to do would be to either google it, or have a look on Ebay for a guide, though use Ebay.com as well as the .co.uk. those type sites will give you some idea.
I have a Corsa Extra that I have had from new and they are lovey machines to ride all day.
Here is a link to a page that might explain the frame dating in more detail:
http://www.cadre.org/Merckx/

Hope this helps and if it fits then either you or your husband should get out and enjoy it.
All the best
Jamie

 

[Julz]

Re:

Hi Jamie, thanks for the response! We tried referring to that cadre website for more info but didn't seem to get any of the markings on the bottom bracket to match up! Ill maybe have another look!

 

[Jamiedyer]

as you look at the pic above, the left side of the BB with the H,4 and X is always a bit of a mystery, the main thing being that the x should signify that it's a Corsa eXtra, made with SLX tubing. The numbers on the right are the sequential build numbers with the C signifying that its a 91/92 model, if not by year then by catalogue and it also ties in with what is listed on the list for that year.
That's how I read it and certainly ties in with mine which I have owned since new. It might not be exact for yours , though it should be close as the model and colour make it easier than most to put a ballpark date.
It's a lovely machine

Jamie

 

[Julz]

Re:

Ah ok, it must have been the mysterious bit that threw us!! I never quite appreciated how sought after these bikes were until I put it in to my friends shop for a service and to renew the bar tape, it certainly got a lot of attention! Skinny tyres aren't my speciality, I prefer chunky, knobbly ones with at least 140mm of bounce at the front of the bike!

 

[Mike Muz]

Re:

Lovely bike, would like a Merckx myself at some stage.

Welcome to the forum, too. Word of warning though, don't stay on here too much, you will end up with many more bikes. It's true, not fake news! Lol

I only had one bike when I started here, now loook at all the bikes in my sig! Aaaaaarrrrggghh!

Mike

 

[Julz]

Re:

Haha, thanks for that! Got enough bikes for now (I have 3, husband has 2, son has 2!) and I'm already eyeing up a new downhill bike! I had been looking at a new road bike, don't need one but it was very pretty!!

 

[Mike Muz]

Re: Re:

How many times have I said that? ! :facepalm:

Mike

 

[Jamiedyer]

Julz I had been looking at a new road bike, don't need one but it was very pretty!!

For a steel Merckx fan, you already have one of the most pretty machines right there
and none of us 'need' a new machine We can always justify it, but we don't need it

Jamie

 

[Mike Muz]

Julz I had been looking at a new road bike, don't need one but it was very pretty!!

For a steel Merckx fan, you already have one of the most pretty machines right there

+1