Merida's new gravel bike: The Merida Mission has a clear (racing) mission

Mission? Wasn't there something? Exactly! In Merida's portfolio, the model name once stood for a purist off-road bike designed for competition use. The new platform is now set to follow in its footsteps by targeting race-orientated riders. The Mission has already made its media-effective race debut: At the Gravel World Championships, professional road cyclist Matej Mohoric used the frame set as a basis and won bronze.

Curious - some may remember: two years ago, the Slovenian even piloted the nominal bikepacking model to first place with a prototype of the Merida Silex (Here is the article on Mohoric's 2023 victory on the Merida First King).

According to the manufacturer, the Mission was not inspired by the Mission CX cyclocross bike of almost the same name, but by the Scultura Endurance GR, which proved to be a versatile all-road bike in our test duel with the Merida Silex. The frame geometry of the new gravel bike is therefore also based on the road bike. The riding position is sporty, and compared to the Scultura Endurance GR or Silex, the riding position is much more stretched out. Merida quotes an STR ratio of 1.46 for a medium frame size and a lower centre of gravity should also make handling easier on fast, winding sections.

Merida Mission: The most important facts

• Weight of complete wheel: from 7.6 kilograms (size M)
• Frame/fork weight: 1100/500 grams (size M)
• Stack/Reach/STR: 569/391 millimetres/1.46 (size M)
• Max. tyre clearance: 40 millimetres
• Frame sizes: XXS, XS, S, M, L, XL
• Prices (complete wheels): 2299 to 8999 Euro
• Price (frame set): 2249 Euro

The chassis is based on so-called CF4 carbon, with the frame weighing 1110 grams and the fork 500 grams. Merida only equips high-end road bikes such as the sharp Reacto 9000 (here in the test) a higher quality carbon fibre. The result is a remarkable total weight of 7.6 kilograms for the top model called Mission 10K, which also benefits from exclusive equipment on the scales. The more affordable basic versions break the nine-kilo mark.

Despite its orientation as a racing model, the Mission comes with an integrated storage compartment in the down tube, which can be operated with a Fidlock fastener and offers space for a puncture repair kit. To ensure that nothing rattles on bumpy terrain, an inner bag is included in the scope of delivery. Merida's well-known mini-tool, which fits under the saddle, is not available on all models. The two top versions, the 9000 and 10K, do not come with the tool - presumably for weight reasons. The mounts for fixed mudguards are relatively untypical for the race category. With mudguards, the already limited maximum tyre clearance is reduced from 40 to 35 millimetres.

"We see this as the ideal compromise between generous tyre clearance for high-speed off-road use and a slim silhouette, as we all know it from the world of road cycling," say the Taiwanese about the comparatively small space for wider tyres. However, the narrow tyres are not a unique selling point; race gravel bikes usually roll on thinner tyres. The Trek Checkmate (test here) for example, is only fitted with nominal 38-millimetre tyres ex works.

Merida Mission: Equipment and prices

The Mission is now available in five equipment variants between 2299 and 8999 euros. The 10K, 9000 and 6000 models come with the latest 1x13 groupsets from SRAM (Red XPLR, Force XPLR and Rival XPLR), while the 7000 and 4000 versions are fitted with Shimano double groupsets (GRX Di2 and GRX 400). As befits a modern gravel bike, the frame is UDH-compatible. Lightweight carbon wheels from Reynolds or Zipp are fitted to the frame and fork from the 7000 model upwards. A one-piece carbon cockpit, which has more flare than the well-known road version called Merida Team SL, is also used from the 7000 model upwards.

Mission 4000

• Drive/gear shift: Shimano GRX 400 (2x10; 46/30, 11-36 t.)
• Brakes: Shimano GRX (160/160 mm)
• Tyres: Maxxis Receptor (40 mm)
• Impellers: Shimano WH-RX180/Merida Expert TR (aluminium)
• Weight: not specified
• Price: 2299 Euro

Mission 6000

• Drive/gear shift: SRAM Rival XPLR AXS (1x12; 42, 10-46 t.)
• Brakes: SRAM Rival (160/160 mm)
• Tyres: Continental Terra Speed Protection (40 mm)
• Impellers: DT Swiss G 1800 Spline (aluminium)
• Weight: 9.1 kilogramme
• Price: 3799 Euro

Mission 7000

• Drive/gear shift: Shimano GRX Di2 (2x12; 48/31, 11-36 t.)
• Brakes: Shimano GRX (160/160 mm)
• Tyres: Continental Terra Speed Protection (40 mm)
• Impellers: Reynolds ATR TSS CL (Carbon)
• Weight: not specified
• Price: 4999 Euro

Mission 9000

• Drive/gear shift: SRAM Force XPLR AXS (1x13; 44, 10-46 t.; Powermeter)
• Brakes: SRAM Force (160/160 mm)
• Tyres: Goodyear XPLR Slick (40 mm)
• Impellers: Zipp 303 XPLR S (Carbon)
• Weight: not specified
• Price: 5999 Euro

Mission 10K

• Drive/gear shift: SRAM Red XPLR AXS (1x13; 44, 10-46 t.; Powermeter)
• Brakes: SRAM Red (160/160 mm)
• Tyres: Goodyear XPLR Slick (40 mm)
• Impellers: Zipp 303 XPLR SW (Carbon)
• Weight: 7.6 kilogrammes
• Price: 8999 Euro