Eddy Merckx Frame Identification

[Emerxil]

This frame was not built in the EMC in Meise
Check the BB thread size:
- if it is 35 x 1 = French or Swiss
- if it is 36 x 24 = Italian
- if BSC = rest of Europe or Japan

[paredown]

Originally Posted by McCycle

Hi there,

Just purchased this (image attached) from a garden sale for dirt cheap. Couldn't help myself as it looked great. It's been half restored by the previous owner with new wheels, pedals etc and a resprayed frame. I'm guessing it may have just been built up from the frame alone.

What I wasn't sure is whether the frame is actually an Eddy Merckz? The stickers are new so no official evidence there. On the bottom bracket all I can make out is 'W 1 A'. There are then two different numbers on either side of the rear dropout. These are 289536 and G1079 on the left and right side respectively.

Would be grateful if anyone could shed any light on the frame?

Also any advise on the kind of derailleur to get would also be great

Cheers!

Need a shot of the head badge and front fork crown.

There were three manufacturers who made "Eddy Merckx" frames under license, before Eddy started his own factory with deRosa's help.

Falcon (English); Kessels (Belgium) --and the third escapes me for now.

While they are mostly dismissed as inferior bikes, they were produced by both Falcon and Kessels in a range from the pretty awful to the pretty decent--Falcon's top line "Merckx" was the same spec as their top line Falcon San Remo--all 531DB tubing and Campagnolo equipped. By report, the best of the Kessels ones were even better--a good workmanlike frame as good as any other top factory frame from the time...

This is one of the licensed bikes, but some closeups would help to identify it...

[osbk67]

Originally Posted by paredown

This is one of the licensed bikes, but some closeups would help to identify it...

What current information possibly indicates this is a licensed bike?

[paredown]

Originally Posted by osbk67

What current information possibly indicates this is a licensed bike?

Not a product of the Merckx factory, IMO. The factory bikes start being built in 1980--and there were never bikes made in that factory with stamped rear dropouts or chrome lugs AFAIK. Also the curve on the fork blades looks English, seat stay attachment doesn't look like the factory style, there is the absence of braze-ons, no derailleur tab, no bottle braze-ons (suggesting pre-1980s)--I could go on, but that's a short list...

I think it is likely a repaint of one of the Falcon Merckxs as has already been suggested, but I would like to see a close up of the fork especially... The Kessels crown is quite distinctive.

[osbk67]

I agree 100% that the frame is not a product of the Merckx factory. Zero chance.

I also think there's no current evidence here that it's a licensed product either.

I'll be surprised if the serial number or anything else proves otherwise.

[Emerxil]

- Jeunet and Starnord ( France ) - Schauff ( Germany ) - Allegro ( Switzerland ) - Miyata ( Japan ) - Velosport ( Italy ) - Falcon ( Great Britain ) - Kessels ( Belgium )
...a little more than three...

[paredown]

Originally Posted by Emerxil

- Jeunet and Starnord ( France ) - Schauff ( Germany ) - Allegro ( Switzerland ) - Miyata ( Japan ) - Velosport ( Italy ) - Falcon ( Great Britain ) - Kessels ( Belgium )
...a little more than three...

Thanks for the correction--Schauff was the third I couldn't think of. The only ones I have seen personally are the Falcon and Kessels. The others you list I did not know about.

[McCycle]

Hi All,

Many thanks for your input. I've attached some more pictures for your pleasure. I notice that the fork crown just has decals as opposed to any engraving, and based on your feeedback, my best guess is that the frame could be a Falcon or Kessels EM (if EM at all). It also would seem the lack of derailleur hanger would indicate a low end frame.

Cheers!

[Stj]

I have a MX Leader that I’m currently working to get in working condition. Serial is D 8864. It’s been painted over but I think it’s a Motorola team issue.

Based on what I’ve been able to find online, I think it’s a 1993 but would love any other info anyone has.

Not a ton of tall riders on the 93 team so I think it narrows down the rider to Axel or possibly Hincape ( if it’s 93 that is).

Any additional info would be greatly appreciated.

I’m currently working on getting it painted and set up to ride modern groupset and will share pictures once I have the build completed.

[Emerxil]

Frame built in autumn 1993... that is for the 1994 season - if it is a team bike, look for a profi from this season
Check the markings on the steering tube - maybe they survived

[firingsquad]

Some crazy information in here

[Stj]

Thank you very much for the info. The fork tag unfortunately is not legible.

The frame is quite large, roughly 60x60 so I think that narrows it down to rider as I think the 94 Motorola team had 4 tallish cyclists (Hincapie, Merckx, Yates and I think Anderson). I have seen Yates frames before that were 60x60 and I believe I saw a Hincapie frame that was also 60x60 so might be theirs.

Anyway looking forward to building it up, I test rode it and loved the ride. Its heavy but Im faster on it than my lighter Litespeed Vortex which is titanium. These are really great bikes.

[RonW87]

The Axel Merckx frame I've seen on here had a crazy slack seat tube angle.

[Stj]

That's a great point, this bike seems to have a 72.5 degree seat tube angle. Do you happen to recall what Axel was using?

[RonW87]

https://forums.thepaceline.net/showt...ht=axel+merckx