I had the first ride with my e900 today. I took me 7 month of informing and testing to buy this bike. Now in the evening of a 65 km ride I know, I made the right decision . Love this bike!
Hi Jeremy, I am still very happy with my bike. I didn`t regret the decision for one second. Didn`t have any technical problems in 3500km, only changed chain and brakepads. And the RockShox reverb, because it was 1cm too long for me in the 150mm-version. i like the old outside battery, because so I can leave the bike down in the basement and it makes the bike lighter than the integrated versions. I felt comfortable right from the beginning riding up- and downhill. It just fits. I tested the Levo for half an hour and liked it too, but in my opinion it is not worth the money . I payed 5400.-€ for the best model. Today that would be the entrylevel at Spezialized. The only problem is, that there is nothing for tuning ;-)
@@tomkleins6889 thanks for the detailed info. I am about to get my first eMTB. I am very fit & want to ride the trails 3x instead of once. On a normal MTB it takes an 1 hour steep uphill ride. I live in Zürich. I have tried the Levo (6300€) and saw one shop selling a new 900e for 5500€. Isn't the Shimano motor loud?
Changing the bars at this stage is like asking a supermodel to change her nail vanish before we date..I already feel like superman hahaTrail mode is perfect for most situations and switching to boost does need the right gear for the feature which I havent mastered yet. You was right about the large size, spot on, couldnt be happier with the fit and feel. This bike is an adrenaline rush beyond my expectation. Two added points, one is, Ive started on flat pedals although usually clips on other bikes due to shin bashes, but the cranks dont swing around if your foot slips off the pedal like a conventional bike, saving your shins and 2nd, I can wear more protection as weight and overheating arent an issue. Ebike trail bikes are still rare in Oz so I find myself apoligising when overtaking people as I whizz bye...just hope I dont break down and they catch me up lol. Warwick
Hi Guy, thanks for the reply. I got into MTB a year ago with a GT Sensor Carbon Team. Ive since bought a Cube Stereo 160TM. Im no where near your level but have made a couple of vids, MidLifeBiker, to track my progress and share with other start ups, family and friends. Both my duallies are Large but when i was comparing geometry with the Merida it seems longer in the large but not as tall. Ebikes is in its infancy here, I like the idea of being able to ride for much longer, take on bigger climbs and still have the energy to enjoy the downhill. Great vid by the way, I have subscribed.Warwick
Thanks for subscribing Warwick, I'll check out your vids soon as I get a second. If you're already riding a large Stereo then I'd recommend the large Merida. The shorter stem will mean it won't feel that different in terms of cockpit reach but the extra stability and confidence it gives is huge. E-bikes are perfect for exactly the kind of ride extensions and climb shrinking gains you want, but the Merida is the best I've ridden by a long stretch when it comes to really rallying on the way back down, just because the shape of it is so good.
Just been watching the vids Warwick, you have some sweet trails to ride! Looking at the Cube you're already used to a short stem which is great and you've got that Race Face bar you can swap straight over which is about my only downer on the Merida. You can even stick that chain stay sleeve on to double up on the paint protection ;-)
Nice one Guy! I'm racing an eBike for fun this weekend on a marathon :D Not this nice, but still lots of fun. I know exactly how you must have felt riding this up and down. Such a new horizon for the sport!
Got my 900e now Guy and absolutely loving it. Im actually ok with the handlebars, just dropped them down on the stem by the spacers for spurt climbs as boost mode is quite sensitive. Cheers from Oz, Warwick
Hi Gino, ive orfered one but wont be in Oz until November. The 800e model will arrive in July but for $1k difference it falls well short. Apparently only 100 are coming and already 35 on order.
Hi Guy, great review!!! I'm from Portugal and I'm seriously thinking of getting an E-Bike. Have you ridden a Scott e-Genius 2018. How does It Compares to Merida eone Sixty? I have only tested the Scott e-spark (the merida anda genius are not avalable for testing). I liked it, but the travel is shorter. How does the merida and the e-genius comprares? Are the more confortable?....I'm not a very "aggressive" rider.
99 bikes, the sales guy called Merida whilst I was there so I heard the stock availability first hand, so paid the 20% deposit and will wait it out. I ordered large.
Hi Guy, I am a little late to the party on this one. Great video, informative and entertaining. Really enjoyed it. I am looking to purchase the e160 800 2019 model on offer at the minute. I am wanting to use it as an uplift alternative for bike parks etc with some long rides too. The model I am looking at is a large and I am 190cm tall. Do you reckon it will fit okay for what I want to use it for? I usually ride a large or extra large depending on brand etc. Your expert opinion would be hugely appreciated!
November for the 900E Guy, but I have enough bikes and good Sydney weather to keep me entertained in the mean time, in fact the ebike will help with not over heating in the summer! Im planning Tassie in August, Blue Derby trail for one 😁
Hello Guy. A question if you will. Is that a splitframe at the back? Am asking because I am think of purchasing one and fitting it with a gates carbon drive later on.
