These two bikes are said to represent the most adjustable and radically configured mountain bikes Merida has ever built. They feature geometry straight from the long, low, slack playbook, suspension designed to check all the boxes, and a host of neat touches aimed at making the bikes as adaptable and easy to ride as possible. The One Sixty and One Forty share the same alloy or carbon frames, with the differences in the shocks changing the travel, while the build kits define the riding characteristics of the two bikes. The Merida One Sixty is a full-bore enduro bike, with 162mm (29in) or 171mm (header) of rear wheel travel, paired with 170mm 38mm forks. The Extra-short, Short and Medium bikes will ship as a mullet, while the Long and Extra-long bikes will be 29ers on the shop floor. The Merida One Forty is a modern trail bike, with 143mm of rear travel (153mm if running as a mullet), with 150mm 35 or 36mm forks attached to the head tube. The bikes will be available as standard like the 29ers. Merida has developed a sizing system, called the Agilometer, for the bikes, combining short seat tubes and long stack heights, allowing you to choose a long and stable bike without compromise, or opt for a shorter, more agile bike if you you wanted It is combined with Merida’s adjustable dropper, with an adjustable stroke of up to 230 mm. The small orange string is at the heart of the dropper’s adjustability. Paul Box / Merida Both bikes use Merida’s new FAST suspension linkage, with size-specific kinematics to better suit riders of different heights.
Merida One Sixty and One Forty shared frame details
The One Sixty and One Forty share the same frames, with the One Sixty getting a longer 65mm shock, while the One Forty gets a 57.5mm travel shock. It is then combined with longer or shorter forks. Merida uses CF4 carbon and LITE aluminum for both frames. They share the same suspension geometry and feel, but the carbon model has a little more flexibility in its offerings, as well as lighter weight. Carbon models benefit from internal frame storage, in the form of a long sleeve that opens into the down tube via the ‘Merida service port’, which is also used to access internal cable routing under the BB. There’s also a pair of tabs near the front shock mount for extra storage. Hidden in the down tube is a roll for pump, tool and repair kit. Not for everyday use, but handy in an emergency. Paul Box / Merida Aluminum bikes access the internal routing at the same point, but a smaller hole is used and no internal storage is offered. All frames use the Wireport headset, where the wires enter the frame under the stem, reducing the number of holes needed in the frame tubes. Carbon frames benefit from routing with full internal sleeves, while aluminum bikes’ inner tubes and cables are foam-covered to prevent rattle. Internal cable routing with sleeves does not rattle. Paul Box / Merida The cables and hoses going to the rear axle go through the main rear axle. In this way, Merida has minimized cable growth as the bike moves through its ride. This improves mechanical gear reliability and reduces suspension wear and interference. Running the rear brake hose (and transmission cable if needed) through the main pivot reduces drag, which in turn keeps everything smooth and more reliable. Paul Box / Merida The pivot bolts are heavily tightened by Torx 30 bolts accessible from the off-bike side for ease of maintenance. The rear axle lever can pop out of the axle, revealing a combination 4mm, 6mm and T30 bit. The rear pivots are protected by an integrated fender, while the bolt holes on the seat bridge and inside the seats are there to accept a longer version of the fender, which will add splash protection to the rider as well. A stock mini fender protects the bearings, but there is a longer, aftermarket option that screws into these holes. Paul Box / Merida Chain protection and chain guides on all bikes offer safety and silence on the trail. The down tube is also protected by rubber bumpers along most of its length. Merida has built the frames to withstand category 5 testing. This basically means extended bike park use. Given the build kits on the One Sixty, Merida offers a five-year warranty on the larger bikes. The One Forty comes with a lifetime warranty with the original owner.
Suspension details Merida One Sixty and One Forty
Merida has used a flexstay design for the rear suspension, where the rear seat and chainstays are flexibly integrated, replacing a rear pivot. A connecting link drives a shock that sits under the top tube. This, according to Merida, improves rigidity and reliability while reducing required maintenance. Merida says the system has been modified from that found on the Ninety-Six XC bike to reduce the angular change between struts, further reducing stresses and minimizing the effect of flex on suspension feel. There is room for a shock and a decent sized bottle. Paul Box / Merida While carbon is known for its ability to bend safely in this way, Merida says the lower angular change also allows this design to be used safely and reliably with alloy frames. The kinematics of each size are tuned for intended rider weights and styles, and coil shocks can also be used on the bikes if desired. In the One Sixty, Merida has increased the evolution of its kinematic suspension to work better with high volume air and coil shocks. Bigger frames also have more progress. This is because the average rider will either be heavier or prone to more aggressive riding, and therefore increased bottom-out protection is required. Adding more progression to larger bikes provides more support at the end of their travel or in more extreme situations. In an XS size, the progress is about 6 percent, while in XL it is about 14 percent. Suspension anti-squat is set at about 105 percent at sag, dropping below 100 percent almost midway through the bike’s travel. This, according to Merida, gives it a solid pedaling platform at or just below the drop, before a more responsive and less feedback mid-to-late stroke. It’s a similar story with anti-lift – shock braking is in the suspension. In the early to mid-travel, such as on steep or fast-flowing trails, there is little resistance to climb, helping the bike stay level with braking. However, deeper into the bump, the windbreak drops, enhancing grip and suspension elasticity.
Merida One Sixty and One Forty geometric details
Merida may have had a reputation for slightly conservative geometries, but that goes out the window with the new One Sixty and One Forty, with completely progressive shapes used on both bikes. The brand didn’t want to compromise on fit and so has built its geometry around short seat tubes, low stack heights and longer distances. The idea is that riders with shorter legs can choose between “regular” sized frames and ones that are a bit longer without suffering from the too-high front end. Taller riders benefit from long dropouts and a long dropper, while spacers and taller bars can be used to compensate for the lower front end. The very short and short bikes have an 18mm riser, while the medium, long and extra long have a 30mm riser. Merida hopes its new size philosophy will offer as many bike size options as possible to a wide range of riders. Merida This idea is called the “Agilometer” sizing system. Riders towards the middle of the height curve can choose from three sizes: smaller, more flexible bikes, a ‘normal’ size bike or a very stable longer bike. Key to all of this is Merida’s Team TR dropper post. It’s drop adjustable, from 30mm to 230mm, meaning most riders should be able to drop the post as low as possible on the frame, allowing for the most drop possible for their desired saddle height. Merida’s Limotec dropper has adjustable travel, from a 30mm drop to a whopping 230mm. Paul Box / Merida The dropper used in the One Sixty has a zero offset head, while the One Forty has a 10mm offset head to maintain the desired geometry. The flip chip on the suspension linkage, labeled 27.5-inch or 29-inch, is there primarily to give the same geometry between mullet and full 29-inch bikes, rather than being a geometry-adjusting feature. Want to run the One Sixty as a mullet? No problem. Paul Box / Merida It can be used to change geometry, although you may run into problems with tire and crank clearance, as well as change the desired ride characteristics of the bike. The geometries for both bikes are shown below.
Merida One Sixty and One Forty specification details
Large forks feature on the One Sixty. Paul Box / Merida
Because both bikes share frames, most of the differences between the bikes come from the build kits. As you’d imagine, the enduro-focused One Sixty comes with heavier kit, while the One Forty is lighter, with more trail and mountain-oriented components. The One Sixty comes with 38mm forks from Fox and RockShox, with 170mm of travel. They also feature piggy-back shocks, which have extra oil volume to better deal with heat build-up on long descents. Instead, the One Forty bikes have 35 or 36mm stanchion forks from both brands, with 150mm of travel, except for the entry-level bike, which has a 140mm fork. These bikes have single box shock absorbers which are lighter in weight. In terms of rubber, the One Sixty gets DoubleDown carcass tires from Maxxis – an Assegai up front and a Minion DHRII out back. These are there to provide maximum traction, durability and cushioning at the expense of…
