Ebay: Thorn Mercury 550S (?)

[humedavid]

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Thorn-Mercury-Reynolds-853-frame-Roholf-Hub-Gear-Touring-Bike/332559761353








Not mine. I hope someone will bid on it so I won't have to !
Looks great btw.

[sd]

Looks like a fair price. Odd he hasn't actually fitted a dynamo light.

[PH]

Looks like a fair price. Odd he hasn't actually fitted a dynamo light.

As the advert says the dynamo has been used to charge a battery pack, I'd have fitted a light as well, but it isn't unusual for those on long tours not to have that as a priority.
I does look a lovely bike, all the things I'd have chosen myself apart from the drop bars. Be interesting to see where the price goes, but IMO the start price is very realistic.

[Donerol]

I'm almost tempted by this - it's my dream bike with just the set-up and colour I'd choose. I'm pretty sure it's the right size, and as it's fairly local to me I expect I could arrange to try it out before bidding. BUT I think I would be too neurotic about using such a nice bike, or having it stolen. Also, my Calvinist upbringing rather balks at such self-indulgence!

[Neil Jones]

It's a gorgeous bike at a fair price, I reckon you should go for it. You only live once.

Neil

[Tiberius]

I'm almost tempted by this - it's my dream bike with just the set-up and colour I'd choose. I'm pretty sure it's the right size, and as it's fairly local to me I expect I could arrange to try it out before bidding. BUT I think I would be too neurotic about using such a nice bike, or having it stolen. Also, my Calvinist upbringing rather balks at such self-indulgence!

If you want it, and can afford it, then buy it.

At least give it a try (you say it's local to you) ....You say it's your dream bike, what are you waiting for ??!!.....

[StuntPilot]

Lovely Mercury! Doneral - if you don't self-indulge no one else will! I overbid a few years ago for my Raven Tour and won it at a great price. It has repaid me multiple times with happiness.

[jacklord1961]

Hi,I'm relatively new to this forum but just looking for  a bit of advice re sizing. The guy selling this Mercury says its a 520s but he's 5ft 8 with 30" inside leg which is same as myself but wouldn't this be a tad small? It is a brill bike and ditto sorely tempted!!!!

[macspud]

From the photos it does look to be a 520. Going by the frame sizing chart on page 26 of the mega brochure, you would seem to be bang in the middle of the height and leg length range for the 520 frame.

[PH]

Hi,I'm relatively new to this forum but just looking for  a bit of advice re sizing. The guy selling this Mercury says its a 520s but he's 5ft 8 with 30" inside leg which is same as myself but wouldn't this be a tad small? It is a brill bike and ditto sorely tempted!!!!

Sizing guides can be pretty good, but it's even better to compare to an existing bike if you have one you're comfortable on.
We're all a bit different, not just in size but also in preferences, I'm pretty happy on a range of sizes as long as I can get the relationship between BB and saddle setback right and even this can be tuned with a setback seatpost.  Others I know can't get comfortable on a bike where the reach is a cm or two different, which doesn't bother me at all.  Also worth noting that anything with a EBB will effectively have a change of geometry every time to adjust the chain, doesn't bother me on the Mercury's half size EBB, but on a full throw one I could only ever use a portion of it.

[jacklord1961]

Thanks PH. I've recently acquired a raven sports tour with an alfine hub which is a great bike but would really like to have a Rholoff to tackle steeper hills.The one I bought off eBay is immaculate and the sizing is 500l but unsure how that would compare to this mercury.Tbh think I've shrunk with age,just re measured at 5  7.5" 29" inside leg so as long as I can MBE increase the seatpost and set it back a little,its a possibility,really appreciate your advice thanks JL

[PH]

Good luck if you go for it, unless the price goes silly it could be a bargain, I just paid almost that much for a frameset and a couple of bits!

[jacklord1961]

Hi Mac ,and PH thanks for all your input on this it really does seem a nice bike,poss worth a punt unless price goes crazy cheers Jl

[jacklord1961]

Sadly outbid ,hopefully it was someone from this forum  .hey ho my last bid 1750 but pipped at 1800 so someone has a nice bike .I may consider converting my Raven from Alfine to Rohloff;) just wondering how much a bike shop would charge as my maintenance skills are sadly lacking,either that or checking eBay for that third bike lol

[Donerol]

Well, it wasn't me - I decided I didn't want it. I already have a Raven Tour and would prefer a lighter deraileur bike for faster summer touring. In any case, that Mercury had been used on a long tour with camping gear and a kickstand.