Got one of these last week and have been out twice on it. Also have a Santa Cruz Tallboy Ltc, so me and my mate played around with both of these today. 29er vs 27.5, both about the same height but 2.8 wheels are plush. I felt the Merida couldnt turn as quickly, especially in the real twisty stuff (that might be just not used to it, or maybe the bars should be wider as Guy states). The Merida rolls quicker on downhill sections, and is more confidence inspiring. I did notice the pedal bottoming out more, perhaps a shorter crank is required. Buy one, they are unreal. Great review Guy, very accurate
chipaway it's basically a low pivot swingarm with a linkage driven shock. Even on the standard 160mm bike there's very little jack but on the E bike the sprung to unsprung ratio keeps the rear wheel really well anchored. Masses of braking grip from the plus tyre and a very long front centre too so you can really heave on the anchors without upsetting the balance.
Just bought one of these Guy, not ridden it yet but seems they might of listened to you as it came with 780 bars..but didn't come with the freezer rota' s like yours. It came with normal saint/XT ice tech rota' s?
Adam Moorhouse sounds like a win. The Freeza rotors only knock about 20 degrees off when you properly roast them on a dyno but the 780 will be a big advantage keeping it on line. Enjoy!
John Jack yep, this was the first E-bike to really grab my attention too. Proper shape and suspension for really making the most of all the extra descents the motor lets you pack into a ride.
Hi Guy, im in Sydney and we dont have any display models to try for sizing. Im 180cm and tend to be between medium and large. Im swaying towards the medium but as you have written one im hoping you can advise. Thanks in advance. Warwick
Hey Warwick Ingle I'm 180cm too and I rode the large to get maximum reach and stability. I'm used to riding long bikes though as that's the way the current rend is going with shorter stems etc. What bike do you currently ride?
Hey Warwick. I'm also in Sydney and am sold in buying one of these. Where are you getting yours from? I inquired through 99 bikes but they don't stock it unfortunately. I'm also interested in the Focus Jam e2 but this Merida packs more.
@@GuyKesTV I am 181cm I think, I am just about to purchase my first ebike and I am thinking of this merida or the specialized kenevo. I have a medium stumpy 29er at the min and love it but I am thinking about getting a large merida? Should I be getting a large or a medium and what's the benefits to each cheers Adam
Hi Adam I'm the same height as you but ride a large just to get the length and stability at speed. Shorter bikes are easier to sneak through tight turns but they're more likely to trip up. Especially on an E-bike where you've got more weight and speed shoving you on when you try and turn. If you can demo one in each size that's the ideal answer, but that's not that easy to arrange.
Great video, nice to here positive feedback on eMTB's. Have you ridden a Focus Jam2 for comparison? I realise it is a little shorter in travel but it shares the slacker geometry which I am starting to believe is more important. Also interested to hear you could change power levels in the e tube app as I am unable to do that on my Focus. The 'boost' level doesn't feed in the torque like eco and trail. I find the instant hit is only really useful when doing steep rocky climbs where trials riding type pedal kicks are useful for getting up obstacles. Would be nice to tweak things in the software like on a Levo.
Yes, I've tested the Focus and it's a really neat package for more general trail riding. I really like the modular battery idea, the FOLD suspension is awesome, it's lighter than the Merida and the whole package is really nicely put together. It's shorter in reach than the Merida though, the Schwalbe tyres are pretty fragile and the bars are narrower too so it's not naturally as happy to go crazy in bigger/pointier terrain as the E900 either. Yep the tuning app on the Levo is really neat but TBH once you've found the right level for how you ride (I upped the 'trail' to 75% and maxed the torque pick up) I've not done any other adjustments in the past couple of months. I'll dig out my E-tube notes from Shimano and get back to you on the details.
Guy Kesteven I went for the XL frame due to the reach and swapped over the bars & a few other bits from my 'analogue' bike. Also went with the DHF/DHR tyres as I did the Boltby Bash Enduro on it and didn't fancy the chances of the Nobby Nicks. Would like to give the Merida a go and also the much anticipate e Orange Alpine. Did perform ok at Descend but as you imply it's always nice to have a little more!
haha, you made exactly the changes I would have done after testing it. It'll be interesting to see how that Orange goes for sure as where they put the pivot point will be crucial. It sounds like you're pretty local to me. Are you doing Ard Rock?
Guy Kesteven I'm over by the NYM. Not doing the Ard Rock. Was hoping to do the Ard Moor as it is right behind my house. Working unfortunately and they were not too keen to accommodate my e bike😄
So today would you still rate this bike in 2020 say compared to the Propane Ekano or the Whyte 150RS or even the new Merida? although if you can find it theis bike is a bargain in Australia at the moment
Sorry, not ridden the Rocky yet. It's certainly a really interesting system they've adopted. The Merida is potentially easier to get spares and support for further down the line though.
thanks for the great report!!. I am in doubt to buy size L or M. I measure 1,81cm and crotch 87cm so I do not know why to decide. What do you advise me? What are your measurements and bicycle size in the report? thank you very much!!
mine is coming in 2 weeks. I ordered the 800 (non-Di2 and with Lyrik and superdeluxe) I was thinking of bumping up the fork with the 170mm airshaft which doesn't cost very much at all. Guy, do you think that it would be worth it or would it compromise the balance of the bike?
