First Ride | Merida launch two NEW Bosch powered e-MTBs: the eOne-Sixty SL and long-travel eOne-Eighty

We recently returned from Girona, Spain, where Merida unveiled two brand-new e-MTBs equipped with Bosch systems. This marks a significant shift for the German/Taiwanese brand, which has traditionally relied on the Shimano system. Merida will continue to offer e-MTBs with Shimano motors alongside these new Bosch-powered models. It’s a move that is sure to delight Bosch fans!

The first exciting addition to Merida’s lineup is the eOne-Sixty SL, marking a significant milestone as Merida’s debut into the lightweight e-MTB category. Also joining the collection is a full-powered, long-travel beast, the eOne-Eighty — further expanding Merida’s e-MTB range.

With both of these new models, you may notice a slightly different frame silhouette compared to the current One-Sixty and eOne-Sixty. Merida’s engineers have removed the yoke that previously drove the shock, resulting in a design that’s lighter, simpler, and more compact. Another key advantage of this redesign is that it reduces side loading on the shock—a feature Merida believes is particularly beneficial for longer-travel bikes, which are often subjected to the most intense forces.

The eOne-Sixty SL retains Merida’s flexstay system, while the eOne-Eighty introduces a pivot point on the seat stay. According to Merida, the extra 20mm of rear travel means more movement between the chain and seat stays than a flex stay can safely cope with. The eOne-Eighty is built to tackle the most demanding terrain, and the addition of the seat stay pivot allows for greater tolerance in those conditions. From an aesthetic standpoint, we’re also fans of the new frame design.

Both bikes feature headset cable routing—a design choice many have voiced concerns about. While we understand the reasons for this sentiment, we feel that Merida’s approach is more practical than most. With Merida’s system, you still have the flexibility to use your preferred bar and stem setup and can also place spacers above the stem. These options aren’t always possible with typical headset routing.

Headset cable routing is a divisive feature, but this is one of the better implementations. This setup still allows for the use of any stem and handlebar combination.

The Acros headset assembly used in these models also features an improved sealing system at both the top and bottom, enhancing durability and longevity.

We’re currently working on a comprehensive review of the eOne-Sixty SL, so stay tuned! In the meantime, read on to discover more about these new releases from Merida.

Flow’s in-depth review of the eOne-Sixty SL is coming soon. In the meantime, check out all the tech specs of these new e-MTBs from Merida!

An overview of the eOne-Sixty SL | Merida’s first step into the SL world

Merida has chosen to design its first-ever lightweight e-MTB around its popular One-Sixty platform. This is an interesting decision, as many brands typically opt for shorter travel bikes when designing SL models. It’s common to see 130mm to 150mm travel bikes in the lightweight e-MTB category, like the Trek Fuel EXe, Pivot Shuttle SL, Scott Lumen and the Focus VAM² SL.

However, it’s refreshing to see a longer travel SL bike, and the eOne-Sixty SL isn’t the only one we’ve come across recently. We also reviewed the Trek Slash+, a lightweight e-MTB boasting 170mm of rear travel. There’s also the Kenevo SL, which is arguably the OG lightweight e-MTB.

It’s great to see another long-travel SL bike enter the market, as lightweight e-MTBs have typically been reserved for trail bikes. This bike has 160mm or 174mm of travel depending on the flip-chip setting.

The Merida eOne-Sixty SL offers 160mm of rear travel in its 29er configuration. However, it can also be run with mixed wheels using a flip chip, allowing for a mullet setup. This not only introduces a versatile wheel configuration but also increases the rear travel to 174mm, positioning it as a direct competitor to the Trek Slash+ in what we hope is a growing market for long-travel SL e-bikes.

Offering both wheel size options aligns with Merida’s goal of creating the most versatile bike possible. As the only SL e-MTB in its lineup, Merida aimed to provide riders with as many options as possible.

If you’ve seen our review of the full-powered Merida eOne-Sixty, and analogue One-Sixty you’ll know we encountered several issues with the Team TR II dropper post that came with the bike. The SL version has moved away from that post and now comes equipped with either the Merida Comp TR III dropper or a Fox Transfer post, depending on the build kit you choose.

Related:

Bosch Performance Line SX drive unit

Powering the eOne-Sixty SL is the Bosch Performance Line SX motor, a proven and reliable choice, making it somewhat of a safe bet for Merida as they enter this new segment. The compact motor delivers 55 Nm of torque and is paired with a fully integrated 400Wh battery, bringing the bike’s total weight to around 19.5kg in the top-spec build. The decision to incorporate the battery inside the frame is another way Merida were able to save weight. For those needing extra range, the Bosch PowerMore 250Wh range extender can be added, though it comes with a 1.6kg weight penalty.

