Merida Eone-forty 400

The Merida brings what passes for affordability to the world of electric full-suspension mountain bikes

Merida may not be one of the best-known bike brands, but the company is probably the world’s largest bicycle manufacturer. Over the years it has made bikes for many renowned brands, and the Eone-forty 400 puts all that knowledge to good use. The result is a well-outfitted and reasonably priced full-suspension electric mountain bike.

OK, so £4,000 for a bicycle may seem like a lot, but the average mid-range full-suspension mountain bike isn’t far off this total. And the Eone-forty 400 doesn’t seem so expensive compared to the rest of the market, especially when you factor in its Shimano Steps EP8 motor and powerful 630Wh battery (although shorter riders should note that the smaller frame sizes require a slightly more petite 504Wh battery).

The frame housing the Shimano motor and matching battery is hydroformed from aluminium and allows for 130mm of rearwheel travel. This is matched at the front by an SR Suntour XCR34 fork with 140mm of travel.

What isn’t shared front and back is the wheel size. The Eone-forty 400 is what’s known as a mullet bike, whereby the front wheel is larger than the rear. It’s a common feature on many full-suspension bikes these days and aims to combine smooth rolling with manoeuvrability.

Both ends of the bike come fitted with seriously wide Maxxis Rekon tyres, and keeping these big treads turning when you’re not using the motor is Shimano’s Deore tenspeed drivetrain. While having ten gears at the rear may seem a lot for the uninitiated, more experienced riders might have expected to see an 11 or 12-speed cassette. Still, given the cost, it’s not something we’d be too minded to complain about, especially as you get the same highest and lowest gears. More importantly, you get a dropper seatpost, which is now a must for serious mountain bikers.

Taken together, the Merida is an aggressive and capable mountain bike that’s unlikely to be stumped by anything but the most extreme terrain. Yes, the price is significant, but you’ll find it’s hard to beat.

▶ £4,150

▶ merida-bikes.com