Merlin's XLM represents the ultimate in hardtail technology. With an incredibly lightweight 3Al-2.5V titanium frame, aggressive geometry, and disc brake compatible dropouts, this bike is made to climb very easily and stop very quickly.
Submitted by
Dan Munson
a Cross Country Rider
from Fort Collins, CO Date Reviewed: September 11, 2003
Favorite Trail:
Devil's Backbone
Duration Product Used:
2 Years
Price Paid:
$3500.00
Purchased At:
eBay and other online retailers
Strengths:
Frame weight, stiffness, beautifully welded
Weaknesses:
None so far after 2 years of riding
Similar Products Used:
GT Zaskar, Specialized Stumpjumper Pro
Bike Setup:
XLM w/ full XT, Easton stem and SL bar, Syncros carbon post, fizzik pave ti seat, Ringle hubs, mavic 517 rims, Marzocchi x-fly 100
Bottom Line:
As far as I can tell, this bike is never going to wear out. After 2 years of pounding up steep climbs and flying down rocky decents the XLM still holds up to the trials of the trail. This is a bike for anyone with the cash to spend on a sweet, light (mine is about 23 lbs), and super responsive bike. You are not going to find a better titanium bike out there. 4 Chilis for the price which will leave a lasting impression on your wallet and 5 Overall because the bike is simply superior to anything else on the market.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Gerald
a Cross Country Rider
from Budd Lake, N.J. USA Date Reviewed: August 1, 2003
Duration Product Used:
2 Years
Strengths:
Light, beautiful, stiff, soft ride.
Weaknesses:
Well, it dents kinda easily, but I expected it. Crashes, and boulders popping up causes denting. I honestly cant find any weaknesses with this bike. I ride the thing into the ground too. I saw some posts reguarding tire clearance issues with a 2.0 tire. No way. I have 2.0 tires on mine, and there is plenty of room for mud. I used to have a RockShox dual air racing shock on it, but I replaced it with a foxf80RLT and man oh man, what a great difference that made. The rockshox is way way way too flexxy, and I'm only 150 lbs to boot. This bike is silent, climbs like you wouldn't believe, and is very sure footed in turns and on the downhills. I used to have a Specialized stumpjumper fullsuspension, and I seriously don't miss the rear suspension at all, even though the bike was very good. My brother Joe has a new stumpjumper now. The last time we went riding, I locked out his rear shock during a gu break, and we went another 15 miles, and he said it rode like a dream. Hehehehehehe.
Similar Products Used:
Litespeed tanasai,(I don't know much about frames, but the litespeed doesn't feel half as nice as the Merlin, but it costs the same) Stumpjumper fxrxc xtr all around
Bike Setup:
XTR drivetrain, brakes. Crossmax, Serac Tubless,(Hutchinson sucks, I've used them, plus they are French. Yuck. FOX f80rlt fork, titec stem, chris king headseat.
Bottom Line:
If you are a mountainbiking purist, there is no other bike out there. Period. If you ride your bike alot, and it's your favorite thing in life, buy this bike. Price to enjoyment ratio is very very good, and at least you GET what you pay for. The best thing about this bike by far, is the way it feels when you are riding it, like it's a part of you, not some clunker you have to lug around. When you screw up, it wasn't the bike. I even have to give 5 chilis for value, because it is sooooo worth it.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Fontaine Grell
a Racer
from Luckenback TX Date Reviewed: June 30, 2003
Favorite Trail:
all of them
Duration Product Used:
6 months
Price Paid:
$2500.00
Purchased At:
bike shop
Strengths:
Light, nice satin finish.
Weaknesses:
Barely enough clearance for 2.0 tire, 2.0 with aggressive tread rubs stay on non-drive side regardless of wheel used. Seatpost clamp bolt was too short.
Similar Products Used:
Original Massachussets XLM - the new Tennessee ones don't compare.
Bike Setup:
XTR/Mavic
Bottom Line:
Seems like Litespeed, since buying Merlin, has really let the quality slip. Prices, however, have continued to rise. No mountain bike frame should have such a small amount of tire clearance and especially at this price range. Save your money.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
mojo
a Cross Country Rider
from collegeville Date Reviewed: August 22, 2002
Favorite Trail:
french creek
Duration Product Used:
More than 3 years
Price Paid:
$2400.00
Purchased At:
Excel Sports Boulder, CO
Strengths:
durability and workmanship
Weaknesses:
none
Similar Products Used:
trek carbon fiber, cannondale caad4
Bike Setup:
sid xc, king wheels, race face cranks, grip shift 9.0
Bottom Line:
Very responsive and tracks like a dream. If you got the $ it is well spent. Excellent cross country frame that will last. Over 6 years of hard xc riding and it rides like new.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Maxim Cheprack
a Racer
from Israel Date Reviewed: December 28, 2001
Favorite Trail:
Woren's Land
Duration Product Used:
3 months
Price Paid:
$1150.00
Purchased At:
Wheel Works
Strengths:
Very low weight. High BB. Non integrated headset( litespeed #@$@#$). Very fast on the up hills, and on the downhill. Very good geometry for racing. The bike simply rolling perfectly on the trail. The titanium simply absorbing all the small bumps. You can pedal in corners. Probably the best bike ever. Before I bought this bike someone told me that it is the bast titanium frame, I couldn’t believe him but now I can tell that he was right.
Weaknesses:
I don’t know maybe the price, but I paid only 1150$ instead of 2750$ so I cant complain. No no weakness at all except the clearance too small tires, but for a racer that a good thing 2.0 enough for the competition.
Similar Products Used:
Non. But maybe the caad 5 Cannondale.
Bike Setup:
verrrrrrrrrrrry good stuf.
Bottom Line:
If you can aford it buy it. dont even think on Anything else!!!!!!
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Rob
a Cross Country Rider
from England Date Reviewed: October 9, 2001
Favorite Trail:
Chesterton woods
Duration Product Used:
6 months
Price Paid:
$5375.00
Purchased At:
Sideways Cycles
Strengths:
Super Light sub 2.9Lbs frame (bike 19.5Lbs), indestructible, very fast, subtle superiority, attention to detail (the disc mount even has a merlin carved into it!), comfort, price.
Weaknesses:
Narrow tyre clearance (1.95" max), maybe because mine is disc specific?, head badge. Price
Similar Products Used:
No Titanium but some alu hardtails Orange/Cannondale/Specialized
Bike Setup:
XTR/XT, Raceface Turbines/racerings, SYstem, air alloy low risers, ISIS bb, Titec carbon post, beserkr KTI saddle, King h/set, X317's with Hope XCti hubs, Salsa QR's & Hope Mini brakes.
Bottom Line:
This is my first Titanium frame, almost all of the things I expected from it were there (speed, sharp handling, strength extra comfort etc), My main criticism is with the tyre clearance, however apart from that sheer quality. I would recommend this frame as the ultimate hardtail to build & for anyone with a large enough budget to kit it out with top end stuff.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Andrew
a Cross Country Rider
from Auckland, New Zealand Date Reviewed: July 1, 2001
Duration Product Used:
Less than 1 month
Purchased At:
Multisport Bikes, Auckland
Strengths:
Light Weight, Responsive, Exclusive, Last a Lifetime
Weaknesses:
Limited rear tyre clearance around non-drive side chain stay. Poor finish. That headbadge!!!!!!
Similar Products Used:
Seven Sola, Cannondale CADD 5
Bike Setup:
XTR, CrossMax UST, Thomson Post and Stem, Easton CT2 bars, Fizik Saddle, SID Race
Bottom Line:
The bikes rides beautifully. Very light, a dream to build up, and very responsive. Everything I had hoped for from a titanium mountain frame. The quality of the welding is not as high as I had been led to believe, but it is still pretty good. I own a Seven Axiom road bike, but when the time came to buy my titanium hardtail mountain bike, the Seven was just too expensive. I have now had the opportunity to compare the quality of build and ride directly, and I have to admit that the Seven IS the superior product. I can say this because I own both and have no bias either way. Whether it is worth the extra over the XLM is questionable, and I don't regret my XLM purchase. At the end of the day, the quality of the welding, the finsihing and the headbadge don't make the bike ride any better or worse, but at this price, they are a nice finishing touch which set the Seven appart. The headbadge on the Merlin is a joke at this price point quite frankly. The hot glue used to apply it ooozes through the head badge and doesn't exactly provide the finishing touch that it should. The finishing is also pretty rough. The down tube on my XLM has a distinct grain to it, which might be part of the tapering process? Also, the general standard of finishing is pretty poor. Don't get me wrong, these are really very minor gripes, but enough on such an expensive frame to score 4 rather than 5 chilli's.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
John
a Cross Country Rider
from Peabody ma Date Reviewed: October 19, 2000
Favorite Trail:
Ridge trail, Lynn Woods
Duration Product Used:
3 months
Strengths:
Light, Great climber, Very responsive
Weaknesses:
Tubing used is extremely thin and dents VERY easily. Litespeed now owns Merlin and will not warranty product as Merlin did.
