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Merida Big Nine 600
Price: Rs 83,990 (Pune)
Frame Type: ‘Racelite’ 6061 aluminium alloy Drivetrain: Sram derailleur, single-speed sprocket (front), eleven-speed cassette sprockets (rear)
Front suspension: Adjustable telescopic fork Rear suspension: Rigid
Brakes: Tektro hydraulic discs, Tektro levers Wheels: Merida Comp CC
Tyres: Maxxis Ikon 29 x 2.20
didn’t see the need as the controls felt ergonomic and well-designed with a positive click on each shift; it would, however, have been nice to have an indicator up on the handlebar to keep track of the cogs while riding.
This bicycle sports standard 622-millimetre (24.48-inch) rims shod with 55.88-mm (2.2-inch) wide unidirectional Maxxis Ikon mountainbike tyres with an external diameter of 736.6 mm (29 inches). The tyres performed well off-road, providing surprising amounts of grip on dry dirt, over rocks and through grass. The Merida Expert flat 29-inch handlebar is coloured black and feels a tad wide at first, but I soon got used to it and the precise control it offers, while the soft rubber grips at the ends helped iron out the vibrations that made it up through the suspension. Stopping is taken care of by Tektro Gimini 180-millimetre hydraulic disc brakes that are actuated by short Tektro Gimini brake levers. Brake bite, feel and feedback are excellent, both on and off road, and a two-finger squeeze is all that’s ever needed to rein this bicycle in. The seat and seat post are made by Merida, while the XC pro alloy clipless pedals offer excellent grip and seem to be reasonably lightweight.
The Merida Big Nine 600 weighs 12.21 kilograms, which is a competitive weight for an MTB, and on the move it feels light and extremely manoeuvrable, and performed admirably off road, doing everything we asked of it very well. Merida has made provisions to install mounting points for a rear carrier and also for mudguards, making this a very versatile ride. This bike is a great way to get off the streets and explore the wide open spaces around our cities, breathing some fresh air while getting a healthy dose of exercise.