MERIDA eONE-SIXTY 900E 2019 Review

The MERIDA eONE-SIXTY 900E is one of the best eMTB to be released in recent years. It’s managed to secure itself several titles in our group tests and left the competition behind. But the competition hasn’t slept and so we were particularly excited to see whether the almost unchanged MERIDA can still hold its own.

For more information on the group test head to: The best eMTB you can buy

**MERIDA** eONE-SIXTY 900E | 22.28 kg | € 7,499

“Don’t change a winning team”, is probably what MERIDA thought when they left the eONE-SIXTY unchanged, except for an update to the decals and the cockpit. They really had no reason to make any changes, since there was nothing for us to fault with regards to the build spec of the € 6,499 bike. It comes with FOX Factory suspension with 160 mm travel, a Shimano XT Di2 drivetrain with an 11-46 cassette and a sturdy DT Swiss HX1501 wheelset.

Still a powerhouse – in terms of trail performance, the MERIDA doesn’t have to hide from the competition

The 22.16 kg bike is powered by a Shimano STEPS E8000 motor, which receives its power from an external 504 Wh battery positioned on the down tube. Unfortunately, there is no room left for a bottle cage. While many other eMTBs now come with mixed wheel sizes, MERIDA continues to use 2.8″ wide, 27.5″ MAXXIS tires – nothing wrong with that.

MERIDA eONE-SIXTY 900E in Detail

Fork FOX 36 Factory GRIP2 160 mm
Rear shock FOX FLOAT Factory DPX2 155 mm
Motor/Battery Shimano STEPS E 8000 504 Wh
Drivetrain Shimano XT Di2 11-speed
Brakes Shimano Saint 200/200 mm
Seat post RockShox Reverb Stealth 150 mm
Stem MERIDA Expert eTR 44 mm
Handlebar MERIDA Expert eTR 780 mm
Wheels DT Swiss HX1501 SPLINE
Tires MAXXIS Minion DHRII 27.5×2.8″

**Piggyback**
The position of the external battery on the down tube doesn’t look nicely integrated. But this shaves off some weight and allows for a lower centre of gravity. On top of that, carrying a spare is much easier seeing as the battery is more compact than the integrated version.

**Target practice**
You have to aim carefully to hit the right lever. The RockShox Reverb remote is particularly difficult to reach.

**Very balanced**
The rear suspension of the MERIDA is convincing throughout, responding sensitively and offering good feedback.

**Very long**
The 140 cm head tube of the MERIDA is much longer than most of its competitors’, providing an upright seating position and lots of confidence on steep terrain.

Geometry of the MERIDA eONE-SIXTY 900E

Size	S	M	L	XL
Seat tube	410 mm	430 mm	470 mm	510 mm
Top tube	583 mm	608 mm	634 mm	658 mm
Head tube	100 mm	120 mm	140 mm	160 mm
Head angle	66.5°	66.5°	66.5°	66.5°
Seat angle	75°	75°	75°	75°
Chainstay	440 mm	440 mm	440 mm	440 mm
BB Drop	13 mm	13 mm	13 mm	13 mm
Wheelbase	1,174 mm	1,202 mm	1,230 mm	1,258 mm
Reach	420 mm	440 mm	460 mm	480 mm
Stack	608 mm	626 mm	644 mm	663 mm

MERIDA eONE-SIXTY 900E in Review

**Helmetet** MET Roam | **Backpack** EVOC STAGE 12L | **Jersey** Nukeproof Blackline SS | **Shorts** Nukeproof Blackline Short | **Shoes** ION Rascal

Since MERIDA has left the bike unchanged, the seating position for a 180 cm tall rider on the size L bike is as upright as before and plenty comfortable. This is the result of the long head tube and the short stem. But if you think that makes the bike bad at climbing, you’d be wrong. Overall, the MERIDA climbs efficiently and the front wheel doesn’t feel like it wants to topple over despite the 35 mm stem. It is the stem, among other things, that makes the bike handle so well on the descents. As the rider you feel securely integrated between the wheels, providing you with the confidence to charge down any trail. The bike conveys huge amounts of composure and stability, even on steep terrain.

**Tuning tip:** Less active riders can swap the short stem for a 50mm model

Nevertheless, the MERIDA never feels sedate. It changes direction quickly and without lots of physical effort. However, in very tight spots, it needs a bit more input than the best bikes in the test field. The performance of the suspension is top class – it is sensitive while remaining high in its travel, which allows for an active riding style. If you like popping off ledges or pumping through rollers, this bike is sure to put a smile on your face. Less experienced riders benefit too with the bike always giving enough feedback about what is going on beneath it.

Riding Characteristics

Agility

sluggish
playful

Stability

nervous
stable

Handling

demanding
balanced

Riding fun

boring
lively

Motor feeling

digital
natural

Motor power

weak
strong

Value for money

poor
top

Technical Data

Size: S M L XL
Weight: 22.16 kg
Perm. total weight: 140 kg
Max. payload (rider/equipment): 117 kg
Motor torque: 70 Nm
Battery Capacity: 504 Wh
Travel (f/r): 160/160 mm
Wheel Size: 27.5"
Price: € 6,499

Rider type

Touring Rider 1

Trail rider 2

Extreme rider 3

Conclusion

The MERIDA eONE-SIXTY remains an excellent and very versatile eMTB, the handling is nicely balanced and the spec is spot on too. There are no real weaknesses to speak of and it’s still able to leave a large part of the competition behind. However, you do notice that it’s starting to get long in the tooth, and we missed the technical sophistication on offer from the best bikes in the test field.

Tops

confidence inspiring in demanding terrain
easy, intuitive handling
great spec

Flops

no space for a bottle cage in the front triangle
Reverb lever difficult to reach

For more information head to: merida-bikes.com