Support road.cc

Like this site? Help us to make it better.

review

Eddy Merckx EMX-1 road bike

9
£1,949.00

VERDICT:

9
10
Great handling, fun bike to blast about on, race crits or cross mountains; upgrade the wheels for a superbike challenger
Weight: 
8,220g

At road.cc every product is thoroughly tested for as long as it takes to get a proper insight into how well it works. Our reviewers are experienced cyclists that we trust to be objective. While we strive to ensure that opinions expressed are backed up by facts, reviews are by their nature an informed opinion, not a definitive verdict. We don't intentionally try to break anything (except locks) but we do try to look for weak points in any design. The overall score is not just an average of the other scores: it reflects both a product's function and value – with value determined by how a product compares with items of similar spec, quality, and price.

What the road.cc scores mean

Good scores are more common than bad, because fortunately good products are more common than bad.

  • Exceptional
  • Excellent
  • Very Good
  • Good
  • Quite good
  • Average
  • Not so good
  • Poor
  • Bad
  • Appalling

The Eddy Merckx EMX-1 is a prime example of why you should never judge a bike by its spec sheet. Some parts may have been used to hit the two grand price but as a package the EMX-1 is a brilliant ride ripe for long term upgrades.

The EMX-1 is the entry into carbon fibre ownership in the Merckx line-up with a geometry tailored for longer distance and comfort by raising the front end slightly and shortening the top tube. It still absolutely flies though when you ask it to.

The Ride

A lot of the budget of this bike has gone into the frame, you can feel it as soon as you put tyre to tarmac. It's rare to get a carbon frame which is both stiff and compact that manages to banish every trace of road buzz and vibration before it makes it through to the rider. It almost has the kind of smooth feel you expect from steel or titanium.

A typical ride here on the Wiltshire, Somerset and Dorset borders means lots of country lanes and twisty B roads with plenty of climbing and descending, all things the Merckx is intended for with its comfort inspired, sportive style geometry. Thankfully you won't be left wanting.

The short 982mm wheelbase on the EMX-1 makes the whole bike punchy and agile which is an absolute boon on twisty damp descents. You can really fling yourself about on it and the shorter top tube allows you to position your bodyweight exactly where you want it to bank it from one apex to the next.

My favourite test hill has it all with open sweeping curves, narrow sections, blind bends and tight, wall hugging corners all with a less than perfect road surface. The EMX-1 is the best bike I've taken down there so far and would probably would have been the quickest had it not been damp. Get in the drops, inside knee bent and a drop of the shoulder the Merckx tracks wherever you point it. No twitchiness or dramas. The tapered steerer and head tube makes sure stiffness is high where it needs to be.

The front end has a 72° head angle which keeps the steering controllable especially if a quick change of direction is needed, gravel or a pot hole for instance. The majority of the surefooted manners comes down to that frame though, it just deals with everything leaving you to just concentrate on pedalling and pointing the handlebars.

When things calm down a little bit though the EMX-1 is mild mannered and just cruises along for mile after mile. The 150mm tall head tube means you can sit up on the drops just tapping out a rhythm for hours on end while still having that sportiness feeling there should you require it.

One of the budget components are the Fulcrum 7 wheels, a decent set of hoops in their own right but a little below par for a £2000 bike. As it stands the EMX-1 has some pretty decent acceleration blunted slightly by spinning up the Fulcrums' near 2kg weight, the same goes for climbing to. Swap them out for something more lightweight though and the EMX-1 picks up speed quickly especially from a rolling start.

Shimano's Ultegra 11-speed 11-28 cassette gives a decent spread of gears with the 50/34 compact chainset so long steady climbs can be taken comfortably in the saddle. Coming down the other side you are going to be motoring before you're spinning out. If you're a hilly sportive rider the Merckx is ticking one hell of a lot of boxes.

