Submitted by
merlin4me
a Cross Country Rider
from england
Date Reviewed: October 18, 2010
Strengths: "product strengths"?! - Bought 19 years ago..yes I did say 19 years ago... with fox forks and the latest groupset it feels, rides, and performs as good as anything you can buy today. Try saying THAT for a full suspension mtb in 20 years time..
Weaknesses: There is only one. The rear triangle does not have disc brake drop-outs. Merlin can weld an alternative triangle on the back if I want to. I don't. A disc on the front and a V on the back is light and powerful.
Bottom Line:
The bottom line is that a Merlin is a bike for life, the last bike you'll ever need. The older models had classic MTB frame geometry, the latest unfortunatley look like a modified BMX. You can prize my taiga from my cold, dead clammy hands.
Similar Products Used: Kona Hei Hei (owned for 3 years)
Bike Setup: Lots of Hope, Fox, Easton, etc
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Submitted by
tonymason
a Cross Country Rider
from colorado
Date Reviewed: April 14, 2009
Strengths: strength, responsiveness, great geometry, tracks beautifully, classic aesthetics
Weaknesses: a bit heavy for Ti
Bottom Line:
3rd owner of this classic frame. Previous was a xc racer. Fantastic ride. Handles all conditions well. Have used it in everthing from 12 hour adventure races to multiday mt bike packing on single track. Will never need another mt bike
Similar Products Used: first Ti bike I have owned
Diamond Back(89)Fuji(91)Specialized rock hopper(2000)
Bike Setup: Shimano xt, mavic tubeless
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Submitted by
Andrew Schwalm
a Weekend Warrior
from Rochester Hills, MI 48306
Date Reviewed: August 27, 2005
Strengths: The bike is extremely light weight. Very quick, almost too quick! Begs to be ridden fast. Very smooth on the road and nibble on the trails. The frame is extremely durable. I've had several wrecks on this bike and no damage to the titanium frame. I love the craftsmanship of the frame. A real masterpiece.
Weaknesses: You have to work alot to afford a bike like this, thus reducing the amount of time on said bike.
Bottom Line:
I have thousands of miles on my Merlin and plan to have thousands more. The bike I plan to have forever. If you’re looking for the last bike you'll ever own, this is it.
Weaknesses: price, heaviness, low technologies compare to litespeed work
Bottom Line:
I have been using this bike for only 15 days. But I rode them more than 1,100 kms in the past 7 days. This might not be the best nor lightest bike of titanium. On the top of that first impression with this frame was not good at all especially with the very very conventional tube shape. Compare to Litespeed, the tube are shapped up with many dimesions. But after the short test ride, you will know that it is better, softer, more powerful than Litespeed Ocoee.
I rode about 130 kms everyday for 7 days. This bike is sweet, and fast. I love it a lot. The only word to this bike is 'Pround to own it'.
Bike Setup: Fox suspension, XTR or above component
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Submitted by
Lou
a Weekend Warrior
from Great Falls, VA, USA
Date Reviewed: April 4, 2003
Strengths: After riding steel hardtails for 22 years, I finally went for Ti. The most notable thing was I bought the frame used and it had been bashed by a freerider, but when I measured the alignment it was less than 1/1000 inch off in any plane. I like the high bottom bracket and the wishbone and chainstay setup is actually awesome for being easily cleaned after mud runs. It also seems to be extremely strong for a frame that appears to be cross-country--shows no signs of problem after using it for BMX racing and dirt jumping in addition to cross country! Frame fits larger tires for mud conditions. Fantastic frame overall!
Weaknesses: A bit heavy for Ti. Big deal.
Bottom Line:
Anyone who can get a deal on this frame should take it without hesitation. Hardcore/expert cross country racers should look for that featherlight but less durable frame elsewhere. Regular all-round riders will love it. Excellent for east coast conditions. If not for this frame I'd be slugging around in a dual suspension wishing I had a good Ti hardtail!
