This new 2024 Merida Silex gravel bike is quicker, extra succesful, and a significantly better trying bike than the unique Silex. Whether or not you journey quick gravel or head off on bikepacking adventures, the utterly revamped Silex may very well be an ideal match for you. And it’s simply as inexpensive as ever in full carbon and even cheaper in aluminum.
2024 Merida Silex versatile gravel bike
Actually, it’s so significantly better a gravel bike, Matej Mohorič already raced it to a UCI Gravel World Championship win simply over per week in the past.
And sooner or later earlier than we had an opportunity to place in some dusty kilometers on each new carbon and alloy gravel bikes.
The Merida group even additionally raced Badlands on it, too.
Whereas from the surface the brand new Silex appears to be like utterly completely different in comparison with its predecessor, a lot of the easy versatile idea stays. That is and has all the time been a do-it-all gravel bike with lengthy, steady geometry impressed by mountain bikes, and sufficient carrying capability for any sort of gravel rides. Some new gravel bikes have begun to distinguish themselves as both quick gravel race bikes or off-road bikepacking journey bikes. However the Merida Silex stays an all-rounder.
Race it, journey it to work, or head off on an journey.
What’s new?
The most important outdoors shift is the brand new look – eliminating the large headtube of the unique Silex. Merida says the Silex has been fairly well-liked for its versatility. However in addition they admit it’s been a little bit of an “ugly duckling” of their line-up. Two issues assist shrink that headtube.
First off, the brand new bike will get an all new longer fork. Now with a 415mm axle-to-crown (vs. earlier 398mm lengthy fork that glided by old skool CX fork size requirements), there’s elevated tire clearance. But additionally room to place a short-travel gravel suspension fork just like the Rudy in order for you down the road.
Second, is lowered rider place for a extra efficiency oriented bike match. Meaning on my Medium check bike, the 607mm Stack is sort of a bit decrease than earlier than, however the headtube size is now an affordable (and good trying) 170mm vs. the large 200mm of the OG Silex.
One other huge shift on these shorter headtubes, is inside cable routing. Using Merida’s Wire Port cable administration by means of the headset, brings compatibility with full 1-piece or 2-piece cockpit, or basic semi-internal bar & stem setups from FSA. It even works for a mechanical internally routed dropper submit, in the event you’re into that sort of factor. And there’s routing for dynamo wiring down inside the appropriate fork leg.
The longer fork crown additionally means larger tire clearance – now formally 700 x 45mm at each ends, which is fairly conservative in our opinion. Additionally 42mm clearance with common full-coverage fenders.
New Tech Particulars
On the similar time, newly double dropped chainstays imply huge tires and 1x or 2x chainring choices. And there’s a detachable entrance derailleur mount and area for street compact chainrings. A brand new 27.2 seatpost clamp will get built-in. It’s now a wedge-style clamp tucked into the toptube from the highest. And the bike shifts to larger 180mm brake rotors on customary builds with in-built disc cooler warmth sinks on the carbon bike for additional braking consistency.
On the carbon frames, the principle bottle cage mount is now a flush-mount Fidlock setup, however you possibly can nonetheless run a daily cage in the event you favor. On the alloy body, it’s customary 3-bolts so you possibly can mount a cage excessive or low, or an Something cage (and even rear rack mounts). Plus, there’s one other regular bottle cage mount on the seattube, an adjunct cage mount below the again of the toptube, a set of toptube bag mounts up high behind the stem, and one other set of mounts below the downtube. The brand new full carbon fork additionally brings 3-pack something cage mounts.
Each frames and the carbon fork are designed for full protection fenders, with the carbon body utilizing a bolt on seatstay bridge adapter.
Gravel Journey- & Race-Prepared Geometry
The brand new Silex will get a 1.5° slacker 69.5° headtube in comparison with the unique Silex, whereas the seattube is now 0.5° steeper at 74.5°. Mixed with greater than a centimeter lengthy body Attain and the identical 430mm chainstays, the brand new gravel bike has greater than 2cm longer wheelbases throughout all body sizes.
That longer wheelbase and the elevated stability over free surfaces, was apparently the only largest deciding issue for Matej Mohorič selecting the brand new Silex to race Gravel Worlds over a extra racing-focused street, all-road or gravel bike.
It’s nonetheless a comparatively upright place, however the Medium & Massive sized bikes I attempted each featured virtually 2cm decrease body Stack vs. the unique. You possibly can nonetheless get a cushty upright place. However now it’s a greater compromise for riders on the lookout for a extra performance-focused match on the bike too.
How mild are the brand new gravel bikes – in carbon or alloy?
Merida’s new gravel bike is available in both carbon or aluminum. Neither are ultralight, however constructed for consolation and sturdiness. The Silex CF carbon body is claimed at 1220g or the Silex LITE aluminum body at 1900g. Each share the identical full carbon Silex fork at a claimed 540g. So, that’s simply an additional 680g for the alloy bike.
And only a half kilo distinction in the true world on my scale.
2024 Merida Silex – Pricing, Choices & Availability
The brand new Merida Silex is offered in 6 full bike builds – 3 in carbon and one other 3 in aluminum.
The entry into the carbon bike prices simply £2250 / 2700€ for the 2024 Merida Silex 4000, utilizing a low-cost 2×10 Shimano GRX groupset to maintain prices low. A £3000 / 3600€ Silex 7000 steps that as much as the wide-range new GRX 1x 12-speed group.
Then, on the foolish extravagant stage, there’s a £8750 / 10,500€ Silex 10k that goes all-in with a full SRAM Crimson x Eagle AXS construct together with a powermeter crankset, a AXS dropper submit and Reynolds Black Label carbon wheels. It’s a ginormous leap from that GRX construct to Crimson on the identical frameset. And I might think about many budgets in between that would construct a extra logical & inexpensive Power AXS setup, however to every his personal, I suppose?
There’s additionally technically a 4th mysterious Silex 8000 mannequin that’s priced at £5250 / 6300€, however we don’t have any official particulars on that. Presumably, that’s an digital shift pricepoint, however the lack of particulars recommend a brand new groupset past what’s already obtainable from SRAM or Shimano. Hmmm…
Or in additional inexpensive aluminum…
On the way more inexpensive finish of the spectrum, a £1275 / 1500€ 2024 Merida Silex 200 will get the aluminum body and a brilliant budget-friendly Shimano Sora 2x9sp construct that would make an excellent commuter or entry into gravel.
At £1650 / 1980€, you get the Silex 400 although once more with that also inexpensive GRX 2×10 construct. Or at £2350 / 2820€ the Silex 700 will get the right new GRX 12-speed groupset.
It’s fairly fascinating to me that these 400/4000 & 700/7000 construct kits are an identical for each the aluminum/carbon body choices, letting the client see the true distinction in value. And it means you possibly can decide a carbon bike with an inexpensive construct or an alloy bike with a greater element spec for nearly the identical value, relying in your priorities.
Both manner, all six builds can be found now from Merida sellers. Simply FYI, the € pricing is particular to the Irish market, and can range a bit nation to nation throughout the EU.
First Gravel Trip Impressions?
I had an opportunity to get in a number of rides final week on each the brand new carbon Merida Silex 7000 and its alloy analogue Silex 700. Sharing the very same geometry, the identical spec, and surprisingly shut weights – each appeared like nice gravel bikes.
Keep tuned for an in depth overview breaking down the Silex and evaluating the 2 body choices, quickly…
