E-MTB and playful handling don't go together? Quite the opposite, as the previous Merida eOne-Sixty proved time and again. Thanks to short chainstays and a strong chassis, the bike could be manoeuvred easily over the trail and still didn't shy away from much downhill - even if a steady hand was required on the climbs. The main points of criticism so far: the small 500 watt-hour battery and the somewhat outdated motor.
Merida eOne-Sixty - EP8 and Enduro DNA
This is exactly where Merida comes in with the new eOne-Sixty for 2021: Propulsion is now provided by the new Shimano EP8which is said to have gained some power and finesse compared to its predecessor. With 630 watt-hour batteries in almost all models, longer tours are also possible without a spare battery. The top-of-the-range 10k model (€9799) in particular has also been tweaked in terms of equipment: the new Fox 38 Factory with 160 millimetres of travel at the front in combination with puncture-proof Maxxis double-down tyres clearly position the e-bike towards enduro and wild descents. Thanks to new carbon rims from DT Swiss, the previously permitted total weight of 120 kilograms is also a thing of the past. Now the rider and bike together can weigh 140 kilograms. In view of the large battery and the heavy add-on parts (fork, tyres), the weight of 22.8 kilograms measured by us without pedals is definitely very acceptable.
Battery cover, light, cable routing - detailed improvements to the eOne-Sixty
Especially as Merida has also made a few tweaks in other areas. The 150-millimetre chassis with carbon or aluminium front and aluminium rear remains the same, but all models now come with a small front headlight from Lezyne in case you get caught in the dark on a longer tour. The battery cover has been further improved and is now more user-friendly, with some of the cables now neatly concealed directly in the headset. SUV fans will now find two threads for a kickstand at the rear, but fortunately these are not otherwise visible. The aluminium range of the eOne-Sixty has also been further expanded: Starting at 4499 euros for the eOne-Sixty 500 with Shimano EP8 and 630 watt-hour battery.
eOne-Forty - Battery, details, SUV model
The little brother eOne-Forty, which is fully designed for touring, has undergone similar improvements. The large battery and the new battery cover as well as the EP8 are also used here. Here too, a Lezyne headlight, cable routing in the headset and a thread for the side stand are now available ex works. Since, according to Merida, the eOne-Forty in particular is often converted into an SUV by customers, there will now also be an SUV model ex works, called EQ, which is already equipped with a rack, mudguards, kickstand and light and changes hands with a 630 watt-hour battery for 4699 euros.
All further information can be found on the Website of the manufacturer.
Adrian Kaether
Editor
