Merida has saved on two things. Firstly, the sporty limited suspension travel of 100 or 83 millimetres and secondly, the price. For a slim € 1,449, a woman gets a lot of bike for her money. In each of the test reports, you could read a conclusion worded something like this: "Ideally suited for ambitious touring bikers on a budget." However, there was still some confusion when it came to tyre choice. The initial scepticism towards the low-profile Maxxis tyres gave way after just a few kilometres on the predominantly dry ride around Lake Garda. The model can do more than its appearance promises. However, the saddle, which is clearly too wide, proved to be an absolute hindrance. "As soon as it gets steeper and I want to shift my weight backwards, you get stuck," the testers criticised. Merida is the only manufacturer in the test field to use an "R7" fork from Manitou. Without any weight disadvantage compared to the more expensive competition, the fork can convince with a good, not too linear spring characteristic. In other words, even on big hits and steps, the fork doesn't dive too far. The "LRS" rear suspension, on the other hand, could be a little more sensitive and reaches its limits on fast descents due to the short suspension travel.
CONCLUSIONMerida offers the "Mission Juliet" for 1,449 euros, a sporty touring bike with a very good price/performance ratio. The suspension could be a little more comfortable.
TUNING TIP: Fit a narrower saddle and wider handlebars for trail use.
Web: www.merida.de
