Final 12 months, Merida revitalized its line up of path and enduro bikes with the launch of the 2023 Merida ONE-SIXTY and ONE-FORTY, the previous of which we overview right here within the 6000 Mannequin which retails at £4,600 (€5,760). Whereas the 2 are constructed across the identical entrance and rear triangles, completely different shock and fork specs change their intention between path and enduro, respectively.
Because the identify suggests, the ONE-SIXTY helps essentially the most rear wheel journey, coming in at 162mm when rolling on a 29″ wheelset, and 171mm when arrange in a combined wheel configuration; i.e. a 29″ entrance wheel and a 27.5″ rear wheel. Certainly, all 5 body sizes can change between these two configurations. The Further Brief, Brief and Mid sizes are shipped 29″/27.5″, whereas the Lengthy and Further Lengthy sizes are shipped with an entire 29″ wheelset.
We had been fairly enthusiastic about this bike when it launched. Save for the headset-routed cable routing, all the pieces about it gave the impression to be proper on the cash; the kinematic’s leverage curve is tailor-made to every body dimension, the dropper seat put up is infinitely adjustable between 30mm and 230mm, there’s a body storage compartment, loads of room for a good dimension water bottle contained in the entrance triangle, and the geometry is bang-up-to-date.
And, the value isn’t foolish.
2023 Merida ONE-SIXTY – The Tech Particulars
The 2023 Merida ONE-SIXTY delivers its rear wheel journey through a linkage-driven single-pivot design reliant upon plenty of levels of flex within the seatstays. Certainly, this can be a extra refined model of the P-FLEX system seen on Merida’s light-weight NINETY-SIX cross-country bike. As such, the bike has a one-piece swingarm, and there are eight pivots to keep up.
Merida has moved to the flex-pivot association for a similar causes many different manufacturers have over the previous couple of years; this methodology of delivering rear wheel journey does away with the bearings and {hardware} of a standard pivot, changing it with versatile seat stays. Thus, the body might be lighter, and with fewer pivots to watch for put on, long-term possession might be thought-about comparatively simpler and cheaper.
With weight being excessive on the record of priorities for XC and Downcountry bikes, use of a flex-pivot is frequent. Nevertheless, it’s nonetheless pretty uncommon to see its implementation on bikes operating greater than 140mm of rear wheel journey. Right here on the ONE-SIXTY, it’s compressing a 230mm x 65mm shock to ship 162mm or 171mm, depending on the rear wheel dimension.
Chances are you’ll query how robust the body might be given the inherent flex within the seat stays, particularly once you keep in mind there may be an aluminum body possibility along with the carbon body examined right here. On this regard, Merida went above and past; each frames meet the Class 5 ASTM necessities, and are thus accepted to be used in “excessive leaping or downhill grades on tough trails at speeds in extra of 40 km/h (25 mph)”. You will have thought {that a} given for a motorbike with this a lot journey, however it could shock you to study that plenty of enduro bikes are solely accepted to Class 4; the 2022 Canyon Attempt and SCOR 4060 LT being two such examples. You may study extra about this classification system at astm.org.
ONE-SIXTY Geometry & Kinematic
The Merida ONE-SIXTY has a comparatively progressive set of geometry figures; a 79° seat tube angle is paired with a 64° head angle. Seat tubes aren’t the shortest we’ve ever seen, however on condition that the entire bikes profit from the Merida Staff TR Dropper seat put up which is infinitely adjustable between 30mm and 200mm, that’s form of a moot level. It provides riders freedom optimize their bum-to-saddle clearance to inside a single millimeter.
Complementing which can be some beneficiant attain figures, stretching from 415mm on the X-Brief, as much as 525mm on the X-Lengthy. It was Merida’s intention to permit riders to decide on their body dimension based mostly on how roomy they need the cockpit to really feel with out an excessive amount of concern for standover top. The advice is that, should you discover you’re between sizes, you must go for the shorter possibility if you would like a extra agile, snappier journey really feel, or the longer possibility should you’re seeking to prioritize stability.
Brief head tubes make for low stack heights, giving riders the liberty to mess around with a variety of journey heights. The steerer tube on our check bike was mistakenly reduce a bit too quick; manufacturing bikes will see longer steerer tubes and extra spacers (25mm) beneath the stem than what might be seen right here (15mm).
In its mixed-wheel configuration, the BB is a bit on the excessive aspect with a 7mm drop, however a 27.5mm drop in 29″/29″ is pretty commonplace.
