MERIDA EONE-SIXTY 6000

£6,000 The brand’s latest carbon fibre enduro e-bike loses some weight to boost the riding experience

Merida’s new eOne-Sixty is aimed at performanceorientated riders who prioritise handling and a dynamic ride feel over all-out range. Hard-chargers are welcome here!

THE FRAME

With its carbon fibre construction, new suspension layout and integrated battery, Merida say they’ve cut around 0.7kg off the frame weight. The brand use Shimano’s latest EP801 motor, dishing out 600W of peak power, 250W of continuous power and 85Nm of torque, powered by a 600Wh battery. A 360Wh range extender is available, taking total capacity to 960Wh.

The bike’s 174mm of rear-wheel travel is doled out by a single-pivot swingarm and linkage-driven shock, with carbon flexstays used in place of a seatstay pivot to cut weight and maintenance. Merida’s ‘FAST’ kinematics are sizespecific. You get a bottle mount on the down tube and a fender to shield the main pivot. The Boost-width rear end uses a universal derailleur hanger.

Merida have opted for a mixed-size ‘mullet’ wheel set-up – 29in front, 650b rear. Our ‘Mid’-sized eOne-Sixty has a well-balanced 459mm reach and 445mm chainstays. The 633mm stack height indicates a design focus on descending, as does the 64.4-degree head angle. At 78.4 degrees, the seat tube angle is good and steep. Combined, these figures give a comfortable 589mm effective top tube length. The seat tube is short, at 425mm, and the bottom bracket (BB) drops 9mm below the rear axle. On paper at least, the geometry looks on-point for enduro use.

THE KIT

As the base carbon-framed model in the eOne-Sixty range, the 6000 is equipped with practical parts to help keep the price down. The stocky 38mm-stanchion, 170mm-travel RockShox fork is a cheaper Dominion Gold RC rather than a top-end ZEB, and the Super Deluxe shock is a Selectlevel unit – both basic but functional pieces of kit. Shifting is taken care of by a SRAM NX Eagle drivetrain with downgraded SX Eagle chain.

Merida deck out the bike with their own cockpit kit, dropper post, saddle and rims. The latter are laced to Novatec hubs and shod with triple

compound Maxxis Assegai and Minion DHR II tyres, with an EXO+ casing up front and a tougher DoubleDown carcass specced at the rear.

THE RIDE

Thanks to its contemporary geometry, the eOne-Sixty has a comfortable seated position and gives you ample control of steering and weight distribution when using the motor’s assistance to charge up twisting trails. The front wheel isn’t prone to lifting on steeper pitches, and there’s decent traction at the rear. There isn’t noticeable understeer in tight hairpins, either, and the bike remains stable when you apply power on steep ascents. Tipping it through slow, jinking trails doesn’t upset its balance, thanks to its low centre of gravity, and it doesn’t slip, slide or squirm through technical sections.

The EP801 motor kicks out enough power to conquer most climbs and make uphill trails fun. However, the 600Wh battery is a weight-saving compromise, when you consider that other bikes offer capacities of up to 900Wh, making the range extender a wise investment.

Suspension-wise, the rear wheel tracks well on bumpy and loose rocky climbs, yet the bike doesn’t wallow into its travel and delivers ample pedalling support.

The overall feel of the eOneSixty is calm and composed, with impressive weight distribution between the wheels. This allowed us to feel confident and in-control from the get-go. Its handling is engaging – nimble and agile enough to link turns with ease, yet stable enough to drift confidently and commit to unsupported corners. The bike’s weight helps give stability at speed, and, while we think the BB could be 5mm lower for even more planted cornering, it balances stability in the turns with a forgiving pedalling height, helping you to avoid clipping your pedals on rocks, roots or ruts.

Unfortunately, the basic RockShox shock taints an otherwise brilliantly competent bike, ensuring that the ride feel isn’t as good as its handling. It’s slightly overdamped, causing feedback to be transmitted through the pedals and making the bike slow to react to fast, hard inputs. On the plus side, it is supple enough in the beginning-stroke to provide decent traction. Luke

Superb handling and functional spec make this an attractive option for enduro-style riding

THE REAR WHEEL TRACKS WELL ON ROCKY CLIMBS, YET THE BIKE DOESN’T WALLOW INTO ITS TRAVEL AND DELIVERS AMPLE PEDALLING SUPPORT

Merida fit a lot of their own parts, including their Expert TR II bar and stem Shimano’s latest EP801 motor churns out 600W of peak power and 85Nm of torque

HIGHS Balanced geometry and great handling – Hides its modest weight well – You can fit both 29in and 650b wheels in the rear LOWS 360Wh extender will be needed by those wanting all-day range – SRAM DB8 brakes are good, not great – Shock is a little harsh-feeling