First rides on the 2024 Merida Big Nine XT hardtail mountain bike
The Merida Big Nine is a well-known name in the world of entry level bikes - so how will it transfer to their latest carbon iteration with a Shimano XT group set?
Merida have been hard at work overhaulling many of their popular models over the last couple of years. First up we saw the Ninety-Six cross-country bike get a big update for 2021, and the Merida One-Sixty and One-Forty all-mountain and trail bikes had a big shake up in late 2022. Since then the Merida Silex gravel bike has been totally overhaulled and in late 2023 Merida released details about their new One-Twenty (which should now be called the OneThirty if you ask us…) and a big shake up of the Merida Big Nine hardtail – as shown here. It just leaves us wondering when we get to see the new Merida eOne-Sixty and eOne-Forty – or any other developments in their popular e-bike range.
A closer look at the Merida Big Nine XT
The Merida Big Nine range is part of the lifeblood of Merida, representing huge volume for plenty of bike dealers around Australia. Big Nines will go out the door as bikes for young riders, entry level hardtails, commuting weapons or just about anything in-between. The Big Nine models always represented pretty good value across the range – just like you expect from Merida.
In 2023 a Merida Big Nine SLX edition was included in our Budget Bike Group Test, selling for $1999 with an alloy frame, Manitou fork and a smattering of SLX parts. It was a nice bike, but a little out of its depth on trails due to older geometry, thin tyres and not overly stiff fork.
The 2024 Merida Big Nine XT looks nothing like this bike, and at $3999 and double the price, that is no surprise. There are a number of big changes, but it really all stems from a totally new frame design.
The CF3 carbon frame has new geometry. The frame has a 68 degree head angle with the stock 100mm RockShox SID SL, and a 75.3 degree seat tube. This is the same across all five sizes (S-XXL). The chain stay length changes per size to aid balance, and they're 436mm on our size large test bike.
As you can see, the standover height is huge! The seat tube is only 440mm on the large, with a 472mm reach and a short 105mm head tube. Cables and hoses do go through the head set, which is something none of us at AMB are fans of due to the increased maintenance costs and impacts on steering. However, it is neat.
The frame has two mounts for bottles on the loooong down tube, and I managed to fit two side mount cages which could each carry a Camelbak Podium bottle. Just. There is also an accessory mount under the toptube.
Merida have moved to a threaded bottom bracket on the Big Nine CF3 frame, which is certainly something many mechanics will be grateful for, for ease of servicing and a longer product life. Merida have 175mm XT cranks with a 34t chain ring on the Big Nine XT – a great choice.
Given the move to wider rims and wider tyres, the new Merida Big Nine has clearance for 2.4" tyres through the frame – the bike comes specced with 2.4" Maxxis Rekon Race EXO, which are a perfect match for the bike. The rims didn't come with tubeless tape and the bike didn't come with valves. But I fitted some tape and valves on the rims that measure 25mm internal. With Shimano XT hubs, the front wheel weighs 788g and the rear is 966g – which is pretty good for a stock alloy wheel with a 25mm ID.
The Boost spaced frame has internal cable routing through the stays and uses a flat mount rear brake. This does mean with the Shimano XT brakes specced riders will need different spare brake pads for the front and rear of the bike.
The RockShox SID SL fork has a remote lock out, airpsring and rebound adjust. With a 44mm offset, the fork works really well with the slack(ish) head angle and long(ish) reach. Merida employ an alloy 760mm flat bar with 70mm stem (on large) with their own lock on grips. It's all neat and it works.
And as we often see with Merida, they have their own multitool included with a mount underneath the seat. It's not everything you need (don't forget a pump, plugs and a tube!) but it's one less thing to think about when getting out the door.
First impressions of the Merida Big Nine XT
Hitting the scales at about 10.48kg once setup tubeless with Orange Seal sealant, all I had to do was add my cages and some pedals.
While at a glance the bike looked tiny given the standover height, the fit was spot on for my 178cm. Seat angles can be moving towards 80 degrees on some bikes, a bit over 75 is spot on for a bike like the Big Nine, as you need to be able to pedal it on the flat as well as stay forward on the climbs. I found the balance front to rear was excellent straight out of the box with the 70mm stem.
I'll need to fine tune the tyre pressure and fork setup, but overall I was impressed with the Merida. It is a hardtail, that's for sure, but it rides confidently, ripping along fast trails and reacting instantly to pedalling input. While I think the bike is great at stock – I do think it could be incredible with a dropper post, and the frame can take a bump up to a 110mm or 120mm fork – somethiing I'll likely try during the test period. I may also take this bikepacking, as I think a hardtail with a wide gear range and tyre clearance is an excellent choice for bikepacking trips in Australia
From: Merida Australia
RRP: $3999
