The eOne-Sixty is Merida’s staple e-mountain bike, but the rapid electric revolution means some gaps have formed in the range. Today, Merida has expanded its lineup with the eOne-Sixty SL, a lightweight e-mountain bike and the eOne-Eighty, a big-travel bruiser. Importantly, both bikes cater to those who prefer Bosch’s drive systems.
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The eOne-Sixty SL is the brand’s first lightweight e-MTB
Lightweight e-mountain bikes are all the rage, and the eOne-Sixty SL is Merida’s entry into that market. It’s designed to blend the handling of a regular mountain bike with a hint of pedal assistance through the employment of Bosch’s Performance line SX motor. That motor delivers 55Nm of torque powered by a fixed 400Wh battery, with the bike tipping the scales at a claimed 19.5kg overall. Of course, that battery capacity can be boosted with the 250Wh PowerMore range extender
A lot of the weight savings present have been achieved through the specification of that Bosch motor and battery rather than weight-conscious componentry sacrifices. Instead, Merida has built the eOne-Sixty SL with parts designed for enduro-level riding, opting for durability and fit-for-purpose performance over all-out weight savings.
As a modern Merida mountain bike, the eOne-Sixty SL benefits from a carbon frame with flexstay technology that’s found across its bike range, and it’ll play ball with both a full 29-inch wheel setup and a mixed wheel size thanks to a flip-chip.
The bike also complies with the Agilometer system, which incorporates short seat tubes and long dropper posts, allowing potential customers to upsize and downsize without issue. However, the eOne-Sixty gets size-specific dropper posts rather than an adjustable version, all in the quest to save weight.
The eOne-Sixty SL welcomes a 64-degree head angle and a 78.5-degree seat tube angle. There’s a 466mm reach on a Mid-size bike and a 620mm stack. As for suspension travel, there’s 160mm at the front and rear.
The eOne-Eighty packs big travel for big descents
Despite its 180mm heft of suspension travel, Merida claims to have balanced the geometry of the eOne-Eighty to keep it lively. This model boasts a hydroformed 6061 aluminium frame rated for category-five riding. Notably, the eOne-Eighty ditches the flexstay in favour of a bearing-equipped pivot.
It boasts the latest Bosch Performance Line CX motor that outputs 85Nm of torque and 600 watts at peak power. That’s fueled by an 800Wh battery that can be boosted with the PowerMore range extender – and the battery is removable.
Like the eOne-Sixty SL, the eOne-Eighty uses the Agilometer sizing system. The geometry is a little different here as the Mid-size gets a 460mm reach, a 64.5-degree head tube angle, and a 76.5-degree seat tube angle. This one’s also mullet only, with a 650b wheel at the rear and a 29in wheel at the front.
