Merida revived its off-road and enduro line last year with the release of the 2023 Merida ONE-SIXTY and ONE-FORTY, and here we’re looking at the first 6000 model, which retails for £4,600 (€5,760). While both are built around the same front and rear triangles, the different shock and fork characteristics change between trail and enduro respectively.
As the name suggests, ONE-SIXTY maintains a maximum rear wheel travel of 162mm rolling on a 29″ wheel set and 171mm in a mixed wheel configuration, i.e. a 29″ front wheel and a 27.5″ rear wheel. . In fact, all 5 frame sizes can be switched between these two configurations. Extra Short, Short and Medium come in 29″/27.5″, while Long and Extra Long come with a full 29″ wheelset.
We were very excited when this bike was released. Aside from running the cable to run the headset, everything seems to be worth the money; the lever kinematic curve is adapted to every frame size, the seatpost is continuously adjustable from 30mm to 230mm, there is room for frame storage, plenty of space in the front triangle for a good sized water bottle, and the geometry is fantastic – up to date.
The 2023 Merida ONE-SIXTY provides rear wheel travel with a linkage-actuated, single-pivot design that relies on some degree of seat stay flex. This is actually a more sophisticated version of the P-FLEX system used on the Merida NINETY-SIX light trail bikes. Thus, the bike has a one-piece swingarm and eight pivots that need to be serviced.
Merida switched to a flexible articulation system for the same reasons many other brands have over the past few years; this method of providing rear wheel travel eliminates the bearings and hardware of the traditional pivot and replaces it with flexible seat stays. As a result, the frame can be lighter, and with fewer hinges to control wear, long-term ownership can be considered relatively easier and cheaper.
Because weight is a big deal on XC and Downcountry bikes, the use of flex joints is common. However, its use on a bicycle with more than 140 mm of rear wheel travel is still uncommon. On the ONE-SIXTY, he compresses a 230mm x 65mm shock to get 162mm or 171mm, depending on the size of the rear wheel.
You might wonder how strong the frame is with the inherent flexibility of the seat stays, especially when you consider that there are aluminum frame options in addition to the carbon frame tested here. Merida goes above and beyond in this regard: both frames are ASTM Type 5 compliant and are therefore approved for “extreme jumping or descents over rough terrain at speeds in excess of 40 km/h (25 mph). You might think this is a given for a bike with so much travel, but you might be surprised to learn that many enduro bikes are only Class 4 certified; The 2022 Canyon Strive and SCOR 4060 LT are two such examples. You can learn more about this classification system at astm.org.
The Merida ONE-SIXTY has improved geometry, with a 79° seat tube angle paired with a 64° head tube angle. The seat tube isn’t the shortest we’ve seen, but that’s a bit of a moot considering all bikes feature a Merida Team TR Dropper seatpost that’s infinitely adjustable from 30mm to 200mm. This gives riders the ability to optimize seat-to-gap clearance to the millimeter.
In addition to this, there are several large offsets, from 415mm on the X-Short to 525mm on the X-Long. Merida’s goal is for riders to be able to choose a frame size based on how spacious they want the cab to be without worrying too much about standover height. The advice is that if you are in between sizes, you should go for the shorter option if you want a quicker and more agile ride feel, or the shorter option if you want stability to be a priority for the long options.
The short head tube lowers the stack height, giving riders the freedom to experiment with different ride heights. The steering column on our test bike was erroneously shortened; the stock bike will have a longer head tube and more spacers (25mm).
In its mixed wheel configuration, the BB is slightly taller with a 7mm drop, but the 29in/29in 27.5mm drop is pretty standard.
Although Merida did not use a chainstay length scaling method, they chose to tailor the arm curve for each frame size with a slight difference in the length of the top tube shock mount that adjusts the shock within the front triangle. position.
Progress for the X-Short, Short, Mid, Long and X-Long frames, measured from sag to 95% travel, is 6%, 7.6%, 9.3%, 12.7% and 14.1%, respectively. As a result, larger frames will have more progress, which aligns with the likelihood of them being ridden by heavier riders who need extra support. In all cases, the lever curve regresses downward to help the rider squeeze every last millimeter out of travel.
While all five Merida ONE-SIXTY models come with air dampers, the brand says the leverage curve works well with spring dampers. It is important to note that a linkage fork is used here to drive the shock absorber, but it is relatively short – 50 mm. Merida said they have run shocks on the ONE-SIXTY and haven’t found any problems yet. However, they caution against the Fox DHX2, which has a narrower shock shaft that may be more susceptible to sideload issues.
At the moment of slack, the booster gears resist slack by just over 100 percent, indicating a slight increase in impact when accelerating due to the pedals. He then reaches 100% further on his journey. Given that you’ll likely be pedaling on a 51T sprocket near the cassette, I think it makes sense to optimize the linkage location so it isn’t affected by pedal-induced acceleration at a point of travel deeper than depression.
Anti-lift drops below 100 percent at sag, indicating that when you pull on the rear brake, the suspension tends to stretch rather than compress. Merida says this gradual reduction in climbing resistance results in more active suspension and more traction when decelerating after rough terrain or big drops.