Awesome news. It's always worth checking the warranty to see if extending the fork travel affects your cover, but they're certainly be no issue with it in terms of the dynamic ride. The suspension sits reasonably low in the travel anyway so BB height will be fine and another .5 degree off the head angle and seat angle won't cause any trouble as the seat is steeper than average anyway.
For a more direct comparison you need to look at the Trance SX. The Trance Pro you’re looking at has a lot less travel and the head angle is a bit less stable so it’s more trail than Enduro. Also there’s a big difference in suspension and other kit as you’d expect for £3000!
I'm a big fan of the Levo, but it's more of a trail bike in feel than the Merida as it's got less travel and shorter and steeper in the angles. Shimano is slightly noisier but feels like it has more torque even in Trail mode and Boost is a beast. It's hard to put an exact time on battery life in Eco mode because it obviously depends on terrain but it never left me short even when I was running round in Trail on the moors for hours.
No worries mate, BTW if you really like your Levo but fancy something more Enduro style then I'd definitely wait 3 days and see what pops up on the internet on the 2nd of Sept. Can't say more than that right now though ;-)
No worries, looks like there'll be more similarly aggro e-bikes available in 2018 from other brands such as Specialized's Turbo Kenovo if you can't import a Merida.
So, the exact same model, the same bike is on amazon for 735€. İs it the original price or is it fake i am confused if it's original price is 735 I'll buy it pls respond if u read this
Sorry for the delay replying Adam. I generally run 36's wide open in terms of compression as I'm pretty light and the 2017 air spring was the right progression for me. 2018s are a little more dive prone though so you might need more low speed compression. I can't remember the exact set up on the rear shock beyond but again low speed compression was minimal, with just enough high speed to keep it in the sweet spot when it really starts throwing it's weight around. I ran 35% sag to start but pumped it up to nearer 30% once it started being obvious just how hard you could hit descents with it.
This is the bike my dad is waiting for but it's unavailable(Czech rep.) and it's middle of 2017. Where can I buy this bike? I heard shimano has huge problem with delivering their motors and thats the reason.
Robin Dvořáček I know the bike has been super popular and supplies are limited. Best to just keep checking your Czech Merida supplier I guess. Tell your dad it's worth the wait though.
As I heard it's already sold out for 2017 which is too bad I wanted to buy one too. Shimano hit the jackpot with the E8000 they took their time with it but worth the wait for sure. Compact, powerful, light for decent price. No more 495mm chain stays... :)
I bumped up with the south UK rep for Merida on the trails on Wednesday and he said they were hoping to pull a lot of the 2018 order ahead of schedule so fresh bikes would be available very shortly. Hope that's true where you guys are too but worth checking for sure.
I've ridden a lot of E bikes where the weight is very obvious on descents as they struggle with quick lean angle changes etc but the Merida is about the best sorted anywhere. Mainly because of the length which makes it really stable and balances grip better between the wheels rather than placing too much on the front where it slides too easily. The brakes are great and the weight actually improves the suspension action as the back isn't over long either.
Shimano are looking a bit old now as they've been out for several years but they're pretty rock solid in terms of reliability and you get a good deal if you go for full Shimano spec. There's new motor out this year which you could retrofit too.
Because torque isnt all. You have to try the Motors to Tell. I dont like Bosch. Shimano for me is the Deal. I also like brose, But two mates have massive Problem with it.. So no.. Still like the old e8000 Motor.
Hi Fredrik, The suspension is really well sorted in terms of pedalling efficiency and obviously you've got the motor to make cruising easy up to 25kmh. If you don't think you'll use all that travel though Merida do a range of 120mm bikes and the Focus Jam2 and Specialized Levo bikes are really good in the 140mm bracket.
Guy Kesteven. Yea im currently choosing between the eOne sixty 800 and the eOne twenty 500. The 500 have 130mm fork and 120mm back. So maybe a better one for me. That one can still handle pretty rough riding downhill and uphill i suppose, but easier on the roads maybe? Do you know IF they have the same motor and torque power? Cant really find a spec on that. Generally pretty low on info on ebikes so really nice with the rewies like this one!
Same motor and battery but interestingly looking at Merida's own figure it's only around 200g lighter so acceleration and range figures will be pretty much identical. It's slightly shorter and the steering is steeper though so it'll feel more like a conventional bike on the road than a chopper motorbike ;-)
Guy Kesteven So its the same torque power in both bikes? Have heard different answer on that from different dealers, they said the sixty 800 have higher torque Than the twenty 500. Cant find any other info than the motor spec: e8000 engine on both and 500wh battery.
James Tucker it depends on the terrain and modes you use. If you’re charging up steep stuff in Boost in cold conditions (batteries don’t like cold) all the time then you might not even get an hour out of it. Use Eco with occasional trail on less strenuous terrain though and you could get a 60k day out of it.
