Merlin (bicycles)

Merlin Metalworks is an American bicycle manufacturer, which specializes in the production of titanium bicycles. It was founded in 1986 by Gwyn Jones, Gary Helfrich and Mike Augspurger in Cambridge, MA.

History

Merlin production in 1986 the first mountain bike frame for Joe Murray ago, the reigning U.S. mountain bike champion. 1987 Merlin starts the collaboration with Tom Kellogg and introduces the 3/2.5 titanium road bike. 1991 results in the S -bend seat and chain stays at the Mountain Bike and foremost a Merlin, which is one of the most copied designs background. 1992 buys Greg Lemond Merlin - frame for its " Z" team, and ultimately drives among other things, the Tour de France. 1995 wins Merlin - driver Rob Kish the Race Across America for the third time. 1997 leaves Rob Vandermark, the driving force behind Merlin and designers of the mountain bike line, the company and is based Seven Cycles. 2000 Merlin is bought by the investor JHK. On 16 March 2011 the owner ABG (American Bicycle Group ) announced that the Merlin Metalworks brand to the company Competitive Cyclist was sold from Arkansas, ABG will be used in the year 2012, the brand in the Asian market.

Processing

Merlin simply processes depending on the model or multiple innenkonifizierte, seamless drawn tubes made ​​of a titanium alloy. The titanium content is 94.5 %, with the addition of 3% aluminum and 2.5 % vanadium result is a high-strength alloy. The rear dropouts consist of a 6-4 titanium alloy with 6% aluminum and 4% vanadium content. This alloy is extremely hard, which reduces the notching at the critical wear points. Due to the high affinity of titanium to the atmospheric gases and nitrogen and oxygen, hydrogen is argon as a protective gas during welding are used.

Models

Merlin has built prior to the acquisition in 2002 by ABG ( AmericanBicycleGroup ) the following models:

  • Built Mountain Bike of 1986 - Merlin Mountain
  • Merlin Aerial - triathlon bike with 26 inch geometry (in cooperation with Quintana Roo)
  • Merlin Road - road bike
  • Merlin Elevator - Small series of 150 pieces with raised chainstay 1991-1992
  • Merlin Elevator suspension - Softtail with raised chainstays 1993
  • Merlin Extra Light - lighter road bike with twice internally butted tubes
  • Merlin RSR - racing bike with rear Monostay
  • Merlin Taiga - mountain bike with rear Monostay 1996-1997
  • Merlin Fat Ti hardtail with Headshok Fatty Ultra as a frame kit 1999-2002
  • Merlin Fat Beat ( with MootsYBB Softail rear ) and Cannondale Fatty Ultra Headshok as framekit 1999-2002
  • Merlin Echo ( with Moots YBB Softtail rear ) for normal 1 1/8 " forks 1999-2002
  • Merlin Iliad classic hardtail frame 2000-2001
  • Merlin Newsboy Limited Edition as a complete bike with two wheelsets, Disc -only, Manitou SKAREB u.Newsboy -Cap 2002
  • Merlin Roots Limited Cruiser complete bike with Rohloff, Vicious steel fork, Avid Juicy brakes in 2004

In addition to these models, Merlin has built several prototypes and frames or parts for other manufacturers such as Marin ( TeamTitanium ) or Specialized.

Cambridge (Massachusetts) Aluminium
565116
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