Merlin S2200

zbiegu

Here is my new toy after 15 years of Mtb-ing I decided to try something else, as I wasn't sure if I like it, I didn't want to spend to much money. So there it is. From the start I've changed the wheels and tyres from stock to Shimano, to be honest I just didn't like the look of the stock wheels :roll:. After 600 km already I know I like it.







Frame: 6061 Aluminium
Fork : CroMo
Chainset : Truvativ Isoflow double
Front Derailleur: Shimano Sora
Rear Derailleur: Shimano Sora
STI Brake / Gear Levers: Shimano 2300
Cassette & Chain Shimano HG50 12-25
Brakes: Radius Dual Pivot
Headset: Integral
Wheels: Shimano R500
Tyres: Michelin Dynamic Sport 700 x 23mm
Bars & Stem: Merlin Aluminium black anodised
Seat-post : Merlin Aluminium black anodised
Saddle : Velo

Paul 8v

These Merlin's look like great value for money, bet it feels quick after riding a mountain bike :-)

RideOnTime

yes. nice ride...

ed_j

Good stuff, I've always liked how Sora shifters look a bit like 7700 at a glance.

Next upgrade, for next to no money would be catridge style brake pads. Makes the world of difference.

bwfc4eva868

Nice bike. As a Mountain biker like yourself of god knows how many years I, like you was looking at one of these how would you say they are as a first road bike and also road cycling in general coming form mountain bikes. I'm intrigued and want to give it ago, just put off by stories of abuse from car drivers.

ed_j

If you're not put off mountain biking by stories of abuse from horseriders/ramblers then why be put off road biking by stories about car drivers?

bwfc4eva868

Never really had a issue on mountain bike. It's a silly reason to be put off I suppose. I just look at the road cyclists when I'm in the car/motorbike and think I wouldn't mind giving it a go. Especially when it's a mud bath on the Mtb trails.

zbiegu

Paul 8v wrote:

These Merlin's look like great value for money, bet it feels quick after riding a mountain bike :-)

Comparing to my Kona its ridiculously quick

Ed J wrote:

Good stuff, I've always liked how Sora shifters look a bit like 7700 at a glance.

Next upgrade, for next to no money would be catridge style brake pads. Makes the world of difference.

New brake pads are on the short shopping list

bwfc4eva868 wrote:

Nice bike. As a Mountain biker like yourself of god knows how many years I, like you was looking at one of these how would you say they are as a first road bike and also road cycling in general coming form mountain bikes. I'm intrigued and want to give it ago, just put off by stories of abuse from car drivers.

As a first road bike it's great, not even as a first it will stay with me for longer and because I'm old-fashion and believe in good old welding I'm not tempted at all by all this shiny carbon. As for the drivers I don't trust any one of them.

ed_j

Quite so, good alloy > low end carbon. Plus I love the feel of an alloy frame, feels like absolutely all of my power goes straight to the road. A carbon front fork wouldn't go amiss in the near future though, that'll drop a heck of a lot of weight over the steel one

Pauld100

I have the same bike - I looked at the Triban 3 but couldn't find one in my size, and am impatient, so ordered this instead. I think it looks nicer though ;-)

Sadly I've only been out on it once so far as I was going away when it arrived, and the weathers been crap ever since - did 15 miles in the rain on Sunday despite a mild fever (which hasn't quite passed yet). Can't wait to get out and about on it a bit more though!

zbiegu

One word of warning, I noticed it recently, after a ride in the rain before You put your bike into storage get it straight up on its rear wheel to let the water out of the frame There will be a lot of it

zbiegu

Following the advice I've managed to get my hands on one of those:
Scott carbon fork:


Because I couldn't have it on my bike, again airbrush went into action, after a couple of hours this is what I end up with:


And on the bike:






I've also changed a headset, seat-post for carbon one, front brake and brake pads.

RideOnTime

Yes, that's an improvement...

zbiegu

Another month, another update:

noiseboyfeetman

Personally I would've stopped at the forks, those wheels look like they should be on the bike of someone jumping red lights in a city centre on a fixie, sorry.

zbiegu

Hi I've made a "tiny" change:



So, Merlin S2200 - well not any-more. Everything except frame and seat-post is the same (for now)

marcg868

Would you reccomend the Merlin as a starter bike?

lawrences

The welds on that Merlin looks like they had been done by a 3 year old.

tim_wand

Maybe.

But Kudos for the airbrush job on that fork! Are you going to do something similar to match the PX frame?

Got to ask what were the zip ties on the Merlin down tube for?

I ve had several PX pro carbons and I ve built up from frames and have always found the less is more (i,e stealth approach) after some mis guided forays into coloured tyres and adonised components looks better IMO.

I have to agree with some of the comments about the white wheels, IMO they don't look right.

zbiegu

marcg868 wrote:

Would you reccomend the Merlin as a starter bike?

Yes. I rode around 2500 km this season on this one, nothing failed, rides smoothly, I've changed the wheels, but that's just ME. Things that needs to be changed on this one are brake pads, apart from that its just grease and ride.

lawrences wrote:

The welds on that Merlin looks like they had been done by a 3 year old.

It is a 300 pound bike, what did you expect? Still looks way better than its equivalent from Decathlon BTwin!

tim wand wrote:

But Kudos for the airbrush job on that fork! Are you going to do something similar to match the PX frame?

Got to ask what were the zip ties on the Merlin down tube for?

I ve had several PX pro carbons and I ve built up from frames and have always found the less is more (i,e stealth approach) after some mis guided forays into coloured tyres and adonised components looks better IMO.

I have to agree with some of the comments about the white wheels, IMO they don't look right.

Fork will be repainted in pearl white to match the frame plus some Planet X graphics in silver, zip ties were for wired cadence sensor which is now gone, as for the wheels in this case its function before form, they are heavy but because of that the have large rotating mass that help maintain speed, they also spin on machined sealed bearings, put hem on and forget ;-). They will be eventually replaced but because I'm heavy (90 kg) all those shiny lightweight wheels are not for me.

Moonbiker

they are heavy but because of that the have large rotating mass that help maintain speed

Are you sure it works like that? :roll:

I'll stealing that line for for when people are rude about my wheels >2kg wheels

ledeev

I think that fact is true but only applies on the track or when riding on rollers.

In the real world lighter and / or more aero wheels are faster.

zbiegu

Ledeev wrote:

I think that fact is true but only applies on the track or when riding on rollers.

In the real world lighter and / or more aero wheels are faster.

Yes thats true, but lets be honest in the real world, for us amateurs, does it really mater if the wheels weight 2,1 kg instead of 1,8 kg? Personally I doubt that. Its just something that "you" can brag about it.
In the meantime it's my birthday today so Cheers.

ledeev

I can definitely feel a difference between my 1300g carbon tubs and my 1800g Cosmics, especially on hills. Maybe its just a placebo. Happy birthday!

zbiegu

Hi finally i got some time to repaint the fork, also I've put complete Sram Apex groupset.