Bike Radar / MBUK Enduro Bike of the Year 2023
It was the Merida One-Sixty 6000 that surprised us early on, during back-to-back testing. And it continued to do so, no matter what terrain lay beneath its tyres. That’s not to say the YT Capra 29 Core 4 and Nukeproof Mega 297 Carbon Elite didn’t, too. While the YT’s easy-going nature and impressive all-round credentials make it a surefire recommendation, so too do the Nukeproof’s composure and stability when things really kick off, especially on seriously steep tech. But it was the Merida’s proportions, supportive suspension and electrifying ride feel that finally clinched it. The fun we had riding some of the gnarliest trails around Dolceacqua, skimming over jagged rocks and drifting loose turns, meant it had to be the winner.

The One-Sixty is a radical, all-new design that pushes Merida's hard-hitting enduro platform to new heights. Just as well, because once it’s there it’s ready to rip the longest, toughest descents too. Merida's new suspension system uses a flexstay design with an adjustable rocker, so whether you choose to run it as a full 29er (162mm travel) or mixed 29/27.5” setup (171mm travel), the geometry is preserved. There’s a radically steep 79° seat tube angle for goat-like climbing and slack 64° head angle plus 170mm fork to deal with downhill trail chaos. New sizing allows riders to run a longer or shorter reach frame independently of their height, while suspension becomes more progressive as you size up, all with long-travel dropper posts. Wire Port cable routing plus reliable threaded bottom bracket round out the package, while carbon frame models offer on-board tool storage and FidLock magnetic bottle cages.