View Full Version : Confused about a Merckx
I'm considering picking up a Merckx Corsa Extra locally as a classic Sunday bike for my wife.
It is a Reynolds 753 frame, but it also has what looks like a MXL fork?? not sure of year. Has a number braze on on top tube and braze on cable guides for the shifter cables on the head tube. The tires are Michelin 100y anniversary (1993), so perhaps a '93? Seller says it had a riders name on the top tube, but don't know it.
I've had many Merckx bike sover the years, but have never seen this paint scheme and the Campy groups seems a bit older than the frame. I'm confused about the age of the frame...any ideas? any idea what the colourway is called or is it custom?
sorry for crap pic...that is all i've been provided.
Big Dan
10-11-2019, 12:37 PM
Looks like a MX Leader fork.
Looks like a MX Leader fork.
agree, which is weird given the frame is 753
thanks
bart998
10-11-2019, 01:57 PM
Trying to remember what year brifters came out. This bike was built to accept brifters or downtubes... transitional. I have an '87 Merckx Gran Prix (753) that doesn't have the cable guides on the head lug... so I think this frame is newer.
it's a late nineties frame. merckx were still offering 753 right up until Eddy sold the company if someone wanted it- and they were mostly getting MX Leader forks since there weren't any 753 fork blades and the fork blades and crowns Merckx had were for Dedacciai tubed Corsas (which often had their forks built by outside suppliers)or MX Leader forks built in house- so its no surprise this thing got one of those- might have been the only game in town if someone specified a 753 frame.
the paint looks like one of the schemes Merckx offered for Team Gan circa 97-98 I think but I don't really remember.
Cool little bike though- but def. newer than those parts and that stem.
ultraman6970
10-11-2019, 08:05 PM
The owner had to ask the racing kit stuff, that's not standard production... so you probably getting a team bike for somebody, or a bike used by some racer at some point in time.
I wouldnt think about it too much because small EM like that and with team bosses are quite rare.
If your wife doesnt like it is another issue but if she is ok I think that's a rare EM. Just dont tell the seller tho :p
Thanks for the info, glad to know I was mostly correct.
If I pick it up I'll post pics.
AngryScientist
10-14-2019, 09:54 AM
what i'm confused about is what is the idea of cable stops on the head tube and the downtube?
https://images.craigslist.org/00W0W_eKhfYdjWThp_1200x900.jpg
AngryScientist
10-14-2019, 09:55 AM
oh wait, maybe those are cable housing guides.
got it. disregard.
what i'm confused about is what is the idea of cable stops on the head tube and the downtube?
https://images.craigslist.org/00W0W_eKhfYdjWThp_1200x900.jpg
i think the head tube ones just route the cables to the down tube stops and prevent rubbing? definitely designed for brifters...
velofinds
10-14-2019, 12:49 PM
The bike is very cool. Wouldn't the fork make this one eminently pick-upable? (assuming the asking price is reasonable)
jtbadge
10-14-2019, 12:51 PM
i think the head tube ones just route the cables to the down tube stops and prevent rubbing? definitely designed for brifters...
They certainly don't prevent rubbing on the Merckxes I've owned, but they at least help to keep the housing aligned nicely along the downtube.
The bike is very cool. Wouldn't the fork make this one eminently pick-upable? (assuming the asking price is reasonable)
Asking is well over a grand, so not too easy to pull the trigger. i've an offer in, we'll see.
jet sanchez
10-14-2019, 01:02 PM
I posted this in the other Merckx thread, this is my 1995 Corsa Extra with a Leader fork, purported to be ridden by Olaf Ludwig for Telekom
Edit: I should add that mine rides great with that fork although I have no idea what tubing the frame is made out of....
https://i.imgur.com/3otvKS3.jpg
I posted this in the other Merckx thread, this is my 1995 Corsa Extra with a Leader fork, purported to be ridden by Olaf Ludwig for Telekom
Edit: I should add that mine rides great with that fork although I have no idea what tubing the frame is made out of....
https://i.imgur.com/3otvKS3.jpg
sweet bike. i bet it rides beautifully.
this one has different seat lugs, which make me believe it is slightly newer
seller won't go below 1350, which i think is too much even if it is a rare bike
rallizes
10-15-2019, 09:55 AM
seller won't go below 1350, which i think is too much even if it is a rare bike
i'm curious to hear what you think it is worth
Big Dan
10-15-2019, 10:00 AM
Those Merckxs are almost always overpriced.
i'm curious to hear what you think it is worth
750
tctyres
10-15-2019, 01:54 PM
https://newyork.craigslist.org/mnh/bik/d/new-york-city-eddy-merckx-classic-steel/6997205935.html
Probably worth more than 750, but surely less than 1500.
rccardr
10-15-2019, 03:53 PM
https://newyork.craigslist.org/mnh/bik/d/new-york-city-eddy-merckx-classic-steel/6997205935.html
Probably worth more than 750, but surely less than 1500.