Frame & Fork

The EMX-1 is built using Merckx's own carbon fibre layup, something they call CL+. Its basically laying the carbon sheets in a way that they'll work best depending where they are on the frame whether that be for stiffness or comfort. It's not the lightest out there but Merckx have gone for longevity and ride quality over weight, they must be confident to as they offer a lifetime warranty to the original owner.

The sizing and geometry might look a little odd at first glance especially as at 1.8m tall I'm riding a 45cm. The virtual top tube length is 535mm though for this size Small, with a reach of 373mm, it doesn't feel small to ride. There is a full geometry table on the Eddy Merckx website though should you want to work out what size is the best for you.

Areas like the head tube, down tube and bottom bracket all have large surface areas to cope with the loads put through the frame under hard efforts. As I mentioned above the head tube is tapered at the fork crown for stiffness plus it allows for a larger down tube to be attached. Once you put the power down especially honking out of the saddle you really feel how tight that front end is.

The fork is full carbon and flows in shape and thickness in the same way as the frame does being especially deep just below the crown.

Speed hasn't been forgotten though, with a few tweaks added for aerodynamics like the fin shaped seat stays and small fairing section where they meet the seat tube. Whether it makes any difference all the way back there is debateable but it does look cool.

The EMX-1 has been out a fair few years now so it doesn't offer things like internal cabling routes for use with electronic groupsets. The cable guides are riveted to the carbon frame and do allow for clean lines especially considering the shapes and curves of the main tubes.

You get a replaceable gear hanger and the seatpost uses a twin clamp setup, a twin diameter clamp with the lower matching the seat tube diameter and the upper clamping the post so spreading some of the clamping load between the two. Merckx have gone for a 31.6mm diameter seatpost. That's perhaps odd, considering the EMX-1's nod towards comfort: a smaller diameter post is often used to introduce a bit of bump-absorbing flex.

Build kit

It's good to see a near full Ultegra 11-speed groupset here as it's a beautiful companion to the frameset. We've tested the full groupset here which is worth a look to see what we think of the performance but as an overview the shifting is much tighter and precise especially at the front mech due to longer swing arm.

The rear mech has had some geometry tweaks to resulting in the gear change feeling quicker even when under load. The reshaped compact levers help here to as they are more pleasant to hold plus if you have small hands they can be adjusted up to 10mm via a screw to get the fit just right.

Unfortunately one of the groupset's best components, the brakes have been sacrificed for some Merckx own brand versions and while the performance doesn't suffer too badly you do lose a lot of the feel and modulation of the Shimano units. It's one of those downgrades that have needed to be made due to quality of the frame.

The chainset is Rotor's 3D compact with matching BSA bottom bracket. It's a beautiful looking bit of kit and the wide, flat hollow alloy crank arms are super stiff.

The finshing kit is made up of Deda's lower end alloy components which always perform well especially if you like a stiff platform. You could pick the bar, stem and seatpost combo up yourself for about seventy quid on the internet but it looks and feels much more expensive than that. The RMH01 bar as a shallow drop with a shape somewhere between traditional and the newer anatomic style. It's comfortable to use whether on the tops or in the drops too.

One thing Merckx haven't scrimped on though is the contact points. The Prologo Kappa saddle is a firm perch thanks to some supportive padding and I got on well with the shape. The flat top with narrow nose allows you to change position easily which I like as I tend to slide backwards to climb.

Our EMX-1 came with Lizards Skins bar tape, although we're told that's not what you get as stock; it's a worthwile upgrade though. I started using this tape last year on my own bike and it's slowly being rolled out across the fleet as it's grippy and comfortable without being too thick. It's also reusable to as it has just enough tack to keep it stuck to the bars without needing to actually be glued to it.

As I mentioned earlier it is a bit odd to see such entry level wheels on a bike costing £1949 but again highlights that money has gone elsewhere like the frameset and groupset. The Fulcrum 7s are good wheels for their value though being bombproof with quiet running bearings. They'd be ideal to use for training and in poor weather with a change to lighter wheels for race day.