Similar Products Used:
Merlin Mountain
Bottom Line:
I like the way the XLM performs on the trails and it does climb better than my old mountain frame. The problem I have with the frame is that it dents very easily and that Litespeed now owns Merlin. I have inserted the letter I have written to the president of Litespeed below. I did get a response from the letter saying that they (Litespeed) felt there was nothing defective about the frame and that the dents would not effect the the bikes performance. If you are looking for a titanium frame with the quality and WARRANTY of the original Merlin company, I have to recommend buying Seven Cycles.
Mr. Mark Lynsky, President Merlin Metal Works / litespeed PO box 22666 Chattanooga, TN 37422
Dear Mr. Lynsky, I have been riding the same Merlin Mountain frame since 1990. I have meticulously maintained this bike by tearing it down every two years. I buff the frame out with Scotch-Bright and replace the stickers. After 10 years I decided to build my dream bike with the Merlin XLM frame as the ultimate foundation. I have to say I'm very disappointed in the durability of the frame. I have been on less than 10 rides with this bike and the frame already has two dents in it. I could understand if they were violent crashes but they weren't. One of the falls was down a muddy hill at about two miles per hour. My front wheel washed out and the frame happened to hit a rock in the mud. Since the two dents were in the same location (the tube going from chain stay to the seat tube) I figured the tubing was defective and called your technical support. After explaining the situation your technical support person said he wasn't surprised. The tubing is super thin to reduce weight and that the dents would not effect the performance of the bike. The problem is when you pay a premium price for a Merlin frame you expect it to be as strong and resilient as you advertise on your web site (see your ad below). I expected the frame to last as long as my 1990 Merlin Mountain, which is still running great with no dents. If I had any idea the frame was not as strong as the non-butted Merlin's I would never have purchased it. I'm hoping you can help me solve this problem. If your technical support person is correct and the frame will not stand up to the normal use of everyday riding, I'm hoping you will exchange the frame for a stronger non-butted Merlin Echo. If you feel your technical support is mistaken and the frame will stand up to normal use without denting, I would like to send you the frame for examination and repair of all the defective materials used in building this frame. This is a new frame with less than 10 rides on it. I also feel it important to let you know I'm a 41 year old professional with an Electrical Engineering degree and an MBA. I do not abuse my bikes and the shape of my 1990 Merlin can attest to this fact. I often get complements from other riders in the mountain bike clubs I belong to and the people I meet on the trails. They are all surprised when I tell them it's a 1990 frame. I'm afraid they will be just as surprised when they see my 2000 Merlin XLM with dents in it. Merlin has built a strong reputation in the northeast for its excellent handling, craftsmanship, and strength. People, myself included often say that a Merlin is the first and last bike you'll need to buy. In fact I didn't need a new bike I just wanted one. I would welcome a phone call from you on this matter if you feel it necessary. My daytime number is, xxx-xxx-xxxx and in the evening, xxx-xxx-xxxx. Thank you for your help in this matter,
http://merlinbike.com./bike/xlm.html Profile: State-of-the-Art. Shaving a 1/2 pound off the Mountain bike, the XLM (Extralight Mountain) boasts raw performance. It has all the strength and resiliency of Merlin's legendary Mountain frame, yet remains the lightest hardtail butted Ti frame available in the market. Mountain Biker magazine has proclaimed this bike to be "… the best bike I've ever ridden. Period.".
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
micah theoneigotmarriedwith
a Weekend Warrior
from salt lake city utah usa Date Reviewed: April 28, 2000
Favorite Trail:
the one i stay upright on
Duration Product Used:
6 months
Strengths:
really sturdy, light, light, light!!! great handling. great looking, very classy.
Weaknesses:
none
Similar Products Used:
specialized fsr.
Bike Setup:
xt, sid xc, bontrager racelite wheels
Bottom Line:
I love this bike!! I'm not that tall so the smaller frame has tons of rigidity but it's not harsh on the rough stuff. I mean you still feel the bumps but your not beat to hell on the couch hours later. gorgeous welds perfect alignment and the new headbadge rocks!! to bad everyone can't ride a merlin. Maybe a seven would be better but i love it.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Mitch
a Cross Country Rider
from Fairfax, VA Date Reviewed: March 26, 2000
Favorite Trail:
Elizabeth's Furnace
Duration Product Used:
1 Year
Strengths:
Light and strong - can't get a better hard tail. I have a 20.5 lb. hard tail. I can kick the monkey bikes on the climbs and hang with them on the downhills.
Weaknesses:
Why even bother looking
Bike Setup:
Chris King/517 ceramic wheelset, Manitou SX-Carbon, Race Face Next LP Cranks
Bottom Line:
Awesome. You get what you paid for!
