Merckx

EXM Road Bike Frameset

The name displayed on the downtube of the EXM Road Bike Frame - 2008 represents a cycling legend with more than 500 victories to his name, 54 of which were claimed in a single season. It's safe to say that with these credentials, Mr. Merckx and his team of engineers know a few things about what it takes to make a fast, reliable, and lightweight road machine. The EXM represents just that, as it was designed to be a race-ready, do-anything frameset.

The EXM was handmade using a purpose-specific blend of carbon and laminate fibers. Essentially, the technique involves layering the carbon fiber sheets together in ways that maximize the strength and rigidity of the frame. This layup is combined with Merckx's structural reinforcement technology, which places T700 Tenax and UTS Tenax fibers in strategic areas for added stiffness. These fibers are used in conjunction with high-strength fibers at these force-load-heavy zones, such as the bottom bracket and head tube junctions. By using these techniques together, Merckx engineers were able to add material where it's needed for increased rigidity, while removing material at less flex-prone areas, thus keeping the overall weight as low as possible.

Merckx balanced these rigid junctions throughout the frame using K210 aramid fibers, which provide a bit of dampening. The EXM was then finished off with a top layer of a T300 Tenax for a smooth overall aesthetic. These are the same methods used for all of Merckx's top-end carbon road frames, as they yield the ideal combination of stiffness, low weight, and vertical compliance.

With a slightly relaxed geometry, the EXM provides a comfortable ride, yet still possesses race-tuned characteristics necessary for competitive road racing. Aside from the frame's optimized layup schedule, the Easton fork has also been designed to deliver maximum stability and speed. The blades flare out toward the 1-1/8in steerer, which works to both cut wind drag and provide precise handling up front. Similarly, at the rear end of the frame, both the seatstays and chainstays were designed with handling and power transfer in mind. Their slender shapes provide the ideal blend of comfort and transmission of power directly to the rear wheel.

The Merckx EXM Road Bike Frame - 2008 is available in sizes 41, 44, 47, 50, and 53cm and in the colors Blue, White/red, and White/blue. The frame features a 70mm Italian bottom bracket, and comes with a 31.6mm-diameter Merckx seatpost. Headset not included.