Merida Big Trail 600 Hardtail Mountain Bike Review

Riding Experience: Many years, many bikes and many disciplines
Generally Rides: Santa Cruz Blur, Yeti SB 140
Height: 168cm 
Weight: Wow, rude
Bike Test Track: Bunyaville, Ironbark, Secret Shred tracks that will remain secret.

The Big Trail has been a bike we have ridden and tested across several evolutions of the bike, and the 2024 Big Trail marks the third generation of the model that promises to maximise fun on the descent while optimising geometry to make sure climbing to the top of your run isn’t a chore. At $2999 the bike packs a punch, begging the question: do I really need dollar bills to have fun on the trail?

In 2021 I tested the Big Trail 500, and was pleasantly surprised at how fun a trail hardtail could be. With the release of the 2024 Big Trail, Merida has taken the fun-factor and upped it. Initially designed for a rider that enjoys challenging trails but doesn’t have the budget for a dual suspension trail bike, the 600 model on test was specifically launched as a more premium option catering for dedicated trail riders that are seeking a trail hardtail as n+1.

READ: Best Hardtail Mountain Bikes Under $2000

Featuring a sturdy double butted aluminium frame and a more progressive geometry than ever before, the Merida Big Trail 600 is peppered with the good stuff: 4-piston XT brakes, a 140mm RockShox Pike, universal derailleur hanger and a 12-speed Shimano Deore drivetrain. It’s a very tidy package for the price tag.

The Big Trail rolls on 29” wheels across the range and the 600 sports Merida Expert TR2 rims and Shimano Hubs, adorned with a Maxxis Minion DHF 2.5 up front and Maxxis Dissector 2.4 on the rear (which is also the maximum size for clearance in the frame).

READ: Trail and Enduro Tyre Group Test

While technically you can mullet the Big Trail, a 27.5” rear tyre would reduce the 70mm bottom bracket height even more, potentially causing problems out on the trail. For those who want even more capability up front, the Merida Big Trail 600 can take up to a 150mm fork.

The new Merida Big Trail 600 has also implemented size-specific Merida Expert TR2 34.9mm dropper posts, with XShort featuring 150mm, both Short and Mid at 170mm, Long at 200mm and XLong at a huge 230mm. At my height, this isn’t such a huge deal but for the long boys and girls out there having a full 200mm+ dropper makes a huge difference on the trail (just ask contributor Hayden).

A few nice design features for the new Merida Big Trail 600 include a trail mount on the underside of the top tube for carrying tools and spares, integrated fender mounts and even kickstand and rear rack compatibility for those using the bike for commuting or bikepacking adventures. The 600 also features an integrated multitool in the rear of the saddle and a 4/6mm Allen key lever on the removable rear axle lever. Nifty!

The Big Trail uses Merida’s Wire Port headset configuration. This means that your gear, dropper post and rear brake cable through the headset. This is a boon for aesthetics; the Big Trail has clean lines and looks to be all business, but time will tell if this is a source of pain for servicing.

Finally, those who enjoy long rides in hot conditions will be pleased to hear that all models have capacity for two water bottles in the frame. This is a feature not all will care about, but is personally very much a make or break feature when it comes to a bike purchase.

Before we hit the trails

Initially looking at the geometry chart I was on the fence about whether to select the Short or Mid-sized frame. Having ridden the medium on previous models, I decided to go with the Mid for comparison. At 168cm, Merida recommended the Mid as a more ‘stability’ focussed option for a rider of 165cm and the more ‘balanced’ option for a rider of 175cm. Merida offers a size chart for riders of differing heights suggesting frame sizes for playful, balanced or a stable ride quality. The ability for a rider to ride several sizes is also delivered in part by the bike’s low standover height (from 715 for XShort to 729 for XLong).

First thing’s first: this is a long bike. The 2021 model in medium featured an already pretty long 435mm reach, and the 2024 Mid model extends that to 455. This is somewhat mitigated by an increase in stack height up to 645mm, which does allow some extra pop in the front end. But that increase can mean that significant rider input is required to manage the front end. 

READ: Top 7 Best Trail Bikes Under $4600

While my first ride was with a full complement of spacers under the stem, this was the first thing I adjusted upon returning home. Adjusting the front end down does extend my reach slightly, but it allows a much more direct feel in the front end. Once I did this, manoeuvrability was greatly improved and I felt much more balanced and at home on the bike.

While size specific chainstays are all the rage, the Big Trail range features 435mm throughout all sizes, translating to increased ‘flickability’ of the rear end and allows riders – especially smaller ones – to be able to move around the bike with ease.

