Eddy Merckx Frame Identification

[Emerxil]

It's not available online, hence my unhealthy interest in this miracle Again - thank you very much!

[merckxman]

1995 catalog is 4 pages, the cover doesn't have anything of interest. Eddy Merckx signed this one by the MX Leader frameset.

[osbk67]

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[osbk67]

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[osbk67]

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Special mention for the 1985 Hitachi Team orange/yellow/white colour scheme, my own favourite. Sadly dragged across the Worlds finish line in Ronse by Claude Criquielion (RIP Claudy) after a finishing sprint racing incident with Steve Bauer allowed Maurizio Fondriest to ride across the line first. On his own stunning metallic green Legnano. Itself one of the iconic colours.

[osbk67]

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[Emerxil]

merckxman: thank you for publishing the photos of the 1995 catalogue and confirming what it looked like (if I had this catalogue with an EM signature - I would frame it and hang it on the wall - really).
osbk67: you did another exceptional thing - you just published pictures from the absolutely exceptional (double) EM catalogue - 1988 (I've never seen this version before, there are pictures of the previous version with the same cover - 1987). There were shown as many as 4 frames in 1988 team painting - ADR, Lotto, Kelme and Hitachi. Hitachi frame is unique - there is a sticker Reynolds 653 on it (the version was produced already in 1988, but in the team it appeared in the season of 1989). Thank you.

Translated with www.DeepL.com/Translator

[Jef58]

This was a very enjoyable thread. I had a Strada in the late 1990's that I bought used. It was a size too big and I didn't quite understand bike fit and geometry at the time, but it rode great. After being on carbon bikes since then, I'm back on modern steel. Eventhough the modern stuff is nice, I would love to have a Merckx of that era again. The bikes were well designed and looked "proper" regardless of the size.

[BassoBry]

Hello and thanks in advance. I sourced this frame earlier this year from a seller in Poland. They had it labeled as a Strada O.S. cyclocross frame. It's got custom geo (57x59) and chromed shell/chainstays/seatstays. It appears to have never been built up or painted. BB shell has a "P" on one side and "F 2801" on the other. Attached are some pics!


by Bryan Heller, on Flickr

[Hindmost]

Interesting frame. No original fork?

[BassoBry]

Originally Posted by Hindmost

Interesting frame. No original fork?

Correct, purchased as frame only. Fork is not original.

[Emerxil]

It looks like Eddy Merckx Trekking modified (factory made!) to cyclocross, 1994, Columbus Thron.

[weisan]

Originally Posted by osbk67

Attachment 1697986937

"The CORSA EXTRA is the flagship of the Eddy Merckx line, a thoroughbred European racer. It is constructed with Columbus SLX tubing and hand-braced, using all investment cast conjunctions; investment cast fork crown and bottom bracket shell. It is then outfitted with Campagnolo's Croce D'aune. The geometry of the Corsa Extra makes it the ultimate road racing machine, s superb blend of comfort and performance. It is the perfect bike for racers and those who just enjoy the exhilarating ride of a true racing bike."

[weisan]

[Emerxil]

Originally Posted by Emerxil

It looks like Eddy Merckx Trekking modified (factory made!) to cyclocross, 1994, Columbus Thron.

Strong correction!
This is certainly not a Trekking frame (even modified), it is a cyclocross built from scratch. I bought the Arcobaleno frame from the same seller.