Merlin 1989 #693

Build

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The purchase

I found this pink Merlin in January 2015 in the USA on a famous auction website... After a long hesitation because of it strange pink paint, I decided to buy it. When I received the package, I could see that the paint was original.

Probably an old team bike by his pink painted frame and his SHIMANO sticker on the left chainstay, typical of the sponsoring of this period (1989).

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I restored this frame following this logic : Full SHIMANO XT M732 black edition, rims among the references SPECIALIZED GX26 and the first ROCK-SHOX RS-1 which could have been mounted on a bike sponsored by the brand.

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The rest of the equipment is quite classic with a SALSA stem, Christophe Toe Clips MT a Selle Italia Super Turbo, saddle ODI Attack grips and Panaracer Timbuk II tires.

Parts

Fork Rock Shox RS-1 (Seals, Dust seal and caps) refurbished by C.R.
Headset Shimano XT HP-M735 1″
Stem Salsa Promoto w/titanium hardware
Handlebar Merlin Titanium
Grips ODI Attack Pink

Brakes Front Shimano XT BR-M732 Black w/SRP aluminium hardware
Brakes Rear Shimano XT BR-M733
Brakes Levers Shimano XT BL-M732 Cover refurbished by C.R.

Shifters Shimano XT M732 Thumbshifters
Front derailleur Shimano XT FD-M732 Clamp on C.R.
Rear Derailleur Shimano XT RD-M732 SGS
Cassette Shimano XT CS-M730 13-34
Cranks Shimano XT M730 black w/SG chainring 28/38/48
Bottom Bracket Shimano BB M730
Pedals Shimano XT M730 Seal on C.R.
Toe Clip / Straps Shimano Toe clip/MT Christophe

Hub Front Shimano XT M730 FH Black
Hub Rear Shimano XT M732 FW Black
Skewers Shimano XT M730 
Rims Specialized GX26
Tires Panaracer Timbuk II 26×2,0

Saddle Selle Italia Super Turbo
Seatpost Shimano XT SP-M730

Fork Rock Shox RS-1 (Seals, Dust seal and caps) refurbished by C.R.
Headset Shimano XT HP-M735 1″
Stem Salsa Promoto w/titanium hardware
Handlebar Merlin Titanium
Grips ODI Attack Pink
Brakes Front Shimano XT BR-M732 Black w/SRP aluminium hardware
Brakes Rear Shimano XT BR-M733
Brakes Levers Shimano XT BL-M732 Cover refurbished by C.R.
Shifters Shimano XT M732 Thumbshifters
Front derailleur Shimano XT FD-M732 Clamp on C.R.
Rear Derailleur Shimano XT RD-M732 SGS
Cassette Shimano XT CS-M730 13-34
Cranks Shimano XT M730 black w/SG chainring 28/38/48
Bottom Bracket Shimano BB M730
Pedals Shimano XT M730 Seal on C.R.
Toe Clip / Straps Shimano Toe clip/MT Christophe
Hub Front Shimano XT M730 FH Black
Hub Rear Shimano XT M732 FW Black
Skewers Shimano XT M730
Rims Specialized GX26
Tires Panaracer Timbuk II 26×2,0
Saddle Selle Italia Super Turbo
Seatpost Shimano XT SP-M730

Final

handlebar merlin 1989 front brakes merlin 1989 hub merlin 1989
Bottle Cage Merlin 1989 Pedal Merlin 1989 Derailleur Merlin 1989
Saddle Merlin 1989 Seat Tube Merlin 1989 Derailleur merlin 1989
Merlin Titanium pink 1989
Merlin Titanium pink 1989

Pedal Seals SHIMANO

Pedal Seals SHIMANO

Cover XT SHIMANO

Post End Caps RS1 ROCK SHOX

Dust Covers ROCK SHOX RS-1

Kit Seals Fork ROCK SHOX RS1 MAG10 MAG30

Merlin Mountain pink 1989