A pair weeks in the past, Merida debuted their all-new do-it-all, reasonably priced One-Twenty mountain bike. It’s a no-nonsense 29er path bike with (a bit confusingly) 130mm of journey entrance and rear, and full bike costs from as little as 2280€. I had the possibility to trip the brand new bike over the course of 5 powerful days within the UK at a superb enduro racing occasion that pushed the bike to its limits, and perhaps a bit past.
It’s clearly a motorcycle that may deal with the whole lot out of your native singletrack loops to a full-on underbiking on technical enduro monitor. Plus, it received’t break the financial institution…
2024 Merida One-Twenty 130mm alloy mountain bike
Merida’s One-Twenty retains its category-defining middle-of-the-road identify, 5 generations in – even when it has grown in capabilities and journey over the past 15 years. To Merida, One-Twenty signifies that house between XC & Enduro racing – a candy spot for the path driving most common mountain bikers really trip. For those who aren’t racing XC you most likely don’t want a weight-weenie cross-county bike. And when you aren’t actually racing for the enduro podium, pedaling round on a long-travel gravity-inspired machine can be overkill.
Trendy succesful geometry and 130mm of journey from a 29er will get you the whole lot in between. And to be sincere, you may most likely dabble in a little bit of racing on both XC or EN excessive if you wish to push the boundaries. I actually did, and got here away with a smile on my muddy face.
My ideas on the brand new 2024 One-Twenty
I really rode the earlier Merida One-Twenty when it debuted 5 years in the past. And I got here away impressed with the potential of that short-travel 120mm path bike with a bit of contemporary geometry and a 130mm Pike fork up entrance. However not solely does this new bike get a bit extra journey out again.
It additionally will get far more progressive geometry – 1.3° slacker head angle, 3° steeper seattube, and a 3cm longer Attain in my dimension Giant/Lengthy with the identical 435mm chainstays.
The brand new path bike additionally will get a simplified single-pivot suspension design with flexing alloy seatstays, that’s certain to make service less complicated. And the brand new horizontal shock place makes room for two water bottles and a mini instrument strap, collectively an important increase for all-day epic rides.
In my thoughts, the inner cable routing by means of the headset is a wash. Certain it makes for a ‘cleaner-looking’ cockpit, however it’ll price you extra to switch that headset down the highway in a couple of years.
Weight-wise, the top-spec Giant/Lengthy One-Twenty 700 I rode is 15kg, just about precisely the identical +/- 100g because the equally NX-spec’d alloy bike I rode 5 years in the past. What this new one saves in simplicity, it just about provides again in beefier, extra succesful elements. A stable transfer in my thoughts. However, previously there had been a 12.8kg carbon model. That lighter possibility was much more costly, however now you don’t get the selection, even when you’ve got the finances. That actually makes this a extra accessible bike to the lots, however it should by no means be a path bike for weight weenies.
2024 Merida One-Twenty 700: First Rides
The particular bike I examined was the One-Twenty 700. It’s the top-spec construct Merida affords for the brand new bike, however it’s in no way premium. All the things on this 3720€ construct has been rigorously picked for its efficiency:worth ratio.
The RockShox Pike Choose fork and Deluxe Choose+ rear shock are most likely the fanciest of the bunch. Proving that Merida understands that well-performing suspension is the spine of this bike.
The mechanical SRAM NX Eagle drivetrain isn’t fancy, however works very properly. The mineral oil 4-piston SRAM DB8 brakes additionally do their job, and are a surprisingly nice substitute for riders (like myself) who would sometimes favor the efficiency of mid-level Shimano brakes to these of SRAM.
Home-brand tubeless-ready aluminum wheels with a 29mm inside do properly to help the two.4″ Maxxis Forekaster tires. The wheels don’t embrace tubeless tape or valves, out of the bikeshop (or sealant). So then, it’s going to price you a couple of bucks extra to get the bike into a contemporary ridable state. However the important thing substances are there. Tire alternative can be an enormous private desire, influenced by the place you trip. A dry day with the Forekasters proved they could be a succesful path tire. However when the climate bought tremendous moist (like I trip again at house), these turned the limiting issue for the way far I might push the bike. So I swapped in some Continental Kryptotals
What’s The EX Enduro?
My testing grounds for the brand new Merida One-Twenty was The EX Enduro race in Exmoor Nationwide Park in southwestern England. For two days earlier than the occasion, I took in some casual-pace driving on the steep rocky and rooty trails of the area underneath sunny skies and heat temps. It was fairly enjoyable and relaxed driving, with lengthy dust highway climbs, frolicking enjoyable descending, and beautiful coastal surroundings.
The brand new bike climbed comfortably. It descended confidently. And I used to be glad to have the ability to carry loads of water and spares to be self-sufficient for an extended day trip.
Racing The EX Enduro on a brief journey path bike
Then, the rains got here. So I swapped in some extra aggressive tires.
First mild rain and dense clouds got here in… actually we raced a day contained in the cloud. After which it dumped. As onerous because it might rain. Doubtless the heaviest rain I ever really rode in – and I trip 12 months a yr. So onerous that the pockets of my waterproof jacket full of 1-3cm of water inside them. So onerous that one singletrack racing stage was 5 minutes racing down a muddy stream the place you hoped that there have been no big holes or sharp rocks lurking underneath the murky water that was speeding downhill with you.
21 levels (1 canceled on prime of an open hill so we didn’t all get struck by lightning), 3 within the night time with Publicity lights.
Greater than 4000m of descending, after pedaling to the highest of every hill, or oftentimes simply pushing again up, too. I believe I bottomed out the fork perhaps 3 occasions. Perhaps I bottomed out the rear finish 2x. And I solely crashed as soon as.
Just about the whole lot from steep climbs underneath scorching solar, to warming and drying out by the hearth on the finish of the day.
Pushing the One-Twenty to its limits
The bike did the whole lot I might hope for in a 15kg brief journey path bike. The suspension by no means felt harsh, and customarily easy out bumps small and enormous.
Now don’t get me mistaken – I used to be under-biked. This was the identical occasion the place Merida launched the One-Forty and One-Sixty platform final yr. And both of these bikes might need been a extra acceptable match – particularly since each provide lighter, carbon-framed builds.
However the One-Twenty labored properly. I pushed it to the bounds – and over the bars as soon as. However it was no worse for the wear and tear. At the very least not after a superb wash down and a few contemporary chain lube.
Parting ideas
All in all, the brand new One-Twenty is a extra succesful all-rounder path bike than ever. Provided in aluminum, it’s additionally about as accessible as you may hope for in a contemporary full-suspension mountain bike. Plus, it kinda feels bombproof. In case you are new to driving – it’s a stable first bike. If you have already got a lightweight XC race bike and wish one thing a bit extra burly. Or you have already got an enormous journey bike and wish one thing extra pedaling-friendly – it’s additionally a fairly stable second bike.