Guy Kesteven thanks for the reply dude, I am guessing out of a hour I will of covered more ground like, how much faster would you say these are on an overall loop? For example one of my peaks routes the kinder circuit takes me about 2n half hours 13miles 2.000ft ish, would the bike be capable of doing this loop? How much riding did you do in this video looks very similar to what I ride?
James Tucker we did Helvellyn on Thursday on a Focus E-bike with a 375wh battery and it did a lap that size in just over an hour on Boost and Trail. The Merida has a 500wh battery so if you stayed in Trail/Eco I reckon it should two laps easily. I’d rather be cautious about what I’m saying than have you thinking “that prat said it’d do a full mountain day and only use one bar”. I’ll see if I can get Andy Mee from Merida on here for a second expert opinion as he’s had an E-140 for a while.
Guy Kesteven thanks again for the reply, I am really considering buying one, I love the idea of saving energy on the climbs for more fun on the downs! Plus getting more runs in on a ride is so appealing to me. Obviously the main concern is how far I can go, if I could do 2 laps of kinder circuit on it I would be more than well impressed. But thanks for your feedback. Do you know how long they take to charge? And thanks hopefully your contact can help to confirm battery life/travel distance.
Hi James. As Guy has said battery life is so dependant on many things. How much boost How many hills Rider weight inc pack Terrain Tyres and pressure Temperature. If you’re out for an hour or two you won’t have any problems with any of that... My favourite example is Coed Y Brenin. Cold day, big lad (me) with a big pack. Eco on every fire road, trail on every Singletrack and boost occasionally for a bit of fun..! Managed the whole thing on one battery. Did Snowdon the day after and had 2 bars left. A lap of the peaks that takes you 2.5hrs on a normal bike won’t be an issue if you use the modes to conserve battery a little. Not only will it be much faster, you’ll have sooooo much fun. The ups become as much fun as the downs and the slogs are non existent.
Didn't expect a reply lol. Cracking review Lad really enjoyed it, I think it's going to be a case of waiting for the 2018 kit and seeing what's what. I've just called my local marida stockist stockton cycles and they said I wouldn't be able to get the 800e even if i pre ordered, that's a bit gash.
Meh, yeah that does suck. Speaking to other brands the problem certainly isn't confined to Merida and there are some potentially very interesting machines that'll break cover at Eurobike.
I'll be honest the, spec on 800 is amazing for the price. I will still look at marida and see what the 900e offers. I rode a levo demo the other day and it blew me away. But the price and spec is putting me off, for another £1000 in the Marida i litraly wouldn't have to upgrade a thing apart from the bars as you mentioned in your review. Anyways as mentioned it's a great review. Keep up the great work Lad.
I had the first ride with my e900 today. I took me 7 month of informing and testing to buy this bike. Now in the evening of a 65 km ride I know, I made the right decision . Love this bike!
That's my favourite kind of comment. People getting a bike I rate and absolutely loving it 👊🏻
Tom Kleins how is the bike holding up? Any flaws. Is the motor too loud? Did you try the specialized levo? Thanks
Hi Jeremy, I am still very happy with my bike. I didn`t regret the decision for one second. Didn`t have any technical problems in 3500km, only changed chain and brakepads. And the RockShox reverb, because it was 1cm too long for me in the 150mm-version.
i like the old outside battery, because so I can leave the bike down in the basement and it makes the bike lighter than the integrated versions.
I felt comfortable right from the beginning riding up- and downhill. It just fits. I tested the Levo for half an hour and liked it too, but in my opinion it is not worth the money . I payed 5400.-€ for the best model. Today that would be the entrylevel at Spezialized.
The only problem is, that there is nothing for tuning ;-)
@@tomkleins6889 thanks for the detailed info. I am about to get my first eMTB. I am very fit & want to ride the trails 3x instead of once. On a normal MTB it takes an 1 hour steep uphill ride. I live in Zürich. I have tried the Levo (6300€) and saw one shop selling a new 900e for 5500€. Isn't the Shimano motor loud?
@@tomkleins6889 www.merida-bikes.com/de-ch/bike/226/eone-sixty-900-e
Changing the bars at this stage is like asking a supermodel to change her nail vanish before we date..I already feel like superman hahaTrail mode is perfect for most situations and switching to boost does need the right gear for the feature which I havent mastered yet. You was right about the large size, spot on, couldnt be happier with the fit and feel. This bike is an adrenaline rush beyond my expectation. Two added points, one is, Ive started on flat pedals although usually clips on other bikes due to shin bashes, but the cranks dont swing around if your foot slips off the pedal like a conventional bike, saving your shins and 2nd, I can wear more protection as weight and overheating arent an issue. Ebike trail bikes are still rare in Oz so I find myself apoligising when overtaking people as I whizz bye...just hope I dont break down and they catch me up lol. Warwick
haha awesome, glad you're loving it
I bought one of these about a week or so ago , , my second Merida e bike , , just loving it ! great review mate .
peter davis Merida do a good job eh!
