Emma and Andy’s Merida One-Sixty 6000 & 8000 long-term review
We reviewed the Merida One-Sixty in March 2023 and praised it for its mullet-ability, modern build kit, and progressive geometry. We even went as far as to say it’s evolved to become one of the best enduro bikes on the market.
That’s a big call, so we tasked two Flow contributors and absolute shredders, Andy and Emma, to live with the One-Sixty as a daily driver and see how it fared in the long term.
Over a year in and riding some of the best destinations in Australia and around the globe, including Sweden, France, Italy, Switzerland, Canada and more (we are not jealous at all…), it’s safe to say they have a pretty good handle on the nuance of the One-Sixty, articulate what works, what doesn’t and how it stands up in the market.
Related:
- 2023 Merida One-Sixty Review | A futuristic enduro bike that ticks almost every box
- On Test | The brand new 2023 Merida One-Sixty & One-Forty get a radical overhaul
- Top 8 Best Enduro Bikes | The best enduro mountain bikes ridden & reviewed
- The Learning Curve | Beginner to Bright Local
Why did you choose the Merida, and have you made any changes to fit your style?
Emma and Andy had slightly different checklists when they were looking for a new bike, but they were both drawn to the Merida One-Sixty.
Baz the Bike does Bright, Em’s One Sixty 8000
Living in Bright, Emma was seeking an agile yet stable Enduro bike with RockShox suspension and a mullet setup. Upgrading from a shorter travel Polygon Sisku, she knew a carbon frame and more squish was on the agenda, and after riding a Stumpjumper, Spectral, and One-Sixty, the sparkly blue Merida won the day.
“The Merida One-Sixty for componentry and the rest of this criteria was the sure pick. The sweetener was the blitzy blue colour and the matte grey Zeb which looks pretty swish,” she says.
Being on the shorter side of the bell curve, the idea of a mullet with its smaller rear wheel for greater clearance and maneuverability appealed to me.
Andy’s globe-trotting Merida
Meanwhile, Andy was preparing for a lengthy overseas mountain biking adventure and valued the Merida’s aggressive geometry, lightweight carbon frame, and ability to run a mullet rear wheel. Having come from a Revel Rascal and Fuel EX before that, he was well-versed in what a trail bike was capable of, and with destinations like Leogang and Whistler on the agenda, he knew something a bit bigger was the ticket.
“I was in search of something a little more aggressive and better suited to the long, steep trails of the northern hemisphere. Being on the shorter side of the bell curve, the idea of a mullet with its smaller rear wheel for greater clearance and maneuverability appealed to me,” he says.
What parts have you changed and why?
When it comes to tweaking their rides, Emma and Andy have made some strategic adjustments to improve performance and reliability.
Andy tells us he rode the bike in stock configuration for a quite a few months and didn’t see the need to change anything from an outright performance perspective.
New brakes for Em and Andy, swapping Shimano for TRP and SRAM
Emma decided to swap the Shimano XT brakes for TRP stoppers, partly because she loves the style and look and the feel and performance they give her on the steep and chunky trails of Mystic. She also considered upgrading her dropper seatpost to address occasional height-locking issues but hasn’t done that just yet, we’ll delve into later…
Andy tells us he rode the bike in stock configuration for quite a few months and didn’t see the need to change anything from an outright performance perspective. However, missing the familiar feel of SRAM stoppers, he swapped the Shimano SLX brakes for a set of Code RCS anchors, mated to 200mm SRAM HS2 rotors.
Before heading overseas, Andy stopped at Barrington Bike Park to brush up on his steep and deep riding, which exposed a weak spot in the rolling stock.
“The relatively light Merida Expert TR wheelset eventually became acquainted with some of my subpar line choices and came away a little less than true after a full day in Barrington Bike Park. I swapped these out for a set of Nukeproof Horizon wheels, which, despite numerous beatings, have remained true and stood up to months of abuse across a mix of bike parks and raw enduro trails,” he says.
This bike has definitely got me feeling more confident and rolling faster on trails like World Cup and Boogaloo.
What have been your highlights with the Merida One-Sixty
When reminiscing about time spent with their Merida One-Sixty, Emma and Andy have a treasure trove of standout adventures and places these bikes have taken them.
Baz the Merida does the east coast
For Emma, it’s the pre-work morning rides to the top of Mystic, where the crisp air and stunning vistas serve as the backdrop.
“This bike definitely made me feel more confident and allowed me to roll faster on trails like World Cup and Boogaloo. The mullet set-up also makes sliding out the back wheel on some of those flat corners much more maneuverable while not compromising on speed and stability on technical descents,” she says.
The newly built trails at Narooma were another standout. The Merida seamlessly tackled all the fast flow and jumps this bike park offers and wasn’t a hindrance on the relentless climbs.