Same goes for the Vittoria Zaffiro tyres; again cheap and cheerful yet they perform well above their pay grade. They roll quickly and shrug off punctures and cuts well.

Conclusion

Overall the EMX-1 is a brilliant bike. That frameset is just sublime both in terms of comfort with the benefits of amazing handling and a super stiff frame. It's so easy to ride and goads you into pushing the pedals just a little bit harder and taking that bend just a little bit faster.

Okay some compromises have been made in terms of the wheels and brakes but that is easily rectified for not a lot of cost. The money going into bits like the chainset, saddle and bar tape show some clever thinking by the designers of how the components will work together with the frame.

Spend £400 on some wheels and another £100 on brakes and you've got a superbike beater for two and a half grand.

Verdict

Great handling, fun bike to blast about on, race crits or cross mountains; upgrade the wheels for a superbike challenger

If you're thinking of buying this product using a cashback deal why not use the road.cc Top Cashback page and get some top cashback while helping to support your favourite independent cycling website

road.cc test report

Make and model: Merckx EMX-1

Size tested: 54

About the bike

State the frame and fork material and method of construction. List the components used to build up the bike.

Full carbon frame and fork using Merckx's own propriety CL+ layup for controlling stiffness and comfort. 240GPa modulas carbon fibre is used throughout.

Sizes: 42-45-48-51-54

Shifters: Shimano Ultegra 11S

Front derailleur: Shimano Ultegra Braze on

Rear derailleur: Shimano Ultegra 11S

Crankset: Rotor 3D Steel 50-34

Bottom bracket: Rotor BSA

Cassette: Shimano Ultegra 11S 11-28T

Chain: Shimano Ultegra 11S

Wheelset: Fulcrum 7

Tyres: Vittoria Zaffiro Pro

Saddle: Prologo Kappa Evo

Seatpost: Deda RSX01

Handlebar: Deda RHM01

Stem: Deda Zero1

Headset: FSA 1-1/8"/1-1/4"

Tape: Lizard Skins

Brakeset: Eddy Merckx dual pivot

Tell us what the bike is for, and who it's aimed at. What do the manufacturers say about it? How does that compare to your own feelings about the bike?

The EMX-1 is Merckx's entry to carbon fibre bikes as it sits one above the alloy AMX range. It's intended for use in sportive style events as it focuses on comfort thanks to the compact frame and tall front end. Nothing has been compromised though as the geometry and frame build results in an easy handling speed machine.

Frame and fork

Overall rating for frame and fork
 
9/10

Tell us about the build quality and finish of the frame and fork?

A frame that focuses on durability and ride quality over weight means that the EMX-1 has a really good finish to it and enough confidence in the product for Merckx to offer a limited lifetime warranty.

Tell us about the materials used in the frame and fork?

The frame is full carbon fibre that is laid up to Merckx'x own spec using their CL+ design. The layup is tweaked for stiffness and the entire thing is manufactured from 240Gpa modulus carbon fibre. The fork is full carbon to with a tapered steerer.

Tell us about the geometry of the frame and fork?

Compact would sum it up quite well though it doesn't feel small when its being ridden. Geometry here http://www.eddymerckx.be/EUR/en/bike/male/emx-1/shimano-ultegrarotor-201...

How was the bike in terms of height and reach? How did it compare to other bikes of the same stated size?

The top tube of 534mm on the small is right on the limit of how short I'd normally ride but once aboard it felt pretty natural. The medium jumps up to a 550mm top tube and an increase of just 5mm on reach. Full stack and reach figures are on the geometry page.

Riding the bike

Was the bike comfortable to ride? Tell us how you felt about the ride quality.

Yes, for such a stiff bike the EMX-1 is very comfortable. The carbon gives a smooth ride without the buzz you get on some cheaper carbon frames. An almost titanium like feel on rough roads.

Did the bike feel stiff in the right places? Did any part of the bike feel too stiff or too flexible?

The EMX-1 is stiff at the front end under cornering and acceleration plus the BB area shows no feeling of flex.

How did the bike transfer power? Did it feel efficient?

It responds well to changes in pace making it ideal for town centres or twisty lanes.

Was there any toe-clip overlap with the front wheel? If so, was it a problem?

Yes a small amount.

How would you describe the steering? Was it lively, neutral or unresponsive? Very positive and quick without being a handful, the bike went exactly where you pointed it.

Tell us some more about the handling. How did the bike feel overall? Did it do particular things well or badly?

Really fun, twisty tight descents are the EMX-1's playground as it changes direction so quickly and without fuzz. Cruise along on the flat though and its very mild mannered.

Which components had the most effect (good or bad) on the bike's comfort? would you recommend any changes?

The saddle has plenty of padding but it's firm so spreads the load and keeps you comfortable over long rides. That Lizard Skins bar tape is brilliant as well.

Which components had the most effect (good or bad) on the bike's stiffness? would you recommend any changes?

Deda's alloy components are very stiff with a good balance of weight and cost

Which components had the most effect (good or bad) on the bike's efficiency? would you recommend any changes?

The Fulcrum wheels take the edge of the bikes performance due to their weight but they make good training wheels.

Rate the bike for efficiency of power transfer:
 
9/10
Rate the bike for acceleration:
 
9/10
Rate the bike for sprinting:
 
9/10
Rate the bike for high speed stability:
 
9/10
Rate the bike for cruising speed stability:
 
9/10
Rate the bike for low speed stability:
 
9/10
Rate the bike for flat cornering:
 
9/10
Rate the bike for cornering on descents:
 
10/10
Rate the bike for climbing:
 
8/10

The drivetrain

Rate the drivetrain for performance:
 
9/10
Rate the drivetrain for durability:
 
8/10
Rate the drivetrain for weight:
 
8/10
Rate the drivetrain for value:
 
9/10

Tell us some more about the drivetrain. Anything you particularly did or didn't like? Any components which didn't work well together?

Ultegra is a great groupset really making the most of the frameset. It's a shame the brakes were missing though. The Rotor 3D chainset is a nice addition.

Wheels and tyres

Rate the wheels and tyres for performance:
 
7/10
Rate the wheels and tyres for durability:
 
9/10
Rate the wheels and tyres for weight:
 
7/10
Rate the wheels and tyres for comfort:
 
8/10
Rate the wheels and tyres for value:
 
8/10

Tell us some more about the wheels and tyres.Did they work well in the conditions you encountered? Would you change the wheels or tyres? If so, what for?

An odd choice on a bike costing just under 2 grand but compromises have to be made. In their own right though the Fulcrum 7s perform well for their weight and cost. The tyres worked well too.

Controls

Rate the controls for performance:
 
8/10
Rate the controls for durability:
 
8/10
Rate the controls for weight:
 
8/10
Rate the controls for comfort:
 
7/10
Rate the controls for value:
 
9/10

Tell us some more about the controls. Any particularly good or bad components? How would the controls work for larger or smaller riders?

Stiff performance from what are quite cheap Deda components but they look good and do the job. I wouldn't bother to upgrade them unless I wanted to shave a lot of weight. The shallow drop bars make them usuable for all sizes of riders.

Your summary

Did you enjoy riding the bike? Yes.

Would you consider buying the bike? Yes.

Would you recommend the bike to a friend? Yes.

Rate the bike overall for performance:
 
9/10
Rate the bike overall for value:
 
8/10

Anything further to say about the bike in conclusion?

The EMX-1 is a brilliant bike with an amazing frameset at its heart. Okay the wheels are a low spec but they take very little away from the ride though an upgrade to something lighter pays huge dividends. The Merckx designers have concentrated on the important bits and invested there showing some knowledge about the type of ride they want the EMX-1 to give. On the whole it's an exceptional bike whose performance exceeds its spec sheet.

