Merlin Info

[FixedNotBroken]

Is anyone familiar with Merlin? On of my friends offered me his 2003 Merlin Solis with full brand new Rival (Which I will sell) for $2,000. Here are the specs and I am wondering if this could work (I am not very confident in sizing and knowing those sorts of things).

Merlin geometry

Seat tube 49.5
Top tube 54.5
Head tube l 14
Ht angle 72
St angle 73
Standover 74.1
Wheelbase 99.4
Fork rake 50
Bb drop 8

Thanks ahead of time.

[charliedid]

Nice bike...

How does it compare to what you normally ride?

[FixedNotBroken]

73 Degree Seattube Angle
Size Wheel Size Head Tube Angle BB Drop Top Tube Head Tube Length Front Center Rear Center Stand Over Height Stack Reach
48 700c 70.5° 68 516 108 575 405 693 505 360
51 700c 72.2° 68 531 128 577 405 723 530 369
54 700c 73.1° 68 548 148 575 405 753 555 378
56 700c 73.5° 68 564 173 587 405 784 580 387
58 700c 73.5° 68 581 199 604 405 815 605 396
61 700c 73.5° 68 597 225 620 405 846 630 405

I ride the 51cm.

[charliedid]

If I am reading all that correctly it seems like it is going to be 1.5 cm longer but 12mm taller head tube? Depending on the stack of the HS I think it could work??? Please check my math...

Have you taken it for a spin?

[FixedNotBroken]

I have not taken it for a ride yet, I am talking to the guy over email.

[charliedid]

Right...so what are your potential concerns, that it is too long in the TT?

It will be a very comfy all day long bike if you can fit yourself on it. How long of a stem are you using and short or long reach bars?

[FixedNotBroken]

Using short reach bars and a 90mm stem.

[charliedid]

Okay, I might look long and hard at TT length even with higher HT if you are using a 90. I think it could work but I would hate to see you have to go to an 80 stem to fit it.

I don't do this for a living anymore so hopefully others will kick in and offer some insight.

Will you need to buy it without a test ride?

[FixedNotBroken]

No I can test ride it haha, it's not too far away. I think i'll be patient and just wait.

[charliedid]

Nice :beer:

[Idris Icabod]

It isn't clear to me but it looks like one bike has a 72.2 ST angle compared with the other with a 73 STA. Depending on which is which this will affect reach by about 1 cm per degree.

[FixedNotBroken]

The Merlin has the 73.