Merlin Cycles dual / trials resto project

[mamadirt]

Sold all my MTB stuff this side of the pond and been playing away on 20” wheels for a while but I miss mountain biking over here in the cold and wet (never thought I’d hear myself say that ).

Always been a big fan of late nineties / early 2Ks primary colours so couldn’t pass up this little thing It’ll be a slow burner as we’ll be back in the States soon but will make a cool summer project for when our time’s up over there.



Let’s go!

 

[mamadirt]

All stripped now and ready to tidy up - not sure what’s going on with the non-drive side dropout (looks like someone has tried to file it to accept 12mm axle then given up Nothing a little JB Weld won’t cure though. Drive side is fine







I’ve started to retouch the stem with primer. Cranks may be more of a challenge - definitely signs that they’ve been used as intended #trials

 

[mamadirt]

Job done! It ain’t gonna win any beauty contests (yet ) but at least my wheel will sit straight.

 

[novocaine]

good frame. I had a stripped one I bought from them. solid and bomb proof. took a 130mm fork alright too.

 

[mamadirt]

Good to know I’ll be borrowing Papadirt’s Dirt Jams initially but a set of Marz Drop Offs would be perfect.

 

[coomber]

I love to reuse but if they are fsa cranks I'm surprised they're still in a condition to use. Made of cheese weren't they?

 

[novocaine]

I love to reuse but if they are fsa cranks I'm surprised they're still in a condition to use. Made of cheese weren't they?

No.

I still have 2 sets in use.

They were the cranks that we all abused, made of cheese isn't the reason so many died.

 

[mamadirt]

Yup I've owned a set before - ran them on my old Bullit and they were fine. These did actually need a crank extractor to remove so I'm assuming the tapers are still good

 

[coomber]

I've had one pair and tapers died in about a dozen rides. Glad I seem to be an anomaly (well, not glad, I had to replace them)

 

[novocaine]

I've had one pair and tapers died in about a dozen rides. Glad I seem to be an anomaly (well, not glad, I had to replace them)

The crap we had at the time did that too unfortunately.
I ran a set on a jump bike and a set on a trials bike, both are still here although one has no threadsnon the extractor, I can't blame that on the cranks though, user error.