Core Bike 2010: Merida 0.Nine race bike available in UK

18 comments
By James Costley-White | Thursday, Feb 4, 2010 12.00pm

Merida claim their 0.Nine race bike is the lightest, stiffest and most comfortable carbon hardtail in the world, and it's now available to buy in the UK.

The top-of-the-range Team-D, which is identical to the bike used by the Multivan Merida Biking Team on the World Cup circuit, is said to weigh in at just over 18lb, including CrankBrothers Eggbeater Ti pedals.

That's 200g less than their previous flagship hardtail, the already astonishingly light Carbon FLX, and has been achieved through the use of some pretty impressive technology.

The 0.Nine was developed using data logging and with the help of consultants from the automotive industry – Merida's product and training manager David Webster told BikeRadar

Merida say weight has been shaved from the frame without any loss of strength or stiffness thanks to the use of reinforcing ribs (what they call Double Chamber Technology) and the addition of 'nano-particles' to the carbon, as well as features like a full-carbon rear disc brake mount and dropouts.

An egg-shaped head tube improves tracking accuracy, while an oversized BB30 bottom bracket ensures efficient power transfer to the rear wheel (30 percent more than the FLX, according to Merida). The 'feathered' stays have been shaped so they are rigid horizontally but have 9.6mm of vertical flex for added comfort.

Merida o.nine team-d:

Despite the featherlight weight, there is no rider weight limit and the frame comes with a five-year warranty.

The complete bike costs £4,086.95, including a Manitou R7 MRD fork, Avid Elixir CR carbon brakes, SRAM X-0 shifting kit, DT Swiss 240 hubs on Alex XCR Pro 3000 rims, and FSA finishing kit.

The frameset, which is claimed to weigh just 930g (2.05lb) for a 16in model, costs £1,788.03 (including headset, seatclamp and BB adaptor).

A lower spec 0.Nine 3000-D complete bike is available for £3,065.21, with a Fox FRL fork, Magura Louise brakes, Shimano XT, DT Swiss X1900 wheels and FSA finishing kit.

Merida o.nine 3000-d: merida o.nine 3000-d

Merida One-Twenty

New for 2010 is the One-Twenty trail bike with, you guessed it, 120mm of travel. It's been designed to be "light enough to race, and with enough travel to bail you out during a rock littered descent".

Merida have plumped for a simple single pivot suspension design with a linkage activated shock. The low ratio (1:2) design means it should offer excellent small bump sensitivity.

The top-end HFS 3000-D model has a frame made of triple-butted, hydroformed 6066 Prolite alloy and costs £2,247.82 with a Fox FRL fork and RP2 shock, Shimano XT kit and SLX brakes, DT Swiss X430 rims on XT hubs, and FSA finishing kit.

Further down the range, the TFS 400-D has a cheaper 6061 alloy frame with SR Epicon LOD fork and X-Fusion 02RC shock, Shimano M486 brakes and Deore shifting kit, own-brand rims on Deore hubs, and FSA finishing kit. RRP is £1,123.90.

Merida's new one-twenty full-suspension bike: merida's new one-twenty full-suspension bike

You can follow BikeRadar on Twitter at twitter.com/bikeradar and on Facebook at facebook.com/BikeRadar.

You might also like...

User Comments

There are 18 comments on this post

Showing 1 - 18 of 18 comments

  • Looks like a great bike. Would love to test one, but dealers seem a bit non-existent in these parts (South/Central London). Is there a reason the bigger stores don't stock them? Also don't recall they took part in any of the demo days last year?

  • That O.nine would make a sweet commuter

  • Looks pretty nice

    Give me a LIFETIME warranty like Trek and others, and I'm sold...

  • Saw one in The Cyclestore Friern Barnet (a dealer I belive) being serviced for a team rider. Without question the lightest mountain bike I have ever picked up.

  • Merida are big in europe but fairly new to the UK market. Merida make frames for giant and specialised and you might notice similarities but the price will be lower! I have Merida road and XC bikes for competition. High quality finish and good pricing so I am a big fan.

  • Merida dont make giant, giant make their own bike as they are one of the biggest, if not thee biggest, bike manufactures in the world and merida own about 20% of specialized,

  • Own close on half of specialized actually. 2nd largest manufacturer, Giant being the first.

  • Merida are a supplier that Halfords deal with (infact im fairly sure they play a big part in the higher spec'd carrera's, titan for exmaple) but anyway, if you find a decent store with a decent member of staff they can order them for you, but expect an RRP price point for special order bikes from halfords.

  • Is it just me or are the forks on the wrong way around?

  • its just you

  • http://www2.merida-bikes.com/en_GB/public/assets/91b13f53/Merida%20Dealer%20List_14_12_09.pdf

    Dealer list off their website. Seem's they're available most parts of the uk...

  • I agree about Merida being a great bike manufacturer, the pedigree says alot about them. the value for money in each bike regarding spec is great. I have a merida 96 3000D 09 model. it is fantastic to ride, never have to use the lockout as the suspension smooths out any bobbing from pedal stroke.

    if you can get to one buy it...

  • Agree with Rhann, the forks must be the wrong way around on the Team D.

  • wow, Rhann & Toshmund, you two really know your forks .........

    .

    .

    .

    .

    or not ??????

  • "the lightest, stiffest and most comfortable carbon hardtail in the world"

    Except for the Cannondale Flash, which is lighter...

  • "The 950g Flash Carbon frame uses the same high modulus carbon layup seen on Cannondale's SuperSix road frames, raced by Team Liquigas."

    "The frameset, which is claimed to weigh just 930g (2.05lb) for a 16in model, costs £1,788.03 (including headset, seatclamp and BB adaptor)."

    or not

  • Was always the old rumor that Merida made some of Giant and Giant made some of Merida just in case either had a fire not one was wiped out- mutual protection. As with all the big Tiawanise manufacturers each will out source build for other brands - infact Merida do not build thier own carbon - they are a Metal specialist and out source to one of the many Carbon facilities in the far east. shame they missed photographing the cut up tubes showing the dual hull tubing - its what makes it so stiff, yet the hull orientation maintains a compliant ride- bit like Bianchi with there road forks and the new methonal -

  • I have just bought a Merida Crossway. I hadn't heared of Merida before I went in to one of the local bike shops and was originally looking at either Giant or Ridgeback. They are big in Europe and have some great bikes. I am really pleased with the Crossway. Well equipped and the 700c wheels faster than my old mtb.

Post a Comment:

You need to login or register to post comments.