Overall rating: 9/10

About the tester

Age: 36  Height: 180cm  Weight: 76kg

I usually ride: Kinesis T2  My best bike is: Kinesis Aithien

I've been riding for: 10-20 years  I ride: Every day  I would class myself as: Expert

I regularly do the following types of riding: time trialling, commuting, club rides, sportives, fixed/singlespeed,

 

As part of the tech team here at F-At Digital, senior product reviewer Stu spends the majority of his time writing in-depth reviews for road.cc, off-road.cc and ebiketips using the knowledge gained from testing over 1,500 pieces of kit (plus 100's of bikes) since starting out as a freelancer back in 2009. After first throwing his leg over a race bike back in 2000, Stu's ridden more than 170,000 miles on road, time-trial, track, and gravel bikes, and while he's put his racing days behind him, he still likes to smash the pedals rather than take things easy. With a background in design and engineering, he has an obsession with how things are developed and manufactured, has a borderline fetish for handbuilt metal frames and finds a rim braked road bike very aesthetically pleasing!

Add new comment

24 comments

Avatar
molarmassz | 3 years ago
0 likes

Hello people!!

So sorry for such a late question... after 5 years hahaha

May I ask whether the bike has clearance for 28mm tires?

Avatar
Jeffrey Ott replied to molarmassz | 3 years ago
0 likes

Yes and No! 
Yes the rear will accept 28mm.
The front will only accept a maximum of 25mm though.
Mine had been fitted with a 28mm on the front and it picked up grit from the road and scuffed the centre of the fork crown.

 

Avatar
Colin Peyresourde | 9 years ago
0 likes

People that 'don't get the rules' really should find other ways of humouring themselves. Preferably in private.

At least we know that carbon isn't as fragile under stress as the naysayers claim.

Avatar
Pablo303 | 9 years ago
0 likes

What is the actual size of the tested bike, as fist there is info that it was 45 with all the dimensions of such frame, then there is 54.

Avatar
Pablo303 | 9 years ago
0 likes

What is the actual size of the tested bike, as fist there is info that it was 45 with all the dimensions of such frame, then there is 54.

Avatar
stuke replied to Pablo303 | 9 years ago
0 likes
Pablo303 wrote:

What is the actual size of the tested bike, as fist there is info that it was 45 with all the dimensions of such frame, then there is 54.

the size tested is what Merckx call a 45cm as they go by seat tube length. The top tube though is 534mm long

Avatar
Pablo303 replied to stuke | 9 years ago
0 likes
stuke wrote:
Pablo303 wrote:

What is the actual size of the tested bike, as fist there is info that it was 45 with all the dimensions of such frame, then there is 54.

the size tested is what Merckx call a 45cm as they go by seat tube length. The top tube though is 534mm long

Exactly, then first say 45 providing dimensions, then at the end of the test there is sie tested:54,that may be confusing for those not familiar with Merckx sizing and geometry.

Avatar
Skylark | 9 years ago
0 likes

I would class myself as: Expert.

Nah!

Avatar
gingerjulie | 9 years ago
0 likes

love this bike with a passion

Avatar
Martin1857 | 9 years ago
0 likes

Fantastic bike. I got a 2012 Campag Veloce model from Evans for £1500. Well built, well specced and it goes like a rocket. It's my daily ride consigning my hand built Condor Acciaio to sunny days only.

Avatar
vorsprung | 9 years ago
0 likes

I had a try of one of these a few years ago

http://audaxing.wordpress.com/2010/09/20/eddy-merckx-test-ride/

The geometry is great but ordering one in be ware that the sizing isn't like other bikes

Evans often do these for far less than the price listed above

Avatar
Must be Mad | 9 years ago
0 likes

Nice looking bike - and it really does not 'scream' endurance/comfort geometry either - it hides its 'heads up' fit very well.
I wonder if it comes in other colours?

Avatar
Shamblesuk | 9 years ago
0 likes

Looks like you're riding a kid's bike in that first photo (45cm is very small but I haven't checked the geometry closely).

