Merlin Reynolds 853 disc MTB

Recently ordered custom MTB frameset forces me to part with the Gremlin. The story behind manufacturing this piece isn't clear, but it has many similarities to Rock Lobster Team Tig 853 indeed.

When you look closer you can see high quality welds, nicely shaped rear end tubes, Ritchey dropouts, seat clamp facing forward. I've never weighed the frame, but the bike always felt swifty, stable and responsive. I really liked the ride, just a few months back I comfortably completed South Downs Way on it.

SPECS / List of what's included in the sale
Merlin Reynolds 853 disc with mysterious steel fork.
Pacenti TL 28 rims (27.5") on Superstar Components Tesla hubs. 135/100 QRs
Maxxis Ikon 27.5 x 2.25" tyres.
Avid 160mm rotors.
Chris King headset, 1 1/8" 
Nitto UI-12 stem, 100mmOn One Geoff handlebarsNitto S83 seatpost, 27.2mm
Pile of titanium headset spacers.

CONDITION
Frame is in good condition and has no dents. Unfortunately there are some rubs to the decals from the frame bag and cables. 
Wheels are in great condition. Freewheel is stupidly noisy. Front wheel is set tubeless, the rear has a tube installed, but I think it has a small puncture. 
Rotors are new and unused (needs bedding in).
Stem, handlebars and seatpost are ~800km old.
Headset serviced ~800km ago.

SIZE
Reach: ~410
Stack: ~535
TT effective: 567
Standover: 810

PRICE
£520 and it's in Peckham

Photos of what's included in the sale - link here

Photos of the full build for reference (it has 26" wheels on) - more photos here

Interested so dibs please. But I need to double check my MTB sizing.

Interested in parts in case the off chance you wanna split XD

Could be interested in just frame if it could be shipped to Sweden

@rrl

You've got a first dibs then.

I received couple of messages about the separate parts. Sorry, but I am not going to split as I already moved abroad and the bike is with my friend in London, hence I want to sell it as a whole.

This is proper nice!!!

Good price too! GLWS

Thanks @Josh. I hope it will end up in a good hands

This is lovely. If it were larger I'd have had it off of you.

Have a bump from a ex-Merlin owner. Malt 3 circa 2004, my first proper mountain bike. :)

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Did you buy it new back then? Interesting that it has v-brake mounts too. Down tube stickers look identical too. I was making an assumption that my Merlin was made around 2000's

Love the colour scheme - blue and orange work so well together

I did, well my parents did. Many a pot were washed at my local to pay them back! I actually really wanted a Rock Lobster TIG Team SL ;)

Must have been 2003, this was the last Malt 3 that Merlin sold - is it obvious it had Easton tubing?? It replaced an ex-Team issue Saracen Kili Flyer which had a custom Silver to Blue (siiiiick) fade paint job by Argos . It was magnesium and cracked on a weld. Urgh. The only bike i've ever broken! Lucky the orange kit went with this too - Fox will claim they started the orange trend......

Alas i lent it to my brother when he went off to uni in 2010 and it was 'stolen' (Or sold for weed) and never to be seen again :(

Hello,
Second dibs just in case.

Very cool, if I could justify it I would. GLWS

I'm sorry for how the story ended with your Merlin @yeahdext. Talking about the times when the TIG Team SL was released - was this frameset within the level of high end bikes or somewhere closer to the middle range?

Last bump before closing the deal with the buyer who requires get the bike posted oversees. So collection is much preferred. £515 collected

Love that 26" build. GLWS.

That 'mysterious' steel fork looks lovely.

Can't disagree with any of the comments above. It doesn't make me feel better seeing it go though.

@Skülly Orange F8?

What exact model did you mean? Couldn't find anything useful under Orange F8

Although I remember Bike Tech Hikari mtb which had very similar fork (canti only). Link here

One of these:

https://www.lfgss.com/conversations/264689/

I’ve got one on my grotty weather bike, cracking fork.

That's the one. Good find!

This is really tasty bike. Rather tempting. GLWS.

I'm sorry for how the story ended with your Merlin @yeahdext. Talking about those times when TIG Team SL was release - was this frameset within the level of high end bikes or somewhere closer to the middle range?

https://www.merlincycles.com/custom-bikes.html some info here :)

Kinesis built at a guess..

Would you consider shipping to Sweden or local pickup/domestic shipping only?