[Closed] tell me about the Merlin rock lobester tig sl

Do you mean the 853 steel one?

Lovely little bike. Really nippy and 'zingy'. 😀 Love mine.

I'm enjoying mine, but I've not been properly mountain biking on it very much. I'm using it more for commuting fast along the canal towpath with lightweight kit and carbon rigid forks. I did take it to Spain last October and enjoyed myself with some Fox bouncy forks, it didn't hinder me too much. I did walk down some bits that I might have ridden on a bigger bike, but that's more down to me than the bike I think.
[IMG] [/IMG]

What might be worth pointing out is that the top tube length on mine is quite short by XC bike standards. It might not be such an issue for a girl tho (I'm assuming that's what you are). I'm using a 100mm stem, which was the longest I had. My frame is also a few years old. I'm 5'10" and the frame is Medium 17.5", so the correct size for me.

I've got 100mm menjas on mine. My hands feel beat up after riding anything rough and I'm loads faster down stuff on my Summer Season with Pikes on. It feels twitchy and unsafe through rough stuff but for general XC riding it's a great bike. I've got some Rebas to put on and I'm going to give it some miles this summer. It's lightning fast over non techy ground. I want to ride the Puffer on it next year so I'm going to have to practise the rockier stuff on it.

Love mine, you'll not go wrong if it's a XC bike your after (nice light frame too).
[IMG] [/IMG]
24lb

As said they're a bit twitchy over the rocky stuff, but as a general xc whippet they're spot on.. tbh I bought a full suss just to keep up with my riding buddies as I'm a bit more careful and slow on the downs, but I do love a lap of Dalby on the Lobster, I'd only swap it for a Ti.
[img] http://img28.imageshack.us/i/09082010147.jpg/ ][IMG] http://img28.imageshack.us/img28/7435/09082010147.jp g" target="_blank">http://img28.imageshack.us/i/09082010147.jpg/ ][IMG] http://img28.imageshack.us/img28/7435/09082010147.jp g"/> [/IMG][/URL] Uploaded with [URL= http://imageshack.us ]ImageShack.us[/URL][/img]

Gave mine to my bro in law, was a lovely light frame, just wanted longer travel.

Would buy one again if i went back to shorter forks.

I've got one which has been really good - but I prefer the geometry and rear end of my dialled love/hate.

Personal opinion but I think I now find Ally frames a bit hard on the butt. But I am no XC whippet.

[b]Elfinsafety[/b] - no he obviously doesn't.

umm, its a hard one, ive got a full suser already, does any one know what sort of weight a full xtr one would be? because my scott spark is 24.5lb, would hate to spend 2 grand on a hard tail to find it same weight as my full sus..:)what is the longest fork i can put on it? Will it handel me rideing it up steps, very badly etc?

Why not get a carbon 456 - more options, v light and swappable drop outs for singlespeed (if you have a beard 😉 )

Imagine a full xtr one with decent wheels would be 22lbs ish

Elfinsafety - no he obviously doesn't.

Obviously not! 🙂

Great frames. I dont think that you can get a better frame for the money.

It's meant for 100mm forks, although I'm fairly sure I had my sus forks set to 120mm.
Mine, with not particularly weight shattering kit on, is 24lbs (that's with supersonic tyres and inner tubes). If I bought some decent wheels and proper XC forks, then I could get to 22lbs. like Rob2, I think that 22lb is approx what your build would be, depending on your choice of forks, wheels and tyres.
Another pic, forks at 120mm I think, this is 24lb(ish)
[IMG] [/IMG]

think ill have to take one for a spin before i buy, luck im quite near them so i thing ill go shop 🙂

Why not get a carbon 456 - more options, v light and swappable drop outs for singlespeed (if you have a beard )

just looked at that, for my frame size the Tig sl is actually lighter, the 456 is 3.3 lb and the SL is 3.25, 🙂

jenbe, I presume Rob2 meant the carbon 456 'The Whippet', which is quoted at 1300gms (2.8lbs) @£399
[url= http://www.on-one.co.uk/i/q/FROOCWH/on-one-carbon-xc-whippet-frame- ]http://www.on-one.co.uk/i/q/FROOCWH/on-one-carbon-xc-whippet-frame-[/url]

Well either the whippet or the 456.

0.05lb is less than a good poo 🙂

The 456 gives you more options if you "want to go gnarr" (tm) at some point

spend an hour or two & work out all the weights (dont tell no one though) 😳

I got mine down to 24lb (changed to tubeless ready nobby's & different bar to the pic above. I got mainly 0Xgear on mine (even 0X twisters)

really started to push mine (speed wise) recently, just seems to love going fast.

