BikéRadar named the Merida One-Forty 700 their Trail Bike of the Year in 2023, and if you've spent any time reading through a Merida One-Forty review or two, it's not hard to see why. This is a Merida mountain bike that doesn't ask you to compromise between climbing and descending. It's genuinely good at both, which is rarer than it sounds at this price point.
The One Forty 700 Merida builds around a high-quality all-aluminium frame with FAST kinematic suspension and Merida's AGILOMETER sizing system, which lets riders choose a longer or shorter reach independently of their height. That's a proper solution to a problem that catches a lot of MTB buyers in the UK out, because height alone has never been a reliable way to size a trail bike.
The suspension also becomes more progressive as you size up, so heavier or more aggressive riders get better support without having to start messing around with volume spacers on day one.
The geometry on the Merida One Forty 700 is where things get interesting. An 80-degree seat angle puts you right over the pedals on steep climbs, while a 65-degree head angle and longer reach figures across all sizes give you the confidence to point it downhill and commit.
Low front end, low bottom bracket, 29er wheels throughout. On paper it reads like a proper enduro geometry, but out on trail it climbs with a fluency that most bikes in this category simply don't manage.
Features:
- Full aluminium frame with FAST kinematic suspension and AGILOMETER sizing
- Radical trail geometry with full 29er wheels
- 230 mm travel-adjustable dropper post
- Marzocchi suspension, 150 mm front, 143 mm rear
- Wide-range SRAM 12-speed drivetrain
- Powerful 4-piston hydraulic disc brakes
The Marzocchi suspension is a solid choice at this level, with 150mm up front and 143mm at the rear giving you enough travel to handle genuinely rough terrain without making the bike feel wallowy on mellower trails.
The SRAM 12-speed drivetrain covers a wide enough range that you're never left spinning out on a steep technical climb or hunting for a gear on a fast fire road, and the 4-piston hydraulic disc brakes give you the stopping power you need when things get steep and loose.
The 230mm dropper post is a detail worth flagging too. A lot of trail bikes at this price still spec shorter posts that don't give shorter riders, or those with longer legs on bigger frames, the full drop they actually need. Merida has thought about that here.
WIRE PORT cable routing keeps things tidy and makes future maintenance less of a headache, and the threaded bottom bracket is a very welcome choice on a bike that's going to see wet, muddy UK trail centres regularly.
If the Merida One Forty for sale here is on your shortlist and you're ready to buy, don't skip the sizing step. The Merida size guide takes the AGILOMETER system into account and will help you figure out whether you want to size up or down based on your riding style and preferred cockpit feel, not just your inside leg.
And if you're still working out whether a long-travel trail bike is the right category for how you ride, have a look at the Edinburgh Bicycle Cooperative guide to different types of bikes before making your decision. There's a lot of choice out there in the MTB market in the UK right now, and it's worth getting that call right the first time.