Merida ONE-SIXTY 700

About the Merida ONE-SIXTY 700

The Merida ONE-SIXTY 700 sits in that sweet spot where enduro ambition meets trail-day reality. It's a bike built to descend fast and hard - 170mm of fork travel, up to 171mm out back, slack geometry that holds a line through chunder - but it doesn't punish you on the way back up. Merida's FAST kinematic suspension and Flexstay rear end deliver a ride that's supple enough to track rough ground yet supportive enough to keep your momentum when you're out of the saddle and driving hard. The steep seat tube angle keeps your weight over the front wheel on technical climbs, so you're not constantly wrestling for traction or feeling like you're sat on the back tyre.

This is the aluminium workhorse of the ONE-SIXTY range, and it's specced to match: RockShox ZEB Base fork, Vivid Select shock, SRAM or Shimano drivetrains depending on the year, and four-piston brakes front and rear. The frame itself is built to take a beating - generous rubber protection on the downtube and chainstays, an integrated fender over the main pivot, and Wire Port cable routing that keeps things quiet and tidy. You get a bottle cage mount inside the front triangle, threaded bottom bracket for easy maintenance, and a flip chip that lets you switch between mullet and full 29er setups without wrecking the geometry. It's a bike that's been thought through for riders who actually ride, not just for catalogue photos.

Merida's Agilometer sizing encourages you to pick a frame based on reach and riding style rather than just your height, and the long-travel dropper posts give you plenty of adjustment to dial in your fit. The result is a bike that feels composed and planted when you're charging, but still nimble enough to flick through tight sections or pop off features when the mood takes you.

Merida ONE-SIXTY 700 geometry

The geometry here is modern enduro through and through: a 64-degree head angle that's slack enough to inspire confidence at speed but not so extreme that you're fighting the bike in tighter sections. The steep seat tube angle - around 79 degrees - is the real key to the climbing performance. It pitches you forward over the bottom bracket, keeping weight on the front tyre and making technical climbs feel less like a front-wheel-lift lottery. You're not sat back on the rear wheel hoping for traction; you're over the pedals, driving the bike up.

Reach figures span from 425mm in the X-Short up to 520mm in the X-Long, and Merida's Agilometer philosophy means you're encouraged to size based on how you want the bike to feel rather than just your inseam measurement. Shorter reach gives you a more flickable, playful ride; longer reach adds stability and room to move when the trail gets rowdy. The chainstays are a consistent 432mm across the range, which keeps the rear end snappy and responsive without making the bike feel nervous. Wheelbase grows with frame size, but even the longer sizes don't feel like you're piloting a barge - there's still enough agility to thread through tight trees or adjust your line mid-corner.

Stack height is generous enough to keep you comfortable over long days, though some riders on the shorter end of a size range might find themselves wanting a few more spacers under the stem. The flip chip lets you toggle between mullet and full 29er setups, and crucially it does so without drastically altering the head angle or bottom bracket height. That means you can experiment with wheel sizes to suit the terrain or your mood without having to relearn how the bike handles. When you're in mullet mode, the smaller rear wheel quickens the steering and adds a touch more pop; full 29er smooths things out and keeps momentum rolling through rough sections.

Component choices & upgrades

The stock build on the ONE-SIXTY 700 is already well sorted for the kind of riding this bike is aimed at. The RockShox ZEB Base fork offers 170mm of travel with enough adjustability to tune for your weight and riding style, and the Vivid Select shock provides a supportive platform that doesn't feel harsh or wooden. SRAM NX Eagle or Shimano SLX/XT drivetrains give you a wide 10-50T or 10-51T cassette range, which is plenty for grinding up technical climbs without spinning out on the descents. The four-piston SRAM DB8 or Maven brakes deliver strong, consistent stopping power with 200mm rotors front and rear - more than adequate for long descents and bike park laps.

Maxxis Assegai up front and DHR II out back are a proven pairing: the Assegai grips hard in loose or wet conditions, while the DHR II balances rolling speed with cornering confidence. The 29×2.5" front tyre gives you a big contact patch and plenty of cushion; the rear is either 27.5×2.4" or 29×2.4" depending on your wheel setup. If you're riding drier, hardpack trails, you might consider swapping the Assegai for a Minion DHF or even a faster-rolling Dissector, but the stock rubber is a solid all-rounder.

Where might you upgrade? If you're racing enduro or spending a lot of time in the bike park, a fork with more sophisticated damping - something like a ZEB Ultimate or a Fox 38 - will give you finer control over high-speed chatter and better support through repeated big hits. The Vivid Select is a capable shock, but a coil option or a higher-tier air shock with more adjustability (Fox Float X2, RockShox Super Deluxe) can add plushness and mid-stroke support if you're a heavier rider or you're pushing the bike hard on rough terrain. Wheels are another area where you can shed weight and add stiffness: the stock MERIDA EXPERT TR II rims are durable and reasonably light, but a set of carbon hoops with wider internal width will improve tyre support and reduce rotational weight.