Hi Guy, thanks for the reply. I got into MTB a year ago with a GT Sensor Carbon Team. Ive since bought a Cube Stereo 160TM. Im no where near your level but have made a couple of vids, MidLifeBiker, to track my progress and share with other start ups, family and friends. Both my duallies are Large but when i was comparing geometry with the Merida it seems longer in the large but not as tall. Ebikes is in its infancy here, I like the idea of being able to ride for much longer, take on bigger climbs and still have the energy to enjoy the downhill. Great vid by the way, I have subscribed.Warwick
Thanks for subscribing Warwick, I'll check out your vids soon as I get a second. If you're already riding a large Stereo then I'd recommend the large Merida. The shorter stem will mean it won't feel that different in terms of cockpit reach but the extra stability and confidence it gives is huge. E-bikes are perfect for exactly the kind of ride extensions and climb shrinking gains you want, but the Merida is the best I've ridden by a long stretch when it comes to really rallying on the way back down, just because the shape of it is so good.
Just been watching the vids Warwick, you have some sweet trails to ride! Looking at the Cube you're already used to a short stem which is great and you've got that Race Face bar you can swap straight over which is about my only downer on the Merida. You can even stick that chain stay sleeve on to double up on the paint protection ;-)
Nice one Guy!
I'm racing an eBike for fun this weekend on a marathon :D Not this nice, but still lots of fun.
I know exactly how you must have felt riding this up and down. Such a new horizon for the sport!
Got my 900e now Guy and absolutely loving it. Im actually ok with the handlebars, just dropped them down on the stem by the spacers for spurt climbs as boost mode is quite sensitive. Cheers from Oz, Warwick
Glad you're loving it Oz and glad the bars are working for you, I'm just a picky Princess! Boost mode takes some adjusting too though eh!
Hi Gino, ive orfered one but wont be in Oz until November. The 800e model will arrive in July but for $1k difference it falls well short. Apparently only 100 are coming and already 35 on order.
Where'd you order yours from?
Hi Guy, great review!!! I'm from Portugal and I'm seriously thinking of getting an E-Bike.
Have you ridden a Scott e-Genius 2018. How does It Compares to Merida eone Sixty?
I have only tested the Scott e-spark (the merida anda genius are not avalable for testing). I liked it, but the travel is shorter. How does the merida and the e-genius comprares? Are the more confortable?....I'm not a very "aggressive" rider.
99 bikes, the sales guy called Merida whilst I was there so I heard the stock availability first hand, so paid the 20% deposit and will wait it out. I ordered large.
MidLifeBiker excellent, hope the wait isn't too long.
Hi Guy, I am a little late to the party on this one. Great video, informative and entertaining. Really enjoyed it. I am looking to purchase the e160 800 2019 model on offer at the minute. I am wanting to use it as an uplift alternative for bike parks etc with some long rides too. The model I am looking at is a large and I am 190cm tall. Do you reckon it will fit okay for what I want to use it for? I usually ride a large or extra large depending on brand etc. Your expert opinion would be hugely appreciated!
November for the 900E Guy, but I have enough bikes and good Sydney weather to keep me entertained in the mean time, in fact the ebike will help with not over heating in the summer! Im planning Tassie in August, Blue Derby trail for one 😁
Excellent, enjoy
Is that an ETA for 2018 models? 2017 models have just landed in NZ which is super late. Better late than never I guess!
Hello Guy. A question if you will. Is that a splitframe at the back? Am asking because I am think of purchasing one and fitting it with a gates carbon drive later on.
Thanks a lot guy!! I will be following you👍👍
Thanks Guy.
Got one of these last week and have been out twice on it.
Also have a Santa Cruz Tallboy Ltc, so me and my mate played around with both of these today.
29er vs 27.5, both about the same height but 2.8 wheels are plush. I felt the Merida couldnt turn as quickly, especially in the real twisty stuff (that might be just not used to it, or maybe the bars should be wider as Guy states). The Merida rolls quicker on downhill sections, and is more confidence inspiring.
I did notice the pedal bottoming out more, perhaps a shorter crank is required.
Buy one, they are unreal.
Great review Guy, very accurate
hi guy. great review.
what type of rear suspension system does the EONE-SIXTY 900E have? how does it handle when braking downhill? any brake jack?
chipaway it's basically a low pivot swingarm with a linkage driven shock. Even on the standard 160mm bike there's very little jack but on the E bike the sprung to unsprung ratio keeps the rear wheel really well anchored. Masses of braking grip from the plus tyre and a very long front centre too so you can really heave on the anchors without upsetting the balance.
thanks guy! new subscriber here!!!
Thanks Chipaway, nice Misfits profile pic BTW
How would you see this bike in size L for a 6’3 person?
Nice video by the way!
Just bought one of these Guy, not ridden it yet but seems they might of listened to you as it came with 780 bars..but didn't come with the freezer rota' s like yours. It came with normal saint/XT ice tech rota' s?
Adam Moorhouse sounds like a win. The Freeza rotors only knock about 20 degrees off when you properly roast them on a dyno but the 780 will be a big advantage keeping it on line. Enjoy!
