Bikes are expensive. There is no two ways about it, but when brands such as Orbea and Pivot are busy pushing the technological boundaries of e-MTB and slapping on lofty price tags to match, pedal-assist machines may seem out of reach to many. However, Merida is set to buck that trend with its new ETMO range – performance e-mountain bikes that employ the brand’s heft of e-MTB knowledge, but at accessible prices, starting at £3,650.

Merida knows a thing or two about e-mountain bikes, as evidenced by the eOne-Eighty, the bike that won our e-MTB of the year award last year. With that, the brand’s new ETMO takes inspiration from its heavy-hitting enduro ripper but dials things back a bit, both financially and in terms of suspension travel. That’s all to make it accessible and versatile, but without skimping on the fun factor. Of course, with that eOne-Eighty inspiration, this is an alloy-framed rig.

The Merida ETMO utilises 160mm of suspension travel at both ends, combined with a mixed wheel setup (so a 29in wheel up front and a 650b hoop at the rear). It then employs Bosch’s CX or PX drive units, depending on the model you choose, and there’s a range of battery sizes on offer – 540, 600, and 800Wh options. The former drive unit knocks out 100Nm of torque and 750W at peak power, while the PX is the more affordable option that outputs 90Nm of torque and 700W at peak.

2026 merida etmo hero 2
2026 merida etmo hero 2 (Image Credit: Unknown)

Coming sorted with the very same suspension kinematic as what’s found on the eOne-Eighty, but whittled down to a 160mm rear end, the ETMO fits right in with Merida’s Agilometer sizing concept. This allows riders to pick a bike size based on its length, rather than its seat tube height. In turn, Agilometer means that a shorter rider should easily be able to size up for a more stable ride, and taller riders can size down for a more agile charecter all while being able to fit on the chosen size.

Although the ETMO takes a few cues from the eOne-Eighty, Merida has made some tweaks to its geometry. There are shorter seat tubes and greater standovers to make getting on and off the bike simple, and there’s an increased bottom bracket for a more ‘in the bike’ feeling, to boost confidence.

On a Mid frame, expect to see a 65-degree head tube angle, a 20mm BB drop, a 78.5-degree seat tube angle, and a 450mm reach. There’s a lengthy 446mm chainstay, which has grown from 435mm on the eOne-Eighty. Merida says that this move has been made to keep the front end down on steep ascents and add a more predictable ride feel.

2026 merida etmo rear
2026 merida etmo rear (Image Credit: Unknown)

Much like what we saw with Rat Bikes’ Dad Rat, Merida has managed to employ more efficient construction techniques to help bring the price down a bit. Again, it uses a similar design to the eOne-Eighty, where the frame uses a cast piece for the motor mount and upper pivot section, but the ETMO has this entire area cast as a single piece. This reduces welds and time aligning the frame, saving time and money.

Elsewhere, Merida’s new bike gets all of the mod cons. There’s a UDH interface for use with SRAM’s latest batch of Transmission drivetrains. There’s a standard headset and spacers, as well as Boost axle spacing. The brand has also thrown on a generously lengthy dropper post, with short frames using a 150mm post, and XL getting a 230mm dropper.

Models and prices

Merida is offering the ETMO in four models, two of which get sub-models that help the bike appeal to a wider range of riders. Topping the range is the ETMO 800. This one comes sorted with Marzocchi suspension with a Bomber Z fork and a Bomber Air shock. There’s Shimano’s XT four-piston stoppers, XT 11-speed shifting, and Shimano hubs laced to Reynolds 309 Enduro Comp wheels. Those are wrapped with Continental’s Kryptotal FR and RE duo.

The ETMO 700 dials the price down a touch with its RockShox Psylo Silver RX fork and Deluxe Select shock. A pair of SRAM DB6 Stealth four-piston brakes slows the bike SRAM’s Eagle 70 Transmission provides the shifting. This bike also rocks a pair of Reynolds 309 Enduro Comp rims and Continental Kryptotal tyres.

2026 merida etmo riding
2026 merida etmo riding (Image Credit: Unknown)

The ETMO 500 is where the bike splits into three sub-models. Each build benefits from an SR Suntour Zeron 36X Air fork with 140mm of travel and an SR Suntour Edge X shock. There’s SRAM’s DB4 Stealth brakes, Shimano CUES U6000 shifting, and Merida’s own rims on Shimano hubs. Maxxis provides the rubber here with a Minion DHF up front and a Dissctor at the rear. The Pro model features an 800Wh battery and a Bosch Performance Line CX motor. The regular build gets a 600Wh battery anda  Performance Line PX motor, and the ETMO 500 EQ gets a 600Wh battery, a PX motor, as well as mudguards and racks.

That split takes a similar direction to the ETMO 400. Each model rocks an X-Fusion Migo 34 fork and O2Pro shock. SRAM’s DB4 Stealth brakes, Shimano’s CUES U4000 shifting, and the same Merida wheels and Maxxis tyres as the ETMO 500. The Pro build runs a Bosch CX motor with an 800Wh battery, the standard build gets a Bosch PX motor and a 540Wh battery, while the EQ gets racks and mudguards, and that same 540Wh battery and PX motor.

As for prices, the kick off at £3,650 for the ETMO 400 and go up to £5,250 for the ETMO 800.

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