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Bill
a Cross Country Rider
from Pa. Date Reviewed: March 9, 2000
Stiff but compliant. Great climber. Handles fast/twitchy and slow/technical very well. Good balance. Takes a pounding and comes up looking new. Expensive but you'll only have to buy one.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
cosmic ray
a Cross Country Rider
from flagstaff, az Date Reviewed: February 29, 2000
Favorite Trail:
I ain't tellin'.
Duration Product Used:
More than 3 years
Strengths:
titanium
Weaknesses:
$$$$$
Bottom Line:
I've had the XLM for 4 years. This is the second review I have written for this bike and now another year has passed. I love it more than ever. Other riders offer me their bikes for a test ride and I just smile and ask for my Merlin back please. It used to weigh 21 something, but all the foo-foo lightweight junk I hung on it when it was new is now worn out or broken. It now weights in at 23 pounds (I weigh 180) and it is the most shred ready hardtail you will ever lay your eyes upon.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
eric
a Racer
from baton rouge, la Date Reviewed: November 3, 1999
Favorite Trail:
clear springs, ms
Duration Product Used:
1 Year
Strengths:
light, bullet proof, awesome ride
Weaknesses:
mucho denero to buy one want to buy mine for cheap (i have to pay off the loan still).
Similar Products Used:
none
Bike Setup:
sid, xtr, titec.
Bottom Line:
love it but can't afford to keep it. if you would like to buy a 15 xlm email me at ezracer@hotmail.com asking 1850.oo or best offer
Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Susan
a Cross-Country Rider
from San Jose, CA Date Reviewed: September 28, 1999
Favorite Trail:
Any singletrack at El Corte de Madera
Duration Product Used:
less than 1 month
Strengths:
Suspension quality Excellent tracking
Weaknesses:
None.
Similar Products Used:
97 GT Avalanche LE 95 Trek 850
Bottom Line:
I bought Tammy's (See the 1997 Raleigh NC post below) Merlin XLM tradeshow frame from her, moved all my components from my GT Avalanche LE to the Merlin and rode the new bike for the first time last weekend.The verdict? Click your heels three times and repeat, I will never go back to aluminum, I will never go back to aluminum, I will never go back to aluminum! My aluminum frame, although great for climbing was a stiff, harsh ride with the rear end kicking up on rocky descents. The Merlin, however, does no such thing - The suspension quality of ti makes for a smooth ride and the bike tracks and maneuvers exceptionally well on singletrack. If you can afford it, buy a Merlin ti frame. One of the ways I afforded it was to buy a used frame. For whatever reason, there *are* riders that want to sell their Merlin frames. Check out this site and Merlin's for used frames.*** A word of advice though, whether you ride steel, aluminum or ti, the ground is still just as hard when you fall!
Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Chauson Henrick
a Cross-Country Rider
from Bend, OR Date Reviewed: March 17, 1999
Favorite Trail:
Dead Cove
Duration Product Used:
less than 1 month
Strengths:
Ti, double butted is superlight and oversized is stiff-
Weaknesses:
The bike will last, but you'd want something else by then- commitment. You can flavor so much other stuff- anyways, you don't live this long to need an end all frame.
Similar Products Used:
All Tis, upper end steels, Alums even bonded
Bike Setup:
SID, full XTR
Bottom Line:
This is one stiff bike. Sharp hit will transmit up the oversized frame. Stiff backside not as comfortable as most Ti's. Tracks good due to good design. Ultimate bike, ultimate price. The backend is stiffer than the front. Some sideways bending in front/center-downtube/toptube- feel it turning down switchbacks and around tight corners if you weigh over 190. Toptube doesn't slope that much for extreme riding. What's with the sticker headbadge? Initial sharp pedal stroke is similar to tight aluminum, but fades a little, but then so do you. Good overall frame, but if not for the durability, other frames may fair better. The question is are you ready to settle down with a final frame?
Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Dave Chandler
a cross-country rider
from Pennsylvania Date Reviewed: January 12, 1999
Bottom Line:
If someone says there is no such thing as the perfect frame, they have not ridden a MERLIN XLM. This frame is light ,yes very light and its ride is like no other. Its chainstays are stiff and work very well with v-brakes. The bike is very responsive and with the right tire choice its tracking ability is mindblowing. The XLM will make you go looking for uphills and makes you feel confident on the downhill side. The craftsmanship and finish are a work of art. The big question is it worth the money,YOU BETTER BELIEVE IT!
Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Brian OConnor
a racer
from Boulder, CO Date Reviewed: October 30, 1998
Bottom Line:
I have ridden and raced a lot of frames including full suspension & I would have to say compared to a RVT SVIR (Russian Ti), Pro-Flex 856, Trek 9800 OCLV, Fat City Yo Eddy!, Fat City Ti, GT LTS, DEAN Ti, Ellison DD Aluminum, Ellison E-Stay Aluminum, Nishiki Alien, Nishiki Arial LTD, Trek 7000, Trek 950, and a Schwinn Sierra the Merlin XLM is by far the best frame.Why? It is a light, snappy lively frame which descend very well and zips through singletrack. I have done endurance events on this bike (ie. 24 hour events & 100 mile races & rides) and it has performed flawlessly. If you can afford it, buy it... that's the bottom line.
Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Al
a
from cross-country rider Date Reviewed: September 5, 1998
Bottom Line:
My Merlin XLM is built up with full titanium parts and weighs in at a superlight 18 lbs with some change (no joke!). Its also a 19 frame so its a little more flexy than smaller sized ones. Hence, allowing the bike to track better on rougher terrain. Contrary to what the guy below describes, the bike descends better than any other hardtail I've tried. Although, you might want to change the tires to thicker treads when doing alot of descends. And probably go with a frame that is one size bigger in order to gain high speed stability. Otherwise, its the perfect technical cross-country race bike. It climbs faster than my 19lbs Klein adroit on most terrains. The Klein only shines on smooth surface where the rear wheel doesn't skip alot..
Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Michael Wong
a cross-country rider
from San Francisco, CA Date Reviewed: July 31, 1998
Bottom Line:
I've decided there's no point in a HT this light. Mine is built to 20.5# and the only way it could be lighter would be to go with something like a carbon fiber crank or to compromise durability. Like it is, the bike descends poorly. Any medium size bump knocks it sideways or causes me to catch involuntary air, especially the rear. I could go with heavier components but then, what do I need such a lightweight, expensive frame for? Also, the seatpost collar is so tight raising and lowering the seatpost is a a real trial. On the plus side, it rides great on smooth fire roads and climbs like nothing else. Stiff chainstays give great breaking. Besides the seatpost, the frame is flawless. I just don't see the point.
Overall Rating:
Submitted by
HTmaniac
a cross-country rider
from Taipei Date Reviewed: July 14, 1998
Bottom Line:
Got this frame last september, the quality of weld, machining (HT and BB), alignment is perfect to say the least. I had my frame done with down tube cable routing which was not a problem for Merlin to do, and is the best cable routing if you are using sachs plasma rear derailleur...The only litle complain would come from the fact that the frame was not washed out of the factory, and that they should automatically have the front badge mounted on the frame instead of the cheap sticker. The ride with such a bike is very confortable for a HT with a lively spring feel at the back on raught surfaces, and ruts and stones the rear wheel follow nicely the front wheel instead of jumping left and right like it does on some other frame.The power transfer is super efficient particularly combined with a 1998 XTR crank-set/BB, the bike climbs affordlessly, it is very stable at speed, under braking and raught stuff, very easy to balance on steep descent. The steering feels very quick and nimble particularly when mated with a SID fork. The total bike, a 17.5 frame weight around 20 LB with only reliable components, which make for a ride that will last forever...Can only give it a five chili, would get a Ten with a HT badge...!
Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Win
a weekend warrior
from New York Date Reviewed: June 27, 1998
Bottom Line:
For me, the two most outstanding features of this frame are its light weight (just under 3 pounds-incredible!) and its handling. My old bike weighed about 28-29 lbs and I was happy with it. Shows what I know about bikes. I figure my 17.5 XLM weighs around 23 or 24 lbs. There's such a difference riding this bike, it's unbelievable. The XLM climbs MUCH better than my old bike (an '89 Mongoose IBOC Pro) and every time I stand and sprint on it, I literally feel it kick forward underneath me. I don't know if it's the light thing or the Ti thing or maybe both, but it's amazing. Also, the frame geometry is much better. The handling is very quick, so quick it took some getting used to. The Mongoose had a shorter top tube and I ran a 135mm stem. The guys at the bike shop sized me up on the 17.5 frame which had a longer top tube, and they put on a 120mm stem. I'm sure there's more to it, but I noticed right off the bat that the longer top tube + shorter stem combination provided much quicker handling and better balance than the shorter top tube + longer stem combination. The Mongoose handled great at slow speeds, but going fast, I kinda had to throw my body into turns and muscle it around some. The XLM, on the other hand, cuts through turns at speed EXTREMELY well and feels real solid, not twitchy or shaky. The only things that MIGHT be considered negatives are the slight BB flex-when really grinding on it, you do get some chain rub-though I have seen few bikes that lacked any BB flex at all (like some of the fully suspended Canondales). Also, I can see the seatstays flex