Merida has announced the overhaul of their ONE-SIXTY and ONE-FORTY full suspension mountain bikes for 2023, and they look absolutely fantastic. Seriously, this is no mere update. Merida has done away with the Horst-Link suspension platform utilized by previous generations, replacing it with a more sophisticated version of the P-FLEX system seen on their lightweight NINETY-SIX cross-country bike. It’s now a linkage-driven single-pivot layout, but leans on flexible seat stays to help drive a 230mm x 65mm shock on the ONE-SIXTY, and a 230mm 57.5mm shock on the ONE-FORTY.

Indeed, the two bikes run the same front and rear triangle, and the same links; switching between the two requires only a new shock and fork. The ONE-FORTY is a complete 29er and, with its shorter stroke length shock, delivers 143mm of rear wheel travel paired with a 150mm travel fork.

Meanwhile, the ONE-SIXTY can be set up as a complete 29er or as a mixed-wheel mountain bike. With the 29″ wheelset, it delivers 161mm of rear wheel travel and is paired with a 170mm fork. Alternatively, its mixed-wheel configuration runs 172mm of rear wheel travel.

For sure, these new bikes are very adaptable. They also get integrated tool storage, a 30mm-230mm travel infinitely adjustable dropper post across all frame sizes (XS-XL), and size-specific suspension. Feature-packed, or what? And, they are available in both Carbon and Aluminum.

I don’t know about you, but the new Merida ONE-SIXTY and ONE-FORTY are ticking my boxes at a rate of knots.

The new Merida ONE-SIXTY is available in sizes XS-XL; that’s Extra Short to Extra Long, a subtle change in nomenclature that is a nod to the Merida “Agilometer” size guide, which suggests bike size based on rider height and their preference for stability versus maneuverability. In essence, Merida are keeping seat tubes short (425mm in Mid) to allow riders to pick the size based on their riding style as opposed to just their height. The generous standover clearance combined with the 30mm-230mm infinitely adjustable dropper post is right on the money.

 The ONE-SIXTY can be set up as a full 29er, or in a mixed-wheel configuration. The XS-M bikes are shipped with the 29″/27.5″ set up, while the larger sizes come with a 29″ wheelset. You’re not stuck with that, though. A flip-chip at the rocker link-seat stay interface allows for the geometry correction required with a rear wheel size change. 

Merida pitch the ONE-SIXTY as their no-compromise enduro bike, made to “shrug off the demands of ever harder tracks”. With that in mind, their 5 year frame warranty extends to Category 5 use; that covers racing, as well as anything you might find in a Bike Park, too. Build options reflect that intention, featuring piggy-back shocks, 38mm stanchion long-travel forks and double-down casing tires front and rear.

And, its geometry is befitting of those intentions, too. It has a 64° head angle, and reach figures span a healthy range of 415mm to 525mm, coming in at 470mm on the Mid. The bottom bracket drop is 27.5mm on in 29er mode and 7mm in mullet mode. Merida have shown due care and attention to how the 160 climbs, too; seat tube angles are trending steeper for good reason and we’re pleased to see Merida are into it. The SA on the ONE-SIXTY comes in at a fairly upright 79°.

The ONE-FORTY is Merida’s “super capable trail weapon”, designed to tackle big mountain terrain without fatiguing the rider or feeling sluggish on extended climbs. As such, build options include less hefty 35mm and 36mm stanchion forks, and lighter casing, faster-rolling tyres.

It runs the very same frame as the ONE-SIXTY; it’s only the shock stroke, fork length, and spec list that differ. With the shorter 150mm fork, the front end is lower, making the bike is a little steeper both at the head tube (65°) and at the seat tube (80°). That stretches the reach out, too, coming in at 480mm on the Mid.

All of the 140 frames ship with a complete 29″ wheelset but of course, the mullet option remains. Actually, switching out the 29″ rear wheel for a 27.5″ wheel does increase travel from 143mm to 151mm.

