Info on Merckx EX frames

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Have been trying to dig up information on a Merckx EX (ti)
frame. A google search does not reveal very much. Any
information, even if it seems trivial, will be appreciated.

Mike Lackey Madison, AL

> "Mike Lackey" mr.blutarsky@mchsi.com Writes:

>Have been trying to dig up information on a Merckx EX (ti)
>frame. A google search does not reveal very much. Any
>information, even if it seems trivial, will be appreciated.

Both the Merckx EX and Merckx AX Titanium frames were
actually manufactured by Litespeed for Merckx. As such, the
frames were never carried a Litespeed warranty. In the US,
these frames did carry a warranty for the original owner
from Gita.

The EX has a tapered seattube, a bi-ovalized down tube,
oversized ovalized chainstays and I believe an ovalized top
tube at the headtube. The AX frame does not have any
ovalized tubes but does have tapered seat and downtubes.
The AX chainstays are round with a Serotta like bend in
them for additional heel clearance. BTW I own a Merckx AX.
It seems stiff enough for climbing but I've had handling
problems on high speed descents. Hopefully, the Merckx EX
will be stiffer?

Re Litespeed Merckx warranty. My #1 bike is a '96 Merckx
AX, now with 22k miles on it. Three years ago the right
chainstay fractured around the weld just in front of the
dropout. LBS sent it to Litespeed for warranty repair.
They did a beautiful job, by the way, and even applied all
new decals.

Re descent handling. There are some reports of high-speed
shimmy with the Merckx AX, especially in larger frame sizes
(mine is 58 cm) but I've never encountered it. I descend
frequently in the 40-45 mph range and have passed 50 mph a
few times. However, the steering is light and quick, so you
really have to pay attention and avoid a death grip on the
bar. (This said, it's not as comfy a descender as my
Bianchi, which tracks and carves like perfect skis on
perfect snow.)

I think the more expensive EX has the same geometry as the
AX but is stiffer (different alloy + some tubes) mainly for
sprinters.

Mike Yankee

(Address is munged to thwart spammers. To reply, delete
everything after "com".)

>mikeyankee@aol.comic.book (MikeYankee) Writes:

>Re Litespeed Merckx warranty. My #1 bike is a '96 Merckx
>AX, now with 22k miles on it. Three years ago the right
>chainstay fractured around the weld just in front of the
>dropout. LBS sent it to Litespeed for warranty repair.
>They did a beautiful job, by the way, and even applied all
>new decals.
>
>Re descent handling. There are some reports of high-speed
>shimmy with the Merckx AX, especially in larger frame
>sizes (mine is 58 cm) but I've never encountered it. I
>descend frequently in the 40-45 mph range and have passed
>50 mph a few times. However, the steering is light and
>quick, so you really have to pay attention and avoid a
>death grip on the bar.

Mike, my Merckx AX is about the same vintage as your AX. I
have a 59 cm frame and I'm the original owner. However,
when I contacted Litespeed about my high speed shimmy
concerns, they told me that they didn't warranty the frame
but Gita did. Gita gave me a run around you would not
believe and I finally decided I would just keep my descents
below 46 or so mph.

So my frame is actually has a Litespeed warranty?

>From: vcopelan@aol.com (VCopelan)

>
>Mike, my Merckx AX is about the same vintage as your AX. I
>have a 59 cm frame and I'm the original owner.

Does either of these frames have a "Belgium Handmade"
sticker? (Blue arch with stars, writing below, located on
the downtube just down from the headtube.) --TP

"Mike Lackey" <mr.blutarsky@mchsi.com> wrote in message news:<gfIDc.190821$Ly.69939@attbi_s01>...
> Have been trying to dig up information on a Merckx EX (ti)
> frame. A google search does not reveal very much. Any
> information, even if it seems trivial, will be
> appreciated.
>
> Mike Lackey Madison, AL

Not sure what you're looking for, but here is a bit of what
I know. Built by Litespeed to Merckx specs, like geometry,
Italian bb threading, horizontal drop outs, bz-on front mech
tab, 1" headtube, etc. I think they have been discontinued
for '04. Also think there were two frame models built for
Merckx by litespeed, the AX and the EX. Pretty sure AX was
cheaper, straight guage tubes; EX was nicer, more expensive
with double butted pipes. They have been around for years.
Motorola used to ride Caloi/Merckx/Litespeeds back in the
early to mid. nineties. --Jim

>meccanicodibici@yahoo.com (Meccanico di Bici) Writes:

>Not sure what you're looking for, but here is a bit of what
>I know. Built by Litespeed to Merckx specs, like geometry,
>Italian bb threading, horizontal drop outs, bz-on front
>mech tab, 1" headtube, etc. I think they have been
>discontinued for '04. Also think there were two frame
>models built for Merckx by litespeed, the AX and the EX.
>Pretty sure AX was cheaper, straight guage tubes; EX was
>nicer, more expensive with double butted pipes. They have
>been around for years. Motorola used to ride
>Caloi/Merckx/Litespeeds back in the early to mid. nineties.

Yes, the AX was slightly cheaper and did have some straight
gauge tubes. However, both the downtube and the seattube
were tapered on the AX. Those tubes are 1.250" diameter at
the toptube or headtube. They are 1.375 at the bottom
bracket. The EX had a number of shaped tubes and oversized
chainstays but I'm not sure any of the tubes were butted
either. And none of the AX or EX frames I've seen was setup
for a braze-on style front derailleur. They all took a clamp-
on derailleur.