“Because of the loose and gravelly nature of some of those trails at Narooma, I also really favoured the mullet set up on the descents. Even though they are less steep than somewhere like Mystic, it just makes the bike a bit more playful,” she says.
Swiss Epic and Sea to Sky
Meanwhile, Andy’s five-month biking adventure around the globe presented no shortage of unforgettable rides. Two standout moments are etched in his memory. The first was conquering the Swiss Epic Trail in Davos.
“The Epic Trail is an accredited trail, meaning the route is made up of at least 80% singletrack and is longer than 32km. The bike was right at home, pedalling all day and inspiring confidence in the technical, hiking trail-style descents. The long wheelbase and 64º head angle keep the bike composed at high speed and inspired confidence on flat-out chunky straights,” he says.
Riding trails in the Sea to Sky area blind can be intimidating, but the low standover height and small rear wheel meant steep descents and rock rolls were soon becoming second nature
The second highlight was tackling the Whistler’s renowned Lord of the Squirrels trail.
Situated across the valley from Whistler Bike Park, Lord of the Squirrels is a big adventure. A three-hour climb/hike-a-bike leads to a big payoff of panoramic views across the Fitzsimmons Range and pristine alpine lakes — and, of course, an epic descent.
“Riding trails in the Sea to Sky area blind can be intimidating, but the low standover height and small rear wheel made steep descents and rock rolls quickly second nature, and the bike handled them with ease. At times, I did find the smaller rear wheel getting slightly hung up on blunt edge hits and continuous tree root lines, though the trade-off of composure in the steep technical descents was worth it for my style of riding,” he says.
Any challenges with the Merida One-Sixty?
Both Emma and Andy have encountered some challenges with their Merida One-Sixtys.
Emma and Andy each had issues with the height-adjustable dropper, reporting frustrations with consistency and adjustment—especially when it was dirty from regular use.
“The height adjustment is actuated by a small cog that pulls on a nylon cord to set the final height of the post. In my experience, with the original post and then a warranty replacement, the teeth on the cog wear over time, and the nylon cord slips, meaning the dropper returns to full height,” Andy says.
Lucky for Andy, with his inseam at full extension, the post happened to be precisely his saddle height. But both say they’ll be slotting in something else. Also, lucky for future Merida customers, the new Team TR II model has already superseded the Team TR ropey posts, phew!
Headset cable routing a year in, yeah, nah.
Andy’s headset has been a noisy mess, requiring regular attention and fresh grease. It was made worse by the temperamental alpine weather he subjected it to over months of travelling. The headset cap also has no sealing where the cables run through, which allows water and dust to unimpeded access the top bearing.
“Even a simple silicon dust seal would assist with this issue, even if it prolongs the time between strip-downs and rebuilds,” he says.
What about the frame features?
Merida’s downtube storage is a little different from that of many brands. It uses a hatch under the downtube to hold tools and integrates a spot for a tube strap ahead of the shock mount. A multi-tool stows inside a holster underneath the saddle, and the bike comes with a Fidlock bottle.
Emma was skeptical of these provisions at the start but has come to appreciate each over time as they have proven their usefulness through crashes and rough descents.
“For someone who can often be a little disorganised and subject to major faff pre-ride, having storage for a multi-tool, a Fidlock bottle that stays with the bike, and a specific location for your enduro strap makes getting out for a ride much more seamless. It is also handy for race days when you don’t have to think about carrying an enduro waist pack or worried about an enduro strap coming loose,” she says.
She also went enduro-packing, a ~100km overnighter where the onboard storage and climb switch on the suspension were invaluable while trying to keep pace with her XC mates.
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Meanwhile, Andy considers on-bike storage essential.
“Having a multi-tool easily accessible beneath the saddle and the ability to carry a spare tube and downtube storage compartment really reduces what a rider has to carry. I’ve added a OneUp pump to the bottle cage mounts, so for me, everything I need is on the bike and ready to go, reducing the chance of forgetting something,” he says.
Plus, any tips for folks considering the Merida One-Sixty?
Em’s final thoughts
Emma suggests carefully considering frame size for those considering the Merida One-Sixty. Historically, she has been riding a medium-sized frame across various brands, and based on her height and inseam, she was surprised to find herself between the small and medium sizes.
Despite her past experiences, she opted for the medium. However, she noted that if you’re looking for a poppier option and find yourself right on the cusp of sizing, it may be worth dropping down a size and tweaking your setup accordingly.
Andy’s Verdict
Andy recommends the One-Sixty for riders seeking a bike that excels on steep, technical descents while remaining capable of all-day pedalling. He advises double-checking your inseam with the provided dropper and being prepared for more frequent headset maintenance due to cables and hoses running through the top bearing.
For more on Merida’s latest One-Sixty and shorter travel One-Forty, click through to our in-depth reviews here: