Would you have known? The proportion of off-road two-wheelers without a motor at Merida is only 30 to 40 per cent. Mountain bikes therefore make up the smallest proportion of the Taiwanese company's portfolio. Nevertheless, there seems to be plenty of budget for development and innovation in this area. The last dream bike in our series, the Merida Ninety-Six 7000, is the perfect proof of this.
The facts about the Merida Ninety-Six 7000
- Price: 6599 Euro
- Range of use: Marathon / Down-Country
- Frame material: Carbon
- Suspension travel: 120 mm front / 100 mm rear
- Wheel size 29-inch
- Frame sizes: S, M, L, XL
- Weight: 12.2 kg in size L
- Weight of wheels: 4645 g
- Guarantee: for life
- Special features: All-mountain tyres on a very sporty down-country bike, tool under the saddle, mounting point under the top tube, system integration in the head tube
Attention to detail right down to the studs
But one thing at a time. The Ninety-Six is Merida's current race fully platform with 100 millimetres of travel and 29er wheels. Last update: 2021. However, only the RC models are really intended for racing. The models without the RC abbreviation are aimed more at sporty touring riders or down-country bikers. Our test bike is no exception. The product managers have taken three measures to prepare the former XC-Fully for its extended range of use: The suspension travel on the fork has been increased from 100 to 120 millimetres. The toothless XC tyres give way to a more aggressive tread, and the braking system no longer strokes the discs with just two pistons, but instead uses four-piston callipers. "An exciting reincarnation of our World Cup-proven XC and marathon machine" is how Merida describes this interpretation of a down-country bike.
But back to the topic of innovation: with the Merida Ninety-Six 7000, it's all in the details. The filigree carbon chassis has flexing seat and chain stays and dispenses with unnecessary bearing points in the rear triangle. This saves weight and provides more stiffness. Long-distance enthusiasts will be delighted with the option of transporting two water bottles in the frame. A third mounting point under the top tube has a device for attaching a spare tube or a rain jacket via Velcro. Also good: Thanks to the integrated quick release, the rear wheel can be changed without additional tools. The right spanner for all other screws on the bike can be found in the mini tool supplied, which is hidden under the saddle. In short: with all these useful details, the Ninety-Six is ready for any trail tour, no matter how long.
The features of the Merida Ninety-Six 7000
- ForkFox 34 Perf. Elite
- DamperFox Float Perf. elite
- CircuitShimano XT 1x12
- Ratio/bandwidth: 32; 10-51 / 510 %
- BrakesShimano XT BR-M 8120/180/160 mm
- Telesupport/lift: Merida Expert TR/170 mm
- ImpellersReynolds TR 309
- TyresMaxxis Minion DHR II; 3C Maxxterra Exo Protection TR 29 x 2.30
Lots of racing, not enough trail
As much as the bike shines with its attention to detail, the concept is only partially convincing on the trail. The Merida Ninety-Six 7000 doesn't really want to shed its race airs and graces. This starts with the riding position: slack seat angle, generous stem, low front and flatbar handlebars. This combination literally stretches the rider over the frame triangle. Marathon riders love this stretched seating position.
On tours without time pressure, however, comfort and riding safety suffer. The suspension is also more reminiscent of a classic race bike than a modern down-country bike. The rear suspension in particular is extremely sporty and propulsion-orientated. Rocking when pedalling? There is none! But there is a lack of traction off-road. But the short-stroke rear end also passes on rough impacts to the rider almost unfiltered. Our tip: With significantly more SAG than usual (from 35 per cent), the rear travel can be used a little better. But even then, you won't have much fun on technical trails. The low front end doesn't provide enough security on descents and the stretched riding position doesn't allow enough room to manoeuvre. On the other hand, the choice of tyres deserves praise. Even if the petite Merida looks like a ballerina in hiking boots on the 2.3-inch wide enduro tyres, the Maxxis Minion DHR front and rear wheels save the off-road performance to a certain extent. The same applies to the powerful brakes, the sensitive Fox fork and the large adjustment range of the telescopic seatpost.
BIKE review of the Merida Ninety-Six 7000
Strengths
- Efficient, drive-neutral chassis
- Very manoeuvrable and agile
- Tyres save off-road performance
- Well and functionally equipped
- Added value through tool under the saddle
Weaknesses
- Rear suspension offers hardly any comfort and little traction
- nervous handling off-road
- Front too low
- Sitting position too stretched
The BIKE conclusion
The Merida Ninety-Six works as a race fully. It is light, powerful and manoeuvrable. Unfortunately, the tyre update, the longer fork and the grippy brakes are not enough to make the bike fun on the trails. As a result, the Merida feels out of place on both marathons and trails. - Max Fuchs, BIKE test editor
Max Fuchs
Editor
