the authors merlins
1987 dg 350 fius - before
![Picture](/uploads/8/0/6/7/8067174/7758837.jpg)
I have owned about 6 Merlins over the years. Here are some short recollections of them in chronological order.
This is the first picture i saw of my first Merlin. I bought this in 2004 from Spain. Luckily a friend was competing in a trial down there and collected it for me.
I still remember him calling me from the sellers house and saying "Are you sure you really want it as its rough? ".
By then i was drunk with excitment and had to have it.
This is the first picture i saw of my first Merlin. I bought this in 2004 from Spain. Luckily a friend was competing in a trial down there and collected it for me.
I still remember him calling me from the sellers house and saying "Are you sure you really want it as its rough? ".
By then i was drunk with excitment and had to have it.
before
![Picture](/uploads/8/0/6/7/8067174/1352191884.jpg)
This picture was taken a short while later when i got it home. I was delighted with it. It was the only red 1987 Merlin in the UK and is now 1 or 2 in the UK.
A nut and bolt rebuild commenced.
The hubs are made of magnesium and impossible to replace. I remember the splindles were seized in the bearings and the bearings seized in the hubs.
The rear shock was like a pogo stick so that went off to falcon shocks for a rebuild.
The front forks were rebuilt .
The rear mudguard had , had a chunk cut out of it , so i had to reshape it to make it look good.I also reupholstered the seat and fitted new tyres. I found a GasGas pro air filter fitted.
Everything as recoated and painted and once finished it looked great.
TIPS--
1--On all DG350 the clutch plates do stick together and they dont seperate easily . Having learnt from this on several occasions i now cable tie my clutch lever to the bars when its in the garage.This will save you hours. Note this or regret !
2---The swinging arm spindle is very hard to get out. It seizes in the frame. Extreme heat to release is the only answer.
A nut and bolt rebuild commenced.
The hubs are made of magnesium and impossible to replace. I remember the splindles were seized in the bearings and the bearings seized in the hubs.
The rear shock was like a pogo stick so that went off to falcon shocks for a rebuild.
The front forks were rebuilt .
The rear mudguard had , had a chunk cut out of it , so i had to reshape it to make it look good.I also reupholstered the seat and fitted new tyres. I found a GasGas pro air filter fitted.
Everything as recoated and painted and once finished it looked great.
TIPS--
1--On all DG350 the clutch plates do stick together and they dont seperate easily . Having learnt from this on several occasions i now cable tie my clutch lever to the bars when its in the garage.This will save you hours. Note this or regret !
2---The swinging arm spindle is very hard to get out. It seizes in the frame. Extreme heat to release is the only answer.
after
![Picture](/uploads/8/0/6/7/8067174/1352191903.jpg)
after
![Picture](/uploads/8/0/6/7/8067174/1352191924.jpg)
The only problem was ....................................that it was now to good to ride , so i tricked around the woods once or twice on it and popped it back in the garage.
merlin dg350 1986 - no photos taken
merlin dg350 1985 gallach replica - before !
The above photos were from the seller in Spain.
the moment it arrived
![Picture](/uploads/8/0/6/7/8067174/1352192085.jpg)
Id never seen one of these bikes before let alone ridden one. Never the less, i sent a not inconsiderable sum to Spain and then crossed my fingers that the couriers would get the bike to me.
This was the moment i got it home after collecting it locally from the couriers.
This was the moment i got it home after collecting it locally from the couriers.
![Picture](/uploads/8/0/6/7/8067174/1352192106.jpg)
She reminds me of a voluptuous woman !
![Picture](/uploads/8/0/6/7/8067174/1352192125.jpg)
Good original condition
![Picture](/uploads/8/0/6/7/8067174/1352192144.jpg)
Look at that grin. My Christmas's had all come at once !
After - complete
![Picture](/uploads/8/0/6/7/8067174/1352192166.jpg)
After just completing the rebuild i took it out for a ride. Here are a few photos i took them and shortly afterwards