{"id":59877,"date":"2024-03-01T09:00:00","date_gmt":"2024-03-01T08:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/3b3f9c3a-885d-4822-a2a8-235561b89eb1"},"modified":"2024-03-01T10:59:47","modified_gmt":"2024-03-01T09:59:47","slug":"new-merida-eone-forty-and-eone-sixty-emtbs-share-looks-and-suspension-with-non-assisted-siblings","status":"publish","type":"rss_feed","link":"https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/cyclingplus\/rss_feed\/new-merida-eone-forty-and-eone-sixty-emtbs-share-looks-and-suspension-with-non-assisted-siblings\/","title":{"rendered":"New Merida eOne-Forty and eOne-Sixty eMTBs share looks and suspension with non-assisted siblings"},"content":{"rendered":"

Trifecta of new ebike models span travel and frame-material ranges <\/p>

By Alex Evans\n <\/p>

Published: Friday, 01 March 2024 at 08:00 AM<\/p>

\n\n

Merida has redesigned its three-bike eMTB range, now sharing its looks and suspension design with the brand\u2019s award-winning enduro and trail bikes, the One-Sixty and One-Forty.<\/p>

The eOne-Sixty CF, eOne-Sixty Lite and eOne-Forty Lite\u2019s all-new design uses a horizontally mounted rear shock, and on the One-Sixty models, a flex-stay suspension system.<\/p>

The carbon fibre CF model gets a 600Wh fixed, internal battery, while the alloy Lite models have a much bigger 750Wh unit that can be removed. All models are powered by Shimano\u2019s 85Nm and 600W EP-801 electric bike motor<\/a>.<\/p>

Travel figures are the same across the two eOne-Sixty models (174mm rear with 27.5in rear wheel). While the eOne-Forty shares its outline with its bigger sibling, it forgoes the flex-stay suspension design<\/a> for a seatstay pivot delivering 143mm of travel<\/a>.<\/p>

Prices start at \u00a34,300 \/ \u20ac5,150 \/ AU$6,999 for the most affordable eOne-Forty Lite 400 and rise to \u00a310,500 \/ \u20ac12,600 \/ AU$15,999 for the fanciest eOne-Sixty CR 10K.<\/p>

Five things you need to know about Merida\u2019s all-new eOne-Sixty and eOne-Forty<\/h3>
  1. Every model of eOne-Sixty and eOne-Forty is mixed-wheel (29in front, 27.5in rear) and 29in-wheel compatible<\/li>
  2. Travel starts at 143mm for the eOne-Forty with 29in wheels and lifts to 174mm for the eOne-Sixty with mixed wheels<\/li>
  3. All models use Merida\u2019s Agilometer sizing, where reach figures grow but standover heights remain relatively unchanged (and low) across the five-size range<\/li>
  4. Battery capacities start at 600Wh and rise to 750Wh. All models are compatible with a 360Wh range extender<\/li>
  5. Merida\u2019s own-brand dropper post \u2013\u00a0that\u2019s fitted to all eOne-Sixty models \u2013\u00a0has a travel-adjust feature from 30-230mm.<\/li><\/ol><\/div><\/div>

    An all-new frame for the eOne-Sixty CF and Lite, and eOne-Forty<\/h2>
    Mick Kirkman \/ Merida<\/figcaption><\/figure>

    The new bike\u2019s horizontally mounted shock mimics Merida\u2019s One-Sixty and One-Forty design, moving away from the outgoing electric mountain bike<\/a> model\u2019s vertical shock positioning.<\/p>

    The carbon fibre model gets a fully enclosed down tube \u2013 and unremovable battery \u2013\u00a0while the alloy versions\u2019 batteries are removable via the U-shaped down tube\u2019s cut-out.<\/p>

    All models have internally routed cables via ports on the headset, dubbed Wire Port.<\/p>

    \"Merida
    Mick Kirkman \/ Merida<\/figcaption><\/figure>

    The carbon frame\u2019s externally smooth tubes have heat exhaust grills to expel excess warmth in the battery compartment, but the alloy one forgoes this feature.<\/p>

    SRAM\u2019s Universal Derailleur Hanger<\/a> features across the range, as do multiple down tube mounting points for bottles, accessories and a range extender. Slotted neatly under the front of the top tube is an additional accessory mount.<\/p>

