Results 1 to 25 of 25
  1. 12-13-2010 #1
    even
    even is offline
    mtbr member
    Reputation:
    Join Date
    Dec 2010
    Posts
    215

    My 1990 Strange Merlin/Magura cx brakes/Now with Nitto moustache

    This is a weird bike. Back in 1990 Italian builders bought frames from the States and rebadged them. This one was branded "Speed", a popular Italian factory in the 90s (original name, ain't it?). Tom Kellog wrote me that Merlin didn't have any agreement so I suppose the rebadging was a homemade operation.

    This frame is doubtless a Merlin: the frame number (Kellog dated it back to 1990), the canti brake studs, the seatclamp, the integrated bottom bracket, and, obviously, the dropouts, they all confirm its noble origins. The weird thing is that the frame is finished in satin. The oh-so-kind Mr. Kellog sait this might have been a treatment made by Speed to differentiate their bikes from Merlin. It might have also been a pre-finished frame bought raw to save money.

    BTW, I love the bike, but being it a bit small, i opted for the monstercross version, with Specy Rockombo drop bars, Magura CX brakes, and Ringlé/Paul hubs. Yes, the DDT oversized hub IS a nonsense on a rigid fork, but that's what I had in my garage you see..

    Not period correct but very functional and fun to ride. The Flexstem is going to go, tho...
    Attached Thumbnails Attached Thumbnails My 1990 Strange Merlin - Magura cx brakes-merlinforummagura.jpg  

    Last edited by even; 12-17-2010 at 12:57 PM.
    Reply With Quote Reply With Quote
  2. 12-13-2010 #2
    Rumpfy
    Rumpfy is offline
    VRC Illuminati
    Reputation: Rumpfy's Avatar
    Join Date
    Dec 2003
    Posts
    16,358
    Nice bike and story to go with it!

    I like the satin look on a ti frame anyway.

    (and good that you're ditching the flex stem!)
    -eric-

    Wanted: White True Temper handlebar, uncut.
    Reply With Quote Reply With Quote
  3. 12-13-2010 #3
    Matt H.
    Matt H. is offline
    mtbr member
    Reputation:
    Join Date
    Sep 2004
    Posts
    197
    Definitely "...a rose by any other name." Looks great with the drop bars.
    Beware the forty-year-old man on a twenty-year-old bike...He likely knows how to ride it.
    Reply With Quote Reply With Quote
  4. 12-13-2010 #4
    even
    even is offline
    mtbr member
    Reputation:
    Join Date
    Dec 2010
    Posts
    215
    Nitto moustache on the way... Must decide about the stem, gotta be a high rise one.
    Reply With Quote Reply With Quote
  5. 12-13-2010 #5
    Rumpfy
    Rumpfy is offline
    VRC Illuminati
    Reputation: Rumpfy's Avatar
    Join Date
    Dec 2003
    Posts
    16,358
    Salsa P7/P10
    -eric-