Check out our comprehensive review of this drive unit if you’re interested to learn more about how it stacks up against its competitors.

Related:

The Bosch SX drive unit delivers 55 Nm of torque and is paired with a fully integrated 400 Wh battery. It’s also compatible with a 250 Wh range extender.

Merida eOne-Sixty SL geometry & size chart

With the new eOne-Sixty SL, Merida is offering five sizes: X-Short, Short, Mid, Long, and X-Long. Reach lengths span from 420mm to 512mm, while all frame sizes maintain a 450mm rear centre length. However, if you switch to the mullet (MX) setup using the flip chip, the chainstay length shortens to 447mm, with the rest of the geometry remaining unchanged. The head angle is relatively conservative at 64°, paired with a steep 78.5° seat angle.

Below are the complete geometry specifications.

Note that the flip-chip retains all of the geometry, except for the rear centre length, which decreases to 447mm in the 27.5in setting.

Initial ride impressions | Tom tests the new Merida eOne-Sixty SL

As mentioned earlier, I was pleased to see Merida launch a longer-travel SL bike than what we typically encounter. The Bosch SX motor is a solid choice, striking a balance between weight savings and power. While some other SL motors are lighter, they can lack the same level of power.

The ride characteristics, especially in non-Turbo mode, resemble those of a traditional enduro rig, with the addition of some subtle assistance. However, when you switch to the higher power setting, there’s no doubt that you’re on an e-MTB.

The ride experience when climbing is similar to that of a regular enduro bike, with some much-appreciated assistance.

This bike truly has a split personality. In full 29er mode, it serves as an aggressive trail bike with 160mm of travel both front and rear. However, the flip-chip drastically alters its character. While many flip-chips adjust wheel sizes without fundamentally changing the bike’s feel, the eOne-Sixty SL does not fall into this camp.

Not only does it accommodate a 27.5in rear wheel, but it also increases rear travel to 174mm—that’s quite a lot. The rear centre length shortens by 3mm, adding to the more playful feel that comes with the smaller rear wheel. Personally, I preferred this configuration, as it made the rear end feel more supple and settled. With these adjustments it was more suited to enduro or even bike park riding.

The MX setup worked well for me, as I fall between a mid and a long in Merida’s sizing. I opted for the long, which felt a bit large, so the smaller rear wheel added some much-needed manoeuvrability.

A bike with dual personalities: a fierce trail machine in one form, and a hard-hitting enduro rig in the other.

Both configurations work well, but with this bike, you’re essentially getting two in one. This will appeal to some riders, while others may see it as a drawback with the change being too different. The full review will go live soon, where I’ll dive deeper into the details. Safe to say, this has been one of the more interesting bikes I’ve tested lately!

Merida eOne-Sixty SL price & specs

There will be three build kit options available in Australia. Starting at $9,499 AUD for the 6,000 model, the 8,000 spec is $11,999 AUD, and the top-of-the-line 10,000 version comes in at $16,999 AUD.

All models will come stock in the 29er configuration, so for those out there who are keen to run it as a mullet, you’ll need to bring your own rear wheel to the party.

2025 eOne-Sixty SL 10,000

2025 eOne-Sixty SL 8,000

2025 eOne-Sixty SL 6,000

An overview of the 2025 Merida eOne-Eighty | A long-travel bruiser designed for self-shuttling

Merida hasn’t beaten around the bush with the new eOne-Eighty; its intended user is quite clear. Merida designed this bike for those who want to ride the toughest, most challenging terrain possible. Without a doubt, it fits into the self-shuttling category of e-MTBs. It’s basically a DH/freeride bike with a motor!

The Merida eOne-Eighty is essentially a downhill bike with a full-power e-MTB motor, making it well-suited for self-shuttling. Look at the length of that rear shock!

The bike features 180mm of front and rear travel. All models come in stock with the RockShox Zeb, the brand’s gravity-oriented single-crown fork. For those who want to beef it up even further, the eOne-Eighty is also rated for use with dual crown forks. It’s a mixed-wheel specific bike, further cementing its intention of maximising descending enjoyment.

To withstand as much abuse as possible, Merida has opted for an alloy frame on all models. The brand stated that it wants this to be the most durable bike in the lineup, and an alloy frame is best suited to meeting this expectation.

As you might expect, a bike like this is going to be HEAVY, and you’re not wrong. All models come in at over 27kg! However, the engineers at Merida have shortened and steepened the geometry to increase agility, complementing the stability that comes with a heavy bike.

The engineers have shortened the geometry to enhance agility, compensating for the bike’s significant weight penalty.

