2019 Merida road bikes - get to know the full range

​Merida road bikes span everything from children’s 20in wheelers to cutting-edge aero bikes that are raced at the very highest level by the Bahrain Merida Pro Cycling Team. Let's take a look.

As far as Merida road bikes are concerned, there are three main parts to the range: the Scultura is focused on light weight, the Reacto is engineered for aerodynamic efficiency, and the Silex is designed to offer plenty of comfort across a variety of different surfaces.

That perhaps oversimplifies things a little because each of those categories contains more than one frame design, but it’s a good start point.

Merida also offers a couple of Race entry-level aluminium road bikes.

As well as drop bar Merida road bikes, we’ll also cover flat bar road bikes, cyclocross and hybrid bikes here.

Scultura​

The Scultura is the lightweight road bike in Merida’s range, the high-end models being among the very lightest production bikes out there. Merida offers the Scultura in both rim brake and disc brake versions, and in carbon fibre and aluminium.

The entry-level model is the £700 Scultura 100 (above; across Merida’s range, if the model name has three digits the frame is aluminium, if it has four digits the frame is carbon fibre), and even at this price you get a full-carbon fork. This bike is built up with Shimano's 8-speed Claris groupset. It's available in both standard and women's 'Juliet' versions.

The top-level aluminium model with rim brakes is the £1,000 Scultura 400 with an impressive Shimano 105 groupset. It is also available in a women's version.

Merida offers Scultura Disc models built around a triple butted 6066 aluminium frame, each with a full carbon fork. The cheapest of them is the £900 Scultura Disc 200 (above) comes with a 9-speed Shimano Sora groupset and Promax Decode R cable-operated disc brakes.

The Scultura Disc 500 (£1,650) has Shimano's second tier Ultegra groupset, including the hydraulic disc brakes.

Read our complete guide to Shimano's groupsets.

Pay more and you can have a carbon fibre frame. The cheapest of these models is the £1,700 Scultura 4000 (above) which, like the Scultura 400, is Shimano 105-based. It too is available in a women's version.

We reviewed the 2016 version of the Merida Scultura 6000 (above, now £2,200) and said: “Overall the Scultura comes down to an awesome frameset, a pretty decent groupset, and average components.”

Check out our Merida Scultura 6000 review here.

We also reviewed the 2017 Merida Scultura 7000-E (above) and called it a “lightweight and efficient road bike that offers fast responses and an excellent ride quality”.

Read our Merida Scultura 7000-E review.

The higher level Sculturas (Limited and above) have a CF4 frame that's built to a more aggressive geometry than the CF2 frame of the lower priced models. In other words, your riding position is a little lower and more stretched out, the goal being increased speed.

The Scultura 8000-E (above, £5,000) is kitted out with Shimano's Ultegra components with superb Di2 electronic shifting. For this sort of money you get very good wheels too: Vision 40 SC with 40mm deep carbon rims.

As a brand with a strong mountain bike heritage, Merida is firmly committed to disc brakes and first added them to the Scultura in 2016.

We reviewed the 2017 version of the Merida Scultura Disc 6000 (above), and we absolutely loved it. We called it “an efficient and reactive road bike that offers an excellent ride quality and the reassurance of hydro disc brakes”.

Check out our review of the Merida Scultura Disc 6000 here

The Merida Scultura Disc 6000 is no longer available but there's a Scultura Disc 5000 (above) at £2,200. It's built to a geometry that’s slightly more relaxed than that of the top-level Scultura Disc Team (£8,000) and the carbon fibre layup is different, but this is still very much a performance orientated bike featuring a down tube shaped for aerodynamic efficiency and aluminium disc cooling fins around the chainstay to shift heat away from the rear brake.

The Scultura Disc 5000 is built up with a Shimano Ultegra (mechanical) groupset, including hydraulic disc brakes.

Buy if: You want a performance-minded road bike and your focus is on light weight.

