The Merida eOne-Sixty Lite 875 is a surprising bike. Not only does it lack the 160mm of travel you might expect from its name (it’s 174mm in the Mullet configuration), but it also has a battery capacity that suggests it’s more geared toward high-mileage, adventure-focused trails and significant elevation gain.
Looking at the frame and specs (all the details in our Preview), you might actually think of it as an enduro bike with a nod to park riding. In any case, it’s a beast to ride, demolishing descents and then hurtling back up to the top once again.
Overall, the Merida eOne-Sixty Lite 875 exceeded expectations on the trails, proving to be an exciting weapon for everything steep, uphill and downhill.
Ascent
A mid-length chainstay, a vertical seat post, and a relatively high bottom bracket paired with 165mm cranks make the Merida eMTB a great performer on technical climbs. Grip is top-notch, over any obstacle and on any trail, from the slowest to the fastest.
The eOne-Sixty Lite 875 devours anything in front of its front wheel, no more, no less. Steering control is impressive and stable, even when tackling steep hairpin bends, thanks in part to the front end being relatively low off the ground.
Engine and autonomy
In all of this, the Shimano EP801 motor plays a leading role, thanks also to the latest firmware update that allows for precise management of the extra thrust once you stop pedaling.
The heavy weight is noticeable, requiring more aggressive drivetrain tuning, and consequently impacting battery life. Nothing too worrying, but the difference compared to lighter Full Power eMTBs is noticeable, especially for non-featherweight riders (weight added to weight, there’s no escaping physics…).
In our tests, on the most varied terrains in terms of surface and slope, we always brilliantly exceeded 1,700 m of altitude difference using Trail and Eco (40/60% ratio) with a medium-aggressive setup compared to the standard one (torque of 34/64 Nm).
On mostly dirt roads, including forest roads and Uphill Flow-style trails, a 2,000 m elevation gain is a goal achievable by most bikers with at least reasonable training, good command of the bike, and a weight no higher than 80 kg.
Descent
Merida has done a good job of masking the eOne-Sixty’s mass. On a descent of medium difficulty given the gradient and terrain, it’s surprisingly easy to relaunch and maintain a pace, as well as direct the front end for quick changes of direction.
This is thanks to the solid and rigid structure, but also to the suspension. Around the sag point, the rear end is so smooth and soft that it feels like it’s being served by a coil shock, generating great traction and an exhilarating ability to follow the terrain. The design and development work on the P-Flex suspension likely produced the results Merida hoped for.
Another aspect that convinced us is the balance between the front and rear axle, for the ability to handle both small bumps and larger compressions and impacts.
The imposing mass begins to become a limitation when you open the throttle on terrain at the limit of grip and/or on a steep slope, requiring you to brake more than necessary, even anticipating the braking. As soon as you feel the loss of traction, the extra weight also makes corrections more difficult, requiring a firm and decisive, but above all, prompt, riding style.
Setting with lots of lights and some shadows
I refer you to the Preview for a detailed analysis of the Merida eOne-Sixty Lite 875, including frame and specifications. Here, I’ll limit myself to a few lines regarding the performance of some components in the field.
The front light is not powerful enough to handle night cycling on its own, making it necessary to use a real system.
More problematic is the issue of the brake rotors, which are “basic” compared to the otherwise classy and high-performance XT four-piston system.
The rear tyre was not the standard one, and therefore undersized for its casing (Exo+ and not DoubleDown), making more careful riding and higher operating pressures necessary, to the detriment of performance, control, traction and comfort.
– Read also: Merida launches the eTrilogy range
Conclusions
My personal preference is for agile and lightweight e-bikes, and not so much for those imposing and massive bikes designed to attack the terrain.
But against all odds, this eOne-Sixty Lite 875 proved to be surprisingly dynamic in most situations.
The rear suspension with controlled seat stay flex takes much of the credit, as does the geometry that is progressive but not too progressive for a 174mm rear beast with a 170mm fork and Mullet wheels.
All of this manages to almost completely mask the high mass, managing to ride lighter than the nominal weight of around 26 kg including pedals might suggest.
The optional range extender adds incredible power reserve and will please range-anxious riders, but it adds extra weight and compromises rideability.
What we like
- Effective and balanced suspensions
- Good sizing of sizes
- Customizable telescopic seatpost
- Precise transmission even under stress
What to improve
- Heavy weight
- The Lite name can be confusing
- Useless front light
- Rotors not up to the standard of the braking system
Merida eOne-Sixty Lite 875 at a glance
- Frame: eOne-Sixty Live IV, 174 mm
- Shock absorber: RockShox Super Deluxe Select
- Fork: RockShox Zeb Select, 170 mm
- Transmission: Shimano XT M8130 LinkGlide 11v
- Command: Shimano XT M8130 1x
- Cassette: Shimano LG700, 11-50t
- Crankset: Shimano FC-E8150 165 mm, FSA 1x Steel MegaTooth 36t
- Brakes: Shimano XT M8120, 220/203 mm
- Wheels: Merida Expert TR II tubeless ready/Shimano XT
- Tires: Maxxis Assegai 29×2.5″ Exo+ 3C MaxxGrip/Minion DHR II 27.5×2.6″ Exo+ 3C MaxxTerra
- Cockpit: Merida Expert eTR II 40 mm/eTR 780 mm
- Telescopic: Merida Team TR II, 30-230 mm
- Saddle: Prologo Proxim W400 STN
- Motor: Shimano EP801, 250W/85Nm
- Battery: TrendPower 750 Wh
- Display: Shimano SC-EM800
- Sizes: Xshort, Short, Mid, Long (test), Xlong
- Weight: 26.1 kg
- Price: €5,690.00
[foto action: Stefano Gandini | spot: Finale Outdoor Region]