In fact, the Merida ONE-SIXTY has a plethora of highly sought-after accessories. Starting at the rear, we see the multitool held inside the rear axle with magnets. It contains a 4/5/6mm hex wrench, which is needed to tighten the hinge bolt. Then we have an unusual looking rear brake mount with fins designed to improve heat dissipation. Next up is the stock bolt-on rear fender that does a good job of keeping the “loam struts” at bay. There is a longer bolt-on rear fender that can be purchased separately.
Ribbed chainstay protectors run the entire length to help keep the bike quiet; the drive-side stays also offer some protection from chain slams. Not shown is the multi-tool hidden under the Merida Expert SL saddle, which contains 2/2.5/3/4/5/6/8mm hex wrenches, T10/15/25 and flat head screwdrivers.
Moving on to the front triangle, the carbon fiber ONE-SIXTY has a groove in the downtube for flush-fitting FIDLOCK water bottles; all sizes are suitable for a bottle of at least 600 ml. Then, under the top tube, you will find a holder for easy storage of the tube. On the head tube, you’ll see a headphone cable running through the headset, which we honestly don’t like very much. That is, they are then completely guided along the conveyor. In the alloy version, the cables run through foam inserts.
Last but not least, there is a storage compartment in the downtube. A standard bike comes with this empty, but tool rolls can be purchased separately (we’re waiting for prices and contents). Our test bike didn’t have this toolkit, so we can’t comment on it.
I am 163 cm tall and would be the perfect candidate for an X-Short or Short Merida ONE-SIXTY. When determining the correct size for a given rider, Merida asks not only for his height, but also for his leg length and arm length. My arms are a bit longer than the average 163 cm guy. That’s why Merida recommends Short over X-Short. If my arms were 2cm shorter they would recommend the X-Short.
So I tested the Short ONE-SIXTY with 442mm offset, 410mm seat tube and different wheel configurations. This gives it an effective rear center length of 434mm. For the fit, I swapped out the stock 780mm handlebar for a similar 740mm RaceFace handlebar. I also replaced the Merida saddle with my favorite women’s SMC from Ergon.
I ride a ONE-SIXTY with 30 percent sag. The RockShox Super Deluxe Select+ Shock provides fine-tuning of rebound damping, while a two-position lever switches compression damping between open and threshold. The shock melody is the same for each frame size, these are Light Linear Rebound and L1 Compression melody. The shock uses a DebonAir Progressive air spring with a flag in the positive chamber and a 0 in the negative chamber.
I run the RockShox ZEB Select Fork at the manufacturer’s recommended 42 psi (for a 60kg rider) with full open compression damping and 15 clicks of rebound. It took a while to dial in and I removed the single bulky fork shim in an attempt to get more travel out of it. Some feeling of immersion in tight corners made me add another click to the compression damping (probably 5).
My first ride on the Merida ONE-SIXTY was on the central red-graded track in Glentress, and as you can probably imagine, I rode there a lot. However, it gave me a good idea of how the bike would handle fire road climbs and steep technical singletracks. Answer: very good. The 79° seat tube angle puts the rider in a dominant position on the bottom bracket, so I didn’t feel the need to toss the saddle forward on the rail.
The bike has neutral pedaling characteristics and is reasonably efficient despite the MaxxGrip front tire. While not completely absent, the suspension movement is so minimal that I never felt the need to reach for the shock sills on uphill climbs. In the context of other experience, I would say that the ONE-SIXTY offers a more neutral pedaling platform than the Vitus Sommet 297 (another hybrid enduro bike with 170mm of travel), but it is not as efficient as the SCOR 4060 LT in this regard. Really impressed.
In the sitting position, pedaling, I had no doubts about the fit of the bike. It feels more upright and relaxed than some bikes in this class, probably thanks to the 79° SA and 20mm stem.
As I was descending, I noticed that the Merida ONE-SIXTY had a lot of potential to be a very quiet bike, and that potential was maximized by removing the axles. While it’s good to have a hex wrench within easy reach, the tool rattles in its magnetized housing. I stuffed it into my fanny pack.
Embark on the hand-paved trails of the valley, where cycling is in its element. Moving fast on my preferred test track, I was able to quickly find the right speed, which is a good sign that the setup is balanced. After playing barroll for a while, I managed to get the bike to work really, really well.
It has a unique ride quality that is very reassuring in some ways. The rear end is by no means the softest and perhaps even a bit too supportive in a weird situation, if there is one. I should note that I’m talking about spending a month riding the Hope HB.916 before Hope boarded Merida. The ONE-SIXTY’s rich mid-stroke support makes the bike feel very positive in its feedback, like it’s constantly telling you, “You got it” or “I’m rooting for you.” It provides a safe platform to get through the climax of the corner when you are really pumping the bike, demanding tire traction.
The ONE-SIXTY holds onto rocky, rumble-like sections where you just have to get on the bike and let the suspension do its thing. It rewards the rider for trust and relative composure in such situations. It’s not exactly the comfort of a flying carpet, which was evident on some of the longer 7-8 minute runs. Considering that I weigh only 60 kg in full gear, it is possible that the shock absorber is at least slightly overdamped. While the bike arm curve is tuned for size, the damping is not.
