Merida eONE-SIXTY 9000 (EP801) Review

As a component giant, Shimano is mostly known for its dominant position in bicycle gears. But with the EP801, the Japanese are clearly showing that they can look beyond their own plate too. Even nasty steep sections are effortlessly climbed by the motor. The Shimano EP801 conveys a riding feeling. The average range can become a problem especially for long mountain bike rides.

Even on rough terrain, the eONE-SIXTY 9000 doesn't lose its composure thanks to the excellent Fox chassis, giving you a lot of control. The thick 38mm stanchions on the fork provide an extra dose of steering precision and performance. Thanks to the solid power, the Shimano brakes can be counted on in the upper class segment. With two pistons and big brake rotors, Merida won't take any chances in that area. The shifting and the rest of the components are always in the shadow of the engine when it comes to electric mountain bikes. Nevertheless, Merida doesn't skimp here and instals very good components. When it comes to the geometry, Merida does not go completely crazy. The head tube angle and reach values were chosen with care. The result: A balanced riding behaviour with a good combination of playfulness and straight-line stability. The bottom bracket is high, which costs handling points. This tends to make the rider stand on the bike. On other EMTBs it feels better integrated. Due to the short chainstays and the shallow seat angle , when climbing steep sections, it requires active weight shifting to prevent the front wheel from lifting.