Help Identifying Ti Bike

Exonerv · #1 07-02-2015, 02:47 PM

Ran across this one on CL and considering making an offer for my son. Not much info beyond 64ST x 60TT. No serial # - unknown manufacturer.

Appears to be 1 1/8 steerer and the fork says ...AXIS...and something?

Integrated seat collar seems nice.

9sp triple 6500 Ultegra.

Here's a couple pictures...any ideas on who may have made this one?

Exonerv · #2 07-02-2015, 03:21 PM

Have narrowed down the fork - Forte Axis Pro Carbon Road Fork
Inexpensive and sold by Performance...and appears to be 1" rather than 1 1/8".

He says only thing stamped into frame is 10/87 on one of the stays, which he's guessing is date of manufacture?

pbarry · #3 07-02-2015, 04:05 PM

No serial # on BB shell or inside of the dropouts? Polished, so might be a Litespeed. Kirk Pacenti would recognize other details.

Exonerv · #4 07-02-2015, 04:34 PM

All being discussed long distance, so no way for me to check beyond asking the seller who can't seem to locate anything beyond the 10/87 stamped on a stay.

Thanks pbarry...sent K Pacenti a PM asking his opinion.

Didn't early Merlin's all have PF bottom brackets? I would think with the 6500 it would have a threaded Octalink BB.

thirdgenbird · #5 07-02-2015, 04:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Exonerv

Have narrowed down the fork - Forte Axis Pro Carbon Road Fork
Inexpensive and sold by Performance...and appears to be 1" rather than 1 1/8".

He says only thing stamped into frame is 10/87 on one of the stays, which he's guessing is date of manufacture?

1987 wouldn't explain the cable stops. I'm voting late 90s

Edit: head tube looks 1 1/8th. Early 2000s

Exonerv · #6 07-02-2015, 05:29 PM

Early 2000's would seem consistent with the group - assuming it wasn't upgraded at some point.

rwsaunders · #7 07-02-2015, 05:48 PM

Axis forks were a Performance Bike house brand 2007-2008.

pbarry · #8 07-02-2015, 05:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Exonerv

All being discussed long distance, so no way for me to check beyond asking the seller who can't seem to locate anything beyond the 10/87 stamped on a stay.

Thanks pbarry...sent K Pacenti a PM asking his opinion.

Didn't early Merlin's all have PF bottom brackets? I would think with the 6500 it would have a threaded Octalink BB.

They switched to threaded BBs in 92 or so. I don't know enough about the non-Somerville Merlin's, but they never used tapered stays during production in MA.

cmbicycles · #9 07-02-2015, 08:46 PM

Performance had a ti bike, can't remember who made it for them but it would pre-date 1 1/8 headtubes so a possibility if it's a 1". Maybe airborne ti?

john903 · #10 07-02-2015, 08:56 PM

Didn't TST in Eastern Washington make Ti frames for lots of different company's? I have a friend who used to have a Mongoose Ti bike bought from Elliot Bay cycles in 2000 He was told it was made by TST. I also remember Performance having Ti bikes, so that's my guess a TST built frame.
Buy it ride it have fun.

Louis · #11 07-02-2015, 09:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by john903

Didn't TST in Eastern Washington make Ti frames for lots of different company's?

That's the first company that came to my mind also.

Exonerv · #12 07-05-2015, 04:55 PM

The Paceline, and in particular Highpowernut, saved me a bundle today.

That no-name Ti bike in Tempe, AZ turned out to have a 1/2" crack in the seat tube below the FD. Highpowernut immediately spotted the issue and we decided to pass on the bike.

Allow me to publicly express my gratitude to HPN for being such a great guy throughout this process. He went out of his way on several levels - over a holiday weekend, despite having plumbing problems at his home. I have nothing but kind things to say on his behalf.

Naturally, I would have loved to have scored a new bike at a great price, but am happy in this incidence to continue my search. Highpowernut has some good Karma coming his way...

Thanks again Wayne,

Mike