Agreed. The brake tracks have a bunch of wear and those tires are way out of date & should be replaced.
If you like nine speed Campagnolo and don't need to change much else out, I'd say $1150 is probably market value right now.
Emerxil
10-16-2019, 12:16 AM
- that this painting scheme was used between 1995 and 1997
- cable guides on head tube certainly existed in 1995
- the shade on the fork and frame seems different
- the combination of the serial numbers of the frame and fork would explain the situation (the photos of the entire frame would also help)
Mike V
10-16-2019, 12:39 AM
- that this painting scheme was used between 1995 and 1997
- cable guides on head tube certainly existed in 1995
- the shade on the fork and frame seems different
- the combination of the serial numbers of the frame and fork would explain the situation (the photos of the entire frame would also help)
https://images.craigslist.org/00Q0Q_2O0UHgIvGcj_1200x900.jpg
Emerxil
10-16-2019, 04:20 AM
Sorry, Reynolds 753 wasn't chrome-plated...
Emerxil
10-16-2019, 04:46 AM
Sorry, again - I read the ad, looked at the pictures... The description is misleading: Reynolds 753 - definitely not (how was this information confirmed?), number hanger and name on the frame are only options available to everyone, in such a painting I did not see EM in any professional team (certainly not in GAN). In the period from which the painting came from, there was no problem with the production and availability of a suitable Corsa Extra fork (I have already written about a different shade / light reflection). Corsa Extra forks were definitely produced until 2001. As far as I know, all EMC steel frames were produced in Meise, I don't know the case of a steel frame produced outside this place (including Corsa 01).
Translated with www.DeepL.com/Translator
Sorry, again - I read the ad, looked at the pictures... The description is misleading: Reynolds 753 - definitely not (how was this information confirmed?), number hanger and name on the frame are only options available to everyone, in such a painting I did not see EM in any professional team (certainly not in GAN). In the period from which the painting came from, there was no problem with the production and availability of a suitable Corsa Extra fork (I have already written about a different shade / light reflection). Corsa Extra forks were definitely produced until 2001. As far as I know, all EMC steel frames were produced in Meise, I don't know the case of a steel frame produced outside this place (including Corsa 01).
Translated with www.DeepL.com/Translator
I was sent a pic of the 753 decal on the bike.
Why do you think it is not 753?
I've also seen chrome plated stays on 753 Condor and Limongi frames...but maybe the stays are not 753??
Emerxil
10-17-2019, 09:53 AM
Several companies chrome the R753, EMC - no confirmed cases (in the 1989 catalogue - German version - it is clearly stated that the R753 is not chrome-plated in EMC ever; it is not excluded that this has changed). It is possible that the frame is made of a mixture of R753 and R531 (trade name Reynolds 653) - the problem is that EMC stopped using R531 around 1993 and the R653 set officially ended its career with EMC even earlier - in 1990. It is also possible that R753 stickers were placed on the R653 frame - there are no confirmed cases. If it is possible to show a sticker, then it is probably possible to show the manufacturer's markings - it can explain the situation to the end. If this is impossible, it is enough to see the inside of the tubes entering the BB cover - it will eliminate many possible solutions. The frame is interesting, it is worth trying to solve this puzzle to the end.
Translated with www.DeepL.com/Translator
Interesting. thanks for the detail
I'm not going to buy it at the proposed price, so no way to get a look inside the frame.
I was sent a partial serial # from the BB shell, which is G 6885 stamped into a raised serial number pad on the EM bottom bracket casting.
That is the extent of my knowledge, (although I believe the seller is following and has posted in this thread :) ). maybe they can provide more detail??
Emerxil
10-17-2019, 02:20 PM
G6885 = 1997; unfortunately in EMC only Corsa Extra frames made of Columbus SLX/SPX (X or XB) were marked with a code. What remains is to check the tubes...
vBulletin® v3.8.7, Copyright ©2000-2024, vBulletin Solutions, Inc.