The Merida Big.Nine cross-country race bike has been overhauled with a new aggressive frame and a 120mm travel light trail riding option.
Rolling on 29in wheels, the Merida Big.Nine sports a 100mm fork and a 68-degree head angle. The Merida Big.Nine TR uses the same new frame paired with a 120mm fork, slackening the head angle further to 67 degrees.
Eight new models are available with carbon and aluminium frame options. Pricing for the new Big.Nine starts at £1,450, while the entry-level Big.Nine TR comes in at £1,400. Topping the range and the price scale at £9,000 is the Big.Nine 10K (international pricing TBC)
The Big.Nine frame in detail
The new Merida Big.Nine frame is available in three different configurations.
The aluminium frame weighs in at a claimed 1,920g (size medium) and features a kickstand, mudguard and rear pannier mounts to make it a versatile commuter bike if desired.
If low weight is a priority, Merida has two carbon framesets to choose from.
The top-of-the-range CF5 frame weighs a claimed 880g, 220g lighter than the more affordable CF3 frame (size medium).
The carbon models also sport size-specific chainstays. Merida says these ensure a consistent ride feel across the size range.
Under the saddle, you will find Merida’s V-Mount multi-tool, as well as a 4 and 6 mm Allen key on the removable rear axle lever.
The Merida-designed Acros headset routes the control cables through the bike’s headset. Home mechanics will be happy to see the threaded bottom bracket and a SRAM UDH derailleur hanger.
Big.Nine or Big.Nine TR?
With the introduction of the TR model, Merida has given the Big.Nine a rowdy sibling, boasting an extra 20mm of suspension travel and slacker angles.
While the frame is shared between the two models, the Big.Nine TR gets a 120mm travel fork, which raises the bike’s head tube, slackening its head and seat tube angles.
| Size medium | Big.Nine | Big.Nine TR |
|---|---|---|
| Head angle | 68° | 67° |
| Reach | 452mm | 440mm |
| Seat tube angle | 75.3° | 74.2° |
| Chainstay | 433mm | 433mm |
| Fork travel | 100mm | 120mm |
Alongside the bigger fork, the Big.Nine TR also gets riser bars, a more aggressive front tyre and a dropper post, taking the frame’s XC credentials and blending them with a trail-ready spec list.
The race-oriented Big.Nine features a fixed seat post, flat bars and fast-rolling tyres for maximum speed between the tapes.
For those in the market for a capable race bike for XC and marathon events, Merida recommends the Big.Nine. Riders who want to harness the speed of an XC bike with a slightly more capable build will be best served by the Big.nine TR, according to Merida.
Size-specific chainstays
Agilometer is Merida’s term for the reach-based sizing system.
Reached-based sizing means that riders can choose their size based on the reach measurement of their choice, rather than being stuck with one size based on its seat tube length.
Choosing a longer reach will give you more stability on the descents, with a slight payoff when it comes to manoeuvrability. Choosing a shorter reach will make the bike feel more agile and playful, but loses out a little on top-speed confidence.
Whichever way you choose to go, the Big.Nine is considerably more aggressive than before. The reach has grown by 30 to 44mm across the size range, and the head angle is now two degrees slacker.
Merida Big.Trail range overview
With eight new models in its stable (four of which are of the longer-travel TR variant), prices start at £1,400 and top out at £9,000.
The previous-generation Big.Nine 500 is also still available and costs £1,150.
Big.Nine TR 600
- Frame: Lite Aluminium
- Fork: SR Suntour Raidon 34 2CR 120mm
- Brakes: Shimano MT200
- Drivetrain: Shimano CUES U6000
- Seat post: Merida Comp TR
- Wheels: Merida Comp CC II
- Tyres: Maxxis Rekon 29x2.4in
- Weight: N/A
- Price: £1,400
Big.Nine 700
- Frame: LITE Aluminium
- Fork: Manitou Machete Comp 100mm
- Brakes: Shimano MT200
- Drivetrain: Shimano Deore M6100
- Seat post: Merida Comp OC
- Wheels: Merida Comp CC II
- Tyres: Maxxis Rekon Race 29x2.25in
- Weight: 13.87kg (Size M)
- Price: £1,450
Big.Nine TR Limited
- Frame: LITE Aluminium
- Fork: Manitou Machete Comp 120mm
- Brakes: Shimano SLX
- Drivetrain: Shimano Deore/XT
- Seat post: Merida Expert TR (S: 125mm, M: 150mm, L/XL/: 175mm)
- Wheels: Merida Comp CC II
- Tyres: Maxxis Rekon 29x2.4in
- Weight: 13.46kg (Size M)
- Price: £1,750
Big.Nine 3000
- Frame: CF3 carbon
- Fork: SR Suntour Raidon 34 R-2CR 100mm
- Brakes: Shimano MT200
- Drivetrain: Shimano Deore
- Seat post: Merida Comp CC
- Wheels: Merida Comp CC II
- Tyres: Maxxis Rekon Race 29x2.25in
- Weight: 12.3kg (Size M)
- Price: £2,000
Big.Nine TR 5000
- Frame: CF3 carbon
- Fork: RockShox Judy Gold 120mm
- Brakes: Shimano SLX
- Drivetrain: Shimano Deore/XT
- Seat post: Merida TR Expert Lite 100mm
- Wheels: Merida Expert CC II
- Tyres: Maxxis Rekon/Rekon Race 29x2.4in
- Weight: 12.4kg (Size M)
- Price: £2,700
Big.Nine XT
- Frame: CF3 carbon
- Fork: RockShox SID SL 100mm
- Brakes: Shimano XT
- Drivetrain: Shimano XT
- Seat post: FSA SL-K carbon
- Wheels: Merida Expert CC II
- Tyres: Maxxis Rekon Race 29x2.4in
- Weight: 10.2kg (Size M)
- Price: £3,150
Big.Nine TR 8000
- Frame: CF3 carbon
- Fork: Fox 34 Float SC Performance Elite 120mm
- Brakes: SRAM Level Silver Stealth
- Drivetrain: SRAM GX Eagle Transmission AXS
- Seat post: Merida Expert TR LITE 100mm
- Wheels: Reynolds TR309/289XC
- Tyres: Maxxis Rekon/Rekon Race 29x2.4 in
- Weight: 10.4kg (Size M)
- Price: £5,000
Big.Nine 10K
- Frame: CF5 carbon
- Fork: RockShox SID SLUltimate 100mm
- Brakes: SRAM Level Ultimate Stealth
- Drivetrain: SRAM XX Eagle SL Transmission AXS
- Seat post: FSA SL-K carbon
- Wheels: Reynolds Blacklabel 309/289XC
- Tyres: Maxxis Rekon Race 29x2.4in
- Weight: 9.3kg (Size M)
- Price: £9,000
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