Eddy Merckx Columbus SLX

Hiya all,

Really excited building this frame for the next couple of days. Got this delivered a week ago, in really nice condition, showing no dents etc however not in original paint. Chroming on the forks and chainstay are gone, I guess due to respray.

Seller claimed that it's a columbus SLX tubing but since it's been repainted and re-decaled I'm having doubts that it's a SLX. When I asked him about the tubing he replied "It can be felt/seen on the inside (bottom) of the seat tube."

Well I don't know how SLX feels and I can see nothing inside the seat tube. Serial number: S on the drive side and "B-8020" on the other side. According to http://www.cadre.org/Merckx/ it's a professional model (?). What do you guys think?

Also, the head tube seems to be using 1 1/8" headset, tried fitting 1" and both of the races were loose. Anyway, still pretty excited about it. I have some campag record bits for the frame. Will update soon.

It won't be 1 1/8

SLX has little ridges / rifling on the inside of the main tubes. You should be able to feel them with your fingers (I've never actually done this so I don't know how easy it is or how pronounced they feel. I think Chas Roberts told me about it a couple of years ago when I was trying to work out what one of his frames was made of).

Are you sure those are the original forks? Is there a pantographed Merckx logo on the crown?

It won't be 1 1/8

My thoughts exactly but I've tried two of my 1" headsets and they both loose inside the head tube. I'm ordering a 1 1/8" headset, we'll see then.

SLX has little ridges / rifling on the inside of the main tubes.

Are you sure those are the original forks? Is there a pantographed Merckx logo on the crown?

Please see pics attached (I dunno why they rotated, original files were fine). Thanks for the replies

2 Attachments

Not SLX, what does the Columbus sticker say (apart from Columbus..)?

It says SLX but the frame has been resprayed so decals are not original.

sorry what about the forks?
didnt merckx' forks had these two semi horizontal lines on the fork crown?

I'm ordering a 1 1/8" headset, we'll see then.

I'll echo Dan; it won't be 1 1/8".

I'll echo Dan; it won't be 1 1/8".

What do you reckon it will be then? I've measured the inner diameter of the head tube and it gives 1 1/8" give or take

I'll echo Dan; it won't be 1 1/8".

And i'll echo Ed; it won't be 1 1/8".

The inside of the head tube will be larger than one inch, but i doubt it will be an eigth inch steerer - check here:http://sheldonbrown.com/headsets.html

Don't know much about merckxs btw, but looks pretty - is that a little number plate holder under the top tube?

MTB start using 1 1/8 in the late 80's/early 90's.

i don't think 1 1/8 exist even for road bike back then.

1. What's the seat post size?

2. Stick your finger through the BB and up the seat tube. Feel all the inside edges. Is there any rifling at all? It's not obvious as it's very shallow.

1. Seat post is 27.2mm
   
2. I can only feel 3 or 4 ridges inside the tubing but it's not spiraling if that's what you mean by rifling (sorry, I'm very novice at this matter)
   

My 88/89 Corsa Extra SLX is 27.0.. I would say that with the external cable routing and also the fork crowns you have that your frame is either as old, or older than mine - and almost definitely not SLX.

It could be a Corsa, made from SL? See here: http://www.bulgier.net/pics/bike/Catalogs/Eddy_Merckx-90/p6_Corsa.html

Or, have a look at the other merckx catalogs here: http://www.bulgier.net/pics/bike/Catalogs/

I suspect that the extra boss/pump holder/ number holder is an addition - I believe you could order them with additional, custom bits, either that or it may have been brazed on after.

Just an opinion, not fact!

Thanks for your opinion dan. Mine certainly looks more like Corsa SL.

After several tries and with the aid of 2 flashlights I can confirm there are riflings (five spirals) on the bottom of seat tube and down tube, and perhaps other unreachable joint areas as well.

According to this chart

http://www.equusbicycle.com/bike/columbus/Columbus-tubes.jpg

only SLX, TSX and SPX had rifling or "helical reinforcements". SL does not.

Thanks for confirming that Olly398. Relieved that I have an SLX merckx!

Seems you guys are right. 1 1/8" headset does not fit at all. I guess I'll just have to order a new 1" headset

According to this chart

http://www.equusbicycle.com/bike/columbus/Columbus-tubes.jpg

only SLX, TSX and SPX had rifling or "helical reinforcements". SL does not.

Yes, for the frame. For fork steerers, some of those also have rifling, and I'm not sure if they are classed as belonging to any tubeset. My non-SLX frame has a rifled steerer tube, and I've heard this being referred to as an SL steerer, whatever that means...

Even if it wasn't rifled, there isn't much difference between SL and SLX. The amount of flex will be more greatly varied by the size, and on top of that the geometry is much more important (of course).

Sad to say that this has to go. I'm building my other Merckx instead. Will be moved to classified thread soon. Thanks for the replies guys.

Hey, Don't suppose this is a 53 or 54 c-t by any chance? If so how much you looking for it?

1. Seat post is 27.2mm
   
2. I can only feel 3 or 4 ridges inside the tubing but it's not spiraling if that's what you mean by rifling (sorry, I'm very novice at this matter)
   
   

I've got an SLX frame with this size seat post.
If you look down the forks it should look like the barrel of a gun
https://encrypted-tbn2.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcR6zzU-kepqGQkCfPn7PwJuYSOBSipGu9QE1kTjP8YZbJortnIQ
Like that. Although I think there's only four "spirals" on the slx tubes, not 100% though, could be more. Not every tube in the frame has to be rifled like this to be SLX (and I doubt it would be anyway), the inside of my frame is pretty rusty but I think it's only the forks which I can see the rifling in (and this bike has come straight from the manufacturer so I'm sure it is officially branded SLX). I'm guessing SL tubes are used when rifling isn't visible but this is still classed as SLX.

Weight should be the easiest way to tell what tubing it is, I've never felt a lighter steel frame than SLX.