1978 Merlin Honda

Here's a picture of John Banks with the Merlin Honda made in about 78. I've got a NOS chassis kit that I'm going to build but don't know what the wheels are. Can anyone help?

Many thanks.

Tom Beckett

tombeckett@fourstrokespares.sagehost.co.uk

15 November 2000

I don't know whether you know the history of the Merlyn. The bikes were built by CRD Engineering in Essex for John Banks. Their main product at that time was a Formula 3 racing car called the Merlyn.

John had a relation that worked in the factory who spoke to management about developing a bike for him. The factory made this bike using their own technology, looking from the outside of the bike industry in.

Therefore, some of their innovations were alien to the norm - the original swinging arm for one being apparently quite a lightweight piece of the kit. John wasn't that keen on out of the norm practices and had someone make up a heavier duty arm without even trying the original. He also went off the boil with the factory for various reasons, one being that he always expected them to jump through hoops for him when he demanded - like 3 o'clock on a Friday afternoon when they didn't jump to his song he didn't like it.

After all he was a world class rider !! 

Although he didn't realize it but his business was only a drop in the ocean for CRD -  their money was made in cars. Another reason I've heard is that CCM paid him £500 a
ride not to make his own bikes. No one seems to know how many machines were made although I suspect there were only about five.

The one I have I bought direct from the factory about 3 years ago.  I tracked them
down to ask questions about the Merlyn bikes and as it transpired they just happened to have a new frame kit still thrown in a container out the back. I was round there like a shot

John rode the bikes I think for the first time in Switzerland where he won. I don't know much more about his riding of them only that being hard on machines he constantly broke gearboxes. I think someone said he even had stronger boxes made up to try and stop this.

As I said previously I'm trying to identify the seat, wheels and I think the forks are Marzocchi. If anyone else has one then any help in the build wouldn't go amiss.

By the way the bikes were made around 1978-ish. In 79 he had CCM make the JBR
with the xr500 engines in them.

regards
tom

Here are a couple of photos of John at the Swiss meeting on the Honda.