    Wanted: White True Temper handlebar, uncut.
    Reply With Quote Reply With Quote
  6. 12-13-2010 #6
    Vlad
    Vlad is offline
    Relax. I'm a pro.
    Reputation:
    Join Date
    Feb 2004
    Posts
    1,378
    Are those hydraulic brake levers?
    Instagram: @antoine1000
    http://tfwo.tumblr.com
    Reply With Quote Reply With Quote
  7. 12-13-2010 #7
    girlonbike
    girlonbike is offline
    gobsmacked Moderator
    Reputation:
    Join Date
    Apr 2008
    Posts
    5,330
    I wanted to thank you for joining.
    Reply With Quote Reply With Quote
  8. 12-13-2010 #8
    Vlad
    Vlad is offline
    Relax. I'm a pro.
    Reputation:
    Join Date
    Feb 2004
    Posts
    1,378
    You're welcome, sugar.
    Instagram: @antoine1000
    http://tfwo.tumblr.com
    Reply With Quote Reply With Quote
  9. 12-13-2010 #9
    madtorker
    madtorker is offline
    mtbr member
    Reputation:
    Join Date
    Feb 2010
    Posts
    27
    Those are hydraulic rim brakes by Magura, how are you liking them OP?
    Reply With Quote Reply With Quote
  10. 12-13-2010 #10
    alasa
    alasa is offline
    mtbr member
    Reputation: alasa's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jan 2004
    Posts
    122
    Hello Guido,
    welcome to this forum!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
    And compliments for your bike, and brakes :-)
    Ciao
    Reply With Quote Reply With Quote
  11. 12-14-2010 #11
    even
    even is offline
    mtbr member
    Reputation:
    Join Date
    Dec 2010
    Posts
    215
    Hahaha... Hi Alasa
    Yes, the brakes are Magura hydro brakes for cx, they are great ... you get one finger braking with no effort for your hands, useful when riding rocky downhills with drop bars.
    Reply With Quote Reply With Quote
  12. 12-14-2010 #12
    MendonCycleSmith
    MendonCycleSmith is offline
    All Lefty's, all the time Moderator
    Reputation: MendonCycleSmith's Avatar
    Join Date
    Feb 2005
    Posts
    11,745
    And yet another Merlin I didn't know of. I love this place

    Maybe it's my monitor, but I have to ask, 26" wheels, right? Think I'd crap myself if they were 700.....
    This is a Pugs not some carbon wannabee pretzel wagon!!

    - FrostyStruthers



    www.mendoncyclesmith.com
    Reply With Quote Reply With Quote
  13. 12-14-2010 #13
    even
    even is offline
    mtbr member
    Reputation:
    Join Date
    Dec 2010
    Posts
    215
    Yes, 26 inches, I wish they were 700 tho...


    Salsa P7/10, where to find them?
    Last edited by even; 12-14-2010 at 06:22 AM.
    Reply With Quote Reply With Quote
  14. 12-14-2010 #14
    MendonCycleSmith
    MendonCycleSmith is offline
    All Lefty's, all the time Moderator
    Reputation: MendonCycleSmith's Avatar
    Join Date
    Feb 2005
    Posts
    11,745
    Quote Originally Posted by even
    Yes, 26 inches, I wish they were 700 tho...
    More pics! I love Merlins.

    I never tire of this pic.....
    Attached Images Attached Images
    This is a Pugs not some carbon wannabee pretzel wagon!!

    - FrostyStruthers



    www.mendoncyclesmith.com
    Reply With Quote Reply With Quote
  15. 12-14-2010 #15
    1 cog frog
    1 cog frog is online now
    Mtn Biker Machinist
    Reputation: 1 cog frog's Avatar
    Join Date
    Dec 2004
    Posts
    877
    Quote Originally Posted by even
    Yes, 26 inches, I wish they were 700 tho...


    Salsa P7/10, where to find them?
    eBay, last one I saw went for over $100 IIRC.

    I would love a set of those Magura CX brakes, were they very common? I knew about the mtb ones, but never saw the CX version.

    More close up pics and details please. Is the resevoir in the caliper itself, or the lever?

    frog
    Reply With Quote Reply With Quote
  16. 12-14-2010 #16
    even
    even is offline
    mtbr member
    Reputation:
    Join Date
    Dec 2010
    Posts
    215
    pics to come, the reservoir is in the lever, the calipers are normal maguras. Really rare, bought from Alasa...
    Reply With Quote Reply With Quote
  17. 12-14-2010 #17
    banks
    banks is offline
    Schipperkes are cool.
    Reputation: banks's Avatar
    Join Date
    Feb 2004
    Posts
    3,887
    Those Magura brakes are for drop handle bars; touring, CX, Tandem etc.
    Quote Originally Posted by mikesee
    Better suited to non-aggressive 125# gals named Russell.
    Reply With Quote Reply With Quote
  18. 12-14-2010 #18
    even
    even is offline
    mtbr member
    Reputation:
    Join Date
    Dec 2010
    Posts
    215
    Nitto moustache has just arrived...
    Reply With Quote Reply With Quote
  19. 12-17-2010 #19
    even
    even is offline
    mtbr member
    Reputation:
    Join Date
    Dec 2010
    Posts
    215
    now with Nitto bars.. It makes a world of difference. So comfy!

