Merida One-Sixty 700 Enduro MTB Reviewed

[@lehman8528]

I owned one of these for the last 8 months and could not wait to get rid of it to be honest. In regards to build/reliability, I was on my third warranty dropper post by the time I sold the bike, the travel adjuster stopped working on the first one, meaning it was stuck to the 230mm length, the second one developed a nasty gauge/scratch vertically on the same side as the external adjuster. The third replacement was a redesign which apparently fixes these issues. The headset routing was some of the worst I’ve seen. It has a metal sealing plate which had already started to eat into the cables, and the last smaller issue is you can’t get a BB tool on the non drive side without removing the rear shock and raising the rear end. In regards to riding the bike it wasn’t awful, but it was definitely former than what I expected from a bike with this amount of travel. I am only 65kg so maybe that plays into it a bit, however when I tried to reduce the pressure in the shock I would blow through travel, but then bumping it up made it too harsh, also tried to experiment with different volume spacers but could never get the feel I was after, I’ve also heard similar things from a friend on their new One Forty. Sorry for the long comment, but thought I’d give my experience. ✌🏻

[@TheLoamWolf]

We always appreciate when owners share long comments that are helpful and list issues. Sorry to hear that you had that problems. Hopefully you’ve found a bike that better suits you. This bike certainly isn’t perfect, but it does some things well, and it wouldn’t be the only bike that suits heavier riders better too.

[@lehman8528]

@@TheLoamWolf I’ve got a Norco Sight C2 that should be arriving in the next couple of weeks, so pretty keen to give that a go

[@MrSupermugen]

what a shame! I've got the 700 & the fr600, Both are excellent bikes, They are some of the best riding bikes ive had, Friends have ridden them an they have gone an bought their own. Something wasnt right in your setup as the one-sixty by itself is a damn good all round bike, I can do local trails no worries as it pedals damn well for what it is and then bashed Skyline QT/cardrona/coronet and its been fanastic. Shops here struggle to keep stock as they sell so well.

[@lehman8528]

@@MrSupermugen I did take it on a trip to QT and it did handle the bigger bike park stuff really well, I just couldn’t find a set up for it that worked well back home in the Gold Coast.

[@MrSupermugen]

​@@lehman8528 Odd, between QT and my local trails was just tyres for me. Lively and poppy at home on the lighter tyres and absolute machine at the bike park.

[@aledh91]

Yeah guys! That bike is absolutely RAD and PRICE VS PERFORMANCE it’s definitely super! The only issue i had during my test session was i (probably) need a token or two for my rear shock, cuz i used to touch my toe to much during turns/switchbacks. A solid 8,5/10 for this bike 👊🏻

[@TheLoamWolf]

Thanks for the feedback, it's a ripper for sure!

[@stevied653]

Did you get any scratches up the dropper stanchion at all? I’ve been seeing things about it creates a big long scratch

[@stevied653]

Does this have the silent hub? I hope not, just ordered this bike and I want a loud hub

[@davidbestea4221]

would you guys chose this or the yt capra? I never ridden one of these but i did ride the capra 29'er, and i found the capra a bit ,, stiff " and the suspension was not that active.

[@davidoffers1755]

Wish I'd seen this a few days ago as I have the 2023 500 version sat under the stairs still in the box it arrived in earlier. Figured that the 11 speed deore and easily upgradable Yari are massive plus points for me and due to an offer cost me £1900. Was torn between a mid and long at 181cm with 720cm saddle height but getting the seat out of the way is a priority so I opted for the mid. Has the basic 200mm dropper post which on the long would be too tall but I am worried about the ett being too short hence no unboxing yet... Thoughts on the size as you don't mention your own height?

[@TheLoamWolf]

189cm here with a 800mm saddle height. You could certainly ride either size, but the Mid sounds like a reasonable call! Can always push the saddle back on the rails slightly if it feels too compact.

[@ThangHua-i5j]

Im looking at a 160 because i race enduro. But i have a tight budget and will only be able to afford one bike. I was just wondering in the 160 was still playful and agile enough at slower speeds and on less steep trails which are tighter and twistier.

[@TheLoamWolf]

It'll depend a little on size and wheel choice, but yes it's plenty agile.

[@emersonorlandoordonez1288]

Where can I buy Merida bikes?

[@how_to_scratch9610]

Tredz sells them and have offers

[@FungalHorror]

I love my merida, but the creaky headset grates me. Even after being serviced it comes back quickly

[@-phos-]

Clean looking bike and spec for the price. Shame about the cable routing.

[@TheLoamWolf]

Could we ask you what aspect about the cable routing is the deal breaker? Are you worried about water/debris getting into the bearings? Do you regularly change hosing? Do you change cockpit position frequently, etc? We'd love to hear from folks on exactly what about this is such a turn off so we can share it with brands! Thank you.

[@-phos-]

@@TheLoamWolf I mostly question the longevity, serviceability, and availability of any proprietary parts.

[@TheLoamWolf]

OK thank you.

[@MrSupermugen]

@@-phos- Lots of brands sell the headset stuff now. You MAY change headset bearings once a year... 5mins extra care every 12 months... wow a whole bike ruined...shame on you.

[@grrlewis1]

Frustrated that my headset on my new carbon 160 is creaking badly after half a dozen rides. Not looking forward to taking that rats nest apart to grease everything.