Bike Setup: XTR Pods, brakes, and derailleurs; Race Face bottom bracket/cranks, Syncros stem; Bontrager wheels (set up more for cross country than dirt jumping). Manitou black comp fork.
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Submitted by
JOHN
a Cross Country Rider
from CONCORD, NH
Date Reviewed: June 11, 2002
Strengths: THIS FRAME WAS HANGING ON THE LOCAL BIKE SHOP'S WALL FOR SOME TIME, BASICALLY WAITING FOR A HOME. IT WAS THE RIGHT SIZE AND FOR $900 I COULD SEE A GREAT RIDE IN THE WORKS. SINCE PUTTING IT TOGETHER I'VE FOUND IT TO BE A SUPERIOR RIDE, THE TI FRAME GREATLY REDUCES RIDER FATIGUE.
Weaknesses: NONE
Bottom Line:
I'VE RIDEN THE BIKE EVERY DAY AND I CAN'T IMAGINE RIDING ANYTHING ELSE. FUTURE UPGRADES- TUBELESS WHEELS
Bike Setup: 19" FRAME, FULL XT SET UP, SALSA RISER BAR, RITCHEY STEM, CODA CLIPLESS PEDALS, THOMPSON SEAT POST,MAVIC 517 WHEELS
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Submitted by
Scott Gibbons
a Cross Country Rider
from Pacific Grove, CA, USA
Date Reviewed: March 25, 2002
Strengths: Price..while used I got the frame, Rock Shox SID, XTR front derailleur, Syncros TI seatpost, and WTB saddle for $1000!!! Larger, thicker TI tubes from what I can tell.
Weaknesses: I saw a review where this bike got bashed because is is made from pure commercial grade titanium, and not aerospace titanium. As it do not plan on using it for flying or clandestine missions, I am OK with the titanium.
Bottom Line:
For the price and performance I am VERY happy with my purchase!!!
Similar Products Used: First experience with a TI bike...previous bike was a carbon fiber Mongoose IBOC.
Bike Setup: Full XTR set up all around, with mix of new and older parts I stripped off my old bike.
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Submitted by
NEPPER Pascal
a Weekend Warrior
from Luxembourg
Date Reviewed: October 4, 2001
Strengths: Strong frame, Ti
Weaknesses: If only titanium frames were not so expensive
Bottom Line:
I know, using a merlin to do trials is like driving a rolls in a race. But after breaking 7 frames in 9 years, I'm tired of staying without riding for months. Always broke because of repeated stresses of trials drops & tricks. This one may be heavier than all other Ti frames, but thus should it be stronger. And Ti is a lot more fatigue-resistant than Aluminium. I bought it on sale - No one wanted that 15" frame - And I would never believe that I will find a 15" merlin frame on sale) And no paint, thus no scratch !
Similar Products Used: GT & Cannondale hardtails - aluminium
Bike Setup: 15" Trial & freestyle bike - with top equipment (XTR, King, Tune, LP, Moots, Race Face,... )
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Submitted by
Artur Nogueira
a Cross Country Rider
from Maia-Portugal
Date Reviewed: November 17, 2000
Strengths: Its a Merlin. Beautiful geometry, very confortable and forgiving. Excelent climber.
Weaknesses: None
Bottom Line:
Probably the best ratio between price/handling/quality that a Merlin have.Anyone who wants performance, good value, confort and superb handling, should try one of these.
Submitted by
Jmaes Kenningham
a Cross Country Rider
from Chester, England
Date Reviewed: October 2, 2000
Strengths: Superb handling, comfortable ride, robust, beautifully built, always cleans up to look like new, very exclusive. This frame really is a work of art.
Weaknesses: Broken screw-in brake pivot. Customer service from Merlin & their importers Saucony left a lot to be desired for such a premium product - it took almost 2 months of continuous badgering to finally get a replacement sent over.