    Ah! An ITM stem too...
    Attached Thumbnails Attached Thumbnails My 1990 Strange Merlin - Magura cx brakes-merlinnitto.jpg  

    Reply With Quote Reply With Quote
  20. 01-01-2011 #20
    juansevo
    juansevo is offline
    Front Range Cyclist
    Reputation: juansevo's Avatar
    Join Date
    Nov 2005
    Posts
    875
    Quote Originally Posted by even
    This is a weird bike. Back in 1990 Italian builders bought frames from the States and rebadged them. This one was branded "Speed", a popular Italian factory in the 90s (original name, ain't it?). Tom Kellog wrote me that Merlin didn't have any agreement so I suppose the rebadging was a homemade operation.

    This frame is doubtless a Merlin: the frame number (Kellog dated it back to 1990), the canti brake studs, the seatclamp, the integrated bottom bracket, and, obviously, the dropouts, they all confirm its noble origins. The weird thing is that the frame is finished in satin. The oh-so-kind Mr. Kellog sait this might have been a treatment made by Speed to differentiate their bikes from Merlin. It might have also been a pre-finished frame bought raw to save money.

    BTW, I love the bike, but being it a bit small, i opted for the monstercross version, with Specy Rockombo drop bars, Magura CX brakes, and Ringlé/Paul hubs. Yes, the DDT oversized hub IS a nonsense on a rigid fork, but that's what I had in my garage you see..

    Not period correct but very functional and fun to ride. The Flexstem is going to go, tho...

    Sweet!
    In the immortal words of Socrates..."I drank what?"

    Facebook.com/monstercrosser
    Twitter: @monstercrosser
    Reply With Quote Reply With Quote
  21. 01-01-2011 #21
    IF52
    IF52 is offline
    bonked
    Reputation: IF52's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jan 2004
    Posts
    2,125
    Man I would love to get some of those levers.
    Quote Originally Posted by banks
    That is one big f'n dude!
    Yes I am!
    Reply With Quote Reply With Quote
  22. 01-01-2011 #22
    Actual Size
    Actual Size is offline
    mtbr member
    Reputation:
    Join Date
    Jan 2006
    Posts
    45
    Had a set of Magura road brakes, Same lever, Different brake, Worked really well, Traded them for a pair of Magic moto cranks, New in the box, Kinda miss those brakes !!!
    Reply With Quote Reply With Quote
  23. 01-02-2011 #23
    even
    even is offline
    mtbr member
    Reputation:
    Join Date
    Dec 2010
    Posts
    215
    I remember road brakes... they had the piston between the left and the right arm, right?
    Reply With Quote Reply With Quote
  24. 01-03-2011 #24
    KDXdog
    KDXdog is offline
    mtbr member
    Reputation: KDXdog's Avatar
    Join Date
    Mar 2007
    Posts
    1,054
    I hope you have a good amount of seatpost left in the seat tube!

    Cool bike for sure!
    Reply With Quote Reply With Quote
  25. 01-03-2011 #25
    even
    even is offline
    mtbr member
    Reputation:
    Join Date
    Dec 2010
    Posts
    215
    not much but still within the safety limit etched on the post. Which is in steel, tho..
    Reply With Quote Reply With Quote
« Previous Thread | Next Thread »

Posting Permissions

  • You may not post new threads
  • You may not post replies
  • You may not post attachments
  • You may not edit your posts
  •  

Forum Rules

Hot Deals

Contests

Latest Mountain Bike Articles

Videos

MTBR on Facebook