The eOne-Sixty from Merida was one of the first E-Enduros to be uncompromisingly designed for tough trail use. Two years ago, the bike won the eOne-Sixty award with its top riding characteristics and fair price. Test victory in the Enduro category in EMTB magazine (issue 3/17). In the meantime, however, many manufacturers have followed suit and raised the bar for the latest version of the Merida flagship. Visually, the newcomer has undergone a massive transformation and has definitely reached a new level. But can the 2020 eOne-Sixty also improve on the trail?
The centrepiece of the new eOne-Sixty still comes from Shimano. The E8000 drive unit provides propulsion, while the entry-level model features the slightly weaker E7000 motor. The battery, on the other hand, is new. For the first time, Merida is using an Intube battery integrated into the down tube on the 2020 model. The new one is used, slim BT-E8035which was presented for the first time at the BIKE Festival in Riva. Propain Ekano was on show. With 504 watt hours, this battery loses out to some large energy sources in the competition for maximum capacity, but the dimensions remain compact and the weight is reasonable at just under 2.9 kilos. Top: The handling when removing the battery is superb. Special: The top model comes with a second battery and an Evoc rucksack as standard, which easily accommodates the spare battery.
To keep the weight of the bike low, Merida has opted for a carbon main frame. Despite the cut-away down tube, the chassis should be lighter than its aluminium predecessor with the same stiffness. The top model should thus land at 21.9 kilos (manufacturer's specification). We also measured exactly this value in 2017 for the eOne-Sixty 900 with aluminium frame and external battery. The bike cost €4999 back then, but the newcomer is much more expensive. Among other things, carbon wheels and the carbon chassis drive the price up to dizzying heights. The model name "eOne-Sixty 10k" alone gives you an idea that even well-filled wallets will have a hard time with this purchase.
But first the facts. Merida uses narrower tyres for more direct and agile handling. 2.5 inch tyres at the front, 2.6 at the rear. The proven and popular wheel mix of 29 inch front and 27.5 rear is used. The advantages: The large wheel at the front ensures stability, safety and good rollover behaviour, while the smaller rear wheel enables shorter chainstays and therefore playful handling. A 160 millimetre fork works at the front, while the rear suspension gets 150 millimetres out of the shock. Pleasing: Merida specifies the permissible system weight at 140 kilos.
The geometry of the Merida eOne-Sixty
Detail improvements instead of a radical overhaul. Merida was so convinced by the geometry of the eOne-Sixty that only a few parameters were tweaked for the new evolutionary stage of the bike. The head angle has been slackened to 65.5 degrees, while the seat angle has been steepened slightly. The bottom bracket has been lowered slightly and short 165 mm cranks are intended to compensate for the lack of ground clearance. The chainstays remain on the short side at 440 millimetres, the reach is modern but not extremely long (460 millimetres for size L). The eOne-Sixty is available in five sizes from XS to XL with reach values between 400 and 480 millimetres.
Features and prices Merida eOne-Sixty
The new carbon models change hands for around 5000 and just under 10000 euros. The top model with the descriptive name eOne-Sixty 10k consistently reaches into the top drawer of component manufacturers. Carbon wheels from DT Swiss, 12-speed Shimano XTR drivetrain and XTR braking system with four pistons. These are joined by high-quality Fox Factory suspension elements. In addition, the top model always comes with a second battery and an exclusive Evoc FR Trail E-Ride rucksack. It starts with the eOne-Sixty 5000 for around 5000 euros, which relies on Deore gears and Rockshox suspension elements.
All equipment variants come with Maxxis tyres with the reinforced Exo+ carcass. The Assegai downhill tyre is used on the front wheel and a Minion DHRII on the rear.
In addition to the four new variants with carbon frames, there will still be two versions of the conventional eOne-Sixty with an aluminium frame and external Shimano battery, both of which will be priced well below €5,000.
The bikes will be available from October 2019, but the exact prices and features have not yet been announced.
The facts about the Merida eOne-Sixty 2020
- Carbon main frame
- Shimano E8000 motor, entry-level model E7000
- Shimano Intube battery BT-E8035
- 160/150 mm suspension travel (f./h.)
- Wheel mix 29x2.5" front/27.5x2.6" rear
- 165-millimetre cranks
- 140 kg permissible total weight
- from approx. 5000 Euro
Ride report: The Merida eOne-Sixty on the trail
We were able to test the top version eOne-Sixty 10k for a day on varied trails north of Barcelona. Our first impression: the bike is a lot of fun to ride! The short chainstays make the handling light-footed. The bike is very easy to pull onto the rear wheel and can be propelled into the air on edges and jumps. Anyone who likes to play with their bike will love this. The new, narrower tyre choice (the predecessor relied on 2.8 plus tyres) makes the bike even sportier. The bike follows the chosen line accurately and precisely and provides a lot of safety. The suspension works sensitively and willingly releases the suspension travel, the end progression is low. This results in a high level of comfort. On our test laps, the rear suspension also offered enough counter-pressure for sporty use. However, really rough bumpy sections were few and far between. We are curious to see how the eOne-Sixty, especially the more affordable versions, performs in comparison to the competition and on even more demanding terrain.
The bike is also very controlled on the climbs. The riding position is rather comfortable, with the rider sitting centrally above the bike. Thanks to the steep seat angle, the short chainstays don't carry too much weight. On the steepest ramps of our test ride, the front wheel was easy to keep on the ground with a little physical effort. The rear suspension is stable in its travel and remains active without sagging.
Conclusion on the Merida eOne-Sixty 2020
The eOne-Sixty is a real fun machine that is fully designed for trails. Whether you're an experienced enduro rider or a leisure trail biker, the newcomer's motto is "sit on it and feel good". Unfortunately, you have to dig deeper into your pockets for the new models with carbon frames than for the popular predecessor.
Florentin Vesenbeckh
Editor CvD
