Merida's new One-Sixty FR - for those that ride park
Merida's new One-Sixty FR takes their popular One-Sixty platform and makes it all about ripping the bike park.
For the riders who live to send, Merida have released the new One-Sixty FR, which takes their latest award-winning One-Sixty enduro platform and turns it up a notch. There's a longer travel fork, coil sprung suspension and burly build kits to put up with rough and tumble riding. The two alloy-framed models landing in Australia also hit a sweet spot of pricing, coming in at $3599 and $4699 for the FR 400 and FR 600 models respectively.
A closer look at the Merida One-Sixty FR
The One-Sixty FR has a mixed wheel setup with a 29” front wheel and 27.5” on the back. The alloy frame has a 5 year warranty and carries a Category 5 – the highest rating. The One-Sixty FR has been designed to optimise suspension kinematics, durability and suspension performance, which is why you'll see quality 38mm legged suspension forks from DVO and Suntour as stock, delivering 180/171mm of travel front and rear. The rear suspension is handled by a DVO Jade coil spring with a pedal platform for improved pedalling performance.
The design is basically a different build on Merida's One-Sixty that was released last year, however the parts changes make it a different bike to the One-Sixty LITE alloy models. Additionally, the One-Sixty FR come stock as a Mixed/mullet setup, although by using the geometry chip you can opt for a full 29” setup if you prefer that. Plus on the Merida One-Sixty FR you'll see quality tyres Continental Kryptotal tyres, 4-piston brakes with a 220mm front rotor, strong wheels and Merida's adjustable dropper posts to allow upto 230mm of drop! This bike is designed for heavy days in the park, punishing downhill runs and steep freeride lines.
In Australia we will have the One-Sixty FR 400 that will sell for $3599, and the One-Sixty FR 600 for $4699.
The Merida One-Sixty FR 400 – $3599
The Merida One-Sixty FR is all about a capable bike at a good price. A Suntour Durolux 38mm legged fork leads the charge, with a DVO Jade X D3 coil rear shock. Each size has a different spring rate as each size has a different kinematic to work best for different sized riders.
Merida's own rims are wrapped in Continental Kryptotal tyres with DH casings and soft compounds. Tektro handle braking with Gemini HD 4-piston brakes, and a Shimano Cues 1×10 drivetrain delivers a 10-48 range cassette. The Merida One-Sixty FR 600 – $4699
This model has the same frame but the group set is jazzed up for the extra $1100. This means there is a DVO Onyx 38 D2 fork matched with a DVO Jade X D2 rear shock. Shimano provide a Deore M6100 1×12 drivetrain with a 10-51 cassette and Hyperglide+ shifting for a wide range.
Brakes are thanks to TRP Trail EVO HD, with a 220mm front rotor, and Merida's Exprt rims have Continental Kryptotal tyres with DH casings and soft compounds.
Contact your local Merida dealer for more details, or head to the Merida Bikes website. You can expect to see this hard-hitting bikes on shop floors in February.