Bosch Performance Line CX drive unit

Bosch has recently updated the Performance Line CX drive unit, and whilst the changes aren’t drastic, they are impressive. The Bosch team has taken an already reliable system and refined it to be smoother, quieter and more efficient.

The eOne-Eighty is equipped with the Bosch CX drive unit, delivering 85Nm of torque and a peak power output of 600W. All models come standard with an 800Wh battery.

The CX drive unit delivers 85Nm of torque and a peak power output of 600W. All eOne-Eighty models come equipped with a removable 800Wh battery as standard. However, for those who don’t require as much range, these bikes are also compatible with a 600Wh battery. Although, for even more range, there’s the option to use the Bosch 250Wh range extender, which attaches easily to the bottle cage mounts.

Fidlock magnets and a latch system are used to keep the battery in place. It seems really secure and makes for quick changes.

The removable battery is held in place by Fidlock magnets and a latch system to keep it secure. It’s a neat and tidy setup, and during our short time testing the bike at the launch event, we had no issues with the unique system.

For a detailed overview of the new Bosch Performance Line CX drive unit, you can check out our dedicated article on the system.

Related:

Merida eOne-Eighty geometry & size chart

Merida offers five sizes (X-Short, Short, Mid, Long, and X-Long) to accommodate a wide range of rider heights and geometry preferences. The reach varies between 415mm and 505mm, while all sizes feature a 435mm rear centre length. Although this may seem short, Merida says the weight of these bikes means a stretched-out geometry isn’t necessary to maintain stability.

The head-tube angle is also steeper than you’d typically expect on a gravity-focused bike, coming in at 64.5°. According to the engineers, this was designed to enhance agility on these heavier rigs, while still maintaining a planted feel at higher speeds.

I initially started with the long size, which had a reach length I’d normally prefer, but it felt too big. Given the extra weight of the bike, I found that sizing down to a medium made the handling much more manageable.

The geometry isn’t quite what you’d expect from such a BIG bike. Merida says the shorter steeper figures are to counteract the nearly 30kg weight.

Initial ride impressions | The Merida eOne-Eighty

I have to admit, initially I was unsure when I saw the geometry chart for this bike. With its short chainstays and steep head angle, I questioned how it would handle, given it’s essentially a downhill bike with a motor.

Typically, these types of bikes are long and slack. However, I was pleasantly surprised as the bike maintained a planted feel and rode much lighter than its on-paper weight would suggest.

The eOne-Eighty feels significantly lighter on the trail than its listed weight suggests.

During the limited time I had at the launch event in Girona, I sought out the rockiest downhill tracks I could find. I then put the bike to the test with multiple laps—all in Turbo mode for the climbs. My goal was to replicate a traditional DH bike and chairlift/shuttle uplift experience with the eOne-Eighty. This bike is essentially tailor-made for exactly this purpose, and unsurprisingly, Merida has nailed the brief.

I was thoroughly impressed by how the suspension absorbed rough sections while still offering a responsive feel. Merida’s selection of the RockShox Vivid, along with its accompanying tune, are both solid and reliable.

The eOne-Eighty was delightful on rough downhill trails, with jumps and drops sprinkled in. Surprisingly, the bike’s weight was much less of an issue when jumping than I initially expected. The only time I really felt the weight was on steep trails, where controlling this 27kg+ machine and slowing it down became a challenge. It’s a lot of bike to keep from the pull of gravity!

The CX Performance Line motor is a suitable match for this bike. I was able to crank out multiple laps in no time, climbing in Turbo mode with ease. On a rough fire road, it could even be faster than shuttling in a car in some cases. With the 800Wh battery, you’ll get plenty of laps in—my hands gave up long before the battery did!

The Bosch CX drive unit offers ample battery life and power to keep you tackling lap after lap!

Merida eOne-Eighty price & specs

2025 eOne-Eighty 900

2025 eOne-Eighty 700

2025 eOne-Eighty 500

 

ABOUT THE REVIEWER - Tom Wilson

Hometown

North Vancouver, BC, Canada

Height

179cm

Weight75kg

RIDING STYLE

The tyre-rolling cornering type

Editorial Guidelines
At Flow Mountain Bike, we’re committed to delivering engaging and trustworthy content, from product reviews to destination showcases, news, interviews, and features. While many of the brands and destinations we cover may advertise with us, our editorial team operates independently, ensuring our content is guided by expertise and passion—not commercial influence. Sponsored content is always clearly disclosed, and we remain dedicated to providing honest and unbiased coverage across everything we publish. For more details, see our Transparency Report.

It appears you're using an old version of Internet Explorer which is no longer supported, for safer and optimum browsing experience please upgrade your browser.