New Merida One-Sixty
Merida has a swag of new stuff including new geometry and an updated design on their Big Nine race hardtail and an all-new Big Trail Plus bike; you’ll find all the info here. But on the long travel front, they have completely overhauled their One-Sixty platform.
For 2017 the One-Sixty moves from their short-link VPK design to a comparatively simple single pivot suspension system with a floating lower shock mount. It’s offered with a carbon main frame and features geometry that’s in keeping with modern thinking.
As the name implies, there’s 160mm of rear travel but Merida now uses a 170mm fork. The head angle runs at 65.3 degrees and the chainstays are short at 430mm. It’s long in the reach too – 445mm in a medium for example – which allows the use of a short stem without feeling cramped. According to Merida the bottom bracket is ‘low but not too low’.
Aside from this the bike incorporates a whole range of new systems and standards. The back end is boost 148 which helped Merida reign in the chainstay length whilst maintaining clearance for big tyres. The shock features metric sizing with a trunnion mount; this reduces the overall length of the shock and allows for a low top tube with plenty of clearance.
In the carbon variant it’s pretty light too; Merida claims a weight of 2,500g for the frame without shock, thru-axle or seat collar. That’s about 2,980g with a piggyback shock, which is respectability light for a 160mm travel frame that’s capable of supporting a 170mm fork.
The One-Sixty 5000 shown here features a value-oriented spec with a RockShox Yari fork, SRAM NX running gear and a Merida branded dropper post. As pictured it weighs 13.8kg and sells for $4,499.
