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Submitted by
gtrantow
a Recreational Rider
from Date Reviewed: July 1, 2006
Strengths: Great titanium ride quality.
The frame is flawless and straight. This is a frame you can ride no handed at 30 mph and feel secure.
I paid only $1,200 for frame and this is an original Merlin before Litespeed gobbled them up.Weaknesses: Slightly heavier than the newer ti and carbon bikes.Bottom Line: Great titanium frame! Very predictable, forgiving and durable.
See the other review for props...which I agree with completely.
After 4 complete seasons on this bike the only upgrades have been tires and a new wheelset.
Favorite Ride: Maroon Bells & Ashcroft - Basalt
Price Paid:
$2300.00
Purchased At: Excel Sports, Boulde
Similar Products Used: Test drove the Litespeed Classic and Trek 5200.
Bike Setup: Ultegra with Mavic Open Pro/Dura Ace wheels. I just upgraded to Easton Orion II wheels(new this year, Thomson seatpost and stem since day one.
Overall Rating: Value Rating:
Submitted by
Peter Kumble
a Road Racer
from Ann Arbor, Michigan, USADate Reviewed: July 19, 2002
Strengths: Excellent construction, no paint to chip or scratch up, good for hill climbing and sprinting inspite of it being Ti and not aluminum or Carbon Fiber, and it will last forever.Weaknesses: I'm not sure. Perhaps you could own a lighter model.Bottom Line: I have owned the Merlin Odyssey for about a year now and really like this frame. I purchased the frame, less fork, from Excel Sports in Boulder, CO. This is my first Ti frame and it replaced an old Canondale. Now, I liked my old Cannondale because it really climbed and accelerated like a jackrabbit. But, the stiffness of the frame was taking it's toll on my 44 year old body - lower back. I moved most all of my pars (see bike set up) onto the Merlin, took it out for a ride and was right a way impressed. It climbed and sprinted just as well as the Cannondale (how'd they do that I kept on asking my self?) but provided a long distance comfort that is essential for putting miles in. I can remember reading reviews of Ti bikes and the reviewers would say that they found that they could ride many miles without feeling like they just did. I had the same experience. I went out and rode 65 effortless miles and felt like I could have turned around and done the same route in the opposite direction with no problems.
The attention to detail in the construction of the frame is really quite fine. Smooth, clean welds. The chain stays have a nice graceful swooping curve, not the radical bent noodle look of some other bikes. The lack of paint (brushed finish) is really an added bonus. No paint to chip or wax. Any scratches clean up with 0000 steel wool! Of course, this thing won't rust or blister the paint either.
This frame was one of the last from Merlin's shop in Massachusetts prior to their Litespeed merger. A close friend says that I have an heirloom to pass on to others.
Overall, this is a really nice bike/frame to ride, is not at all whippy but stiff in the bottom bracket and provides good sprint -- hill climbing characteristics, is very nicely constructed and does not cost as much as the high end Extra Light. I suppose you could compare this to the Litespeed Classic. The nice thing about Merlins is that when you meet some one else on a Merlin, you smile and know that you belong to a small, exclusive club. The only problem is that you no longer dream of buying your dream bike; you own it!
Favorite Ride: Assault on Mt. Mitchell
Price Paid:
$1200.00
Purchased At: Excel Sports, Boulde
Similar Products Used: Litespeed Classic.
Bike Setup: Campy Chorus, Rolf Vector Pro Tubulars, Syncros stem and seat post, Ritchey Logic crank, Speedplay p
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