Reacto

The Scultura (above) has some aerodynamic features but it’s the Reacto that’s the real aero option in Merida’s road bike range, and the carbon fibre models had a major redesign for 2018. The Reacto is now available in both disc brake and rim brake models, each in two different geometries.

Read our story on the launch of the Merida Reacto.

Merida says that the new Reacto is more aerodynamically efficient than the previous version by about eight watts at 45km/h. That equates to around 5%. Merida also claims that the difference in aero efficiency between the rim brake and disc models is less than one watt at that speed.

The aero improvement has been achieved by slimming down the tube shapes, introducing a lower seatstay/ seat tube connection and modifying the seatstays to have a larger bend towards the cassette. A one piece cockpit with integrated features has also been added.

Merida says that the weight of the Reacto (rim brake) frame, fork, seatpost, seatpost clamp and headset has come down from 2,046g to 1,695.5g, and that the new version is more comfortable than before.

Read our Merida Reacto First Ride

You can still get aluminium Reactos – the Shimano Tiagra-equipped Reacto 300, for example is priced at £1,000 – but the most affordable Reacto with a new carbon fibre frame and rim brakes is the £2,100 Reacto 5000 (above). This is built up with Shimano Ultegra components.

Rim brake models go all the way up to the Reacto Team-E (£8,000) with Shimano’s top-end Dura-Ace Di2 groupset and Fulcrum Racing Speed 55C wheels.

If you want disc brakes, the range starts at £2,000 with the Reacto Disc 4000 (above). This model has a Shimano 105 groupset, including hydraulic disc brakes.

When we reviewed the 2018 Merida Reacto Disc Team-E (above; now £8,250) we said, "This is a fast and responsive aero bike that offers plenty of comfort alongside the all-weather capability of hydraulic disc brakes. This bike is an absolute peach."

Read our review of the 2018 Merida Reacto Disc Team-E

Buy if: You want a fast and agile aero road bike with features that really do add comfort to the ride.

Silex

Merida’s range of Ride endurance road bikes disappeared 2018, replaced by a brand new lineup called Silex. The Silex bikes are intended to be comfortable and versatile enough for tarmac, gravel and tracks. Merida sees them as being useful for everything from traditional road riding to commuting to bike packing.

Read more about the Merida Silex range.

The Silex models are built to a geometry that has been inspired by mountain bikes, with a long top tube and head tube, and a short stem. The idea is to provide an upright, back-friendly riding position – without the need for a big stack of headset spacers which affect the bike’s stiffness – and nimble handling.

Watch our video of the new Merida Silex.

Merida reckons the long head tube will encourage you to ride on the drops more (as opposed to on the tops of the handlebar or the hoods) and that this will provide extra safety on descents, especially when you’re off road, because you’ll have better control of the brakes.

The Silex is available in both carbon and aluminium framed models, all of them with full-carbon forks, thru axles front and rear, disc brakes and clearance for large tyres.

The range opens with the £1,000 Silex 200 (above) which is built up with a 9-speed Shimano Sora groupset and Promax Decode R mechanical disc brakes. You get some very low gears via the 48/32-tooth chainset and 11-32-tooth cassette.

The top-level aluminium-framed Silex is the £1,700 600 (above). This model has a SRAM Apex 1 groupset with a single 44-tooth chainring, a wide-ranging 11-42-tooth cassette, and Fulcrum Racing 700 DB wheels.

When we reviewed the 2018 Merida Silex 700 we said, "It delivers a no-nonsense package of reliable components, parts and a geometry that brings a stable ride feel. Its geometry vaguely references mountain bikes, which makes for a really excellent ride feel, on road or off, blurring the line between road and mountain in a fast, fun bike."

Read our review of the 2018 Merida Silex 700

If you’d prefer a carbon frame (which weighs a claimed 1,050g as opposed to the 1,500g of the aluminium model), the Silex 6000 (above) is priced £2,250. This model also has a SRAM Apex 1 groupset.

