José Antonio Hermida, Gunn-Rita Dahle Flesjå and the rest of the Merida factory team have raced this carbon hardtail countless times around the world. The product life cycle of the old carbon frame was astonishingly long at five years. In the end, however, the frame weight of 1341 grams was no longer up to date. The logical consequence: a new frame was needed.
The 2017 carbon fibre chassis does away with all aluminium inserts on the bottom bracket and brake mount, and the Team version even does away with the mounting option for the front derailleur in order to save weight. The result of this consistent diet is impressive. The frame weighs in at a feather-light 878 grams. The 2017 complete bike is even a whole kilo lighter than its predecessor. In addition to the frame, a new fork, brakes and wheels save the rest of the weight. On our test ride, the 8.55-kilo hardtail was hungry for every metre of elevation gain. The 2016 model is also pleasant to pedal uphill, but with the twelve-speed gear system, its successor to the throne simply has an easier gear for steep climbs. The riding position on the new model is significantly sportier, as the reach has increased by a whopping 23 millimetres. However, the longer main frame is partially compensated for by a slightly shorter stem. In general, the new cockpit improves the handling of the Big.Nines immensely, as the handlebars are also 20 millimetres wider. This makes the race file extremely direct and manoeuvrable on the trails. The short chainstays invite you to drift through corners or ride on the rear wheel. On the test lap, we can't remember the last time hardtail riding was this much fun. Not that the 2016 model spoilt our enjoyment of mountain biking, but its successor is simply more consistently implemented in all areas. Neither uphill nor downhill does the 2017 Big.Nine force you to compromise. Even the 30.9 millimetre thick seatpost offers more comfort than the old 27.2 millimetre version thanks to its flat cobra-like head and can even be replaced by a standard telescopic seatpost.
Nevertheless, a small tear rolls down our cheek with the new Big.Nine. With Rock Shox's new Sid fork, we have to say goodbye to the X-Lock lever that we have grown fond of over the years. The hydraulic lockout button with biros mechanism was pioneering when it was introduced years ago, was always easy to operate and could be discreetly combined with Sram brake or shift levers. The new lockout works again with a shift cable, seems a little clumsy and sometimes gets stuck. In return, the fork now has a separately adjustable compression stage. The new Sram level brakes also don't bite quite as hard as the guides with their four pistons on the old Big.Nine.
Conclusion Ludwig Döhl, BIKE test editor
Who would have thought that a new hardtail would knock us off our feet like this? A species that we thought had long since matured. With the new Big.Nine, Merida has created a racer that is also a hell of a lot of fun on normal tours. However, the price difference of over 1000 euros also makes the discontinued model attractive.
Merida Big.Nine Team 2016
Merida Big.Nine Team 2017