@@GuyKesTV thanks guy appreciate your reply, Scotland bound next weekend, glen tress and innerliethan 👍🏻
Adam Moorhouse that sounds like an excellent way to get to know it.
Good one guy don’t like ebikes but after watching this review I think might take a look at one cheers
John Jack yep, this was the first E-bike to really grab my attention too. Proper shape and suspension for really making the most of all the extra descents the motor lets you pack into a ride.
Hi Guy, im in Sydney and we dont have any display models to try for sizing. Im 180cm and tend to be between medium and large. Im swaying towards the medium but as you have written one im hoping you can advise. Thanks in advance. Warwick
Hey Warwick Ingle I'm 180cm too and I rode the large to get maximum reach and stability. I'm used to riding long bikes though as that's the way the current rend is going with shorter stems etc. What bike do you currently ride?
Hey Warwick. I'm also in Sydney and am sold in buying one of these. Where are you getting yours from? I inquired through 99 bikes but they don't stock it unfortunately. I'm also interested in the Focus Jam e2 but this Merida packs more.
@@GuyKesTV I am 181cm I think, I am just about to purchase my first ebike and I am thinking of this merida or the specialized kenevo. I have a medium stumpy 29er at the min and love it but I am thinking about getting a large merida? Should I be getting a large or a medium and what's the benefits to each cheers Adam
Hi Adam I'm the same height as you but ride a large just to get the length and stability at speed. Shorter bikes are easier to sneak through tight turns but they're more likely to trip up. Especially on an E-bike where you've got more weight and speed shoving you on when you try and turn. If you can demo one in each size that's the ideal answer, but that's not that easy to arrange.
Guy Kesteven cheers buddy, gonna prob order a large Merida, your review sold it for me
Great video, nice to here positive feedback on eMTB's.
Have you ridden a Focus Jam2 for comparison? I realise it is a little shorter in travel but it shares the slacker geometry which I am starting to believe is more important.
Also interested to hear you could change power levels in the e tube app as I am unable to do that on my Focus.
The 'boost' level doesn't feed in the torque like eco and trail. I find the instant hit is only really useful when doing steep rocky climbs where trials riding type pedal kicks are useful for getting up obstacles.
Would be nice to tweak things in the software like on a Levo.
Yes, I've tested the Focus and it's a really neat package for more general trail riding. I really like the modular battery idea, the FOLD suspension is awesome, it's lighter than the Merida and the whole package is really nicely put together. It's shorter in reach than the Merida though, the Schwalbe tyres are pretty fragile and the bars are narrower too so it's not naturally as happy to go crazy in bigger/pointier terrain as the E900 either. Yep the tuning app on the Levo is really neat but TBH once you've found the right level for how you ride (I upped the 'trail' to 75% and maxed the torque pick up) I've not done any other adjustments in the past couple of months. I'll dig out my E-tube notes from Shimano and get back to you on the details.
Guy Kesteven I went for the XL frame due to the reach and swapped over the bars & a few other bits from my 'analogue' bike. Also went with the DHF/DHR tyres as I did the Boltby Bash Enduro on it and didn't fancy the chances of the Nobby Nicks.
Would like to give the Merida a go and also the much anticipate e Orange Alpine.
Did perform ok at Descend but as you imply it's always nice to have a little more!
haha, you made exactly the changes I would have done after testing it. It'll be interesting to see how that Orange goes for sure as where they put the pivot point will be crucial. It sounds like you're pretty local to me. Are you doing Ard Rock?
Guy Kesteven I'm over by the NYM. Not doing the Ard Rock. Was hoping to do the Ard Moor as it is right behind my house. Working unfortunately and they were not too keen to accommodate my e bike😄
Nice location, we were riding up round there last Thursday night. Sure Joe will have an e-bike category soon, he lives on his these days!
So today would you still rate this bike in 2020 say compared to the Propane Ekano or the Whyte 150RS or even the new Merida? although if you can find it theis bike is a bargain in Australia at the moment
Still a great bike in 2022.
Have you tried the Rocky Mountain Altitude Powerplay? How does it compare? I'm looking at the Merida and the Rocky..
Sorry, not ridden the Rocky yet. It's certainly a really interesting system they've adopted. The Merida is potentially easier to get spares and support for further down the line though.
MBR certainly like the Powerplay: th-cam.com/video/a1W6lFE_kgU/w-d-xo.html
Levo has more torque i been told. Have you tried a levo to compare this bike?
Great review!
Thanks Frank
Cracking review guy👏
Cheers crap sheep
thanks for the great report!!. I am in doubt to buy size L or M. I measure 1,81cm and crotch 87cm so I do not know why to decide. What do you advise me? What are your measurements and bicycle size in the report? thank you very much!!
Hi David, your measurements are within a cm of mine and that was a large in the video and it was an ideal fit for me. Hope the helps
mine is coming in 2 weeks. I ordered the 800 (non-Di2 and with Lyrik and superdeluxe) I was thinking of bumping up the fork with the 170mm airshaft which doesn't cost very much at all. Guy, do you think that it would be worth it or would it compromise the balance of the bike?
