You are reading a single comment by @retrodicorsa and its replies.
Click here to read the full conversation.
London Fixed Gear and Single-Speed is a community of predominantly fixed gear and single-speed cyclists in and around London, UK.
This site is supported almost exclusively by donations. Please consider donating a small amount regularly.
@retrodicorsa
Someone enquired about serial number an age - the serial number is D 3737 C - which according to this very handy guide: http://www.cadre.org/Merckx/ would make it a 90/91 model and therefore a very early team-issue frame as the MX leader was not generally available for the public to buy until around 1994. But this is just based on some research, I can't guarantee that to be correct - after being introduced as the Team Motorola factory bike in that season, it was then in production for over ten years I believe i.e. well into the noughties. As mentioned above, it is not the original paint, so could well be an ex-team bike albeit there is no race number mount which would be usual for a team bike.
For those that don't know, here's a quick summary from another website of the charms of the MX-Leader:
The MX-Leader was one of the strongest steel frames, Eddy Merckx developed in the 1990s. The oversized and specially shaped Columbus Max tubes were fitted into evenly strong oversized lugs. This construction made the frame slightly heavier, but boy did it ride well! The frame is legendary for its power transfer, its comfort and safe handling characteristics. Cornering, sprinting, rapid descents - the MX Leader mastered all disciplines brilliantly. So good are its riding qualities that many people believe it is the single best lugged steel racing frame ever made.
Not sure I can agree fully with all of that, everyone has a view on the title of "best lugged steel racing frame", but they are very good!