Merlin or Rocklobster?

The Northern Monkey

The Scandal is on hold, maybe indefinately (it's for sale in classifieds).... I just can't put a bike together atm and need an xc bike sooner rather than later.

Anyways, instead I'm looking at the Merlin malt 4 and Rocklobster tig team.

Looking at spec- both xt etc (sorry I can't remember the options for builds, on my iPhone and merlin doesn't work!).

Plan on getting to Merlin next week, but figured I'd put the question out there

supersonic

What about the Tig SL?

The Northern Monkey

Well yea, that one too..... Same price as the team too.
Info on merlin site is a bit vague about the frames tho tbh.

The Northern Monkey

Wanna take a look at the ti rocklobster too, just for fun

supersonic

Obviously the Team is 853 steel. The SL uses Easton tubing, the Merlin seems to get a slightly lighter Kinesis tubeset.

ariteofpassage

i have both, a 2009 merlin malt4 and a 2005 tig team sl. Both are very good bikes, I would say the malt 4 edges it though, lovely frame.

The Northern Monkey

Well isn't kinesis tubing a stronger type of alu? Tbh I'm currently swaying more to the malt 4, but I've herd it's a bit of an aquired taste to ride (hense the trip to merlin needed )

ariteofpassage

Malt 4 is the better looking bike (imo), dunno about the "aquired taste" ride! I find it great! But I suppose everyone is different. I now use the tig team sl as my winter bike and find swapping between the 2 no problem.

Joe_Pineapples

I have a Rocklobster TIG Team SL. It's a lovely frame and it's SOOO light! The only criticism I can throw at it is that the paint chips really easily, although they may have fixed this on newer models. The frame is high quality Easton aluminium tubing, you can see the Easton stamp through the paint. It's never let me down and I'd happily buy another.

CycloRos

Don't know how relevant this is to the Malt 4, but had a ride on a brand new Merlin Malt 1 and the top tube comes up very short for the size (that was a large, 19" seat tube).

jayson

I had an 04 RL and honestly it was one of the finest bikes iver ever ridden in my life. It was very light and handled sublimely because of it and never once let me down.

Its only a lack of funds thats stopping me owning another one right now :evil:

paul.skibum

you have a scandal and want to spend a grand on a merlin - why not spend a grand on parts to build the scandal?

guilliano

If I was choosing a new HT I'd opt for a Reynolds 853 frame every time, simply because I loved the way a steel frame rode when I had one. They really are smoother than an alloy frame.

bike-a-swan

I've really enjoyed riding the 853 rock lobster- it's the first steel frame i've had and i think i'm won over (until I can afford something titaniumy!). it isn't as light as some, but to be honest i reckon it's light enough. paint is a bit thin, as said, but it came with some to touch it up.

Joe_Pineapples

The buggers!
I never got a touch up pen, even after I mailed asking "can I have a touch up pen?" :evil: