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Merida One-Forty touring bike on test

Florentin Vesenbeckh

 · 31.12.2017

Merida One-Forty touring bike on testPhoto: Manuel Rohne
Merida One-Forty touring bike on test
At Merida, the One-Forty is intended to close the gap between the 120 mm trail bike and the 160 mm enduro bike. At first glance, however, the burly bolide looks more like the big brother of the enduro bike.

With massive 2.6 tyres, sturdy parts and downhill-proven Code brakes, the Merida One-Forty 800 This means that the yellow speedster is no lightweight for an all-mountain bike, not even in the 3000-euro mid-range. This is particularly noticeable on the climbs. Here, the One-Forty climbs solidly thanks to the Eagle 1x12 drivetrain, but doesn't exactly encourage you to attack Strava best times. The rear suspension requires you to reach for the shock's platform lever, which neutralises the suspension as far as possible. On the trail, the All Mountain impresses with its balanced feel-good geometry and good cornering ability. The low bottom bracket, the short chainstays and the modern reach make this possible. The moderate steering angle of 66.3 degrees promises agile handling, but unfortunately the high weight of the bike and wheels somewhat dampens the playfulness. With its wide tyres, the All Mountain is safe and smooth, which benefits less experienced riders in particular. The suspension, on the other hand, is sporty and firm and positions the rider high in the suspension travel. Although you never feel like you are reaching the limit of the suspension travel, the One-Forty does not offer fluffy comfort. The Maxxis tyre combination consisting of the well-rolling Rekon+ (rear) and grippy DHR II on the front wheel offers a harmonious compromise between rolling resistance and lateral support. The in-house rims with an inner width of 29 millimetres also set off the wide tyres well.

The Merida One-Forty 800 is new for the 2018 season. Three models of the full-suspension touring bike are available, with the 800 being the highest-quality version.Photo: Manuel Rohne The Merida One-Forty 800 is new for the 2018 season. Three models of the full-suspension touring bike are available, with the 800 being the highest-quality version.


Florentin Vesenbeckh, test editor BIKE:
Tyres, brakes, add-on parts: Merida consistently follows through with its concept. The new Merida One-Forty is fully trimmed for downhill riding. Unfortunately, the bike loses some of its playfulness and liveliness due to its high weight and sluggish wheels. On rough terrain, however, it feels secure and smooth, and the suspension is firm.

BIKE editor Florentin VesenbeckhPhoto: Georg Grieshaber BIKE editor Florentin Vesenbeckh The cable routing in the Merida One-Forty runs cleanly and rattle-free in the frame - a 10mm Torx is required for adjustment.Photo: Manuel Rohne The cable routing in the Merida One-Forty runs cleanly and rattle-free in the frame - a 10mm Torx is required for adjustment. The solid Sram Code brakes on the Merida One-Forty provide top deceleration and plenty of reserves on the downhill.Photo: Manuel Rohne The solid Sram Code brakes on the Merida One-Forty provide top deceleration and plenty of reserves on the downhill.
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The geometry of the Merida One-Forty 800 at a glance.Photo: BIKE Magazin The geometry of the Merida One-Forty 800 at a glance. This is how the BIKE testers rated the riding behaviour of the Merida One-Forty 800.Photo: BIKE Magazin This is how the BIKE testers rated the riding behaviour of the Merida One-Forty 800.


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Florentin Vesenbeckh

Florentin Vesenbeckh has been on a mountain bike since he was ten years old. Even on his very first tour, he focussed on single trails - and even after more than 30 years in the saddle of an MTB, these are still the quintessence of biking for him. He spent his youth competing in various bike disciplines and later his cycling career was characterised by years as a riding technique coach. Professionally, the experienced test editor now focusses on e-mountainbikes. In recent years, the qualified sports scientist and trained journalist has tested over 300 bikes and more than 40 different motor systems in the laboratory and in practice.

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