Info on Merckx EX frames

Quoted message said:

"Mike Lackey" [email hidden] Writes:

Quoted message said:

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".)

Quoted message said:

[email hidden] (MikeYankee) Writes:

Quoted message said:

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?

Quoted message said:

From: [email hidden] (VCopelan)

Quoted message said:

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" <[email hidden]> wrote in message news:<gfIDc.190821$Ly.69939@attbi_s01>...

Quoted message said:

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

Quoted message said:

[email hidden] (Meccanico di Bici) Writes:

Quoted message said:

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.