    There\u2019s under-side and chain-slap protection aplenty, plus an in-built main pivot mudguard. There are mounting bosses on the seatstay bridge for an additional, longer rear mudguard<\/a> too.<\/p>

    At the rear, there\u2019s tyre clearance for up to 2.6in rubber, with Merida using the Boost 148 standard and a 200mm post brake mount.<\/p>

    Size-specific suspension kinematics customise the ride<\/h2>
    \"Merida
    Mick Kirkman \/ Merida<\/figcaption><\/figure>

    At the heart of the new eOne-Forty and eOne-Sixty models is Merida\u2019s FAST kinematic suspension platform.<\/p>

    This is a linkage-driven single-pivot layout, where the longer-travel models forgo a seatstay pivot in favour of a flex stay, dubbed P-FLEX. The shorter-travel One-Forty bike has a seatstay pivot, but is still a single-pivot design, rather than a four-bar or Horst-link bike.<\/p>

    Merida claims its kinematics have been tuned for ebikes and rider size,\u00a0which corresponds to frame size. Bigger sizes get increased progression, which should tune suspension feel to rider size.<\/p>

    There\u2019s a flip chip in the rocker used to compensate its geometry when switching between 29in and 27.5in rear wheels, but its different settings also change the rear travel.<\/p>

    Set to the 29in position, the eOne-Sixty has 160mm of travel, but swap to the 27.5in position and that lifts to 174mm. The eOne-Forty has 142mm in the 29in setting and 156mm in the 27.5in configuration.<\/p>

    Finally, the shock\u2019s mounts position its piggyback horizontally rather than vertically. Merida claims it has used this design for space purposes.<\/p>

    Style and speed-focused geometry<\/h2>
    \"Merida
    Mick Kirkman \/ Merida<\/figcaption><\/figure>

    Merida\u2019s Agilometer geometry concept focuses on growing bike length, while keeping standover heights as squat as possible as the sizes increase.<\/p>

    The five-size range spans from extra-short to extra-long via short, mid and long.<\/p>

    For example, Merida recommends a 175cm-tall rider should ride a short bike for a more agile feel, a mid-sized bike for a balanced feel and a long bike for a stable feel.<\/p>

    A long and deep seatpost, and the brand\u2019s 30-230mm adjustable-travel dropper, add to this versatility because the post can be slammed in the frame\u2019s tube.<\/p>

    Compared to the One-Sixty, the ebike version\u2019s reach figures are slightly shorter and head angles steeper for any comparative size,\u00a0justified by the bike\u2019s extra weight increasing stability, negating the need for longer geometry.<\/p>

    <\/colgroup>
    Merida eONE-SIXTY CF and LITE geometry.<\/caption>
    \ufeffSize<\/th>Extra-short<\/th>Short<\/th>Mid<\/th>Long<\/th>Extra-long<\/th><\/tr><\/thead>
    Seat tube (mm)<\/td>400<\/td>410<\/td>425<\/td>445<\/td>465<\/td> <\/tr>
    Top tube (mm)<\/td>546<\/td>567<\/td>589<\/td>610<\/td>632<\/td> <\/tr>
    Chainstay (mm)<\/td>446<\/td>446<\/td>446<\/td>446<\/td>446<\/td> <\/tr>
    Head angle (degrees)<\/td>64.4<\/td>64.4<\/td>64.4<\/td>64.4<\/td>64.4<\/td> <\/tr>
    Seat tube angle (degrees)<\/td>78.5<\/td>78.5<\/td>78.4<\/td>78.4<\/td>78.3<\/td> <\/tr>
    Head tube length (mm)<\/td>100<\/td>105<\/td>110<\/td>115<\/td>120<\/td> <\/tr>
    Reach (mm)<\/td>419<\/td>439<\/td>459<\/td>479<\/td>499<\/td> <\/tr>
    Stack (mm)<\/td>624<\/td>628<\/td>633<\/td>637<\/td>642<\/td> <\/tr>
    Wheelbase (mm)<\/td>1199<\/td>1221<\/td>1244<\/td>1266<\/td>1288<\/td> <\/tr>
    Standover CF model (mm)<\/td>776<\/td>770<\/td>765<\/td>760<\/td>755<\/td> <\/tr>
    Standover Lite model (mm)<\/td>763<\/td>757<\/td>751<\/td>749<\/td>744<\/td> <\/tr> <\/tbody> <\/table>