MERIDA ONE-FORTY 800 in review
MERIDA is a brand that’s been flying under the radar for years. But the Taiwanese bike giant with development offices in Germany has had some exciting models in its portfolio for a while now. One of them is the MERIDA ONE-FORTY 800, which delivered a convincing performance in this group test.
For an overview of the test fleet head to The best budget trail bike of 2019 – 11 mountain bikes head to head
One thing in advance: yes, the MERIDA ONE-FORTY 800 is also available in a more discreet black colour. The striking yellow paint job split our test crew, though there is little doubt that the shape of the slim frame with its full-floater rear linkage looks great. The € 2,999 bike has 140 mm travel at the rear and a 150 mm RockShox Revelation fork up front. One of the spec-highlights are the SRAM CODE R brakes. Although they only have 180 mm rotors, they’re very easy to modulate and still provide sufficient reliability and braking power. Rounding out the overall good spec is a SRAM GX Eagle drivetrain, and a 2.6″ MAXXIS tire combination consisting of a Minion DHR II at the front and a Rekon on the rear. Although the wheels are labelled ‘TR’, MERIDA skimped on the tubeless-ready rim tape – an unnecessary hindrance when converting to tubeless. We liked the way the internally routed cables are clamped, keeping the cables quiet whilst riding. The chainstay protector is very long and protects the entire strut, but it could be slightly thicker to further dampen impacts.
Fly like a butterfly, sting like a bee – the yellow ONE-FORTY is agile but potent!
The MERIDA ONE FORTY 800 in detail
Fork RockShox Revelation RC 150 mm
Shock RockShox Deluxe RL 140 mm
Brakes SRAM CODE R 180/180 mm
Drivetrain SRAM GX Eagle
Seatpost KS LEV INTEGRA 150 mm
Stem MERIDA Expert TR 50 mm
Handlebar MERIDA Expert TR 780 mm
Wheels MERIDA Expert TR 27,5″
Tires MAXXIS Minion DHR II/Rekon 2.6/2.6″
The internally routed cables are clamped at the inlet, which prevents rattling. With frame sizes L and XL, the frame has an unsightly gap between the top and down tube where they meet the head tube.
MERIDA relies on a floating shock. The result? It responds sensitively and performs excellently overall.
Unfortunately, the RockShox Revelation can’t keep up with the rest of the bike. We recommend swapping the internals for those of a RockShox PIKE.
The 2.6″ MAXXIS Rekon offers surprising amounts of traction, but it can’t convince in terms of puncture protection.
The chainstay protector is long enough to protect the entire strut, but we would have liked a slightly thicker, more impact absorbing material.
| Size | S | M | L | XL |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Seat tube | 410 mm | 435 mm | 475 mm | 515 mm |
| Top tube | 572 mm | 596 mm | 620 mm | 643 mm |
| Head tube | 95 mm | 110 mm | 125 mm | 140 mm |
| Head angle | 66,3° | 66,3° | 66,3° | 66,3° |
| Seat angle | 75° | 75° | 75° | 75° |
| Chainstays | 435 mm | 435 mm | 435 mm | 435 mm |
| BB Drop | 21 mm | 21 mm | 21 mm | 21 mm |
| Wheelbase | 1,144 mm | 1,170 mm | 1,194 mm | 1,222 mm |
| Reach | 415 mm | 435 mm | 455 mm | 475 mm |
| Stack | 587 mm | 601 mm | 615 mm | 629 mm |
The MERIDA ONE FORTY 800 in test
The seated pedalling position on the MERIDA ONE-FORTY is comfortable and upright. Thanks to the steep seat tube angle, the rider is positioned centrally on the bike. The front wheel remains adequately weighted and on the ground, even on steep climbs. Overall, the rear suspension is efficient while pedalling without sacrificing comfort. Thanks to the 2.6″ wide tires, the bike has plenty of traction, allowing you to easily conquer technically challenging climbs. However, there are more spritely bikes in the test field.
The wide tires provide comfort and traction on the climbs, but they limit the bike’s downhill performance.
Conclusion
The MERIDA ONE-FORTY is enormously versatile. It is simultaneously comfortable and efficient, yet it cuts a fine figure on descents of every kind. Unfortunately, it is slowed down somewhat by the wide tires and the low-end fork. If you’re willing to invest a bit of money on upgrades, this will make an excellent bike!
Tops
- excellent performing rear linkage
- very balanced and fun handling
- very comfortable
Flops
- fork doesn't do the bike justice
- wide tires feel undefined
- chainstay protector too thin
For more info head to: merida-bikes.com
The test field
For an overview of the test fleet head to The best budget trail bike of 2019 – 11 mountain bikes head to head
All bikes in test: Canyon Spectral CF 7.0 | FOCUS JAM 6.8 NINE | Giant Trance 29 2 | Propain Tyee AM Performance | RADON SLIDE TRAIL 8.0 | ROSE PIKES PEAK AM1 | SCOTT Genius 950 | Specialized Stumpjumper Comp Alloy 29 | Trek Remedy 8 | YT JEFFSY 27 AL Base