The range goes all the way up to the SRAM Force 1-equipped Silex 9000 which is priced £3,400.

When we reviewed this bike we called it a "lightweight speed machine with excellent off-road handling while being no slouch on the road either".

Read our Merida Silex 9000 review.

Buy if: You’re looking for a versatile bike that’ll be comfortable on everything from tarmac to tracks.

Race

There are a couple of entry-level Merida road bikes, each built around a double butted 6061 aluminium frame and a full carbon fork – which is a rarity at this price.

The cheaper of these models is the Race 50 (£600) which comes with a compact chainset (with 50/34-tooth chainrings and a 7-speed cassette. The Shimano components include dual pivot brakes.

The other model is the £650 Race 80 (above). Your extra £50 moves you up to an 8-speed Shimano Claris groupset. We’d say it’s worth the money, but only if you’re happy with the 53/39-tooth chainset which means you don’t get such easy gears for the hills.

Buy if: You want an entry-level aluminium road bike with basic but well-proven components.

Cyclo Cross

Merida divides its cyclocross range up into the Cyclo Cross models and the new Mission CX bikes (below).

The most affordable option is the Cyclo Cross 100 (above) at £900. This one has a SRAM Apex 1 groupset with a single 40-tooth chainring and an 11-42-tooth cassette, Promax ROAD PM cable-operated disc brakes and an aluminium fork.

The Cyclo Cross 300 (above) is only slightly more expensive at £925. It's quite a different bike, though, in that it is equipped with a Shimano Tiagra compact chainset (with 50/34-tooth chainrings) and an 11-32-tooth cassette. This gearing is more suited to riding on the road than on muddy fields. Merida’s Cyclo Cross bikes come with mudguard mounts so you could use one for commuting or as a winter training bike.

Read our review of the 2015 Merida Cyclo Cross 500

Buy if: You’re after a cyclocross bike that can be adapted easily for the road.

Mission CX

Merida announced the new Mission CX range in July 2018 — bikes designed for cyclocross racing and also for training and fast commuting. The Mission CX is available in both Carbon fibre and aluminium versions.

Unlike the Cyclo Cross bikes (above), the Mission CX takes modern flat mount standard brakes, and uses 12mm as opposed to 15mm thru-axles.

The Mission CX has clearance for 38mm tyres — much wider than you can actually use for CX racing. You can get a little extra clearance at the back of the Carbon fibre frame by removing the seatstay bridge which is included for attaching mudguards. The bridge is fixed on the aluminium frame.

The Mission CX is built to what Merida calls a 'performance geometry' with a longer top tube and a shorter head tube than you'll find on the Cyclo Cross.

Merida suggests the Mission CX is versatile enough to be used as a fast commuter bike or an adventure bike as well as for cyclocross racing.

The aluminium-framed Mission CX 600 (above; £1,700) is built up with a SRAM Apex 1 groupset, including hydraulic disc brakes.

The spec of the Mission CX 5000 (above; £2,600) is very similar, but you get a Carbon fibre frame here. Merida states that the weight of the carbon frame is just 885g and the fork is 402g, while the alloy frame is 1,622g.

The top-of-the-range model is the Mission CX 8000 which is built up with SRAM's Force 1 groupset, two levels higher than Apex, and costs £3,600.

Read our story on the Mission CX launch

Buy if: You're looking for a cyclocross bike that's capable of more than just racing.

Speeder

The Speeders are flat bar road bikes built around lightweight aluminium frames.

The £600 Speeder 100 (above) comes with a full carbon fork, a Shimano triple chainset (you get three different chainrings) and Shimano BR-MT200 hydraulic disc brakes.

The Speeder 400 (above, £1,100) gets a mostly Shimano 105 groupset with the same Shimano BR-MT200 hydraulic disc brakes.

All of the Speeders have mudguard and rack eyelets so they handle all-weather commuting.

Buy if: You want a flat bar road bike for sports-type rides and/or fast commuting.