[@topchoice1621]

This bike is at a great price point

[@TheLoamWolf]

Definitely kills it for performance to value ratio 🤘🏼

[@topchoice1621]

@@TheLoamWolf I’d love to see a review and your thoughts on the Revel Rail 29 it comes in under 4k and has DVO suspension

[@miyui9269]

flexible aluminum seat stay?! better not hit drops repititively or creep and fatigue will set in

[@TheLoamWolf]

We're sure they've done their testing. Probably designed for an improbable number of cycles - it doesn't have to flex all that much to provide the necessary "rotation".

[@sebastienhakimejdaa9363]

Looks like the previous generation of the Commencal Meta.

[@standby8499]

you're actually lying. Commencal Meta SX Worse in quality and just sucks.

[@petedog9581]

You could buy a 2023 Rocky Mountain Attitude bike w better spec right now from many online bike companies for the same $.

[@MrSupermugen]

because they are throwing those unaligned things out. terrible alignment on the previous gen altitudes... ask me how i know

[@petedog9581]

@@MrSupermugen I know a couple people who have them ranging from 2020-2023, and they say it is their favorite bike ever... those riders have owned Pivots, Transitions, Spec, etc in the past. Alignment? What was not aligned?

[@MrSupermugen]

​@@petedog9581 I had 4 alloy frames and 3 carbon frames, Kept blowing up the shock bearings, so much side loading. When i eventually talked to someone at RM canada, It was Said they were having odd issues with heavier people 80kg+ struggling with keeping frames aligned.

[@jankaskyevitchjellbet7293]

Looks like a solid bike, shame about hs cable routing! No buy.

[@TheLoamWolf]

Could we ask you what aspect about the cable routing is the deal breaker? Are you worried about crap getting into the bearings? Do you regularly change hosing? Do you change cockpit position frequently, etc? We'd love to hear from folks on exactly what about this is such a turn off so we can share it with brands! Thank you.

[@michaelsturgeon5210]

​@@TheLoamWolf yeah that headset setup is a hard no from me also . After helping a friend change a gear cable outer what should be a straight forward job was a total ball ache even with a routing kit . These things are like the multiple bottom bracket changes for brands just to go back to the good old bsa threaded . Give it a year or so and it'll die and we will be back to just holes & grommets . It's the old giving a solution to a problem that doesn't exist. Arguably it's just for people to have to send you're bike to a shop for repair & no good for us home mechanics but from what I can gather shop mechanics hate it also .

[@MrSupermugen]

You MAY change headset bearings once a year... 5mins extra care every 12 months... wow a whole bike ruined...shame on you.

[@woo_kash]

I think the fun is when you want to adjust stack height with spacers. For me it takes several attempts of swapping them around.

[@MrSupermugen]

@@woo_kash I can swap stem spacers around just as easy as a normal setup........ Thats rubbish

[@bike314]

Looks like an awesome bike but I'm super disappointed that it has headset cable routing. Here are a few reasons why: It shows the brand doesn't listen to bikers feedback. It makes service on the bike more complicated It can lead to premature wear on brake lines and shifter cables from rubbing It allows for dirt and water to get directly dumped on headset bearings It very often requires oddly sized proprietary parts There are basically only 2 pros to adding it The bike's cockpit can look a little cleaner if done well A very very marginal aero gain With how dialed the rest of the bike is, it is just surprising that they made such a silly mistake

[@TheLoamWolf]

Thanks for the feedback!

[@Paparollo212]

Guys, got a brand new chair, popcorns ready and it's beautiful weather ouside, but where is my Loam Wolf emtb shooutout of the year?

[@TheLoamWolf]

Haha. We just pulled into the driveway last night after 3 days of tornado chasing on the way home from Missouri. Way gnarlier than any trails we've ridden, holy moly! Now begins the editing and writing process. Video is shot, so as soon as we can edit and lay out the series, we'll be publishing. We can't wait to share it with you!

[@Paparollo212]

Im glad to hear it!

[@Paparollo212]

@@TheLoamWolf Im glad to hear it!

[@davids.p.9569]

Looking forward to👍

[@DB-sd3cw]

Ew. People actually look forward to ebike reviews? 🤮🤮🤮

[@charlieoscar09]

The welding on that frame looks truly awful have they used chewing gum...I mean look at the seat post strengthening section. Not for me

[@TheLoamWolf]

It’s not so bad in the flesh.

[@MrSupermugen]

I had the 700 & now the fr600, None of my frames looked like that. infact my frames look so damn high quality. these merida frames are the highest quality i've ever come across in an alloy bike thats mass produced.

[@charlieoscar09]

@@MrSupermugen HAVE YOU LOOKED AT THE WELDING ON THE FRAME IN THIS VIDEO

[@MrSupermugen]

@@charlieoscar09 I can only attest to the in person stuff I've seen, both my frames and the many i've run into are premium.

[@Jpq5177]

5,8 the reach in S too small and M too long…

[@a.d.s.2747]

Get some bars with rise and tilt them back

[@andrewcrooks1242]

Don't just read the numbers go sit on one as the steep seat angle with dropper extended actually has you closer to the bars and then with dropper down the short chain stays make this a short overall bike. Also Meridas AGILOMETER sizing idea includes the stem in the reach. So can always chuck a shorter stem on the medium.