Merida 2015 line up

We took the opportunity to head down to Nottingham to see Merida’s 2015 line up, there’s a very positive move towards trail orientated bikes that are looking to offer good value for money.

Both the One forty and One Sixty ranges are designed around virtual pivot points with longer top tubes and short stems/wide bars, good standover height and hydroformed tubing.

One Sixty

Proper popping colour scheme

Heading up the range is the One Sixty 900 which as the name suggests is a 160mm travel bike that looks destined for privateer enduro duties. The bike has a SRAM X01 1×11 drivetrain, Rockshox Pike and Monarch Plus suspension, a stealth Reverb and Shimano 203/180 XT brakes which means it should be good to race straight out of the box. All for £3250.

Debonair Monarch Plus

Stealth 700

For anyone who’s not feeling quick enough to carry off the 900′s colour scheme the One Sixty 700 is much more stealthy. £2,600 gets you a Marzocchi 350CR, Monarch RC3 Plus, Reverb, SRAM X1 1×11 and SLX brakes.

With espresso forks

One Forty

Two tone One Forty

More trail orientated is the One Forty range which is available at three price points. The top of the range 900 comes in at £3000 and has a 150mm Rockshox Pike, Fox Float CTD boost valve shock, X01 1×11 drivetrain and Shimano XT 180mm brakes.

700

The 700 model gets 150mm Fox 32 Floats and Float CTD shock, 2×10 Shimano XT drivetrain and XT 180 brakes and retails at £2,350.

500

There’s also an entry level bike; the 500 for £1600. This comes complete with a 140mm Rockshox Sector TK fork, Fox Float CTD,  3×10 Shimano deore drivetrain and Tektro Auriga brakes.

One Twenty

One Twenty 900

The One Twenty range has a more tradition XC or marathon focus. If you’re into long all day rides this is probably where you should be looking. The One Twenty 900 heads up the range with full Shimano 2×10 XT drivetrain and brakes and a 130mm Fox 32 Float CTD and Float CTD shock. Retail is £2,700

One Twenty 800

For £2,200 the 800 model sees a full SLX 2×10 drivetrain and 180mm brakes. The fork is a 130mm Float 32 Float Evolution with the same shock as the 900.

Neat routing

Big Nine

Pro and fast as..

In the hardtail range it’s possible to get a team spec carbon 29er that’s handily known as the, erm, Team. It’s kitted out with SRAM XX1, a SID XX 100mm fork and XX brakes. All this comes in at £4000.

Nearly as fast

The Big Nine 6000 is the more reasonably priced carbon hardtail in the mid pack of the range at £1850. A Shimano XT/SLX mixed 2×10 drivetrain, SLX brakes and a Rockshox SID RL 100mm fork make up the components.

Big Seven

27.5 hardtail

The 27.5 carbon comp range hits three price points at £1500, £1850, and the 7000 here £2,250.