Crossway

Merida makes a huge range of aluminium Crossway hybrid bikes for both men and women. They’re designed for everything from leisure rides to commuting. The Crossway Urban bikes each has a rigid fork; if there's no 'Urban' in the model name, it'll have front suspension.

The £500 Crossway Urban 20 (above) comes with an aluminium fork, triple chainset and Shimano EF505 hydraulic disc brakes.

You can get a carbon fork, Shimano Deore (mountain bike) transmission and Shimano MT-200 hydraulic disc brakes if you step up to the £1,000 Crossway Urban 500 (below). This model comes with mudguards and a kickstand.

Buy if: You’re after a no-nonsense urban commuter at a decent price.

www.merida-bikes.com

Full 2019 model range

Model	Bike type	Frame material	Groupset	Brakes	Price
Scultura
Scultura 100	Road	Aluminium	Shimano Claris	Rim	£700
Scultura 100 Juliet	Road	Aluminium	Shimano Claris	Rim	£700
Scultura 200	Road	Aluminium	Shimano Sora	Rim	£850
Scultura 300	Road	Aluminium	Shimano Tiagra	Rim	£850
Scultura Disc 200	Road	Aluminium	Shimano Sora	Disc	£900
Scultura 400	Road	Aluminium	Shimano 105	Rim	£1,000
Scultura 400 Juliet	Road	Aluminium	Shimano 105	Rim	£1,000
Scultura Disc 500	Road	Aluminium	Shimano Ultegra	Disc	£1,650
Scultura 4000	Road	Carbon fibre	Shimano 105	Rim	£1,700
Scultura 4000 Juliet	Road	Carbon fibre	Shimano 105	Rim	£1,700
Scultura 6000	Road	Carbon fibre	Shimano Ultegra	Rim	£2,200
Scultura Disc 5000	Road	Carbon fibre	Shimano Ultegra	Disc	£2,200
Scultura Limited	Road	Carbon fibre	Shimano Ultegra	Rim	£2,800
Scultura 7000-E	Road	Carbon fibre	Shimano Ultegra Di2	Disc	£3,000
Scultura Disc 7000-E	Road	Carbon fibre	Shimano Ultegra Di2	Disc	£3,250
Scultura YC Edition	Road	Carbon fibre	Shimano Dura-Ace	Rim	£3,600
Scultura 8000-E	Road	Carbon fibre	Shimano Ultegra Di2	Rim	£5,000
Scultura Disc 8000-E	Road	Carbon fibre	Shimano Ultegra Di2	Disc	£5,250
Scultura Team	Road	Carbon fibre	Shimano Dura-Ace Di2	Rim	£7,750
Scultura Disc Team	Road	Carbon fibre	Shimano Dura-Ace Di2	Disc	£8,000
Reacto
Reacto 300	Aero	Aluminium	Shimano Tiagra	Rim	£1,000
Reacto 400	Aero	Aluminium	Shimano 105	Rim	£1,250
Reacto Disc 4000	Aero	Carbon fibre	Shimano 105	Disc	£2,000
Reacto 5000	Aero	Carbon fibre	Shimano Ultegra	Rim	£2,100
Reacto Disc 5000	Aero	Carbon fibre	Shimano Ultegra	Disc	£2,300
Reacto 6000	Aero	Carbon fibre	Shimano Ultegra	Rim	£2,600
Reacto 7000 E	Aero	Carbon fibre	Shimano Ultegra Di2	Rim	£3,200
Reacto Disc 7000-E	Aero	Carbon fibre	Shimano Ultegra Di2	Disc	£3,400
Reacto Disc YC Edition	Aero	Carbon fibre	Shimano Ultegra/Dura-Ace	Disc	£3,600
