2023 Merida

ONE-FORTY 400

If first impressions are anything to go by, Merida’s latest logically-named One-Forty trail bike, looks like the kind of do-it-all rig you’d expect from a mainstream brand – with a well-finished, smooth-lined carbon frame and fancy big-name kit. Dig a little deeper though, and Merida’s latest creation kicks any conservative ideas to touch faster than you can say ‘Rishi Sunak’. With real attitude and some of the most radical trail bike geometry around, the new One-Forty is seriously cutting edge.  Buyer’s guide to the best full-suspension trail bikes Buyer’s guide to the best mountain bikes Need to know The new One-Forty shares the same frame with the One-Sixty, which means it’s a little ‘overbuilt’ as a trail bike and subsequently heavier than some.  Merida’s ‘Agilometer’ sizing sees super long frames extending to a massive 535mm reach in size X-Long Thankfully the 80º seat tube angle is not as steep as claimed Fully Mullet compatible and gains 10mm more travel (153mm) with the smaller rear wheel. Low standover heights are paired with the brand’s own adjustable dropper post that extends up to 230mm. While most brands have scaled back the leaps in frame length that have revolutionised sizing over the last decade, Merida has gone full throttle. The mid (medium) bike here has a 480mm reach, a near vertical 80-degree effective seat angle, which we’ll get to in just a minute. It’s so long in fact, that the 535mm reach on the X-Long frame makes it the same length as an XL Nicolai Geometron – one of the pioneers of the longer frame philosophy. Merida’s new ‘Agilometer’ sizing system goes on frame length rather than seat tube height, so all five sizes come with very low seat tubes with stacks of standover clearance. This leaves tons of room for the rider to be dynamic on the bike and lowers the centre of gravity.  But let’s get back to the 80º effective seat tube angle. It sounds crazy steep, right? That’s because Merida measures it with a saddle height that would correspond to the top of the head tube, not very useful for seated pedalling. Raise the saddle to something normal, say 740mm, and the effective seat tube angle decreases to 78º or thereabouts. Which is spot on.   Choosing your optimum saddle height isn’t an issue either, thanks to Merida’s clever adjustable dropper post with a maximum 230mm of drop. Bigger frames also get a different suspension tune with more damping and support for heavier riders that typically opt for longer sizes.  Now, part of the explanation for the progressive geometry on the One-Forty is that it shares its frame with the new One-Sixty enduro bike. By fitting a shorter stroke (57.5mm) shock (rather than 65mm) travel is limited to 143mm. It also gets a shorter travel 150mm fork, which steepens the angles, drops the BB and increases the reach over the One-Sixty. To compensate for the steeper seat tube angle, Merida fits a 10mm lay-back head on the dropper post. Yes, …Continue reading »

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On paper Merida’s brand-new One-Forty platform looks rather mental but, in reality, it’s a very different animal than its geo chart suggests. It offers a unique-but-welcoming and practical ride that balances predictability with all-out fun. Its build kit has been wisely picked considering its asking price, too; making it one of the best trail mountain bikes you can buy.

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