Help with a Merlin ID

yajnosnibor · #1 04-28-2021, 09:57 PM

Serial Number: M 104315 with XL stamped below on the non-drive side.
Z B H on non-drive side.

Engraved Head Badge, began around 2003.
Bike was purchased in 2013 and production ended around 2009-10, so likely produced between 2003-2009.

Semi-compact geometry.
Curved seat stays. V Bend Chainstays, 7/8” I believe.
STRAIGHT 1-1/8” Headtube w External Cups.
Tubing is all round rather than ovalized.

Size is 56cm. Likely a ML on the Merlin Scale.

I cannot find ANYTHING that looks the same in catalogues, forums, etc.
The most consistently similar is the Merlin Works CR, circa 2006-2008. But those had 1” chainstays I believe as well as ovalized tubing on the top tube.

Most Extralights had traditional rather than compact geometry AND seemed to have shorter head tubes as well as hourglass head tubes with internal bearings.

2002 Catalogue had an XL Compact. But hourglass headtube with internal cups.

Other options include:
Magia? Few with straight head tubes.
Agilis? Most didn’t have curved chain stays.
Solis? Most had carbon seat stays
Cyrene without etching?

Stickers could always be aftermarket but on original the white with Eagle M shows up in the 2006 catalogue and not in many other places.

weisan · #2 05-01-2021, 03:25 PM

I am not 100 percent certain but based on one of your pictures, it looks like part of your seatstays is carbon. I have a smaller Merlin that shares that similarity and it's called Camena in the product lineup.

weisan · #3 05-01-2021, 03:27 PM

My Merlin Agilis (size M/L) looks similar but no carbon seatstay.

charliedid · #4 05-01-2021, 03:33 PM

Forum Member PBarry may have some insight.

dgauthier · #5 05-02-2021, 06:17 PM

Merlin has always done full custom. Perhaps it's a one-off?

yajnosnibor · #6 05-04-2021, 09:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by weisan

I am not 100 percent certain but based on one of your pictures, it looks like part of your seatstays is carbon. I have a smaller Merlin that shares that similarity and it's called Camena in the product lineup.

No carbon. That’s my mistake. Those are rubber stickers added by the previous owner for protection and he liked the contrast. It’s 100% Ti!!

weisan · #7 05-05-2021, 12:25 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by yajnosnibor

No carbon. That’s my mistake. Those are rubber stickers added by the previous owner for protection and he liked the contrast. It’s 100% Ti!!

In that case, I think it's an Agilis.

I have two Agilis. One with curved seatstay, one without.

yajnosnibor · #8 05-10-2021, 10:55 PM

Got ahold of someone at ABG (used to own the Merlin brand) and he looked up the serial number.

Turns out I've got a 2006 Solis in an XL.

Up until 2006 they had carbon seat stays but switched to the curved Ti for '06. The geometry is a bit odd. The XL measures out more like a 56cm. Any idea how Merlin measured their tubes? C-C?