Bottom Line:
I've been a mountain biker for > 10 years and have no intention of ever changing this frame.
Similar Products Used: Various Saracens, Orange P7
Bike Setup: Marozocchi Z2 atom 80s, XT drivetrain & brakes, Hope hubs & Mavic rims, Control Tech stem & post, Profile kevlar bars, Royce Ti bottom bracket, Flite Ti saddle
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Submitted by
Doug
a Cross-Country Rider
from Toronto, Ontario
Date Reviewed: April 5, 1999
Strengths: Ride; Fit and Finish; Low Price for a Merlin; It's a Merlin!
Weaknesses: Can't find any after almost two years riding
Bottom Line:
I have owned a Ritchey Ultra, a Cannondale Red Shred, a Rocky Mountain Blizzard, and a Klein Pinnacle during my many years of riding, and the Taiga I purchased almost two years ago is by far the best bike I have owned!
Similar Products Used: Litespeed's hardtails; Rocky Mountain(when they sold ti bikes); Kona's Ti hardtails
Bike Setup: 17 bike with Manitou Pro C Shock;Shimano XT Grupo; LP Composites DH bar; Syncros 425 mm Seatpost; Ritchey WCS Saddle; Bontrager red and blue rims; Michelin Wilgripper Sprint(f) and Lite S(r)
This bike climbs, corners, and descends with the best of them. The fit and finish is impeccable. The frame is noticeably more resilient than any aluminum or steel bike. The welds are perfect. The frame is not the lightest around, and one of the cable stops on my frame broke (which Merlin fixed) but the frame is definetely worth the money. This is all the bike anyone would ever need.
Bike Setup: Judy SL, full XT group, Sun/Ringle RPM wheelset
Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Dusted
a weekend warrior
from Enola, PA
Date Reviewed: September 24, 1998
Bottom Line:
My last bike was the Trek 7000. After destroying the aluminum frame (drop-out) on several different occasions, this was pre removeable, and being without a bike for weeks waiting for Trek to repair it, I coughed up the additional cash an went top end Ti. The Taiga is much more durable and forgiving with regards to rigidity. In addition the geometry fits much better. The 19 Merlin feels more of a custom fit than my 19 trek had. Frame stiffnes, I am 6 foot tall weighing in just over 200lb and have an extreme problem with snapping chains in tensile load, this frame holds tight. Even though this is considered the bottom end Merlin, it is far ahead of other high end Aluminum and Chromoly frames hands down. I rated it a 4 star only because its not their top end unit. So you dont think that I am nicky new kid, I have been riding now for roughly three years and have had my Merlin for about 9 months.
This is not the lightest ti frame, by any stretch of the imagination. Actually, it is one of the heaviest ti frames around, but the quality, appearance, and performance is incredible. Personally, I like the wishbone seat stay configuration. Other nice features include a removable rear canti-hanger, and 6/4 ti dropouts. This frame uses commercially pure Grade 4 ti tubing in some areas, which is heavier, and not as strong as the industry standard 3/2.5 alloy. Customer service is lousy at Merlin, do not expect any response from e-mail inquiries, but they do have a bulletin board at their web site. Also, the frame is pricier than similar frames from Litespeed, etc. One complaint is the appearance of the chainstay bridge, which is solid; this should be machined out, or redesigned, but it is obviously a cost-cutting measure. The welds are immaculate, and the bright-ti finish is uniquely Merlin. These frames run true to size, so a 19 is really a 19, mine is kind of big for me. The tubes are FATTER than most other ti bikes! The rear end is noticably heavier than other ti frames. That's about it.
Submitted by
Mike
a cross-country rider
from New England
Date Reviewed: October 13, 1997
Bottom Line:
Just finished my first serious ride on my Tiaga and it is great! Much more stable than my old ride, saved my ass more than once. The lightweight makes it a great climber and technical bike. This bike will improve your riding!Welds and finish are top notch. 23 pounds with XT.