Reacto 8000-E	Aero	Carbon fibre	Shimano Ultegra Di2	Rim	£5,200
Reacto Disc 8000-E	Aero	Carbon fibre	Shimano Ultegra Di2	Disc	£5,400
Reacto Team-E	Aero	Carbon fibre	Shimano Dura-Ace Di2	Rim	£8,000
Reacto Disc Team-E	Aero	Carbon fibre	Shimano Dura-Ace Di2	Disc	£8,250
Silex
Silex 200	Road/Adventure	Aluminium	Shimano Sora	Disc	£1,000
Silex 300	Road/Adventure	Aluminium	SRAM Apex 1	Disc	£1,200
Silex 400	Road/Adventure	Aluminium	Shimano 105	Disc	£1,500
Silex 600	Road/Adventure	Aluminium	SRAM Apex 1	Disc	£1,700
Silex 6000	Road/Adventure	Carbon fibre	SRAM Apex 1	Disc	£2,250
Silex 7000	Road/Adventure	Carbon fibre	Shimano Ultegra	Disc	£2,600
Silex 9000	Road/Adventure	Carbon fibre	SRAM Force 1	Disc	£3,400
Race
Race 50	Road	Aluminium	Shimano Tourney	Rim	£600
Race 80	Road	Aluminium	Shimano Claris	Rim	£650
Cyclo Cross
Cyclo Cross 100	Cyclocross	Aluminium	SRAM Apex 1	Disc	£900
Cyclo Cross 300	Cyclocross	Aluminium	Shimano Tiagra	Disc	£925
Mission CX
Mission CX 600	Cyclocross	Aluminium	SRAM Apex 1	Disc	£1,700
Mission CX 5000	Cyclocross	Carbon fibre	SRAM Apex 1	Disc	£2,600
Mission CX 8000	Cyclocross	Carbon fibre	SRAM Force 1	Disc	£3,600
Speeder
Speeder 10	Hybrid	Aluminium	Shimano	Rim	£400
Speeder 20-D	Hybrid	Aluminium	Shimano Acera-X	Disc	£500
Speeder 100	Hybrid	Aluminium	Shimano Acera-X	Disc	£600
Speeder 100 Juliet	Hybrid	Aluminium	Shimano Acera-X	Disc	£600
Speeder 200	Hybrid	Aluminium	Shimano Sora	Disc	£725
Speeder 300	Hybrid	Aluminium	SRAM Apex 1	Disc	£875
Speeder 400	Hybrid	Aluminium	Shimano 105	Disc	£1,100
Crossway
Crossway / -L 10-V	Hybrid	Aluminium	Shimano/Promax	Rim	£380
Crossway / -L 10-V low-step	Hybrid	Aluminium	Shimano/Promax	Rim	£380
Crossway / -L 100	Hybrid	Aluminium	Shimano Alivio/Altus	Disc	£625
Crossway / -L 100 low-step	Hybrid	Aluminium	Shimano Alivio/Altus	Disc	£625
Crossway / -L 15-MD	Hybrid	Aluminium	Shimano/Jake	Disc	£425
Crossway / -L 15-MD low-step	Hybrid	Aluminium	Shimano/Jake	Disc	£425
Crossway / -L 40-D	Hybrid	Aluminium	Shimano	Disc	£525
Crossway / -L 40-D low-step	Hybrid	Aluminium	Shimano	Disc	£525
Crossway 300	Hybrid	Aluminium	Shimano Deore	Disc	£700
Crossway Urban
Crossway Urban / -L 20-D	Hybrid	Aluminium	Shimano	Disc	£500
Crossway Urban / -L 20-D low-step	Hybrid	Aluminium	Shimano	Disc	£500
Crossway Urban / -L 40-D	Hybrid	Aluminium	Shimano	Disc	£550
Crossway Urban / -L 40-D low-step	Hybrid	Aluminium	Shimano	Disc	£550
Crossway Urban / -L 100	Hybrid	Aluminium	Shimano Alivio/Altus	Disc	£700
Crossway Urban / -L 100 low-step	Hybrid	Aluminium	Shimano Alivio/Altus	Disc	£700
Crossway Urban / -L 500	Hybrid	Aluminium	Shimano Deore	Disc	£1,000