Merckx ex-Pro bike serial numbers

[velomateo]

Originally Posted by ultraman6970

max tubing EM is a mx leader...

This doesn’t apply to the bike in question, but Merckx did produce a Corsa Extra that was constructed of MAX tubing. These frames had the top tube reversed from the Leader and used a different fork crown.

[ultraman6970]

Thanks for the clarification and I have to admit that I ive seen those and I forgot totally about them.

[Emerxil]

sorry, one by one: what you can see is Mx Leader in 7-Eleven... The problem is that 7-Eleven worked in the seasons 1989 and 1990, and the first series of Mx Leader appeared at the beginning of 1992 - the conclusion: looking for a rider from the 7-Eleven team and matching him to the repainted frame from (at the earliest - not necessarily, it doesn't belong to the first series) 1992 is rather unnecessary. The difference between EM Corsa Extra MAX (and there were 3 versions) and Mx Leader (there were 4 versions) is the change in the latter lugs, top tube (this is not an inverted MAX tube, this is a tube from the Minimax kit) and rear triangle tubes (from Max to SLX). Late Corsa Extra Max already had forks from the Mx Leader model, btw. People from EMC are no longer a reliable source of information (archives were destroyed). Cadre.org contains a lot of interesting information, but it is not organized in a systematic and correct way, besides, it is poor.

[witcombusa]

Originally Posted by Emerxil

sorry, one by one: what you can see is Mx Leader in 7-Eleven... The problem is that 7-Eleven worked in the seasons 1989 and 1990, and the first series of Mx Leader appeared at the beginning of 1992 - the conclusion: looking for a rider from the 7-Eleven team and matching him to the repainted frame from (at the earliest - not necessarily, it doesn't belong to the first series) 1992 is rather unnecessary. The difference between EM Corsa Extra MAX (and there were 3 versions) and Mx Leader (there were 4 versions) is the change in the latter lugs, top tube (this is not an inverted MAX tube, this is a tube from the Minimax kit) and rear triangle tubes (from Max to SLX). Late Corsa Extra Max already had forks from the Mx Leader model, btw. People from EMC are no longer a reliable source of information (archives were destroyed). Cadre.org contains a lot of interesting information, but it is not organized in a systematic and correct way, besides, it is poor.

Emerxil...
I had tried to get info on what I believe is a 1998 MXL Team bike as well. It is 60 x 58 and has a very rare double seat post clamp detail and of course number plate holder. Oldpotato had asked the importer about it for me but they didn't know much. What do your eyes tell you from what you can see?

[Emerxil]

This is a Vlaanderen 2002 team painting, unfortunately used in 4 seasons (1994-1997), this strange seat tube resembles a "Freuler patent". Serial designation would help to determine the season, then finding a matching Belgian would be easier Number hanger does not mean profiteam - this has always been an option available on request.

[witcombusa]

Originally Posted by Emerxil

This is a Vlaanderen 2002 team painting, unfortunately used in 4 seasons (1994-1997), this strange seat tube resembles a "Freuler patent". Serial designation would help to determine the season, then finding a matching Belgian would be easier Number hanger does not mean profiteam - this has always been an option available on request.

# P G2651

Is the name Patrick De Clus useful in this discussion?

[Emerxil]

The frame was built in 1996 (there was no E series from the years 94/95 - it was an invention of some guy from GITA), in the season 1996 and 1997 in Vlaanderen team there was no Patrick de Clus (then the aluminium frames were used). Perhaps the guy was a member of an amateur or semi-professional team (and in Belgium there were dozens of them). However, like the number hanger, placing names on the frame was a widely available option in EMC at the time and does not indicate a "professional" use for the frame.