I reckon you could go 120mm up front, but would think 100mm would be best.

for the price it must be one of the lightest ali frames??? and is always highly regarded.

got mine around 9months ago when Merlin did a SRAM special (£1300) that's with some hope m4's thrown on there too.

only criticism is the paint is crap but mountain bikes that are ridden don't stay shiny new for long anyway IMO.

some moe pics to wet your appetite
[IMG] http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v635/seftonvr6/IMG_2149-1.jpg [/IMG][IMG] http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v635/seftonvr6/IMG_1082-1.jp g" target="_blank">http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v635/seftonvr6/IMG_2149-1.jpg [/IMG][IMG] http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v635/seftonvr6/IMG_1082-1.jp g"/> [/IMG]

spend an hour or two & work out all the weights (dont tell no one though)

Total Weight 8,186 18.05
That's what I'm aiming for BTW

Yes, I had one for a few years and it was a great bike but was finding the top tube too short. Had RS Revs on it eventually. Must admit the paint work was pretty good, much better than the Soul's after 9 months.

🙄

18lb? sounds great if so!

go tubeless ready! i just gone 2011 nobby pacestars weighing 500

keep us updated dude

excellent frame, great little handler, very nippy, low BB, short TT. Have used mine with 115mm Rebas and 100mm Rebas, prefer the 100mm.

15ins version

[IMG] [/IMG]

Kev

what's involved in just having the one ring up-front?

how much weight does it shed?

dunno how much weight it saves but 1x9 works a treat.

take off:
2x chain rings
1x front mech
1x shifter

add:
1x N-Gear jump stop
1x Bashguard

medium cage rear mech on mine too.

http://www.billys.co.uk/english/group.php?prod=chng-js
http://www.bbgbashguard.com/superlights.html

... that ^^ photo was taken before I'd fitted them. I'm just using the middle ring from an slx triple at the moment soon to be changed to a 36t.

Kev

hmmm...I like the idea of this as:

I never go up to my biggest ring.

but I do use the granny ring when things get really steep. (I'd be worried I'd miss the granny)

Also I'm hoping to try a few races later in the season (would I miss the choice of gears in race conditions)?

depends how good you are at pedalling doesn't it ? 11-32 on mine, I manage to ride mine round Cwmcarn alright if that's anything to go by. What I find is that if the gear isn't there to use you do find the extra push needed to keep going in the ones you've got. you could always try 11-34 ?

Kev

Yes, I had one for a few years and it was a great bike but was finding the top tube too short.

No you didn't

And neither did Elfin or Keva in the picture up there.

You all had/have the STEEL one, the Tig Team 853 (I had one too)

This thread is about the ALLOY one, the Tig Team SL

Big difference!!!!! 😀

One of the worst bikes I've ever owned. Very light but a harsh ride and old school geometry. Think early 90's Kona, it has a short top tube so you'll need a long stem. Lots of much, much better frames out there now.

I got a SRAM PG990 at the mo (not sure if its 32 or 34 though) if I went 34 what would I be sacrificing?

apart from a longer TT how could this "old school geometry" be improved? (that is if you have a problem with these two points)?

what better XC HT's are out there (like for like 100mm forks etc)?

dont want to get all bitchy...I'm honestly curious 🙂

I've got the 853 bike and partners got the alloy one.
Both great fun to ride, prefer the alloy one for shorter rides because it's lighter and a bit more lively.

The geometry is the same on all the Merlin / RL stuff, and seems to handle really well with the risers and 90mm stems on ours.
Top tubes are a bit short, but not uncomfortably so, fine for longer days out. Even used ours as emergency road bikes once or twice, ok if you stand up and strech now and then!

Orange R8 pro would be worth a look

No you didn't

And neither did Elfin or Keva in the picture up there.

You all had/have the STEEL one, the Tig Team 853 (I had one too)

This thread is about the ALLOY one, the Tig Team SL

Big difference!!!!!

Oh, didn't realise. Thought there was just steel and Ti. Apologies. 😳

Nor did I! I thought they were all steel! 😳

I think they are great bikes. Really depends on what you want it for though.
[img] [/img]
If you want to go fast on typically cross country or red route type stuff then I think they are great. If you are looking for jumps, drops and rocks then there is better bikes.

I chose it as I wanted light and fast as I wanted a bike that was suitable for adventure racing where the terrain is not always that technical. Don't really notice the length of the top tube however I do have a 100mm stem.

How much does it come in at? For cheap'n'fast I find it difficult to look past the Scandal myself.

Is it the mud clearance you're looking for, as I'm not sure 2lb is going to save you anything over the comfort of your suss bike for 24 hour racing? If so, try getting used to running with Mud X 1.8s or Fire Mud 1.8s or even Conti XC 1.5 should you feel like some time in hospital.

Nice looking frames though.

Walked into Merlin to buy one... left with a Blizzard.

Very nice bikes.

i like the sound of the short top tube, i really hate long top tubes, puts me off most bikes, so mite be a good one, any one know the top tube length of the small one? Thanks for all the interest in this thread!

If you contact Merlin, they will e-mail you the geometry.

[IMG] [/IMG]

what size seat post will fit a team tig sl?

27.2