Can anyone tell me anything about these frames. I've just bought a second hand one. Bike is a 97 model, titanium frame with steel forks. Main tubes are slightly oversize and are "flattened" at the ends. R/H chain stay is marked "Titane EDDY MERCKX" Surprisingly frame is painted, a very nice mid blue colour, light yellow decals and stripes. Fork ends are chromed and rear drop outs are natural titanium, as is the whole RH chain stay. Rear drop outs are the older fashioned horizontal type with small springs and adjusting screws. Seat tube is 53.5cm c-c and the top tube is 55cm c-c. Could this have been made by Litespeed?
A really lovely thing indeed. I bought the complete bike for it's Campag equipment, intending to sell the frame on, but it's my size and I'm starting to think maybe I should keep it. So anyone know anything about them. Where and when made. Racing pedigree. Anyone want to buy it? 😄 Thanks
Can anyone tell me anything about these frames. I've just bought a second hand one. Bike is a 97 model, titanium frame with steel forks. Main tubes are slightly oversize and are "flattened" at the ends. R/H chain stay is marked "Titane EDDY MERCKX" Surprisingly frame is painted, a very nice mid blue colour, light yellow decals and stripes. Fork ends are chromed and rear drop outs are natural titanium, as is the whole RH chain stay. Rear drop outs are the older fashioned horizontal type with small springs and adjusting screws. Seat tube is 53.5cm c-c and the top tube is 55cm c-c. Could this have been made by Litespeed?
A really lovely thing indeed. I bought the complete bike for it's Campag equipment, intending to sell the frame on, but it's my size and I'm starting to think maybe I should keep it. So anyone know anything about them. Where and when made. Racing pedigree. Anyone want to buy it? 😄 Thanks
The 97 higher end EX model did have adjustable dropouts, and was made by litespeed, as a frame only. MSRP of about $1700 for the frame. Old school Ti by todays standards, and replaced in the lineup in later years by the Majestic. There were several fork options, and chromed steel was one offered by the distributor Gita. There was a Litespeed decal on the lower seattube. It was not standard painted as you describe. It should have the Merckx logo stamped on the rear dropouts.
The 97 higher end EX model did have adjustable dropouts, and was made by litespeed, as a frame only. MSRP of about $1700 for the frame. Old school Ti by todays standards, and replaced in the lineup in later years by the Majestic. There were several fork options, and chromed steel was one offered by the distributor Gita. There was a Litespeed decal on the lower seat tube. It was not standard painted as you describe. It should have the Merckx logo stamped on the rear dropouts.
I need to check in the morning but i think it has Merckx logo on the dropouts. Various EM stickers in various places. one says "original paintwork by Eddy Merckx" or words to that effect. Another, "handmade by EDDY MERCKX" over a Belgian flag. Paintwork is definitely original. All stickers laquered over. No Litespeed sticker. I'm in the UK so maybe Euro spec waas different??
Thinking it might be very slightly too big. Just measured it at 56cm c - top. Doesn't have a separate seat clamp but traditional pinch bolt behind seat tube. Doesn't have a bracket either for braze on type front mech. Got a Shimano band on front mech "convertor".
I need to check in the morning but i think it has Merckx logo on the dropouts. Various EM stickers in various places. one says "original paintwork by Eddy Merckx" or words to that effect. Another, "handmade by EDDY MERCKX" over a Belgian flag. Paintwork is definitely original. All stickers laquered over. No Litespeed sticker. I'm in the UK so maybe Euro spec waas different??
Thinking it might be very slightly too big. Just measured it at 56cm c - top. Doesn't have a separate seat clamp but traditional pinch bolt behind seat tube. Doesn't have a bracket either for braze on type front mech. Got a Shimano band on front mech "convertor".
Hmmm.... Is it valuable? LOL
It's gotta be a Euro model,but Eddy never 'handmade' any frame.
It's gotta be a Euro model,but Eddy never 'handmade' any frame.
He might now have completly made a frame but he does hand paint some himself. He also lives at the factory that makes his bikes so I am sure he has done at least a little bit of work on a frame now and then. I know that he paints the bikes because my dad's boss is a close friend of Eddy's.
Well, I found out a bit more about my frame. I was told by someone who knows about these things that Eddy Merckx's titanium frames were mostly just re-badged Litepeeds.
However he did produce "custom" versions in his Belgium workshop, which were made from bought in Litespeed tube sets. Spec as supplied to the GAN professional team. About a dozen of these were sold in the UK and this would seem to be one of them 🙂
However It's not EXACTLY my size, and I've got my heart set on Colnago C50 so I'm selling on ebay. A bit sad to be honest. 🙁
Well, I found out a bit more about my frame. I was told by someone who knows about these things that Eddy Merckx's titanium frames were mostly just re-badged Litepeeds.
However he did produce "custom" versions in his Belgium workshop, which were made from bought in Litespeed tube sets. Spec as supplied to the GAN professional team. About a dozen of these were sold in the UK and this would seem to be one of them 🙂
However It's not EXACTLY my size, and I've got my heart set on Colnago C50 so I'm selling on ebay. A bit sad to be honest. 🙁
Thanks for that. I feel really bad about selling. I'll never, ever, ever have another one. Hmmmm. 🙁 🙁
Size is there somewhere. 54cm seat tube and 55cm top tube centre to centre.
Hi,
You got a very nice frameset. Eddy Merckx made 2 versions of the Ti frames (AX or EM). I was suspecting that this could be the AX version by LiteSpeed while the EM could have used Columbus Hyperion Ti tubes (thus EM).
Nevertheless, I had a New SLX version in the exact colour and I still regret selling it off for my new bike till date. However, its fine as my frames ever since are still Eddy Merckx (Alu Team & Fuga). Next stop - 3XM/MXM/AXM!
