Merlin Titanium Road Bike Review

The merlin cordite ultegra r8000 provides a lot of bike for your money.

Merlin titanium road bike review.

With a density between steel and aluminium titanium is a great material for bikes. On the road this bike is a blast to ride. Back in 2008 the helium was ridley s lightest frameset weighing. You won t get the reynolds ouzo pro full carbon fork that we had but the full carbon easton ec90 sl blends strength and lightweight performance equally well.

Best road bikes under 1 000. Merlin cordite sl review. Merlin sandstone titanium gravel bike cyclocross magazine august 29 2019 talk to any oldtimer and the two most coveted titanium brands from the late 80s and 90s are likely merlin metal works and spectrum custom titanium cycles. After over a month of riding the merlin extralight we found that it was largely what we were expecting.

Back to the cielo frameset though over rolling roads it s a delight. 4 0 out of 5 star rating 4 0. It has no pretentiousness and very few nods to fads. The first titanium bike to fully achieve the metal s promise it was as strong as steel but lighter and possessed a unique and pleasing road feel slightly more forgiving with a little extra.

It s a competent long distance performer with a comfortable ride and is light enough and has the gear range to tackle uphill. The merlin feels incredibly stiff and tugged at the wannabe racer in everyone who rode the bike. The two brands were connected by frame building legend tom kellogg. The handling is responsive no matter the speed and no matter if you are in or out of the saddle.

A titanium bike can be lighter than steel without the big tubes of aluminium or carbon fibre. The best steel road bikes the best road bikes under 3 000 beyond those enticing qualities titanium also boasts excellent fatigue life and thanks to its inherent corrosion resistance can be left. Merlin s attention to detail is legendary. From the beautifully designed head badge featuring the famed bird of prey to the s bend stays to the uniform welds at each juncture every handmade aerospace grade titanium bike is not only a work of art but a feat of engineering.

It s a bike that s designed for the long haul both in terms of the road and life. All that titanium and carbon does a good job of neutralising road buzz to keep you comfortable during long rides.