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What do you guys recon on this twinshock 350cc?. It's a Merlin built in Spain in 1985 with a cagiva 350cc engine . All of their adult bikes came with the same Cagiva engines. Your comments please.

The Mecatecno's were built in Spain and originally started making kids bikes. They then progressed onto Adult machines. Mecatecno were formed when 3 mechanics / engineers left the manufacturer Derbi and wanted to start up on their own. Steve Jewitt was the UK importer and about 10 or so years ago he was trying to sell the company , perhaps he saw the main company going bust. In any case i had a friend down south called Richard Pelling. He has sadly passed away , but his passion was Mecatecnos as Ossa's He was in contact with Steve re taking over the importership just before he died. Richard sponsored Graham Arnold , Wayne Holdsworth and Richard Allen on Mecatecno's Skywalkers. They had big 325cc engines made in their own factory which is quite impressive for such a small factory I have managed to get hold of a Skywalker.I've got 2 sets of wheels for it. Traditional spoked wheels and crazy 3 spoke mag wheels like my Merlin. Its in bits at the mo , but in about 6 months it should be running and back together mint. Here's a picture of what it should look like once finished.

I think this bike looks awesome . Mecatecno were such a small company but somehow out of enthusiasm rather than business sense they made their own engine entirely. The piston was shared from a Bultaco 325 and the cases are all magnesium making them very light and fragile. Unfortunately the economic crisis is Spain in the lates 80's early 90's proved too much for them. RIP

Probably the only red 88 one in the country. Yes , parts are a little bit of a problem!

This is when bikes were bikes.... and we fell off more A good shot of Eddy Lejuene on his Merlin DG 350 FIUS for 1988 - (where's his glasses?)

If you saw them....you'll remember them !! For those interested in the unusual Merlin motorcycles, there is a new site to view and contribute to. Please upload any photos you have to this site along with any memories ,questions or contributions you have about these bikes. http://uk.groups.yahoo.com/group/merlinmotorcycles/ Thanks