Looks a bit like the Btwin Ultra, and external cabling looks rather old-fashioned. Agree that FR7s are low-spec compared with the rest.

At the £2k market there are lots of options and I feel this just lacks that USP some other have.

Avatar
twowheeltoys replied to Shamblesuk | 9 years ago
0 likes
Shamblesuk wrote:

At the £2k market there are lots of options and I feel this just lacks that USP some other have.

That name on the frame is it’s USP which for many will justify the price.

Avatar
fukawitribe replied to twowheeltoys | 9 years ago
0 likes
twowheeltoys wrote:
Shamblesuk wrote:

At the £2k market there are lots of options and I feel this just lacks that USP some other have.

That name on the frame is it’s USP which for many will justify the price.

..or if the bike lives up to the review maybe. It doesn't have to be unique to be worth it either, does it ?

Avatar
russwparkin replied to twowheeltoys | 9 years ago
0 likes
twowheeltoys wrote:
Shamblesuk wrote:

At the £2k market there are lots of options and I feel this just lacks that USP some other have.

That name on the frame is it’s USP which for many will justify the price.

a usp lost when you realise edd mercx cycling is owned by a huge consortium and the frames are open mould taiwanese frames.

it is a very fancy sticker though,

Avatar
Cyclist replied to russwparkin | 9 years ago
0 likes
russwparkin wrote:
twowheeltoys wrote:
Shamblesuk wrote:

At the £2k market there are lots of options and I feel this just lacks that USP some other have.

That name on the frame is it’s USP which for many will justify the price.

a usp lost when you realise edd mercx cycling is owned by a huge consortium and the frames are open mould taiwanese frames.

it is a very fancy sticker though,

Anyone own a Japanese car made in Derby....?

Avatar
stuke replied to russwparkin | 9 years ago
0 likes
russwparkin wrote:

a usp lost when you realise edd mercx cycling is owned by a huge consortium and the frames are open mould taiwanese frames.

it is a very fancy sticker though,

Ah the old 'edd mercx' frames!! they could well be open mold, what about the 'Eddy Merckx' frames though.  4

Avatar
russwparkin replied to stuke | 9 years ago
0 likes

ah I was a victim of the auto correct there, glad to see constable stuke from the grammar police was on duty though.

the point stands though. selling the eddy dream when in reality its just a generic frame thats been marked up. there is nothing wrong with this, dont get me wrong.

but selling false heritage is wrong,

Avatar
stuke replied to russwparkin | 9 years ago
0 likes

What proof have you got if you don't mind me asking that this is a marked up generic frame?

Avatar
Poptart242 | 9 years ago
0 likes

http://www.velominati.com/the-rules/#82

"It is important to note that while one can wear arm warmers without wearing knee or leg warmers, one cannot wear knee or leg warmers without wearing arm warmers (or a long sleeve jersey)".

Especially on a Merckx!

Lovely bike though, good write up. A very nice looking frame too IMHO.

Avatar
MartyMcCann replied to Poptart242 | 9 years ago
0 likes
Poptart242 wrote:

http://www.velominati.com/the-rules/#82

"It is important to note that while one can wear arm warmers without wearing knee or leg warmers, one cannot wear knee or leg warmers without wearing arm warmers (or a long sleeve jersey)".

Well I never-someone quoting "The Rules" on a cycling thread...

I've said it before and I'll say it again- we really need a Rules equivalent of Godwin's Law.

Avatar
Poptart242 replied to MartyMcCann | 9 years ago
0 likes

Speaking of Godwin's Law, Hitler was a cyclist in the army way back before he got all murder-y. Despite this, the ruling party enacted a number of anti-cycling laws, aiming to get cyclists off roads, leaving more space for the “peoples’ cars”.

So he was the first cycling-nazi.

And of course it was tongue-in-cheek anyway fella. That's what the rules are...  103

Avatar
TheHound | 9 years ago
0 likes

Short sleeves and leg warmers? Not cool bro.

Latest Comments