Merida is focusing on fun times and value with its updated Big.Trail range of hardtails.

The trail hardtail is often ignored, with high-tech, super-specced full-suspension rigs stealing the limelight. However, with far fewer moving parts, the hardtail shouldn’t be overlooked, especially if you’re looking for grins that don’t cost the earth.

Merida’s refreshed Bike.Trail 29er bikes aim to provide those smiles, without you needing to visit the bank manager.

The new bike range has updated geometry with longer reach, slacker head angles and steeper seat angles, as well as sensible tyre choices and a sturdy 140mm-travel fork.

Refined chassis

The Big Trail’s alloy frame has been built with trail performance in mind, according to Merida, thanks to a modern shape that shouldn’t baulk at steep and technical terrain.

However, Merida has given a nod to versatility, recognising that many people will want a bike to do numerous jobs.

This means at the back there are hidden rack and mudguard (fender) mounts, and even kickstand mounts for cross-town jaunts. There are also attachment points for Merida’s large MTB fender, borrowed from the brand’s One.Forty and One.Sixty models. This bolts directly onto the rear seatstay brace.

Merida is confident in the chassis’ abilities, with the frame rated to Category 4, meaning you can race enduro on it.

Mod cons

SRAM’s Univeral Derailleur Hanger sits at the back of the bike, ready to accept a SRAM Transmission direct-mount rear derailleur, or offer up easy replacement if you bend a traditional derailleur hanger. An ISCG05 mount wraps around the threaded BB shell.

There’s chunky chainstay protection, to reduce chainslap noise, which can be distracting on the trail. It’s made from two materials – a rigid plastic that means there’s no glue required to attach it to the bike, and a softer rubber that dampens noise, bolstered by air pockets to ensure a silent ride.

The Boost-spaced rear end can accept up to 2.4in tyres, mounted to Merida’s own 30mm internal-width rims.

Internal routing

Perhaps the most obvious feature of the cockpit, at least in the absence of clutter, is the Wire Port, Merida’s system of running cables and hoses into the down tube, via the headset. This includes a two-piece headset cover, made for Merida by Acros, which is claimed to provide impressive durability thanks to its sophisticated seals.

Want to carry loads on the bike, rather than your back? There’s space for two bottles (Merida claims the Long and XLong frame sizes can carry two 700ml bottles, while even the XShort can take one 700ml and one 500ml) plus a mount under the top tube to attach tools and a tube.

This is in addition to Merida’s multi-tool stashed under the saddle.

Sorted shape

The Big.Trail’s geometry is defined by Merida’s Agilometer philosophy. Rather than small/medium/large frames, Merida dub their sizes from XShort to XLong, across five sizes.

While the previous Big.Trail – reviewed as part of our 2024 Budget Mountain bike of the Year test – wasn’t old-school in its shape, with a 65.5-degree head angle and 435mm reach in a Medium, Merida has grown the Big.Trail further.

The head angle has slackened by 1.5 degrees to a raked-out 64 degrees, while reach figures have increased – a Mid size has a reach of 455mm, 20mm longer than the previous-generation Medium model.

Seat tubes are designed to be short – this allows for longer-travel dropper posts, plus gives you the ability to pick a frame size on reach, rather than seat tube length.

Seat tube angles are steepened to 76.5 degrees, from 75.5 degrees, while the bottom bracket sits 70mm below the axles – nice and low.

Pick your parts

The Big.Trail will come in three builds, all with 140mm-travel forks, Shimano brakes and Shimano gears.

They come with Merida’s own dropper post, though, in a nod to value. The travel of the dropper post is fixed rather than adjustable as found on Merida’s full-suspension bikes.

Dropper travel ranges from 150mm on the XShort frames up to 230mm on the XLong bikes, so plenty of ability to get the saddle out of the way.

Prices are included below, though European prices may differ, depending on territory.

Merida Big.Trail range

Merida Big.Trail 300

• Price: £1,100 / €1,300
• Fork: SR Suntour XCR34 2CR
• Brakes: Shimano MT200
• Drivetrain: Shimano Cues U400
• Tyres: Kenda Regolith
• Claimed weight: 14.7kg

Merida Big.Trail 500

• Price: £1,500 / €1,775
• Fork: RockShox Psylo Silver RC
• Brakes: Shimano MT410
• Drivetrain: Shimano Cues U6000
• Tyres: Maxxis Minion DHF / Maxxis Dissector
• Claimed weight: 15.1kg

Merida Big.Trail 600

• Price: £2,000 / €2,350
• Fork: RockShox Pike
• Brakes: Shimano XT M8120
• Drivetrain: Shimano Deore M6100
• Tyres: Maxxis Minion DHF / Maxxis Dissector
• Claimed weight: 14.2kg