Merida Bolsters Electric Mountain Bike Range For 2020 With 11 New Models

Merida isn’t exactly a brand that’s messing around when it comes to electric mountain bikes (e-MTBs). Flow checked out the 2020 Merida mountain bike range as part of the Australian launch in Hidden Vale (QLD), and we counted no fewer than 11 e-MTB models in the brand’s lineup! Nearly half of those are premium long-travel rigs too, which includes the brand new second-generation eOne-Sixty, and its shorter-travel spinoff; the eOne-Forty.

Check out our overview of the 2020 Merida eOne-Sixty range here!

The 2nd Generation Merida eOne-Sixty

Just a couple of months ago, Merida launched the second-generation of its wildly popular eOne-Sixty platform. Employing a carbon fibre mainframe, a mullet 29/27.5in wheelsize setup, and a newly integrated Shimano battery pack, the 2020 eOne-Sixty has brought about a whole host of improvements over the previous generation model. It’s still a long travel and big-hit capable e-MTB, but everything about the original has been given the turbo-boost on this new carbon model.

2020 merida eone-sixty electric mountain bike emtb
The Merida eOne-Sixty is brand new for 2020 and represents a significant step up from last year’s bike.

For 2020, Merida will be bringing four of the new carbon fibre eOne-Sixty models into Australia, which are all based around the same frame. Sitting at the top of the lineup is the 10K model – a super premium $11,999 e-MTB that we rode during the official launch back in June. One step down from that bike is the eOne-Sixty 9000, which we recently received for a proper long term review on home turf (check out the detailed first look story here).

For those with more modest budgets, the range kicks off with the eOne-Sixty 5000, which comes in at $6,699 – impressive given it has the same chassis as the 10K model, albeit at nearly half the price!

2020 merida eone-sixty 5000 electric mountain bike emtb
Despite being nearly half the price, the eOne-Sixty 5000 still gets the same frame as the top-end 10K model.

There’s Alloy Here Too

Going further down the price ladder you’ll find two alloy eOne-Sixty models. These carry over the same frame as the previous generation eOne-Sixty (a bike that we absolutely loved riding), so they’ve got 27.5in wheels front and rear, a 160mm travel fork and 155mm of rear travel. However, tyre width has been narrowed down a touch from 2.8in to 2.6in not-quite-plus tyres, and Merida has put on wider 780mm bars as stock – two changes we’re very happy to see.

The alloy eOne-Sixty models also feature Shimano power-plants, though the external battery pack means they can’t take a bottle cage inside the mainframe – something that the new carbon eOne-Sixty can. Geometry is also slightly different between the two frames.

For a closer look at each model, here are the same six eOne-Sixty bikes we’ll be seeing in Australia this season;

2020 merida eone-sixty emtb electric mountain bike 10K
With an XTR groupset, carbon DT Swiss wheels, and Kashima-laden suspension, the Merida eOne-Sixty 10K is the mack-daddy of the range.

2020 Merida eOne-Sixty 10K Specs

2020 merida eone-sixty emtb electric mountain bike 9000
Moving to alloy wheels and a Shimano XT groupset lobs $3K off the price for the eOne-Sixty 9000 model.

2020 Merida eOne-Sixty 9000 Specs

2020 merida eone-sixty emtb electric mountain bike 8000
Promising plenty of big-hit capability, the eOne-Sixty specs a Marzocchi Bomber Z1 fork and a RockShox Super Deluxe shock.

2020 Merida eOne-Sixty 8000 Specs

2020 merida eone-sixty emtb electric mountain bike 5000
Same carbon/alloy chassis as the top-end model, albeit with a workhorse parts selection that brings the price under seven G’s.

2020 Merida eOne-Sixty 5000 Specs

2020 merida eone-sixty emtb electric mountain bike 800 se
Merida has carried over the alloy eOne-Sixty frameset into 2020, providing two killer value models – like this 800 SE.

2020 Merida eOne-Sixty 800 SE Specs

2020 merida eone-sixty emtb electric mountain bike 500 se
And $5,499 gets you into eOne-Sixty territory with the 500 SE.

2020 Merida eOne-Sixty 500 SE Specs

2020 merida eone-sixty emtb electric mountain bike
The eOne-Sixty and eOne-Forty models use the same chassis, but with different forks and shocks to change the travel.

Less Travel, More Agility – The 2020 Merida eOne-Forty

Another new addition to the 2020 Merida mountain bike lineup is the eOne-Forty. A bike that fell somewhat under the radar during the release of its big brother, the eOne-Forty is a whole new platform for 2020, which has been designed to appeal to mountain bikers who are after an all-round e-MTB that’s a little less bulky, and easier to ride.

As its name implies, this bike has less travel than the eOne-Sixty. So instead of 160/150mm of travel, the eOne-Forty gets 140/133mm of travel. The frame itself is exactly the same, but Merida has utilised a shorter-stroke shock to downsize the rear travel to 133mm, while also spec’ing a shorter 140mm travel fork. This lowers the bike to the ground a touch, and also sharpens the geometry for improved agility on tight, twisty trails.

Merida will only be bringing the one eOne-Forty model into Australia for 2020, so it’ll be interesting to see how popular this one is.

2020 merida eone-forty emtb electric mountain bike 8000
If you’re after more agility and less travel, there’s the new Merida eOne-Forty.

2020 Merida eOne-Forty 8000 Specs

And There’s A eOne-Twenty Too!

For the less hardcore mountain bikers out there, Merida has the eOne-Twenty. Built with an alloy frame, a Shimano E7000 motor, and an external battery pack, the eOne-Twenty is designed to provide a comfortable ride with 130/120mm of air-sprung travel along with high-volume 27.5×2.6in tyres. A more upright riding position and geometry designed for easy and intuitive steering creates a bike that Merida says is equally at home on green and blue trails as it is on dirt roads, bike paths and rail trails. Like the eOne-Forty, there’s just the single model coming to Australia for 2020, though at $5K, this is likely going to be a popular electric mountain bike – particularly with those who are new to the sport.

2020 merida eone-twenty emtb electric mountain bike 500
For $5K, the Merida eOne-Twenty is pitched as a newcomers first full suspension electric mountain bike.

2020 Merida eOne-Twenty 500 Specs

2020 merida eone-sixty ebike emtb electric mountain bike
Merida certainly isn’t messing about when it comes to e-MTBs – there’s a load of choice here!

So what do you folks think of the new 2020 Merida e-MTB lineup? As always, be sure to tell us your thoughts in the comments below, and if you’ve got any questions for us, ask away and we’ll do our best to answer them for you!

If you’d like a closer look at the eOne-Sixty, make sure you check out our new eOne-Sixty 9000 long term test bike, and take a gander at our first ride review of that bonkers $11,999 model here.

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