Merida eONE-SIXTY 10K Review

In the automotive and motorcycle world, Japan has always had a reputation for being a breeding ground for excellent engines. Shimano is doing its utmost to live up to this reputation in the e-bike world with the EP8 engine. The Shimano motor climbs steep ramps effortlessly. The natural riding feeling combines the Shimano EP8 with a harmonious power delivery. The average range can become a problem especially for long mountain bike rides.

At the chassis, Merida were generous and gave the eONE-SIXTY 10K a golden shine Kashima chassis from the house of Fox with 160 mm of travel at the front and 150 mm at the rear. Setup-Nerds can squeeze out the maximum performance from the chassis thanks to the many setting options. The thick 38mm stanchions on the fork provide an extra dose of steering precision and performance. Thanks to the four pistons and large brake rotors, the Shimano brakes decelerate so well that they can be called an anchor. You can't brake any better than that. Those who live for premium quality will love the transmission and parts of this EMTB. Here Merida cranks up the bling-bling factor to 11. The handling of the bike is pleasantly balanced due to the moderate geometry. This allows you to intuitively control the bike over the trails. The low bottom bracket height will likely be a sticking point for trail riders, as it negatively affects handling. Short chainstays and and a slack seat angle make the front end light in steep climbs. To keep the front wheel on the ground, you need to consciously lean forward.