noticeably when I ply the rear brake. This also is a small consideration though, and if making super-stiff seatstays would have meant taking away from the overall good feel and handling of this frame, then I think Merlin did the right thing (hell, what do I know?). Besides, it's not like I have a problem braking (I run Avid Arch Supremes and I highly recommend them). I love the dropouts, which are super-tough. The dropouts on my Mongoose were gummy by comparison. I like that the cables run on top instead of on the side or bottom of the top tube, which makes for better carrying (something I still have to do a lot of). The fact that the top tube slope is not too extreme also helps carrying (it's harder to carry a bike with a really sloped top tube-there's less room for your shoulder and the bike tilts forward too much). The guys at the bike shop told me there is a big difference in the quality of welds and workmanship on a Merlin. I can't tell by looking (the heck do I know about metallurgy anyway?), but it seems that everything is really precisely done, from the welds to the braze-ons to the cuts. Finally, I like the fact that Merlin supports its dealers and sells exclusively through them. Of course it needn't be said that a good dealer can make a world of difference. For anyone in the New York City area looking for a Merlin-or just looking for a bike-I highly recommend Larry & Jeff's Biycles Plus on the East side. To begin with, these guys are the nicest around. Also, they really know their stuff-they made some great recommendations on components and sizing. Best of all, when I took my dream machine back home from the shop, I looked it over and found to my great surprise that they did EVERYTHING right! And I mean everything. In the past, when I took a bike home from another dealer, I would look it over and readjust the bearings a bit or align the brake pads correctly or fix slightly sloppy shifting. This bike came to me on the money, and not a nickel short. If you're looking for a great bike, buy an XLM and if you live in NYC, buy it from Larry & Jeff's. For me, this bike hss been a dream come true.
Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Ian Campbell
a downhiller
from Las Cruces, New Mexico Date Reviewed: June 9, 1998
Bottom Line:
I've been riding mountain bikes since early 80's and this is my 7th bike (I've broke all except a Fisher Procaliber). This bike is awesome! I have ridden it for 3 yrs. and I am sold on Merlin Metalworks, I want one of their road bikes. Downhilling is a rush on one of these bikes, they are so lively. My last bike was a Trek Y bike and it was like riding with a load in my shorts, too darn squishy. Never again to a fully suspended after riding the Merlin, very responsive. They are VERY tough (I'm 260+ and have jumped it numerous times without a problem in the frame). I would recommend Merlin to anyone.
Overall Rating:
Submitted by
cosmic ray
a cross-country rider
from flagstaff, arizona Date Reviewed: May 24, 1998
Bottom Line:
I am an old guy. I have been riding mountain bikes since the way pre-Stumpjumper mid-1970s (Before we knew they were called mountain bikes!). Have built mountain bikes up out of junk and old motorcycle parts. Have ridden and owned so many moutain bikes I can't even remember all their names.3 years ago bought an xlm and dressed it out with all high end stuff. Now, try as I may, I cannot stand to ride any other bike. From time to time I get on another bike and I last for about a minute. Give me my xlm any day, any time.Merlin is a dart on single track. Climbs like a goat. Descends like a rocket. Steering is super accurate. At first it was a little sketchy on rough descents because I was used to a nice old Bontrager that was super stable and fairly heavy. Took me a few weeks to get quick on the Merlin and it's been love ever since. The xlm cost a bundle, but I have quit spending money on bike junk. There is no point. This bike is perfect. I am spoiled. I am ruined. I cannot get off my bike. Won't somebody help me please. 5 chilitos por favor.
Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Toan Nguyen Dang
a cross-country rider
from Chicoutimi,QC (Canada) Date Reviewed: May 2, 1998
Bottom Line:
For the past month that I have used my XLM on the roads to get ready for the trails, the only thing that is on my mind is to get on the bike and ride! Even though I have used it only on paved roads, I can feel that the frame really removes all the edges from bumps. For sure my Atom Bomber fork does most of the work but the more I ride it, the more I get to appreciate the special feel of Vandermark's design. It is light, lively and beautiful. The welds are extremely well done and the workmanship is incredible! I love my new bike and I can't wait to get on the trails!