Another thing to note for long riders is that the seat tube angle has increased to 76.5 degrees from 75.5 degrees. While this isn’t a huge change, it means that longer riders are in a more centred position while climbing. This is more efficient for pedalling and reduces the sensation of being behind the bike, produced by older geometries’ slacker seat tube angles.

Merida Big Trail 600 on the trail

Specs and angles don’t mean a lot on paper and the ride experience is what we care about. Throughout testing I put the Merida Big Trail 600 through multiple trail rides inside the local trail networks, on fireroad epics, and on some off-piste skid trails not frequented by many.

Once we had dropped down the front end we found the bike much more capable as an all-rounder: it’s still a reluctant climber but that is wholly due to the hefty build rather than geometry. As is the case with everything in bike-land, it’s a case of give and take, the robust frame and beefy tyres certainly add weight, but also mean that this is a bike you’re unlikely to snap if you come up short on a jump (and I did…). The Maxxis Minion DHF/Dissector combination allows a level of confidence and poise when riding through steep, secret-squirrel rutted skid-tracks that would be lacking if the Merida Big Trail 600 was shod with lighter, faster rubber.

The long dropper allowed clearance for these steeper trails, and combined with the 40mm stem and wide (780mm) bars with 30mm sweep, really sets you in the optimal position to weight that front wheel and get the most out of the fork in unforgiving conditions.

The RockShox Pike is evidence of a well considered build choice for the Merida Big Trail 600, and takes the bikes capacity for fun up to the next level. The Pike features a compression adjustment dial which can be adjusted on feel, allowing a much firmer platform for climbing.

If things do get a bit rowdy on the trail, the four-piston XT brakes with 203mm rotors are there to pull you up in time, they have precise stopping power and bite that Shimano brakes are known for.

In terms of drivetrain, the 12-speed Deore drivetrain is unassuming and just works. I appreciated Merida up-speccing the brakes, as well as keeping the Deore throughout the drivetrain without down-speccing the cranks or cassette. The choice to use a 32T chainring up front with a 10-51T cassette meant that you could power up almost any climb. Overall, the drivetrain wasn’t really something I thought about at all during my time on the Big Trail, which is a sign that things were doing what they needed to without fuss. 

One thing that I did dedicate some brain space towards is the dropper post. Everything is a compromise, and the Merida Big Trail 600 has specced a Merida Expert TR 2 dropper, which worked reasonably well most of the time. Despite adjusting cable tension and playing around, we did find return to be on the sluggish side, and this isn’t something that’s an easy fix. If you’re buying this bike, I would ride it until the dropper dies, then replace it with another option that offers a quicker return.

Our take on the Merida Big Trail 600

The Merida Big Trail 600 is a thoughtfully designed and specced bike that has evolved into a ripper of a sled with so much versatility. 

Want to do shuttles? No problem, the geometry, rubber and Pike will take care of some solid level of tech or big flow lines. Want to do some more cross-country or all-day riding? Absolutely, just whittle down the rubber which will help it ascend a bit better and you’ll have a ball. Want a bike to take you on a long bikepacking adventure? No problems, the Big Trail even features rack mounts and capacity for two bottles, a spares mount and features a multi-tool as part of the package. 

Overall the Big Trail is a heck of a bike for the dollars, but it’s also just a heck of a fun bike to ride.

Merida Big Trail 600 Specs

Key specifications

• Brand: Merida
• Model: Big Trail 600
• RRP: $2,999 AUD
• Weight: 15.4kg (as tested, size not specified)
• Available From: www.merida-bikes.com/en-au

Geometry & frame

• Sizes: XShort, Short, Mid, Long, XLong
• Frame Material: Aluminium alloy
• Wheel Size: 29″ (clearance for up to 2.4” tyres)
• Axle Spacing: Boost

Suspension

• Fork: RockShox Pike (140mm travel)

Drivetrain

• Shifters: Shimano Deore 12-speed
• Derailleur: Shimano Deore
• Crankset: Shimano Deore 32T
• Cassette: Shimano Deore 10–51T (12-speed)
• Chain: KMC X12

Wheels & tyres

• Hubs: Shimano TC500
• Spokes: Stainless steel
• Rims: Merida Expert TRII
• Tyres: Maxxis Minion DHF (front), Maxxis Dissector (rear), tubeless-ready

Brakes

• Brakes: Shimano XT hydraulic disc brakes
• Rotors: 203mm (front and rear)

Cockpit & contact points:

• Stem: Merida Expert eTRII, 40mm
• Handlebar: Merida Expert TRII, 780mm width, 30mm rise
• Seatpost: Merida Expert TRII
• Saddle: Merida Comp SL