Drivetrain upgrades are less urgent unless you're chasing grams or you want the shift quality of SRAM's Transmission or Shimano XT/XTR. The NX Eagle or SLX setup shifts reliably and holds up well to mud and abuse. If you do upgrade, consider whether you actually need it - spending money on suspension, tyres, or a dropper post with more travel will often make a bigger difference to how the bike rides than a lighter cassette.

Where the Merida ONE-SIXTY 700 excels

This bike is outstanding at aggressive, technical descending. The combination of generous travel, slack geometry, and a suspension platform that stays composed through rough ground means you can carry speed into sections that would have you backing off on a shorter-travel trail bike. It holds a line through rock gardens, absorbs repeated square-edge hits without packing down, and inspires the kind of confidence that lets you focus on the trail ahead rather than worrying about what the bike's doing underneath you. If you're racing enduro, hitting bike parks regularly, or your local trails are steep, loose, and littered with roots and rocks, the ONE-SIXTY 700 is in its element.

It's also surprisingly capable on the climbs. The steep seat tube angle and efficient suspension platform mean you're not fighting the bike on technical ascents - you're over the pedals, the front wheel stays planted, and the rear end doesn't bob excessively when you're out of the saddle. It's not an XC race bike, and you'll feel the weight on long fire-road slogs, but for the kind of climbing you do to reach the descents, it's more than competent. The flip chip and mullet option add versatility: if you're riding tighter, punchier trails, the mullet setup quickens the handling and adds a bit more pop; if you're after maximum rollover and stability, the full 29er setup smooths things out.

Where it's less ideal: pure XC or marathon racing. The weight and travel are overkill if you're chasing lap times on smooth, flowing trails, and you'll be working harder than you need to on long, steady climbs. It's also not a bike for riders who want the absolute lightest, most efficient climber - there are shorter-travel options in Merida's range (the ONE-FORTY series) that'll suit that brief better. If your riding is mostly mellow trail centres or you rarely encounter technical descents, you're carrying more bike than you need.

Merida ONE-SIXTY 700 FAQs

What is the travel on a Merida ONE-SIXTY 700?
The fork offers 170mm of travel. Rear travel is 171mm in mullet configuration (29" front, 27.5" rear) or 162mm in full 29er setup. The flip chip lets you switch between the two without compromising the geometry.

Is the Merida ONE-SIXTY 700 good for climbing?
Yes, it climbs better than you'd expect for an enduro bike. The steep seat tube angle keeps your weight forward, so the front wheel stays planted on technical ascents. The FAST kinematic suspension is efficient enough that you're not fighting excessive bob, though the weight means long fire-road climbs will feel like work.

What size Merida ONE-SIXTY 700 should I get?
Merida's Agilometer sizing encourages you to choose based on reach and riding style, not just height. Shorter reach (X-Short, Short) gives a more playful, flickable feel; longer reach (Long, X-Long) adds stability and room to move when the trail gets rough. The long-travel dropper posts offer plenty of adjustment, so you've got more flexibility than traditional sizing would suggest.

How much does the Merida ONE-SIXTY 700 weigh?
The complete bike weighs around 17.1kg. That's reasonable for an aluminium enduro rig with this much travel and capability, though it's not the lightest option if you're counting every gram.

What are the main differences between the Merida ONE-SIXTY models?
The 700 is the aluminium workhorse with a solid mid-range spec. Higher-numbered models (6000, 7000) use carbon frames and lighter, more sophisticated components. The ONE-FORTY series offers less travel and a more trail-focused geometry if you don't need full enduro capability.

Can I run 29er wheels on the rear of a Merida ONE-SIXTY 700?
Yes. The flip chip lets you switch between mullet (29"/27.5") and full 29er setups. The geometry adjusts to maintain proper handling characteristics in either configuration, so you're not compromising the bike's balance or ride height.

What are the key features of Merida's FAST kinematic suspension?
FAST kinematic suspension uses size-specific progression rates and anti-squat figures to balance pedalling efficiency with descending performance. The Flexstay design eliminates some rear pivots by using controlled flex in the chainstays, which reduces weight, improves stiffness, and cuts down on maintenance.

What type of riding is the Merida ONE-SIXTY 700 best suited for?
It's built for aggressive, technical descending: enduro racing, bike park laps, and rowdy trail days where the climbs are just a means to reach the fun stuff. It handles rough, steep terrain with confidence and still climbs well enough that you're not dreading the return journey.