The Merida Big Trail first arrived in 2021 as a fun-focussed hardtail designed for all-round riding. Combining a 140mm travel fork with progressive geometry, 29er wheels and chunky tyres, the Big Trail packed a load of capability into a simple and easy-to-maintain package. This kind of UK-style hardtail is especially popular as a winter mud-plugger since they’re typically a lot cheaper to maintain than a full suspension mountain bike. They’re also a lot cheaper to buy in the first place, making them a great option for new riders. And if they’re done right, they can be an absolute hoot for more experienced folks to ride whether they’re scratching in lines in the woods, or linking up doubles on a modern flow trail.
Having had a positive reception to the first generation Big Trail, Merida decided to put together a whole bunch of updates and improvements to bring its performance and appeal up a few notches.
An overview of the 2025 Merida Big Trail
For 2025 the Merida Big Trail receives a brand new butted and hydroformed alloy frame. It continues to be designed around 29in wheels and a 140mm travel fork, and there’s plenty of clearance for 2.4in wide rubber out back.
A shortened seat tube provides more standover clearance, and the diameter has fattened to 34.9mm to improve strength and stiffness with long-stroke droppers. Merida supplies its own dropper post for the Big Trail with up to 230mm of travel.
Cable routing has been updated with the main control lines now entering the frame through the headset. We had notable issues with the internally-routed headsets on the One-Forty and One-Sixty, though Merida says those problems have been rectified with an updated design from Acros that’s said to be easier to work on.
We’re a lot happier to see all of the storage options on the Big Trail frame, which will accommodate two bottles on the downtube in every size. There’s an accessory mount underneath the top tube, and a new dual-density chainstay protector that uses a hard plastic core for the base shape and a soft outer material to deaden chainslap.
Merida Big Trail geometry & size chart
It’s the geometry that sees the biggest updates on the 2025 Merida Big Trail, which follows in the footsteps of the One-Sixty and eOne-Sixty with a change in its sizing nomenclature.
Instead of the traditional Small, Medium and Large frame sizes, you’ll now find sizes referred to in their reach measurement; X-Short, Short, Mid, Long and X-Long.
In addition to shortening the seat tube lengths, Merida has also slackened out the head angle by 1.5° (now 64°). The reach is 20mm longer and comes in at 455mm on the Mid frame size. To maintain a comfortable seated position, the seat angle has been steepened by 1° (now 76.5°). Those are progressive numbers for a hardtail that should make for a more confidence-inspiring stance compared to the previous model.
It’s worth noting that while it isn’t recommended to set up the Big Trail as a mullet with a 27.5in rear wheel, the frame is rated for use with up to a 150mm travel fork.
Merida Big Trail price & specs
There will be three Merida Big Trail models coming into Australia this year. Prices will start at an accessible $1,599 AUD for the cheapest model.
All three bikes utilise the same alloy frame, a 140mm travel fork and Merida’s own Expert TR II dropper post. They also get hydraulic disc brakes, a 1x Shimano drivetrain and thru-axles front and rear.
The top-end Big Trail 600 looks particularly impressive with its RockShox Pike fork and premium Maxxis tyres that utilise 3C MaxxTerra rubber and a heavier EXO+ casing for the rear. Nice!
2025 Merida Big Trail 600
- Frame | Double-Butted & Hydroformed Alloy
- Fork | RockShox Pike, 140mm Travel
- Wheels | Shimano TC500 Hubs & Merida Expert TR 11 Rims
- Tyres | Maxxis Minion DHF EXO 3C MaxxTerra 2.5in Front & Dissector EXO+ 3C MaxxTerra 2.4in Rear
- Drivetrain | Shimano Deore 1×12
- Brakes | Shimano XT
- Seatpost | Merida Expert TR 11
- Claimed Weight | 14.2kg
- RRP | $2,999 AUD
2025 Merida Big Trail 500
- Frame | Double-Butted & Hydroformed Alloy
- Fork | RockShox Psylo Silver RC, 140mm Travel
- Wheels | Shimano TC500 Hubs & Merida Comp TR Rims
- Tyres | Maxxis Minion DHF EXO 2.5in Front & Dissector EXO 2.4in Rear
- Drivetrain | Shimano Cues 1×11
- Brakes | Shimano MT410
- Seatpost | Merida Expert TR 11
- Claimed Weight | 15.1kg
- RRP | $2,199 AUD
2025 Merida Big Trail 300
- Frame | Double-Butted & Hydroformed Alloy
- Fork | Suntour XCR34, 140mm Travel
- Wheels | Shimano TC500 Hubs & Merida Comp CC II Rims
- Tyres | Kenda Regolith
- Drivetrain | Shimano Cues 1×9
- Brakes | Shimano MT200
- Seatpost | Merida Expert TR 11
- Claimed Weight | 14.7kg
- RRP | $1,599 AUD