Whereas Merida didn’t go for a proportional method to chainstay size, they did choose to tailor the leverage curve of every body dimension by way of delicate variations within the size of the highest tube shock mount tab, and thus the place the shock sits throughout the entrance triangle.
Development, as measured from sag to 95% of the journey, is available in at 6%, 7.6%, 9.3%, 12.7% and 14.1% on the X-Brief, Brief, Mid, Lengthy and X-Lengthy frames, respectively. So, the bigger frames see extra development, in step with the chance they are going to be ridden by heavier riders requiring extra help. In all circumstances, the leverage curve turns into regressive towards bottom-out to assist riders squeeze each final millimeter out of the stroke.
Whereas all 5 fashions of the Merida ONE-SIXTY include air shocks, the model do say the leverage curve can work effectively with coil shocks. It’s essential to notice right here that the linkage makes use of a clevis hyperlink to drive the shock, however it’s comparatively quick at simply 50mm. Merida say they’ve been operating coil shocks on the ONE-SIXTY and have so far discovered no points there. Nevertheless, they do warn in opposition to use of the Fox DHX2 because it has a narrower damper shaft that might be extra susceptible to side-loading points.
Anti-squat within the climbing gears is simply north of 100% on the sag level, suggesting the shock would prolong slightly below pedal-induced accelerations. It then hits 100% a good chunk deeper into its journey. Given that you just’re prone to be pedaling up one thing steep within the 51T sprocket of the cassette, I assume it makes a variety of sense to optimize the linkage format to be impervious to pedal-induced accelerations at a degree within the journey that’s a bit deeper than sag.
Anti-rise dips under 100% at sag, indicating the suspension’s tendency to increase, reasonably than compress, once you yank on the rear brake. Merida says this gradual lower in anti-rise results in extra lively suspension and elevated traction whereas slowing down on tough terrain or after large drops.
Merida ONE-SIXTY Accoutrements
Certainly, the Merida ONE-SIXTY boasts numerous extra gadgets of kit which have broad enchantment. Beginning on the rear, we see a multi-tool held contained in the rear axle through a magnet. It’s house to 4/5/6 mm allen keys, crucial for tightening the pivot bolts. Then, we now have an unusual-looking rear brake mount with a finned design, meant to enhance warmth dissipation. Subsequent up is the inventory bolt-on rear fender that does an excellent job of stopping the “loam shelf”. There’s a longer bolt-on rear fender that may be bought individually.
A ribbed chainstay protector runs its full size serving to to maintain the bike quiet; the drive-side seat keep additionally will get a wee little bit of safety from chain slap, too. Not proven is a multi-tool hidden beneath the Merida Skilled SL saddle that’s house to 2/2.5/3/4/5/6/8mm allen keys, T10/15/25, in addition to a flat-head screwdriver.
Transferring to the entrance triangle, the carbon ONE-SIXTY will get a recess within the downtube for flush fitment of a FIDLOCK water bottle; all sizes can take at the least a 600ml bottle. Then, beneath the highest tube you’ll discover a bracket handy for storage of an innertube. On the headtube, you’ll see the cables run by way of the headset which, truthfully, we aren’t tremendous stoked on. That stated, they’re totally guided by way of tubes thereafter. On the alloy model, the cables are guided through foam inserts.
Final however not least, the downtube has a storage compartment. The inventory bikes are shipped with this empty, however there might be a software roll obtainable to buy individually (worth and contents of which we await). Our check bike was with out this software roll, so we now have no touch upon that.
2023 Merida ONE-SIXTY 6000 Evaluate
At 163cm tall, I’m an excellent candidate for both the X-Brief or Brief Merida ONE-SIXTY. In figuring out the suitable dimension for a given rider, Merida ask not just for their top, but in addition their leg size and arm size. My arms are barely longer than these of your common 163cm tall particular person. Due to that, Merida suggest the Brief over the X-Brief. Have been my arms 2 cm shorter, their suggestion could be the X-Brief.
So, I examined the Brief ONE-SIXTY with a 442mm attain, 410mm seat tube size, and within the mixed-wheel configuration wherein it’s shipped. That provides it an efficient 434mm rear-center size. For an acceptable match, I switched out the inventory 780mm bar for a 740mm RaceFace equal. I additionally switched out the Merida saddle for my most well-liked Ergon Girls’s SMC.
