Merida One-Forty 6000 review

On paper Merida’s brand-new One-Forty platform looks rather mental but, in reality, it’s a very different animal than its geo chart suggests. It offers a unique-but-welcoming and practical ride that balances predictability with all-out fun. Its build kit has been wisely picked considering its asking price, too; making it one of the best trail mountain bikes you can buy.

Earlier this year, Merida shook up both its One-Sixty and One-Forty ranges with a whole new frame, suspension platform and geometry. The brand has been pretty clever, too, using the very same chassis for both bikes but kitting it with different travel numbers. Just by looking at the shape of the bike, it’s clear that the changes are pretty radical compared to the previous One-Forty, and - dare I say - the bike's sleek, new lines pose quite the upgrade itself.

Merida One-Forty 6000 - Frame details

Saying that the One-Forty is feature rich is certainly an understatement here as the frame boasts internal cable routing that flows through the headset and a hard-mounted rear fender with the option of extending it. There’s then an X-Taper head tube and certain bolts around the frame can be tightened from one side of the bike, which is very handy for the at-home mechanic.

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There’s also onboard tool storage available on the bike. Underneath the saddle is a neat multitool with further Allen and Torx tools hidden in the rear axle’s handle. Underneath the top tube is a strap mount, or inner tube holder too, which I really appreciate.

The features continue on the bottom bracket where a little door allows access to the internal cable routing, which doubles up as a tool storage space, too - Merida does offer an aftermarket tool wrap aftermarket that can slide inside. Then boosting the integration theme is a standard-fit Fidlock bottle mount.

The One-Forty 6000 is built around a carbon frame that’s been formed using Merida’s anti-wrinkle system. This method uses a balloon that’s inflated inside of the mould to smooth out the interior of the frame, reducing weight and resulting in a stronger, stiffer and lighter frame.

Moving onto the FAST suspension kinematic, the One-Forty uses flex stays in the place of a horst link. This saves precious grams while making maintenance a bit simpler. Each frame size gets a kinematic designed especially to suit harder riding or heavier riders, increasing the platform’s progression as the size grows.

While on the subject of frame sizes, Merida has gone so far as to shake up that whole philosophy, too. Now, similarly to Specialized and Privateer, the brand has done away with the whole ‘small, medium, large’ concept and has chosen to go the route of ‘X-Short, Short, Mid, Long and X-Long’ offering a size that relates more to riding style than the height of the rider. Merida calls this concept 'Agilometer'.

With this, Merida has focused on the reach measurement which stretches quite a lot from size to size, whereas the seat tube length only grows by 25mm at most. The bike's head tube stays short across the size range, too, allowing riders to tailor their cockpit heights by making use of bar and stem rises. This alone is pretty cool as it actually offers an awful lot of adjustment. As we all know, it's difficult to lower an already tall head tube.

This concept doesn't mean that larger riders will have to ride with their seatposts high out of the frame because the brand has really gone to town with the design of this bike, leaving nothing untouched. And that goes for the dropper post. This bike uses the new Team TR dropper from Merida that’s infinitely (well almost) adjustable. It can offer from 30mm up to 230mm of drop and that’s adjusted using a clever device sat on the left-hand side of the dropper’s collar.

Instead of undoing the collar and twisting a plastic shim, as what’s found on the PNW Loam dropper post, you loosen off a bolt found on the device, sit over the bike while rolling and raise the saddle to a comfortable seated position, then jump off the bike and tighten up that bolt. Thereafter, you should have a perfect saddle height.

The idea of this is to offer riders of varying heights the reach figure they want. So if someone (who would usually fit on a medium) wanted a bike that was more stable, they could opt for the Long or X-Long sizes and still be able to comfortably sit on the bike. It’s a cool idea that takes some of the thinking out of choosing the right frame size for you.

If the One-Forty wasn’t interesting enough, it gets very curious when it comes to the geometry. Even by today’s standards, it’s pretty wild, as this size Long frame on test gets a mighty long 509mm reach. There’s then a very steep 80-degree seat tube angle and a comparatively reserved 65-degree head tube angle. All of that results in a 1,265mm wheelbase.

While a 29er as standard, the bike comes with a flip-chip but this one is more of the geometry retaining flavour, as it allows for a smaller 650b rear wheel to be fitted without affecting its shape.

Merida One-Forty 6000 - Technical details

Merida has kitted the One-Forty 6000 very cleverly, choosing to spec a great performing kit but without splashing out in the pursuit of marginal gains or masses of adjustment. Instead, a Marzocchi Bomber Z1 fork damps 150mm of travel while a RockShox Deluxe Select+ handles the rear 140mm. Again, these components aren’t mega flashy but it’s very much a case of function over form. Perhaps the shock could do with a little more adjustment but generally, it’s really tough to complain.

The bike benefits from a meld of Shimano's shifting, with an SLX derailleur and cassette but with an XT shifter, so riders can take advantage of the multi-release feature. The SLX theme continues to the brakes, where you’ll find a pair of four-pot SLX M7120 stoppers. These are matched to a 203mm rotor at either end, which hints at this bike’s intentions.

As for the wheels, they’re Merida’s own rims laced to Shimano SLX hubs. They’re wrapped in Maxxis rubber with a 2.5in DHF at the front and a 2.4in Dissector at the rear with the former benefitting from an EXO casing and the latter getting a burlier EXO+ build. Riders may want something a bit more aggressive for harder or wetter riding but considering that the One-Forty has something of a lean toward efficiency, this tyre combo is a great choice.

All of this tips the scales at 14.9kg which is pretty standard for a bike of this type.