When braking, the ONE-60 has a lot of travel. I haven’t measured the actual center of gravity height of this bike, but given that I can ride both the X-Short and Short, I think it’s slightly below the 640mm CoG Short frame’s suspension kinematics, optimized for approx. When I think about it, it’s no wonder the bike feels high under the brakes. And I’m not saying it’s bad, but it took me a while to get used to during the first few rides, forcing me to drop my heels more to shift my weight onto the bike.
Despite that feeling, the rear end tracked well on bumpy roads and my feet stayed where they were supposed to be – on the pedals. To be honest, it wasn’t always like this. Flat pedals always bring out rear end misbehavior, but in this case, I’m happy to report that there’s nothing but great traction you can really rely on. While the dampers can expand slightly under braking, the suspension is clearly still capable of coping with bumps and pits, giving the rider a sense of control.
The move support proved useful for getting bonus lines; you know, the places where you have to pull hard from one corner to get to the next, as high as you can. However, the bike’s long 442mm reach (for me) really limits how much fun it can be in certain situations, and I’m mostly just happy to ride it on the usually rougher main trails. On steeper climbs, I was a happy rider, and the 64° head tube angle gave me enough front tires to get through some tight corners.
Under a lot of pressure, the Merida didn’t give up its 171mm of travel so easily. On most rides I found myself missing 1-2mm of travel, only once did I see the o-ring extended a full 65mm. However, I never felt it bottom out while riding, which is a testament to the quality of the shock’s hydraulic bottom control.
To be fair, while I applaud Merida for investing in quality, proper tires for the ONE-SIXTY, the DoubleDown front tire might be overkill for me. If this was my bike, I would switch to softer EXO+ tires or even Continental Kryptotal Enduro tires, which have become my favorites for the last 8 months. I would probably also put in a CushCore Pro insert in the back and lower the PSI for added comfort.
While I’d love to ride the bike for a season on the UK enduro circuit, I’m curious how it will ride with the RockShox Super Deluxe Coil Shock. I’m also curious to see how much custom shock tuning will improve riding comfort on this air shock.
The £4,600 (€5,760) 2023 Merida ONE-SIXTY 6000 can’t compete with consumer-facing brands like Canyon and YT, but you’d be hard-pressed to find an ASTM-certified Class 5 carbon enduro bike that packs like so same as this bike Useful feature. It’s worth noting here that this complete bike only costs £125 more than the Trek Slash C frame kit. However, while Trek offers a lifetime warranty on this frame, Merida can only offer a 5-year warranty on the ONE- SIXTY.
Spending £4,600 is no small feat, but you’ll get a bike with decent weight, adjustable size wheels and proper build components, a race-ready bike. I believe the Merida ONE-SIXTY will be a great bike for the vast majority of enduro riders without obvious and immediate component changes. This is worthy of applause.
From the 2023 Merida ONE-SIXTY 6000 reviewed here to the ONE-SIXTY 8000 (pictured above), which retails for £6,600, prices have jumped significantly. However, component updates make a big difference; in order of importance, you get RockShox Super Deluxe Ultimate Shock and ZEB Ultimate forks, a SRAM GX Eagle AXS drivetrain with X1 carbon cranks (if you like it), Race Face Turbine R30 wheels, and Shimano XT brakes. For more information on pricing and features across the ONE-SIXTY and ONE-FORTY range, visit the Merida Bikes website.
Jessie-Mae Morgan is the tech editor for Bikerumor in the UK and Ireland. For 4 years she has been writing about mountain biking and racing and all that weird and wonderful technology. Prior to that, she was a trainee at the Mountain Bike Center in Scotland, as well as a mountain bike coach and team leader in Tweed Valley.
Jessie-Mae lives in Innerleithen, Scotland and is often seen on enduro and downhill courses in and around the Glentress Trail Center. She competes regularly in enduro races at the national level and has recently competed on the world stage in some of the Enduro World Series.
For Bikerumor, Jessie-Mae tests the latest mountain bikes, equipment and gear so readers know what’s popular and what’s not.
Chris Akrigg has always been one of our favorite drivers that we love to watch. Seamlessly blending trials, MTB, BMX and other influences, he often makes the impossible possible…
Espresso, Olive, Red and Raw Silver complement the existing Wolf Tooth Black, Blue, Orange and Ultra Violet colors.
The new S-Works Recon SL features a number of upgrades, most notably weight reduction, an updated wider fit, and a more flashlight-like appearance. However, the shoe is still geared towards off-road performance but leans more towards gravel than anything else.
If you’re looking for a lightweight, comfortable gravel shoe that uses classic laces, then the Specialized Recon ADV is for you.
Are 3D printed carbon fiber bikes the future of cycling? It may be a while before we see mass production, but prototyping…
Mountain biker Anila McKenna shares a deeply personal story about how racism has affected her personally and professionally. This candid short film…
Ritchie’s next 50th Anniversary limited edition bike will be the Ultra hardtail mountain bike, which brings back the iconic red, white and blue team…
Post time: Mar-15-2023