{"id":54901,"date":"2023-09-22T09:00:18","date_gmt":"2023-09-22T07:00:18","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.bikeradar.com\/?p=747095"},"modified":"2023-09-22T09:36:57","modified_gmt":"2023-09-22T07:36:57","slug":"new-merida-one-sixty-fr-combines-180mm-travel-with-mullet-wheels-for-hard-hitting-park-laps","status":"publish","type":"rss_feed","link":"https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/cyclingplus\/rss_feed\/new-merida-one-sixty-fr-combines-180mm-travel-with-mullet-wheels-for-hard-hitting-park-laps\/","title":{"rendered":"New Merida One-Sixty FR combines 180mm travel with mullet wheels for hard-hitting park laps"},"content":{"rendered":"

Merida mixes burly components with competitive pricing on the One-Sixty FR <\/p>

By Tom Marvin\n \t\t<\/p>

Published: Friday, 22 September 2023 at 07:00 AM<\/p>

\n\n

Following the impressive launch of the new One-Sixty and One-Forty platforms a year ago, both of which won BikeRadar\u2019s coveted Bike of the Year awards, Merida has unveiled the new One-Sixty FR family of bikes.<\/p>\n

As the FR moniker infers, these are hard-hitting bikes built for park laps and harder-hitting riders looking for a dependable machine to send big jumps and gnarly lines.<\/p>\n

The two models are based on the alloy One-Sixty<\/a> frame, but rather than coming stock with 29in wheels<\/a> front and rear, these are supplied from the factory as mullet bikes<\/a> (29in front, 27.5in rear wheels), giving 171mm of frame travel.<\/p>\n

\"Merida\n<\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/picture>\n<\/div>
DVO suspension certainly gives the FR 600 a premium feel.<\/span><\/figcaption> Paul Box \/ Merida<\/i><\/span><\/div>\n

This is then paired with 180mm forks for extra front-end bounce.<\/p>\n

The large front wheel is there to give roll-over speed and stability, while the rear is said to aid agility.<\/p>\n

Bikes are built with tough-casing tyres<\/a>, four-piston brakes with 220mm rotors at the front and a coil shock<\/a> at the rear.<\/p>\n

\"Shimano\n<\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/picture>\n<\/div>
Shimano\u2019s Deore kit tends to be fit-and-forget.<\/span><\/figcaption> Paul Box \/ Merida<\/i><\/span><\/div>\n

Merida has prioritised spending the money on key items, such as suspension and tyres, rather than fitting a fancy rear derailleur or shaving weight.<\/p>\n

While built on the successful platform of Merida\u2019s enduro bike<\/a>, the One-Sixty FR is shaped for fun, rather than flat-out speed.<\/p>\n

Merida One-Sixty FR frame details<\/h2>\n
\"Merida\n<\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/picture>\n<\/div>
Merida\u2019s FAST suspension relies on flex-stays.<\/span><\/figcaption> Paul Box \/ Merida<\/i><\/span><\/div>\n

Merida has targeted riders looking for a pocket-friendly deal, using the alloy version of the One-Sixty frame for this hard-hitting bike.<\/p>\n

The frame uses a flex-stay single-pivot suspension design to dole out the 171mm of travel<\/a>. While the frame features a geometry flip chip to enable the use of a 29in wheel at the back (which shortens the travel a touch), Merida reckons the bike is best suited to the smaller wheel.<\/p>\n

If the thought of a 171mm-travel alloy bike relying on flex-stays to operate properly worries you, it shouldn\u2019t. The bike has been tested to Category 5 certification, which is the standard for full-on downhill bikes<\/a>. To back it up, there\u2019s a five-year warranty on the frame.<\/p>\n

While we found the One-Sixty in its enduro guise pedalled very well, Merida says the FR version isn\u2019t built to be a racing snake.<\/p>\n

The coil shock, paired with the FAST suspension linkage, is built for performance in the park.<\/p>\n

\"DVO\n<\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/picture>\n<\/div>
The DVO coil shock keeps things smooth out back.<\/span><\/figcaption> Paul Box \/ Merida<\/i><\/span><\/div>\n

The suspension is designed to be very supple at the start of the stroke, thanks to the linkage and use of a coil shock, for maximum small-bump sensitivity.<\/p>\n

