Merckx Falcon Bikes?

[AngryScientist]

Not that i'm considering buying this, but it came across my radar today.

What's teh story with the Merckx bikes made by Falcon?

my gut tells me they were low level production type bikes.

any intel?

https://www.ebay.com/itm/Vintage-50cm-Eddy-Merckx-Falcon-10-Speed-Road-Bike-Reynolds-531-/264599095515?&_trksid=p2056016.m2516.l5255

https://i.ebayimg.com/images/g/omkAAOSwsFheHk6T/s-l1200.jpg

also, you guys think this stem is safe to ride?

https://i.ebayimg.com/images/g/wVYAAOSwPa9eHk60/s-l1200.jpg

[JAGI410]

Your gut is right

[Mike V]

They are exactly what you think they are.

[dookie]

Mostly, yes. The best of the best were OK. Eddy licensed his name to a couple builders before he started building his own. Name escapes me, but the Belgian made early bikes were FAR nicer.

I owned one of the earliest Falcons (est '73). It was butted 531 with long point lugs and Campy dropouts, but construction was crude at best. It was built by a bike nerd for sure and wore the best Japanese of the day...1st gen Dura Ace w/Sunshine hubs, Nitto cockpit. Rode very nicely, but ultimately not a keeper.

[merckx]

Kessels was the other Belgian bicycle manufacturer that made Merckx branded machines. They were nicer than the Falcons.

[gomango]

Kessels was the other Belgian bicycle manufacturer that made Merckx branded machines. They were nicer than the Falcons.

Agreed. My brother rides a Kessels Merckx for a city bike.

Trust me, he gets loads of positive nods and comments.

[unterhausen]

we used to sell the 531/Campagnolo model. Frames were crudely built, but they were cheap and we never had any issues with them. I think it was pretty common for racers to sell their name like this, but the bikes were disappointing. I would have understood if it was Thévenet or someone like that, but not Eddy.

I know I worked on some of the low-end models like the one in the OP. Nothing really wrong with them.

[veloduffer]

I had a Falcon 531 but it wasn’t a Merckx. I made it into a fixed gear bike, mostly for winter and spring training. It was built ok but rode fine and was comfy. The geometry was standard and with its long rear dropouts was easy to use a fixie/single speed (flip-flop hub).

I sold it and much later bought a Specialized Langster fixie, which I didn’t like and made me wistful for the Falcon.




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[buddybikes]

Personally looks like that bike belongs in the trunk off to the trash. Certainly that stem is dangerous

[cmg]

buy it cheap and convert to a fixie/single speed. restoration not worth it.

[old_fat_and_slow]

All the components left on that old beater look like pretty cheap shyte. The lugs look pretty unimpressive too. Low-budget beater fo' sho'.

[CO_Hoya]

Colnago also had an Eddy Merckx model (http://www.cycling-obsession.com/how-to-identify-a-colnago-eddy-merckx/) in the early 70s, top of the line I think.

http://www.cycling-obsession.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/04/Colnago-Brochure-3-728x1024.jpg

[old_fat_and_slow]

Instead of $250 asking price, I think the appropriate offer is $2.50, but only if the seller agrees to pay shipping. ;)