2023 Merida ONE-SIXTY 6000 Construct Elements
- Body Dimension: Brief
- Wheel Dimension: 29″ Entrance, 27.5″ Rear
- Fork: RockShox ZEB Choose, 170mm journey, 44mm offset
- Rear Wheel Journey: 171mm
- Shock: RockShox Tremendous Deluxe Choose+, DebonAir Progressive
- Drivetrain: Shimano SLX 12 Velocity w/ 32T Race Face Turbine Crankset
- Brakes: Shimano SLX 4 Piston
- Wheels: Merida Skilled TR with Shimano SLX Hubs
- Tires: Entrance – Maxxis Assegai 29″ x 2.5″, DD MaxxGrip, Rear – Maxxis Minion DHRII 27.5″ x 2.4″, DD MaxxTerra
- Handlebar: Merida Staff TR Alloy 780mm – XS/S 18mm rise, M/L/XL 25mm rise
- Seat Put up: Merida Staff TR
- Saddle: Merida Skilled SL with Multi-Software
- Precise Weight: 15.51 kg ~ 34 lbs in Brief (with out pedals)
- Value: £4,600 (€5,760)
I rode the ONE-SIXTY at 30% sag. The RockShox Tremendous Deluxe Choose+ Shock presents high-quality tuning of the rebound damping, whereas a two-position lever switches the compression damping between Open and Threshold. The tune of the shock is the very same for every body dimension; that’s the Mild Linear Rebound and L1 Compression tunes. The shock has the DebonAir Progressive air spring, with one token within the constructive chamber and 0 within the adverse.
I ran the RockShox ZEB Choose Fork on the producer’s suggestion of 42 PSI (for a 60 kg rider) with the compression damping totally open and the rebound at 15 clicks from closed. It took a while to dial in, and I did take away the fork’s solely quantity spacer in an try and get extra journey out of it. Some diving sensations on steep corners led me so as to add one click on of compression damping (of a potential 5).
My first journey aboard the Merida ONE-SIXTY was on the red-graded path heart tracks of Glentress the place I used to be, as you may think, reasonably over-biked. It did, nevertheless, give me an excellent understanding of how the bike performs whereas climbing hearth roads and steep, technical singletrack. The reply is, very effectively. The 79° seat tube angle places its rider in a dominating place over the underside bracket, so I felt no must slam the saddle ahead on its rails.
The bike has a impartial pedaling character, and feels fairly environment friendly despite its MaxxGrip entrance tire. Whereas suspension motion isn’t fully absent, it’s so minimal that I by no means actually felt the necessity to attain down for the shock’s threshold lever whereas climbing. Within the context of different experiences, I’d say the ONE-SIXTY presents up a extra impartial pedaling platform than the Vitus Sommet 297 (one other mixed-wheel enduro bike with 170mm journey), however isn’t fairly as environment friendly because the SCOR 4060 LT which was actually fairly spectacular on this division.
Within the seated pedalling place, I had no qualms with the match of the bike. It felt a bit extra upright and leisurely than some bikes on this class, seemingly due to that 79° SA and the 20mm rise bar.
Heading again down the hill, I famous the Merida ONE-SIXTY has nice potential to be a really quiet bike, a possible that’s maximized upon removing of the axle-housed software. Whereas it’s good to have the allen keys inside simple attain, the software does rattle round inside its magnetized house. I caught it in my hip pack.
Venturing onto the hand-cut trails of the valley, the bike was in its ingredient. Scuttling down my go-to check tracks, I used to be shortly capable of finding good tempo, an ideal indication that the setup was well-balanced. After taking part in round with bar-roll for a bit, I managed to get this bike performing actually, very well.
It has a definite journey high quality that’s someway very reassuring. The rear finish will not be essentially the most supple by any means, and will even be descried as a bit too supportive on the odd event, if such a factor exists. I ought to level out that I say that within the context of getting spent a month using the Hope HB.916 previous to counting on the Merida. The ONE-SIXTY’s plentiful mid-stroke help made the bike really feel very constructive in its suggestions, like its always telling you, “you bought this”, or “i’ve acquired your again”. It offers a safe platform to push in opposition to by way of the apex of turns once you’re actually pumping down by way of the bike to demand grip from the tires.
The ONE-SIXTY holds its personal by way of rock-strewn chunder-like sections the place you type of simply want to face on the bike and let the suspension do its factor. It rewards the rider’s belief in these conditions and is comparatively composed. It’s not fairly magic-carpet ranges of consolation, although, and that was evident on among the longer 7-8 minute runs. Provided that I weight simply 60 kg in full using package, it’s not outwith the realms of risk that the shock at the least is a bit over-damped. Whereas the bike’s leverage curve is size-adjusted, the damping will not be.