In the middle, the coil shock gives ample support, so lips can be boosted and berms railed without the bike collapsing in the middle.<\/p>\n

\"TRP\n<\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/picture>\n<\/div>
Once bedded in, the Trail Evo brakes have ample power.<\/span><\/figcaption> Paul Box \/ Merida<\/i><\/span><\/div>\n

When it comes to the bigger hits, the progressive nature of the suspension linkage means the One-Sixty FR shouldn\u2019t struggle to cope.<\/p>\n

Short seat tubes are paired with longer reaches, so riders should have the pick of a range of frame sizes to suit their preference \u2013 longer for speed, shorter for tricks.<\/p>\n

The dropper post, with travel adjustable up to 230mm, means taller riders shouldn\u2019t struggle to get the saddle out of the way.<\/p>\n

\"Merida\n<\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/picture>\n<\/div>
Merida\u2019s own dropper post enables you to adjust travel anywhere between 30 and 230mm.<\/span><\/figcaption> Paul Box \/ Merida<\/i><\/span><\/div>\n

Finishing touches to the frame include ISCG05 mounts for a bash guard, a small port near the bottom bracket to help guide cables through the frame, an integrated chain keeper, headset-routed cables and a heat-sink rear brake mount to keep things cool.<\/p>\n

Merida One-Sixty FR geometry<\/h2>\n
\"Bearing\n<\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/picture>\n<\/div>
An integrated mud flap keeps the bearings clean.<\/span><\/figcaption> Paul Box \/ Merida<\/i><\/span><\/div>\n

Merida went big with the launch of the One-Sixty last year, with geometry that is as modern as it comes \u2013 long reaches, slack head angles, super-steep seat angles and properly short seat tube lengths.<\/p>\n

This was dubbed \u2018AGILOMETER\u2019 sizing, enabling riders to pick handling characteristics via bike length, independent of how long their legs are.<\/p>\n

With the One-Sixty FR sharing the same alloy frame, it\u2019s no surprise that the geometry figures are similar, though with an extra 10mm travel up front, the front end is a touch higher, the reaches slightly shorter and the head and seat angles marginally slacker.<\/p>\n

<\/colgroup> \n
\ufeffFRAME SIZE<\/th>X SHORT<\/th>SHORT<\/th>MID<\/th>LONG<\/th>X LONG<\/th><\/tr>\n<\/thead>\n
Tyre sizes<\/b><\/td>29\/27.5″<\/td>29\/27.5″<\/td>29\/27.5″<\/td>29\/27.5″<\/td>29\/27.5″<\/td> <\/tr>
Seat tube<\/b> (mm)<\/td>400<\/td>410<\/td>425<\/td>445<\/td>470<\/td> <\/tr>
Top tube<\/b> (mm)<\/td>537<\/td>564<\/td>591<\/td>623<\/td>655<\/td> <\/tr>
Chainstay length<\/b> (mm)<\/td>434<\/td>434<\/td>434<\/td>437.5<\/td>437.5<\/td> <\/tr>
Head tube angle<\/b> (degrees) <\/td>63.5<\/td>63.5<\/td>63.5<\/td>63.5<\/td>63.5<\/td> <\/tr>
Seat tube angle <\/b>(degrees) <\/td>78<\/td>78<\/td>78<\/td>78<\/td>78<\/td> <\/tr>
Bottom bracket drop<\/b> (mm)<\/td>2<\/td>2<\/td>2<\/td>2<\/td>2<\/td> <\/tr>
Head tube<\/b> (mm)<\/td>95<\/td>95<\/td>95<\/td>105<\/td>120<\/td> <\/tr>
Fork length<\/b> (mm)<\/td>594<\/td>594<\/td>594<\/td>594<\/td>594<\/td> <\/tr>
Reach <\/b>(mm)<\/td>409<\/td>437<\/td>464<\/td>492<\/td>519<\/td> <\/tr>
Stack<\/b> (mm)<\/td>620<\/td>620<\/td>620<\/td>629<\/td>643<\/td> <\/tr>
Wheelbase<\/b> (mm)<\/td>1,193<\/td>1,220<\/td>1,248<\/td>1,281<\/td>1,314<\/td> <\/tr>
Standover height<\/b> (mm)<\/td>735<\/td>740<\/td>743<\/td>740<\/td>735<\/td> <\/tr> <\/tbody> <\/table>