REGGIO EMILIA – Merida Silex is gravel world champion thanks to Matej Mohoric. Just over two weeks before its official launch, the new Silex was the first to cross the finish line second gravel world championship in history. Definitely the best spot possible.
The Merida Silex changes skin and dress, but without completely distorting the original project, thus becoming a bike that it also winks at gravel racing. From a design perspective it borrows some solutions from the Sculpture and the new one Endurance GR (The Silex's carbon fiber layout is different and specific.) Let's go into detail.
Merida, the design and the details
The steering pipe with the rib in the upper section. The column, easily comparable to that of Sculpture, as the integration of the seat post locking block (with a diameter of 27,2 mm). But also the point where the obliques join the seat stays, which is partly reminiscent of the Reacto.
They are much more than simple details and represent technical solutions that are part of the New DNA from the Taiwanese company that designs entirely in Germany.
Gravel first and foremost
The new Silex is a gravel bike first and foremost, with modern geometry (the 69,5° steering angle common to all sizes) and with a development concept that aims for versatility. Confirmation of this is the possibility of mounting bags on the fork (above the horizontal bar and also in the area near the saddle joint), the third bottle cage under the down tube and the 27,2mm diameter telescopic dropper post, but also the mudguards (front and rear).
It can be mounted the derailleur for the crankset with the double chainring. There is also the new one FeedLock on the down tube for the bottle cage, which can be replaced with the traditional support with two screws if necessary (and the FeedLock magnets can be mounted on the screws of the vertical profile).
New solutions for Silex
Taking a step back and returning to discuss the geometric dimensions, we find ourselves with a new longer Merida Silex (thanks to an increased reach) which allows for the use of shorter handlebar stems. A solution borrowed from several companies with significant know-how in the MTB field. new Silex but it has shortened the steering and lengthened the fork blades, with the aim of offering a lot of stability.
They can be mounted tires up to 45 mm in section (42 when mudguards are present), a chainring with a maximum of 46 teeth (single chainring) and the 50-34 plateau (in the case of a double chainring). The technical aspect linked to the diameter of the brake discs is very important, which reaches up to 180 millimeters (most gravel bikes on the market allow a maximum tolerance of 160 millimetres).
Bearings and easy maintenance
The bottom bracket box is a classic BSA with thread and 68mm wideThis means that the bearings are mounted externally to the frame with special cups, not press-fit. The design of the seat stays at this point partially limits the mounting of a power meter with a sensor on the non-drive crankarm.
There are two available frames, one in CF carbon (the carbon modulus is common to all new Silex and has a declared value of 1.220 grams) and the aluminum one (1.900 grams declared). The fork is full carbon (540 grams) and is common to all the setups. The new Merida Flint è Compatible with the Rock Shox Rudy suspension fork.
Equipment and prices
There are 5 sizes available, from XS to XL. There are 3 versions for the Silex in CF2 carbon (a fourth will arrive in the next few months): 10K, 7000 and 4000. For the Lite with an aluminum frame there are 3: 700, 400 and 200. For now, a “Team Replica” like the one from Mohoric is not planned.
Le Silex 10K these are the ones that feature a dropper-post (Sram Reverb Wireless), Sram Red eTap AXS transmission (with Eagle derailleur) and a single front chainring (Quarq power meter included), as well as Reynolds carbon wheels.
Merida Flint 7000, which is based on the new Shimano GRX 12v mechanical transmission and single chainring, has Easton aluminum wheels and adopts the traditional seat post (in carbon). First It still has the Shimano GRX drivetrain, but with the double chainring configuration and 10 rear gears.
In the aluminum sectorThe 700 configuration is very versatile and also appeals to mountain bikers. The GRX820 drivetrain features a single chainring but a 10-51 gear range. The wheels are Easton EA70 aluminum. The 400 and 200 setups have Shimano transmissions with double front chainringFrom the base of the price list to the top, the price range is between 1.500 and 10.500 euros.
First impressions
What emerges from the first bars is the great stabilityThe new Silex is extremely stable, both in the front and rear end. It's not a nervous or peremptory bike in its responses, you can even perceive a certain wheelbase length, all to the advantage of comfort and safety even when tackling particularly rough off-road sections.
It's easy to understand that this bike was born first of all to be a versatile gravel bike, well balanced and which allows a simplified approach for different types of users and when you open the throttle it's still rewarding because it's not "comfortable." We rode the 7000 version, without the dropper post.