Overall Rating:
Submitted by
John Brady
a cross-country rider
from Dorchester ,Ma Date Reviewed: April 28, 1998
Bottom Line:
I've had my XLM 8 months.Never had to wash it,just wipe it down.Good bye chiped paint,scratches,and rust.With the Atom Bomb fork it is still under 23 lbs. and rides like a dream.Me thinks I will have it for ever, as long as I can stay away from cars and thieves
Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Some Kam Hoe
a racer
from Singapore Date Reviewed: April 21, 1998
Bottom Line:
Looking back at my 12 years riding experiences, there happened to be a number of mountain bikes that I've the pleasure (& horror !) to ride on. The rest are road bikes. Bridgestone MB-5 - The bike in the '80s ! Very affordable & easy to like & ride.KHS Montana Comp - Steel frame ; tons of pleasure with Mag 21 upfront ; XT fittedMiyata Elevation 5000 - Al Main + Cromoly Rear ; A sight to behold ; little riding feedback though ; lacks racing inputKHS Montana Descent - A little of fond, old memories ; Disappointed though ; sluggish and wimpyCannondale F1000 - Weird front end (too high !) ; accelerated like a road bike ; easily dented thoughSpecialized FS Comp - Racing throughbred ; good on uphill ; a little scary on rocky descent thoughKlein Attitude Comp - A beautiful Racer with internal cable routing ; steers beautifully ; inspires confidence ; surprisingly, a tad slow on acceraleration !MERLIN XLM - A dreams- making bike ; I may fall due to overconfidence & ease of riding, but everytime I climbed back on, it's full throttle ! Stays beautiful & alluring despite hard crashes and continues to award me beautifully in Life !Have you got your choice made ?
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Submitted by
Sam Baker
a cross-country rider
from Texas Date Reviewed: March 19, 1998
Bottom Line:
Had too many frames to list here over the past 11 yrs of riding. This is my third titanium frame and I believe it will be my choice for many years to come. Absolutely beautiful construction, neutral handling, stable tracking, durability, and attention to detail. This is one of the first stock frames that fit me well from the start and it does just about everything well. I don't have time for faddish mtb's that don't hold up to 3-5 hr rides. Like mentioned below, I wanted a woods-type bike that was low maintenance and durable. The XLM answered all of my demands and oh so much more. I built it with a conservative parts mix and have enjoyed many maintenance free miles ever since. Very light and responsive to rider input and carves turns beautifully. Oh yeah, last note after riding the XLM, I sold my LTS-1 and my Turner for a return to the simplicity of a hard tail and have never looked back. I give 5 chilis because they do not allow a higher rating! Should be 10+ chilis!
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Submitted by
Ray
a cross-country rider
from San Carlos, CA Date Reviewed: October 1, 1997
Bottom Line:
I just recently bought the XLM! Comparing it to my old S-Works team is like night and day. The XLM rips!!! Uphills, downhills, and flats, this bike can do it all. It loves to be pushed. All other bikes dream of being a Merlin!!!
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Submitted by
benfuto
a cross-country rider
from Austin, Tejas Date Reviewed: September 13, 1997
Bottom Line:
Sure has been a lot of controversy in the ti frame arena... Anyway... My previous bikes have been, Scwin Paramount ( 70s killer rode machine ) Specialized Rock Hopper ( pure cheap fun ) Proflex 855 ( Techno cush machine ) XLM ( my current ride and love )I rode a Proflex for about 2 years and can say that when it was clean & tuned it was a plesure to ride, but after a few days of dirt, it loved to make annoying noises.... So you have to work on it all the time....I came into some money, and got fed up w/ the 855, it was cush, but unpredictable in Technical situations..... I got to thinking... I had more fun on my old rock hopper!The XlM is my attempt to go back to basics, less mechancing & more riding.. What I can say about this bike is that, although the hardtail beats you once in a while ..... it's always predictable, easy to hop & climb, ( not to mention a pleasure to carry! ) I figured I spend 70-80% of my time climbing hills so it kind of doesn't make sense to by a downhill bike..Don't get me wrong , Downhill is cool, and the Merlin is great on Single Downs that aren't super rough.... But I'm too chicken to ride super rough downs fastSo now that I have a frame to live with, I can spend my time & money on riding.... Isn't that what is all about ??
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Submitted by
Markus
a cross-country rider
from Switzerland Date Reviewed: July 29, 1997
Bottom Line:
I started riding MTB in 1990 by chance. But soon I fell in love with the sport and with the nice, good looking and beautifully handcrafted things you can ride with. First I got myself a KLEIN Attitude, fully XTR. NO shocks, no gimmicks, just the pure taste of real Gary Klein made aluminium. I did a lot of miles with this baby, some really nice rides in our alps and a handful of long distance races (up to 100km). But times went on and front suspension was the one thing to have. And what besides a Klein a mountain biker can dream of? Everybody knows it....it's a MERLIN. The dollar was very weak two years ago and I decided to get me my dream bike for the high rated Swiss bucks. Judy SL, Avid brakes, Real levers, Cooks E cranks, Syncros TI seatpost, Ringle/Bontrager wheels (all parts in BLUE) and......on top of it this BEAUTY. The ride is heavenly, it's durable, good looking and as MBA once wrote if Merlin intended to build the ultimate hardtail they have come pretty close. If I am not so much in the mood to go on my daily ride, I just have a look at this baby and off we go. It is the ultimate feeling you can get. Everybody should try once.... Even so just my wife is allowed to ride it occasionally....