Awesome news. It's always worth checking the warranty to see if extending the fork travel affects your cover, but they're certainly be no issue with it in terms of the dynamic ride. The suspension sits reasonably low in the travel anyway so BB height will be fine and another .5 degree off the head angle and seat angle won't cause any trouble as the seat is steeper than average anyway.
thanks so much. that's excellent advice!
Nice riding!
The 800e has arrived in Oz but not the 900e which is November. I want the 900e so will wait.
I got mine this week (Melbourne). There are none left
I am getting a bike should I get the merdia mission 9 or trek merlin 7
where are these trails dude? you got it on strava? i ended up getting an E-bike! i absolutely love it
They're on Ilkley Moor James. Check out Ilkley MTB for details but it might be a while before they dry out enough to be properly fun to ride.
What would be a better bike between the Giant e trance pro (the green and black $6000 model) and the Merida e160 900e?
For a more direct comparison you need to look at the Trance SX. The Trance Pro you’re looking at has a lot less travel and the head angle is a bit less stable so it’s more trail than Enduro. Also there’s a big difference in suspension and other kit as you’d expect for £3000!
Ey up guy, I have a turbo levo fsr comp fattie, how does the merida compare to the levo , and how long does the battery last on eco mode, cheers john
I'm a big fan of the Levo, but it's more of a trail bike in feel than the Merida as it's got less travel and shorter and steeper in the angles. Shimano is slightly noisier but feels like it has more torque even in Trail mode and Boost is a beast. It's hard to put an exact time on battery life in Eco mode because it obviously depends on terrain but it never left me short even when I was running round in Trail on the moors for hours.
Thanks guy , you've done a great review pal
No worries mate, BTW if you really like your Levo but fancy something more Enduro style then I'd definitely wait 3 days and see what pops up on the internet on the 2nd of Sept. Can't say more than that right now though ;-)
FYI Trek Powerfly 8 FS/Bosch CX: economy mode - 68 miles range on my local singletracks.
Wow that's alot ,I'd be lucky to get 30 miles on levo on eco
will these models be coming to the US ?? what's est. $ cost on one currently ??
Morning Sam, I'll ask the Merida guys here in Europe
Hey Sam, bad news is that Merida don't operate in the US so you're looking at importing one yourself.
yeah I was afraid that was the situation, thanks for the info
No worries, looks like there'll be more similarly aggro e-bikes available in 2018 from other brands such as Specialized's Turbo Kenovo if you can't import a Merida.
So, the exact same model, the same bike is on amazon for 735€. İs it the original price or is it fake i am confused if it's original price is 735 I'll buy it pls respond if u read this
Enes Fırat there’s now way the whole bike is for sale for that little. It might be the battery or a replacement motor or other spares 🤷♂️
Hi Guy, what setting did you use on fork and shock?
Sorry for the delay replying Adam. I generally run 36's wide open in terms of compression as I'm pretty light and the 2017 air spring was the right progression for me. 2018s are a little more dive prone though so you might need more low speed compression. I can't remember the exact set up on the rear shock beyond but again low speed compression was minimal, with just enough high speed to keep it in the sweet spot when it really starts throwing it's weight around. I ran 35% sag to start but pumped it up to nearer 30% once it started being obvious just how hard you could hit descents with it.
Guy Kesteven , thanks , your reviews are spot on .
Thanks Adam. There'll be a standard pedal powered Merida One-Forty review on here as soon as it stops raining and blowing a gale too.
This is the bike my dad is waiting for but it's unavailable(Czech rep.) and it's middle of 2017. Where can I buy this bike? I heard shimano has huge problem with delivering their motors and thats the reason.
Robin Dvořáček I know the bike has been super popular and supplies are limited. Best to just keep checking your Czech Merida supplier I guess. Tell your dad it's worth the wait though.
As I heard it's already sold out for 2017 which is too bad I wanted to buy one too. Shimano hit the jackpot with the E8000 they took their time with it but worth the wait for sure. Compact, powerful, light for decent price. No more 495mm chain stays... :)
I bumped up with the south UK rep for Merida on the trails on Wednesday and he said they were hoping to pull a lot of the 2018 order ahead of schedule so fresh bikes would be available very shortly. Hope that's true where you guys are too but worth checking for sure.
Thanks for the info that sounds good! :)
Guy Kesteven yep 2017 stock is arriving in dribs and drabs as we speak and 2018 stock will arrive in September
wicked
Great review Guy, got to admit this bike looks the bees knees. How does it feel on the decents, is the extra weight really noticeable?
I've ridden a lot of E bikes where the weight is very obvious on descents as they struggle with quick lean angle changes etc but the Merida is about the best sorted anywhere. Mainly because of the length which makes it really stable and balances grip better between the wheels rather than placing too much on the front where it slides too easily. The brakes are great and the weight actually improves the suspension action as the back isn't over long either.
if shimano has less torque than bosch why are merida ,santa cruz , Norco etc using shimano and not bosch ?
