MERIDA eONE-SIXTY 10K in review

Instead of one bike for everyday use and one for your free time, many people are looking for one bike to do everything. That’s why we brought the MERIDA eONE-SIXTY 10K, the winner of the all-rounder group test in our sister magazine E-MOUNTAINBIKE, into this test. Does it also cut a good figure while commuting?

Get an overview of the grouptest here: The best ebike of 2021 – The 19 most exciting concepts for everyday use

**MERIDA** eONE SIXTY 10K | Shimano EP8/630 Wh
22.96 kg in size L | € 9,899 | Manufacturer’s website

The path up to the summit was challenging but not tiring. It took just long enough to clear your head of any worries. Now a new sort of tension takes over your body. Your hometown lies below you in the valley and your route home takes you along a difficult trail. You feel the anticipation growing – you have a score to settle with the tight switchbacks, relentless rocks and big jumps ahead of you. The tension becomes unbearable until you give in and give yourself and your bike to the trail. You’re weightless. Dedicated mountain bikers know what we’re talking about. Anyone of them who wants just one bike for everything, will always prefer a mountain bike for commuting over a commuter for mountain biking. The MERIDA eONE-SIXTY 10K has proven itself as almost the perfect eMTB all-rounder in the group test of our sister magazine E-MOUNTAINBIKE and is roaming new pastures to try and claim a further test win. We found out whether it rides just as intuitively with shopping on the bars as it does with mud under the saddle.

**The shortest distance between two points is a straight line**
With the MERIDA eONE-SIXTY 10K, you don’t ride around obstacles, you ride directly over them.

MERIDA eONE-SIXTY 10K spec in detail

If you stop at your local bike cafe with the MERIDA eONE-SIXTY, the frame and top-end spec will leave everyone looking on in jealousy. The high-end carbon frame lights up with its lustrous, metallic, flip-flop effect paint. On the head tube, the futuristic THERMO GATE provides ventilation for the battery and also routes cables into the frame. The electronic cables for the display and remote are routed inside the wide bars. The top-of-the-range suspension from FOX, wireless dropper post and excellent Shimano XTR groupset and brakes will be of particular interest to mountain bikers. The premium build comes at a cost: the 22.96 kg heavy ebike costs € 9,899, so almost 10K. That’s where the name comes from.

For its trail spec, the MERIDA gets 10/10 points. For everyday use, it’s more like -2/10.

While the trail spec leaves no wishes unfulfilled, for everyday accessories you’re faced with almost unsolvable issues. A bike stand and front mudguard are relatively easy to fit but at the back, the prospects look poor for a decent mudguard or any form of rack. Apart from a water bottle, you won’t be able to carry any luggage on the MERIDA eONE-SIXTY 10K. The Lezyne light at the front and included USB light at the rear aren’t conceived for commuting at night and are too weak. On top of that, where you store your bikes should be well secured because the expensive components can be removed with standard tools within seconds. For longer stops, we think it’s always worth removing the non-lockable battery and wireless dropper post from the ebike. At least there’s a multi-tool hidden underneath the saddle to do so.

[MISSING: Merida-E-160-E-Bike-MTB-Test-Review-2021-21.jpg]

**Damped joy?**
With 160/150 mm travel, the eONE-SIXTY 10K has the most travel in the group test. However, if you tune the suspension to be supportive for trail use, you’ll lose comfort for everyday riding.

MERIDA eONE SIXTY 10K

€ 9,899

Specifications

Motor Shimano EP8 85 Nm
Battery Shimano E8036 630 Wh
Display Shimano SC-EM800
Fork FOX 38 Factory 160 mm
Seatpost RockShox Reverb AXS 30.9 mm 170 mm
Brakes Shimano XTR M9120 200/200 mm
Drivetrain Shimano XTR 1x12
Stem MERIDA EXPERT eTR II 40 mm
Handlebar MERIDA EXPERT eTR 780 mm
Wheelset DT Swiss HXC1250 SPLINE
Tires MAXXIS ASSEGAI/Minion DHRII DD 29"/27.5" x 2.6"

Technical Data

Size XS S M L XL
Weight 22.96 kg

Specific Features

dropper seat post
multitool integrated underneath saddle
in size XS 504 Wh battery
Lezyne headlight

**Outside its comfort zone**
The ASSEGAI, named after the African spear, ensures sufficient comfort on forest roads with its volume alone. However, on asphalt it has high rolling resistance, which eats into the battery.

**Spotlight on me, please!**
The Lezyne light produces a mediocre amount of light. To not disappear amongst the rest of the lights in the city at night, a more powerful option is necessary.

**Manageable**
The minimalist motor remote is amongst the best in the test ergonomically. The wireless remote for the seat post underneath is just as intuitive and easy to use.

