MERIDA ONE-FORTY 800 in review

MERIDA is a brand that’s been flying under the radar for years. But the Taiwanese bike giant with development offices in Germany has had some exciting models in its portfolio for a while now. One of them is the MERIDA ONE-FORTY 800, which delivered a convincing performance in this group test.

For an overview of the test fleet head to The best budget trail bike of 2019 – 11 mountain bikes head to head

Merida One Forty 800 Trail bike Enduro Test Vergleich Review web 3411 1140x760 — **MERIDA** ONE FORTY 800 | 150/140 mm (f/r) | 14.14 kg | € 2,999

One thing in advance: yes, the MERIDA ONE-FORTY 800 is also available in a more discreet black colour. The striking yellow paint job split our test crew, though there is little doubt that the shape of the slim frame with its full-floater rear linkage looks great. The € 2,999 bike has 140 mm travel at the rear and a 150 mm RockShox Revelation fork up front. One of the spec-highlights are the SRAM CODE R brakes. Although they only have 180 mm rotors, they’re very easy to modulate and still provide sufficient reliability and braking power. Rounding out the overall good spec is a SRAM GX Eagle drivetrain, and a 2.6″ MAXXIS tire combination consisting of a Minion DHR II at the front and a Rekon on the rear. Although the wheels are labelled ‘TR’, MERIDA skimped on the tubeless-ready rim tape – an unnecessary hindrance when converting to tubeless. We liked the way the internally routed cables are clamped, keeping the cables quiet whilst riding. The chainstay protector is very long and protects the entire strut, but it could be slightly thicker to further dampen impacts.

Fly like a butterfly, sting like a bee – the yellow ONE-FORTY is agile but potent!

Merida One Forty 800 Trail bike Enduro Test Vergleich Review web 3111 1140x760 — **Helmet** Specialized Ambush | **Glasses** 100 % | Speedcraft **Backpack** SCOTT Trail | Protect **Jersey** POC Essential | Enduro Jersey **Short** POC Essential MTB Short | **Shoes** Ride Concept Womens Helions

The MERIDA ONE FORTY 800 in detail

Fork RockShox Revelation RC 150 mm
Shock RockShox Deluxe RL 140 mm
Brakes SRAM CODE R 180/180 mm
Drivetrain SRAM GX Eagle
Seatpost KS LEV INTEGRA 150 mm
Stem MERIDA Expert TR 50 mm
Handlebar MERIDA Expert TR 780 mm
Wheels MERIDA Expert TR 27,5″
Tires MAXXIS Minion DHR II/Rekon 2.6/2.6″

Merida One Forty 800 Trail bike Enduro Test Vergleich Review web 2 2 600x400 — **Practical**
The internally routed cables are clamped at the inlet, which prevents rattling. With frame sizes L and XL, the frame has an unsightly gap between the top and down tube where they meet the head tube.

Merida One Forty 800 Trail bike Enduro Test Vergleich Review web 2 600x400 — **Full Floater**
MERIDA relies on a floating shock. The result? It responds sensitively and performs excellently overall.

Merida One Forty 800 Trail bike Enduro Test Vergleich Review web 2954 1140x760 — **Overwhelmed**
Unfortunately, the RockShox Revelation can’t keep up with the rest of the bike. We recommend swapping the internals for those of a RockShox PIKE.

Merida One Forty 800 Trail bike Enduro Test Vergleich Review web 2957 1 600x400 — **Too thin**
The 2.6″ MAXXIS Rekon offers surprising amounts of traction, but it can’t convince in terms of puncture protection.

Merida One Forty 800 Trail bike Enduro Test Vergleich Review web 2960 600x400 — **Well protected**
The chainstay protector is long enough to protect the entire strut, but we would have liked a slightly thicker, more impact absorbing material.

Size	S	M	L	XL
Seat tube	410 mm	435 mm	475 mm	515 mm
Top tube	572 mm	596 mm	620 mm	643 mm
Head tube	95 mm	110 mm	125 mm	140 mm
Head angle	66,3°	66,3°	66,3°	66,3°
Seat angle	75°	75°	75°	75°
Chainstays	435 mm	435 mm	435 mm	435 mm
BB Drop	21 mm	21 mm	21 mm	21 mm
Wheelbase	1,144 mm	1,170 mm	1,194 mm	1,222 mm
Reach	415 mm	435 mm	455 mm	475 mm
Stack	587 mm	601 mm	615 mm	629 mm

The MERIDA ONE FORTY 800 in test

The seated pedalling position on the MERIDA ONE-FORTY is comfortable and upright. Thanks to the steep seat tube angle, the rider is positioned centrally on the bike. The front wheel remains adequately weighted and on the ground, even on steep climbs. Overall, the rear suspension is efficient while pedalling without sacrificing comfort. Thanks to the 2.6″ wide tires, the bike has plenty of traction, allowing you to easily conquer technically challenging climbs. However, there are more spritely bikes in the test field.