Merida One-Forty 6000 - Performance

With its rather radical reach and seat angle figures, it’s easy to assume that this bike might be something of a handful to ride but after merely pedaling the bike around the car park, it was shocking how easy the One-Forty was to get on with. The 509mm reach matched with a 50mm stem got me thinking that the handlebar would be miles out in front, especially being well acquainted with bikes with around 480mm reaches but the almost-vertical 80-degree seat tube angle pulls rider weight very centrally over the bike and almost directly over the crank. So when pedaling over flat ground, the One-Forty is a very happy place to be with a spacious but not stretched cockpit.

The One-Forty’s efficiency is clear when it comes to pedaling. The rear end is stable with little sign of unnecessary movement in the suspension platform. Combined with the fast-rolling tyres, the bike surely is a spritely rig. But where both the stable pedaling and geometry really make sense is when climbing because it’s so planted but so forgiving on the legs.

Because the seat tube is so steep and the wheelbase vast, both ends of the bike remain well-weighted. The One-Forty requires little brain power to shift up a hill. That, blended with its efficiency makes this bike a great choice if you’re looking to cover distance without too much complaint. Unlike the Stif Squatch which has just as steep a seat tube, the One-Forty doesn't pitch weight forwards when faced with flat tech because of its longer front centre.

And because this bike's head tube is silly-short for its size, if you're planning a day smashing the pedals, you can get that cockpit super low to keep the weight evenly over the bike - though there is a reasonable level of adjustment, so you can lift the cockpit should you require a little more confidence when the gradient drops. However, I would appreciate the ability to raise the cockpit a little more... Though I'm told that stock bikes, or the ones you can buy will come with more steerer tube.

This can be remedied, however, by installing a bar with a higher rise or kitting a shorter stem. More on the latter later. As for that little adjuster on the side of the seat post, I have knocked it while pedaling every once in a while but to no ill effect and generally, it's nothing I've had to worry about.

As mentioned before, the reach and seat tube measurements are pretty progressive but the head tube angle doesn’t really follow that trend. However, Merida’s restraint pays off in the climbing department as it keeps the front end easy to control as it resists any sign of wandering.

Though, when descending particularly steep sections, I’d have liked at least an extra half a degree taken off of the head tube. There have been moments where weight can be pitched forwards when rolling quickly from steep to flat. The front wheel can hang up a little in these situations, relying on the bike’s length to push it through the compression. Though, perhaps this is an area where the enduro-focused One-Sixty would be a better choice.

However, the reasonable head angle pulls the front wheel towards the centre of the bike, making for a manageable front end that adds quick steering to the otherwise long geometry.

The One-Forty’s impressively lengthy reach encourages a silly amount of confidence, so much so that it’s got me charging into questionable sections without even a hint of nerves. It’s very much a point-and-shoot bike as, regardless of the relatively meagre travel on offer, it shows huge capability and that’s mainly down to the stability of this Long frame.

It does require more forethought when winding through tight corners though, as there’s quite a bit of wheelbase to contend with. Much like the Privateer 141, it is something that takes some getting used to, as your line choices will have to change to accommodate the bike.

The One-Forty’s 50mm stem does need a mention, as it is pretty long, especially when taking the rest of the bike into consideration. While it doesn’t feel too intrusive when sitting on the bike, it pulls weight a little too far forward for comfort when tackling steep gradients. It’s not game-ending, however, as the bike’s geometry saves the day but it does degrade some confidence when rolling into something steep. This is an easy and rather cost-effective component to change though.

The stem makes sense when climbing but really clicks in the corners. This is because it adds more weight to the front end of the bike and reduces the chances of the front wheel from slipping. So for riders who are new to long bikes, it doesn’t take much of a conscious effort to do so.

If the bike’s length wasn’t enough to aid stability while cornering, there’s a surprising amount of lateral flex in the frame. At first, that doesn’t sound like much of a good thing but in actual fact, it boosts grip when the bike’s leaning into a corner - instilling heaps of confidence mid-slidebarreling into a rut or squared-off berm. Elsewhere, I didn't find this flex to be much of a hindrance though it may be noticeable when pedaling particularly hard.

Finally, the suspension kinematic and Merida has done a solid job of creating something that’s versatile but fun and adaptable. As mentioned before, it’s solid under pedaling but there’s a good level of progression built-in, making it a fun little machine to blast through tech aboard. Impressively, the flex stay is pretty unnoticeable compared to its bearing-ridden counterparts. Though, the FAST kinematic does have a tendency to harshen up under heavy braking.

Merida One-Forty 6000 - Verdict

As for value, the Merida One-Forty 6000 is bang-on the money and pretty competitive against other non-direct sales brands thanks to its well-considered componentry and up-to-date geometry.

Specialized’s Stumpjumper Evo Comp offers a somewhat similar built kit but with a heartier price tag of £4,650. Giant offers the Trance X Advanced Pro 29 2 for more money still, but its head angle is steeper and its build kit isn’t quite as nice and its geometry isn’t as progressive. That’ll set you back £4,800

Trek does have a worthy contender price-wise with the Fuel EX 9.7 Gen 5 at £4,200 and it comes with a similar spec but with a downgrade in brakes. What this bike really misses out on is the geometry that makes the One-Forty so special.

Merida has taken quite the leap of faith by taking the design of the One-Forty as far as it has but the risk has certainly paid off. The One-Forty 6000 offers a stable but fun-loving ride characteristic that few others can match at a very sensible price. Although a few tweaks would improve the bike (the head angle and stem), it’s one I’ve really gelled with, and a trail bike I’m sure will impress many who are in the market for something truly unique.