Below braking, the ONE-SIXTY appears to sit down excessive in its journey. I didn’t measure my precise Middle of Gravity top on this bike however, on condition that I may journey the X-Brief or the Brief, I’d hazard a guess it’s barely decrease than the 640mm CoG the Brief body’s suspension kinematic is optimized round. Once I suppose that by way of, it comes as no actual shock that the bike feels tall beneath braking. And, i’m not suggesting that’s a foul factor, however it did take a bit getting used to on the primary few runs, forcing me to drop the heels extra to place my weight decrease within the bike.
Regardless of that sensation, the rear-end tracked very effectively by way of the tough stuff and my toes had been persistently planted the place they need to be – on the pedals. Actually, that’s not at all times the case. Flat pedals at all times uncover a mis-behaving rear-end, however on this case, i’m happy to report nothing however nice traction that would actually be relied upon. Whereas the shock might have been extending a bit beneath braking, the suspension was clearly nonetheless capable of handle bumps and holes to maintain its rider feeling in management.
The mid-stroke help proved helpful for accessing bonus strains; you recognize, those the place it’s a must to pull tight out of a nook to enter the subsequent early, and as excessive as potential. The bike’s long-ish attain of 442mm (for me) did restrict its playfulness in sure conditions, although, and I used to be largely simply blissful to journey with dedication to the usually rougher foremost strains. On steep, fall-line trails, I used to be a cheerful rider with the 64° head tube angle displaying me loads of entrance tire to steer by way of some tight turns.
In larger compressions, the Merida didn’t hand over its 171mm journey very simply. On most rides, I discovered I used to be lacking out on 1-2mm stroke, and on just one event did I see that the o-ring had been pushed to the total 65mm. That stated, I by no means really felt it backside out whereas I used to be using, testomony to the standard of the shock’s hydraulic bottom-out management.
To be honest, whereas I do applaud Merida for investing in high quality, fit-for-purpose tires on the ONE-SIXTY, the DoubleDown entrance tire might be overkill for me. If it had been my bike, i’d change that out for a extra supple EXO+, or perhaps a Continental Kryptotal Enduro tire which has develop into a favourite of mine over the past 8 months. I’d most likely additionally shove a CushCore Professional insert within the rear and drop the PSI for added consolation.
Whereas I’d fortunately race this bike on the UK enduro circuit for a season, I’m curious as to how it will journey with a RockShox Tremendous Deluxe Coil Shock. I’d additionally have an interest to learn the way a lot a customized damper tune on this air shock would enhance journey consolation.
2023 Merida ONE-SIXTY Execs
- Reassuring, responsive ride-feel with plentiful constructive suggestions
- Simple to journey with good tempo
- Packed filled with helpful body options
- Enduro race-worthy spec
2023 Merida ONE-SIXTY Cons
- Over-damped for the lighter rider
- Cables are routed by way of the headset
Pricing & Availability
At £4,600 (€5,760), the 2023 Merida ONE-SIXTY 6000 isn’t capable of compete with the direct-to-consumer manufacturers akin to Canyon and YT, however you’ll be hard-pushed to discover a Class 5 ASTM Licensed carbon enduro bike packing as many helpful options as this one. It’s price mentioning right here that this full bike prices solely £125 greater than a Trek Slash C frameset. That stated, whereas Trek supply a lifetime guarantee on that body, Merida can solely supply a 5-12 months guarantee on the ONE-SIXTY.
Whereas it’s by no means going to tremendous simple spend to spend £4,600, it does fetch you a wheel size-adjustable bike of an inexpensive weight with acceptable construct elements; a motorbike that is able to go racing from the off. I consider the Merida ONE-SIXTY could be an ideal bike for the overwhelming majority of enduro riders, requiring no apparent and instantly required part adjustments. That’s to be applauded.
There’s fairly a big hike in worth shifting from the 2023 Merida ONE-SIXTY 6000 reviewed right here to the ONE-SIXTY 8000 mannequin (above) which retails at £6,600. Element upgrades are important, although; so as of significance, it fetches you a RockShox Tremendous Deluxe Final Shock and ZEB Final Fork, a SRAM GX Eagle AXS Drivetrain with X1 Carbon Cranks (should you’re into that), a Race Face Turbine R30 Wheelset and Shimano XT Brakes. For more information on pricing and specification for the entire ONE-SIXTY and ONE-FORTY vary, head to the Merida Bikes web site.