Size	XS	S	M	L	XL
Seat tube	405 mm	420 mm	440 mm	470 mm	500 mm
Top tube	563 mm	584 mm	605 mm	629 mm	652 mm
Head tube	110 mm	115 mm	120 mm	135 mm	150 mm
Head angle	65.5°	65.5°	65.5°	65.5°	65.5°
Seat angle	75.5°	75.5°	75.5°	75.5°	75.5°
Chainstays	440 mm	440 mm	440 mm	440 mm	440 mm
BB Drop	18 mm	18 mm	18 mm	18 mm	18 mm
Wheelbase	1,168 mm	1,190 mm	1,212 mm	1,239 mm	1,265 mm
Reach	400 mm	420 mm	440 mm	460 mm	480 mm
Stack	629 mm	633 mm	638 mm	652 mm	665 mm

The Shimano EP8 motor in the MERIDA eONE-SIXTY 10K

The EP8 motor is the powerhouse in the Shimano ebike lineup and fits a capable eMTB like the MERIDA eONE-SIXTY 10K perfectly. While it has the same torque as the Bosch Performance Line CX motor in the Cannondale Topstone or Haibike Trekking 9, it feels a little more natural and sensitive. If you like to tinker, the motor characteristics can be tuned via the E-TUBE PROJECT app precisely and stored in two independent profiles on the display. While riding, you can swap between them without your phone. The motor is powered by a 630 Wh battery integrated into the down tube. If you buy the MERIDA in size XS, you’ll only get a 504 Wh battery due to space constraints. Battery status and motor data are shown on the small colour display directly next to the bars, which is controlled via the Shimano SW-EM800 remote which is worlds more ergonomic than the Shimano remote fitted on the MERIDA eBIG.TOUR 700 EQ. However, neither the remote nor the display have a button for the front light – it has to be activated by navigating through the awkward menus of the display. A dedicated button for push-assist, like on the Specialized Turbo Vado SL, is also missing.

MERIDA eONE-SIXTY 10K on test

We had to be careful that the traffic cowboy hidden inside didn’t emerge while riding the capable MERIDA eONE-SIXTY. Kerbs and cobbles just get a tired smile from the plush suspension. On the MERIDA, you don’t brake for steps but always keep pushing on, uphill and downhill. Even concrete walls become jumps with this bike. The MERIDA truly blooms on demanding trails and surprises mountain bike fans with its balanced handling and high stability. The confidence-inspiring ride invites you to explore the full potential of the MERIDA. On the other hand, if you use the bike primarily for commuting you’ll get a shock from the slack and floppy front end. It’s typical for a mountain bike but requires some time to get used to, just like the very wide bar.

Tuning tip: change the tires to suit where you’ll use the bike

The MERIDA eONE-SIXTY turns the concrete desert into a playground. Unfortunately, everyday life isn’t just fun and games.

Likewise, the adjustable suspension is tuned to be stiff despite having seemingly two metres of travel, meaning it’s not as comfortable as full-suspension competitors like the Moustache Samedi 27 Xroad FS7 or Riese & Müller Homage. The riding position is just as sporty and more stretched than on other urban bikes. Nonetheless, the front doesn’t feel too low like it does with some mountain bikes. That relaxes your arms and makes the MERIDA eONE-SIXTY a passable off-road touring bike. The powerful motor helps you surmount long and steep climbs without too much effort and keeps you almost effortlessly at a cruising speed of 25 km/h. If you want to ride fast under your own steam, the high rolling resistance of the grippy mountain bike tires is noticeable, slowing you back down to 25 km/h after a short sprint. If you’re not regularly frequenting trails aboard the MERIDA, you should think about swapping the tires to something less extreme. For the everyday commute, the bike disappoints with its lack of transport options, poor protection from weather and cumbersome steps required when putting it away and securing it.

MERIDA eONE-SIXTY 10K conclusion

The MERIDA eONE-SIXTY 10K is just as suited to being an everyday commuter as a Lotus Exige is for a camping trip. Every detail is tuned for sporty trail use. If you’re happy to sacrifice transport, comfort and practicality, you’ll find an exclusive commuter in the form of the MERIDA eONE-SIXTY 10K with a whole lot of sex appeal, fun and adrenaline. For everyone who favours everyday practicality, you’ll find better options amongst the competition.

Tops

extravagant carbon looks with metallic paint
super sporty bike for hobby and leisure time
premium build for trail use

Flops

minimal everyday accessories
unfamiliar handling for anyone without mountain bike experience
narrow range of applications

Rider Type

The trans-urban mile muncher 1

The stylish city explorer 2

The Transporter 3

The short distance whizz 4

The passionate recreational cyclist 5

You can find out more about at merida-bikes.com

The testfield