Considered by many as the best bike ever built, it was conceived to unite the best frame builders and the best front suspention system, the Merlin Fat Ti (word game on the Cannondale ‘fatty’ fork used) was born. It was actually a French employee at Cannondale’s who during a discussion with Tom Kellogg of Merlin stated:

The Fat Ti model was issued in late 1998 and reissued 1999 as Fat Ti XL. The reissued version ‘XL’ featured double butted tubing whereas the earlier version had normal non-butted tubing. The XL stands for ‘extra light’. Both models were built in parallel until 2001.

Ref.: 24Pouces; Génération Mountain Bike (french)

Frame material

As for all Merlin frames it is built of 3/2.5 titanium, in contrast to 6/4 titanium which is used more often. 3/2.5 titanium has one advantage over the 6/4 alloy:

Taking together the info from different sources, the 3/2.5 alloy is easier to weld and it is softer. So, even if the 6/4 alloy is mechanically stronger it is prone to brake easier at welding spots. The 3/2.5 alloy incorporates better the comfort of titanium frames, being slightly more flexible than the 6/4 alloy, without loosing to much pedalling energy.

In my opinion rigid XC-bike frames are the only setting, where the use of titanium makes sense. Road bike frames should be stiffer, and thus be made of carbon, as its extensive use for frames used by professionals shows. Frames for full-suspention bikes can be made of whichever material, it’s only a matter of aesthetics.

Detailed list of components

Frame: 1999 Merlin Fat Ti XL, 17.5″, 1999

Fork: Cannondale Fatty SL, 75mm, with Lock out

Stem: Cannondale, 120mm, 20°, 1.56″ steerer, 25.6mm handlebar

Handlebar: Merlin Titanium, 550mm, ∅: 25.6mm

Seatpost: Tune, Starkes Stück, 27.2, 420mm

Seat: Brooks Swift titanium, dark brown

Bottom Bracket: 1999, Shimano XT, BSA, 68mm

Cranks: Crupi USA, 175mm

Front Derailleur: ∅

Hubs: Tune, before 2004

Shifters: Shimano XTR, 9x

Brakes: Shimano XTR, V-brakes

to be continued……