Merida offers full-sussers in three travel configurations – 120mm (4.7in), 140mm (5.5in) and 160mm (6.3in) – with the two longer-travel bikes using a proprietary virtual pivot suspension design. With a RockShox fork, Fox shock, 180mm brake rotors and a dropper post, the One-Forty 7. 500 has hard-hitting credentials. Can it deliver?
Merida’s experience as one of the world’s biggest bike manufacturers – it makes frames for a lot of other brands too – shows through in the One-Forty’s clean design and attention to detail. Hydroformed main tubes curve from the massive, tapered head tube back towards the seat tube, forming a strong and rigid structure into which to plug a 140mm fork. The bump eater in question – a RockShox Sektor – is a solid entry-level performer, with adjustable rebound damping and a lockout lever. There are plusher forks with more accurate steering, but it’d be churlish to grumble too much at this price.
The solid rear triangle is attached to the mainframe via a short, stout linkage at the bottom and a rocker driving the shock at the top. The lower shock mount sits inside the down tube, contributing to a clean look that doesn’t betray any hint of the travel on tap. The shock is Fox’s well-regarded Float CTD unit with a fairly aggressive compression damping tune. It’s good to see adjustable low-speed compression damping on a bike at this price.
ADVERTISEMENT
Big 180mm rotors dissipate heat effectively
Internal gear cable routing continues the quiet, neat and tidy theme, though it’ll make cable replacement a bit more of a chore down the line despite Merida’s enlarged down tube exit. A wraparound chainstay protector works with the clutch-equipped rear derailleur to keep chain rattle to an absolute minimum. Mud clearance under the chainstay bridge is extremely tight – fans of chunky treads need not apply.
You can read more at BikeRadar.com
via BikeRadar All the latest from BikeRadar.com http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/BikeRadar/feeds/~3/llKdqH6HyfA/
No comments:
Post a Comment