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1992 Merlin Titanium - 15 inch
After seeing all the nice builds in person and on this site, I decided it was time to build one myself. This is my first build.
I always wanted a titanium bike and the one I wanted was a Merlin. So I decided to get a nice frame and build it up using as many period and NOS parts as possible.
Looking around for quite a while I decided on the route I was going to take. Once settled and pictured in my mind I set about trying to collect the bits. It took me the good part of 2 years to get everything.
It also took 3 frames before I was happy with what I had. The first one was a 18 inch and arrived poorly packed and had a small dent in it. That one was cancelled. The next one was a nearly NOS frame 16 inch that was absolutely beautiful but ended up being too big for me. (I am trying to sell that 16 inch Merlin bike and/or frame, contact me if interested).
Third time lucky, by chance I bought a 15 inch complete bike intending that one to be for my wife. But once I tried the fit on the larger frame it didn’t feel right. I then tried the smaller one (this one) and it fit very nicely. So finally I was sorted with a nice frame.
Specifications:
> Frame: Merlin Titanium 1992 – 15 inches - Used
> Fork: Ritchey Logic – Black Chrome Finish – NOS
> Rims: Araya – RM 20 – Black Finished - NOS
> Hubs: Shimano Deore XT- M730 – Black – 135mm Rear 100mm Front - NOS
> Skewers: Shimano Deore XT - NOS
> Spokes: DT Stainless - Double Butted – New
> Tires: Ritchey Mega Bite Z Max 1.9 - Kevlar Folding - NOS
> Pedals: Shimano Deore XT – M735 - NOS
> Crank: Shimano Deore XT – M730 – 170mm – Black - NOS
> Chain: Shimano Hyperglide – HG90 - NOS
> Rear Cogs: Shimano 7 speed ( 12-28 ) Hyperglide – HG90 - NOS
> Bottom Bracket: WTB Grease Guard – 123mm Phil Wood Titanium - New
> Front Derailleur: Shimano Deore XT – M735 – 31.8mm - NOS
> Rear Derailleur: Shimano Deore XT – M735 – Short Cage – NOS
> Shifters: Shimano Deore XT – M732 – NOS
> Handlebars: Merlin Titanium – Used
> Grips: Grab On - NOS
> Stem: Ibis Titanium – 1inch x 120mm 10 degree rise - Used
> Headset: Shimano Deore XT – M735 – 1 inch – NOS
> Brake Set: Shimano Deore XT – M732 – Cantilevers - Black – NOS
> Brake Levers: Shimano Deore XT SLR – M732 - 2 finger – NOS
> Saddle: Selle – Italia Flite Titanium - NOS
> Seat Post: Syncros - Hardcore Aluminum – 27.2mm – Black – NOS
> Seat Clamp: Shimano Deore XT - M730 - NOS
> Frame Color: Titanium Natural
> Frame Size: Seat Tube - CTC -15 Inch
> Weight: 21.7 pounds/8.09 kg
The first photo shows the exploded view of the frame and the collection of parts that were used on the bike. NOTE: The frame shown is the larger one that I did not use and obviously the BB was not needed.
The second photo is the finished bike.
The rest are detail photos.
After seeing all the nice builds in person and on this site, I decided it was time to build one myself. This is my first build.
I always wanted a titanium bike and the one I wanted was a Merlin. So I decided to get a nice frame and build it up using as many period and NOS parts as possible.
Looking around for quite a while I decided on the route I was going to take. Once settled and pictured in my mind I set about trying to collect the bits. It took me the good part of 2 years to get everything.
It also took 3 frames before I was happy with what I had. The first one was a 18 inch and arrived poorly packed and had a small dent in it. That one was cancelled. The next one was a nearly NOS frame 16 inch that was absolutely beautiful but ended up being too big for me. (I am trying to sell that 16 inch Merlin bike and/or frame, contact me if interested).
Third time lucky, by chance I bought a 15 inch complete bike intending that one to be for my wife. But once I tried the fit on the larger frame it didn’t feel right. I then tried the smaller one (this one) and it fit very nicely. So finally I was sorted with a nice frame.
Specifications:
> Frame: Merlin Titanium 1992 – 15 inches - Used
> Fork: Ritchey Logic – Black Chrome Finish – NOS
> Rims: Araya – RM 20 – Black Finished - NOS
> Hubs: Shimano Deore XT- M730 – Black – 135mm Rear 100mm Front - NOS
> Skewers: Shimano Deore XT - NOS
> Spokes: DT Stainless - Double Butted – New
> Tires: Ritchey Mega Bite Z Max 1.9 - Kevlar Folding - NOS
> Pedals: Shimano Deore XT – M735 - NOS
> Crank: Shimano Deore XT – M730 – 170mm – Black - NOS
> Chain: Shimano Hyperglide – HG90 - NOS
> Rear Cogs: Shimano 7 speed ( 12-28 ) Hyperglide – HG90 - NOS
> Bottom Bracket: WTB Grease Guard – 123mm Phil Wood Titanium - New
> Front Derailleur: Shimano Deore XT – M735 – 31.8mm - NOS
> Rear Derailleur: Shimano Deore XT – M735 – Short Cage – NOS
> Shifters: Shimano Deore XT – M732 – NOS
> Handlebars: Merlin Titanium – Used
> Grips: Grab On - NOS
> Stem: Ibis Titanium – 1inch x 120mm 10 degree rise - Used
> Headset: Shimano Deore XT – M735 – 1 inch – NOS
> Brake Set: Shimano Deore XT – M732 – Cantilevers - Black – NOS
> Brake Levers: Shimano Deore XT SLR – M732 - 2 finger – NOS
> Saddle: Selle – Italia Flite Titanium - NOS
> Seat Post: Syncros - Hardcore Aluminum – 27.2mm – Black – NOS
> Seat Clamp: Shimano Deore XT - M730 - NOS
> Frame Color: Titanium Natural
> Frame Size: Seat Tube - CTC -15 Inch
> Weight: 21.7 pounds/8.09 kg
The first photo shows the exploded view of the frame and the collection of parts that were used on the bike. NOTE: The frame shown is the larger one that I did not use and obviously the BB was not needed.
The second photo is the finished bike.
The rest are detail photos.