Shimano are looking a bit old now as they've been out for several years but they're pretty rock solid in terms of reliability and you get a good deal if you go for full Shimano spec. There's new motor out this year which you could retrofit too.
Because torque isnt all.
You have to try the Motors to Tell.
I dont like Bosch.
Shimano for me is the Deal.
I also like brose, But two mates have massive Problem with it.. So no.. Still like the old e8000 Motor.
How is this bike to ride on flat ground for abit longer distances, like roads between tracks and so on, since IT got so deep suspension?
Hi Fredrik,
The suspension is really well sorted in terms of pedalling efficiency and obviously you've got the motor to make cruising easy up to 25kmh. If you don't think you'll use all that travel though Merida do a range of 120mm bikes and the Focus Jam2 and Specialized Levo bikes are really good in the 140mm bracket.
Guy Kesteven.
Yea im currently choosing between the eOne sixty 800 and the eOne twenty 500. The 500 have 130mm fork and 120mm back. So maybe a better one for me. That one can still handle pretty rough riding downhill and uphill i suppose, but easier on the roads maybe? Do you know IF they have the same motor and torque power? Cant really find a spec on that.
Generally pretty low on info on ebikes so really nice with the rewies like this one!
Same motor and battery but interestingly looking at Merida's own figure it's only around 200g lighter so acceleration and range figures will be pretty much identical. It's slightly shorter and the steering is steeper though so it'll feel more like a conventional bike on the road than a chopper motorbike ;-)
Guy Kesteven
So its the same torque power in both bikes? Have heard different answer on that from different dealers, they said the sixty 800 have higher torque Than the twenty 500. Cant find any other info than the motor spec: e8000 engine on both and 500wh battery.
I'd be surprised as they both have the same motor but I'll ask the guys at Merida tomorrow for you.
How long do you get out of a battery dude?
James Tucker it depends on the terrain and modes you use. If you’re charging up steep stuff in Boost in cold conditions (batteries don’t like cold) all the time then you might not even get an hour out of it. Use Eco with occasional trail on less strenuous terrain though and you could get a 60k day out of it.
Guy Kesteven thanks for the reply dude, I am guessing out of a hour I will of covered more ground like, how much faster would you say these are on an overall loop? For example one of my peaks routes the kinder circuit takes me about 2n half hours 13miles 2.000ft ish, would the bike be capable of doing this loop? How much riding did you do in this video looks very similar to what I ride?
James Tucker we did Helvellyn on Thursday on a Focus E-bike with a 375wh battery and it did a lap that size in just over an hour on Boost and Trail. The Merida has a 500wh battery so if you stayed in Trail/Eco I reckon it should two laps easily. I’d rather be cautious about what I’m saying than have you thinking “that prat said it’d do a full mountain day and only use one bar”. I’ll see if I can get Andy Mee from Merida on here for a second expert opinion as he’s had an E-140 for a while.
Guy Kesteven thanks again for the reply, I am really considering buying one, I love the idea of saving energy on the climbs for more fun on the downs! Plus getting more runs in on a ride is so appealing to me. Obviously the main concern is how far I can go, if I could do 2 laps of kinder circuit on it I would be more than well impressed. But thanks for your feedback. Do you know how long they take to charge? And thanks hopefully your contact can help to confirm battery life/travel distance.
Hi James.
As Guy has said battery life is so dependant on many things.
How much boost
How many hills
Rider weight inc pack
Terrain
Tyres and pressure
Temperature.
If you’re out for an hour or two you won’t have any problems with any of that...
My favourite example is Coed Y Brenin.
Cold day, big lad (me) with a big pack.
Eco on every fire road, trail on every Singletrack and boost occasionally for a bit of fun..!
Managed the whole thing on one battery.
Did Snowdon the day after and had 2 bars left.
A lap of the peaks that takes you 2.5hrs on a normal bike won’t be an issue if you use the modes to conserve battery a little.
Not only will it be much faster, you’ll have sooooo much fun. The ups become as much fun as the downs and the slogs are non existent.
Problem is you can't get hold of the bikes.
Fair comment, but you'll likely find that with a lot of Shimano STEPS bikes currently. Worth the wait though.
Didn't expect a reply lol.
Cracking review Lad really enjoyed it, I think it's going to be a case of waiting for the 2018 kit and seeing what's what.
I've just called my local marida stockist stockton cycles and they said I wouldn't be able to get the 800e even if i pre ordered, that's a bit gash.
Meh, yeah that does suck. Speaking to other brands the problem certainly isn't confined to Merida and there are some potentially very interesting machines that'll break cover at Eurobike.
I'll be honest the, spec on 800 is amazing for the price.
I will still look at marida and see what the 900e offers.
I rode a levo demo the other day and it blew me away.
But the price and spec is putting me off, for another £1000 in the Marida i litraly wouldn't have to upgrade a thing apart from the bars as you mentioned in your review.
Anyways as mentioned it's a great review.
Keep up the great work Lad.