Big news for the new Merida 160 and 140 bikes is the switch to a linkage-driven single-pivot suspension design that makes use of flexible seatstays. This flex system is present on both the carbon and aluminum frames. Relative to the chainstays, the seatstays bend through a total of 2°.

Noteworthy here is that the suspension’s behavior differs across the frame sizes. This is Merida’s new FAST (Flexstay Adjustable Size Tuned) Kinematic. Basically, they have engineered more progression into the larger frame sizes as compared to the smaller frame sizes, based on the assumption that people who want to ride longer bikes are a) taller and heavier, and b) enjoy more straight-line ploughing. In either case, those riders tend to need the additional support provided by a more progressive suspension platform.

So how much more progressive are the larger frames? Quite a bit, it seems.

As you can see in the graphs above, the progression offered by the linkage on the XS is quite different to that on the Mid frame size; 6% versus 9.3%. Those numbers pertain to the progression between the sag point and 95% of the travel. For all frame sizes, the leverage curve becomes regressive toward the end to allow riders to squeeze every last millimeter of travel out of air shocks.

Indeed, all of the Merida ONE-SIXTY and ONE-FORTY bikes are sold with air shocks, though the brand do say there is sufficient progression to allow for coil shocks; the Rockshox Super Deluxe Coil, as well as coil shocks from DVO, are all confirmed to be compatible with the bikes.

The ONE-SIXTY and ONE-FORTY are offered in carbon and aluminum frames. While the geometry and suspension kinematic are identical, the bonus features and frame weights are really quite different. In the Mid size, the Merida CF4 III frame weighs a claimed 2,468g, while the so-called Aluminum LITE frame weighs a claimed 3,660g. 

For each bike, there are five Aluminum LITE Builds to choose from, and five Carbon CF4 III builds to choose from. For the ONE-SIXTY, the most expensive Carbon 10K build weighs a claimed 15.01 kg, while the top-end ONE-FORTY Carbon 10K build weighs a claimed 14 kg. 

The new bikes have numerous handy frame features and add-ons, most of which are shared between the carbon and aluminum frames. 

• BSA 73 mm bottom bracket (including ISCG05 Adapter) • 34.9 mm seat post • Fully integrated headset • 148mm x 12mm Boost rear end spacing • Clearance for up to 20″ x 2.5” rear tyre • SRAM UDH hanger • Post Mount 200mm direct rear brake (180mm will be available) • 1x specific with 55 mm chainline

For now, you cannot purchase the new Merida as a frameset. However, the following 10 complete bikes will be available as of October 2022.

For a full lists of specs for each model, head over to the Merida Bikes website.

Jessie-May Morgan is the UK & Ireland Tech Editor of Bikerumor. She has been writing about Mountain Bike Riding and Racing, and all its weird and wonderful technology for 4 years. Prior to that, she was an Intern at the Mountain Bike Center of Scotland, and a Mountain Bike Coach and Leader in the Tweed Valley.

Based in Innerleithen, Scotland, Jessie-May can often be seen riding the Glentress Trail Center, and its neighboring Enduro and Downhill Tracks. She regularly competes in Enduro at a national level, and has recently competed on the World Stage at a handful of Enduro World Series events.

For Bikerumor, Jessie-May is testing the latest mountain bikes, equipment and kit, letting readers know what’s hot and what’s not.

For context, she weighs 60kg and stands at 5ft 4″ tall (163cm).

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These tick so many boxes, until the trail bike has an eighty degree STA. Too far down the rabbit hole for me!

Ooof, good point on the STA. If you couldn’t get the position you wanted pushing the saddle all the way back in the clamp you could go for one of these: https://www.fairbicycle.com/product-page/drop-best

At the price these Meridas are offered at, spending an extra $115 seems more than fair to get the position you need.

Too bad these bikes aren’t offered in the US.

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