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Submitted by
kevin
a racer
from NC Date Reviewed: July 18, 1997
Bottom Line:
THis is my third moutain bike frame. My first choice was a Trek Easton alunium, for the price it was a goood frame but it didn't really stand out anywhere, then i got a 9900 oclv and hated it, to damn stiff and bounced around in the rocks and the downhils, then i saved up and got a Merlin XLM and love it. It's the perfect frame, super light and very comfortable, it climbs abd sprints really well I've raced for abvout two months now and is great, worksmanship is excellant.
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Submitted by
Tammy
a cross-country rider
from Raleigh, NC Date Reviewed: April 18, 1997
Bottom Line:
Wasn't sure exactly where to post this - I ended up buying Merlin's '97 trade show bike which has an XLM front triangle and a Mountain rear triangle, but decided to go here...anyway, this bike is THE BEST, hands down! I was riding a Fisher steel frame for the past year, and my riding improved 300% within one week of having the Merlin! This bike climbs without me even working, and screams down the scariest hills with complete confidence. The turning is perhaps not as quick as some bikes (my boyfriend's Yo Eddy), but riding this bike is literally like riding on the back of a butterfly! It just floats over the gnarliest trails, and when I screw up, it hangs there, patiently waiting for me to get my shit together and pedal on! I love it so much I just put in an order for a custom Merlin Road which should be finished and here within two weeks! I'm only giving it five peppers because I wasn't offered an option of a million!
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Submitted by
John Krecek
a cross-country rider
from Omaha, NE Date Reviewed: March 27, 1997
Bottom Line:
I recently purchased an XLM with Halston Inversion fork. Bar none, the BEST ride (for my riding style anyway) I have ever been on. A serious step up from the Mountain frame. Very light. Laterally stiff. Cushion in the rear, Ti style. All this and the frame is a work of art! If you can muster the dough, you will NOT be disappointed, that is unless you want a heavier, more plush, full suspender. THat is your choice. I will see you at the end of the trail!!!
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Submitted by
Tom Doucette
a weekend warrior
from Stow, Mass Date Reviewed: November 21, 1996
Bottom Line:
The XLM is very light and forgiving. With a Marzochi Bomber z2 fork, this is the plushest hardtail I've ever ridden. It's very responsive and handles great but doesn't climb or accelerate like my Cannondale F700. Ridden hard and raced for 3 months with no problems.
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Submitted by
Justin
a cross-country rider
from Santa Cruz, CA Date Reviewed: October 5, 1996
Bottom Line:
This is my third high-end MTB frame. In the last 4 years I've gone through a Kona Hot (Tange Prestige), a Kona Ku (Easton Elite) and finally the Merlin. The Hot was very nice. Quick, light enough, but just a bit too whippy for me. In replacing it I over reacted terribly, buying a nightmare-stiff Ku. Yeah, there was no bottom bracket flex and it steered more accurately, but it bounced around, never biting in but always biting at me. Aluminum is certainly the thing for dual suspension and probably the thing for racing hardtails, but for me, it was simply too stiff and too unforgiving. Enough about Kona... The Merlin is incredible. It sucks up trail noise wonderfully, climbs great and sprints like a road bike. It's light, durable, resilient and beautiful to look at. It really is all that you can do with a hardtail and, for me, that's all I could want.Specifics: very little bottom bracket flex, but good vertical compliance (keeps the wheel down on rough climbs); good (not great) shock damping (it does spring back a bit, but less than steel); quick handling for a 18.75 frame; excellent heel clearance with decent mud room; nice, stiff brake mounts; and excellent workmanship throughout.Is there anything I don't like? Well, I'd like more top tube drop for better standover clearance. I'd also like a removable seat tube clamp. While you're at it, give me a third water bottle mount (for a mud guard) and shorten the chainstays about an 1/8 inch. Oh yeah, the price...This is the nicest bike I've ever ridden. No, it's not dual suspension, no it isn't flashy. It's simple, superbly executed, durable, fast and fun. It dots the i's and crosses the t's, and does so effortlessly.
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Submitted by
Lloyd Chambers
a cross-country rider
from Portola Valley, CA Date Reviewed: March 28, 1996
I weigh 190 and really hammer it, yet it's stiff when you get on it hard. Yet on long rides, it's compliant (much more so than the Specialized M2 Team I used to ride. Something about the design makes it handle incredibly well. The first time I rode it in Moab on rock I had failed to be able ascend for 3 years, I made it up on the Merlin.
With some nice components, the whole bike weighs in at 22.4 pounds (using Wheelsmith/Palo Alto scale).
Cable routing is very nice. Stays out of the way.
Overall Rating:
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