Merida One Forty 800 Trail bike Enduro Test Vergleich Review web 2389 1140x760 — **Tuning tip:** Upgrade Revelation fork with PIKE internals | if necessary, fit larger 200 mm rotors | swap tires for narrower options

Merida One Forty 800 Trail bike Enduro Test Vergleich Review web 2913 600x400

Merida One Forty 800 Trail bike Enduro Test Vergleich Review web 3186 600x400

The wide tires provide comfort and traction on the climbs, but they limit the bike’s downhill performance.

Merida One Forty 800 Trail bike Enduro Test Vergleich Review web 3385 1140x760

Conclusion

The MERIDA ONE-FORTY is enormously versatile. It is simultaneously comfortable and efficient, yet it cuts a fine figure on descents of every kind. Unfortunately, it is slowed down somewhat by the wide tires and the low-end fork. If you’re willing to invest a bit of money on upgrades, this will make an excellent bike!

Tops

excellent performing rear linkage
very balanced and fun handling
very comfortable

Flops

fork doesn't do the bike justice
wide tires feel undefined
chainstay protector too thin

Riding Characteristics

Uphill

sluggish
efficient

Agility

cumbersome
playful

Stability

nervous
confident

Handling

demanding
balanced

Suspension

harsh
plush

Fun Factor

planted
poppy

Value for money

terrible
very good

Technical Data

MERIDA
ONE FORTY 800

Size: S M L XL
Weight: 14,14 kg
Travel (f/r): 150/150 mm
Wheel Size: 27,5"
Price: € 2,999

Intended Use

XC 8

Trail 9

Enduro 10

Downhill 11

For more info head to: merida-bikes.com

The test field

For an overview of the test fleet head to The best budget trail bike of 2019 – 11 mountain bikes head to head

This scale indicates how efficiently the bike climbs. It refers to both simple and technical climbs. Along with the suspension, the riding position and the weight of the bike all play a crucial role.↩
How does the bike ride and descend? How spritely is the bike, how agile is it through corners, how much fun is it in tight sections and how quickly can it change direction?↩
Is the bike stable at high speeds? Is it easy to stay in control in demanding terrain? How composed is it on rough trails? Stability is a combination of balanced geometry, good suspension and the right spec.↩
This is all about how balanced the bike is and particularly about how well it corners. Balanced bikes require little physical effort from the rider and are very predictable. If a bike is unbalanced, the rider has to work hard to weight the front wheel to generate enough grip. However, experienced riders can have a lot of fun even with unbalanced bikes.↩
How sensitive is the suspension over small bumps? Can it absorb hard impacts and does it soak up repeated hits? Plush suspension not only provides comfort and makes a bike more capable, but it also generates traction. The rating includes the fork and the rear suspension.↩
This aspect mainly comes down to the suspension. How much pop does it have, does it suck up the rider’s input or is it supportive, and how agile and direct is the bike?↩
We don’t calculate value for money in an excel spreadsheet or based on how high-end a bike is specced. We are more concerned with how a bike performs on the trail and how the bike benefits the rider. What good are the best components if the bike doesn’t perform well on the trail? Expensive bikes with a lower-end spec can offer very good value for money – provided they excel where it matters. Just as supposedly cheap bikes with good components can get a bad rating if they don’t deliver on the trail.↩
No, it’s not about racing, it’s about efficiency. Fast, fleet-footed and efficient – those who want to speed along flowy singletrack and gravel roads need a defined and spritely bike that accelerates with ease and efficiency. Nevertheless, reliable components are important too. We interpret XC more like the Americans do: big back-country rides instead of a marathon or XC World Cup with the ultimate in lightweight construction! Uphill-downhill ratio: 80:30 (not everything has to be 100%!)↩
...also known as mountain biking. Classic singletrack with roots, rocks and ledges – sometimes flowy, sometimes rough. For this, you need a bike with good all-round qualities, whether climbing or descending. Uphill-downhill ratio: 50:50↩
Even more extreme and challenging compared to Trail riding, riddled with every kind of obstacle: jumps, gaps, nasty rock gardens, ruts and roots. For this, you need (race)proven equipment that forgives mistakes and wouldn’t look out of place on a stage of the Enduro World Series. Climbing is just a means to an end. Uphill-downhill ratio: 30:70↩
Strictly speaking, a 200 mm travel downhill bike is the best choice for merciless tracks with big jumps, drops and the roughest terrain. Those would be the black or double-black-diamond tracks in a bike park. But as some of the EWS pros (including Sam Hill) have proven, it’s the riding skills and not the bike that define what you can ride with it. Climbing? On foot or with a shuttle, please! Uphill-downhill ratio: 10:90↩
You can find more info about our rating system in this article: Click here! ↩

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