Submitted by
David Williamson
a Cross Country Rider
from Boynton Beach, Florida
Date Reviewed: July 28, 2008
Strengths: This thing climbs like no other and has a butter smooth ride. I felt feel one with this machine everytime I ride it. Having been riding this thing less than 3 months, It feels better every time I ride it!
Weaknesses: Nay
Bottom Line:
I started by buying the frame which had been used one year. Perfect shape, like one scratch on it. My mechanic upon initial inspection said to me, "this thing has been ridden a year? probably at best on the road." This frame hung on my wall for the next 5 months as I began buying the parts for my dream build, one at a time. It was a very exciting process. This thing is beautiful, a perfectly matched color combination of titanium, black, and this gorgeous cosmic green color that Chris King is famous for. The bike, I lovingly named THE SILVER FOXX, is everything I dreamed for. Tipping the scales around the 23 lb range, it climbs like a nannygoat on crack! This thing corners with laser precision- all you have to do is look at your line and the bike does the rest. It accelerates like a jet- effortlessly. Ill never forget the first time i opened her up- the hair on my arms and legs stood straight up and I got a serious case of goosebumps. The power transfer of the silver foxx is seamless and direct. The ride quality is superior- just enough stiffness but a buttery smooth feel. Downhill it hauls ass, but it is not a dualie- if your going really fast and are about to hit some seriois rocks and the like- I find if i take my tail off the saddle the bike does kind of a dance over the top of the big rocks and handles fine. This bike will handle an all day ride and I find the suppleness of the ride makes it excellent for extended rides. The silver foxx begs to be ridden fast. I dropped a lot of green on this bike, and it may very well be the last bike that I own. I can see myself riding this thing into the sunset. Maybe when my son Joseph grows up I will pass this trophy off to him and he will find out what it feels like to own the best riding titanium hardtail in the world. Trust me on this one- a couple of rides on the Merlin XLM and you will know the definition of a magic ride. Thanks for checking out my review, and happy riding! - David W.
Favorite Trail: Yancees Ridge (still) Although Pisgah is SO SO AWESOME
Duration Product Used: 3 months
Price Paid:
$5400.00
Purchased At: Frame bought on inte
Similar Products Used: I have owned 2 Voodoo Bokor 20.5' Bikes, the first of which I hit a tree and seperated the frame. Voodoo warrantied that one (black) and sent me their new color at the time, a Robins egg blue frame which i rode for about the next 7 years.
Bike Setup: 20' Xlm frame. Full 2008 XTR groupo. Dave's speed wheels classic wheelset, Cosmic green king hubs, green spoke nipples. Synergy tubeless rims, black spokes. Matching King headset/ Race face next sl carbon lo riser bars. Thompson elite 5 degree rise stem. Thompson Elite Masterpiece seatpost. Selle Italia gel seat with ti rails. Specialized grips. Kenda Nevegal tubless rubber. Rock Shox team fork with lockout. Time Atac Carbon pedals-mated with Sidi Dominator 5 shoes. Xtr Skewers for the wheelset.
Overall Rating:
Value Rating:
Submitted by
Matt Kemp
a Cross Country Rider
from Sevenoaks
Date Reviewed: June 9, 2005
Strengths: Light weight, comfortable one hell of a climber. Great on long alpine climbs such as the Cristalp. Isolates the rider from small trail stutter.
Weaknesses: Price. Bounces all over the place on fast boulder field descents. I though mud clearance would be a problem but I have never had any issues running 2" tyres in 2 UK winters
Bottom Line:
This Bikes really brought my riding on. I’ve gone from top 5 finishes to regular enduro / orienteering / Adventure Race wins. Its my weapon of choice this year for the 8 days that is the Transalp.
Weaknesses: extremely limited mud clearance, came with too-short seatpost bolt (caused post to slip,), lightweight a bit of a handful on rocky downhills - bounces around like a pinball.
Bottom Line:
Nice light race frame, 21.8 lbs for 18.75 size. A little sketchy in high-speed situations but climbs like a mother. Not as high quality as the original Massachussets frames - even small errors are not acceptable on a frame that costs this much. Sucks that Merlin sells only complete bikes now. Mud clearance needs alot of improvement.
hi,
im new in this community, and I have a promblem with the lifetime warranty of merlin xlm (American Bicycle Group) the frame is a 2002 model and it cracked in the area of seat Read More »
Question :
Has Merlin produced in 2007 an XLM version 6/4 ?
and if yes is it possible with an head tube engraved like this ?
[IMG]http://img27.imageshack.us/img27/5035/sam Read More »
I have a 1996 Merlin XLM s/n 13024 that I'm trying to find out what rigid fork would be proper and period correct for the frame, It is set up for an 1"1/8 thread less steer tube. Read More »
A fellow DIYer on another board posted a link to a 7 XLM'S board that he indicated "2 on the bars and 1 on the helmet should do nicely." Doing the math, driven at 3A, that's a nom Read More »
