Merida EOne Forty Review

Merida uses Carbon fibre for the eOne Forty front triangle. This greatly improves stiffness as there has to be a cut out to allow the battery to sit in the downtube. The back of the bike uses aluminium, the chainstays are subject to more abuse from trail debris so this makes complete sense. The eOne Forty is an electric trail bike, interestingly it uses the same frame as the eOne Sixty enduro bike but a size down, so you know it it's chassis is capable of hardcore enduro riding. As the fork has 20mm less travel this steepens the head angle and therefore lengthens the reach, so a large eOne Forty frame is the same as a medium eOne Sixty frame but with a shorter stroke shock to reduce travel. Reach on the medium eOne Forty is 430mm with a 66.4° head angle and 76.4° seat tube angle. The smaller 27.5 back wheel allows Merida to run a shorter chainstay than with a 29" wheel, keeping things nimble on the trail.

The Merida eOne Forty has a bottom bracket mounted motor. This placement allows smoother power delivery, yet also optimises the weight distribution, keeping the extra weight low and centred. The battery is now fully integrated into the downtube and allows easy access for removal and charging. The rear axle includes a 4mm and 6mm allen key for removing the axle and to remove the battery. Cable routing cleverly avoids the motor, so changing cables do not require removal of the motor. By using carbon fibre Merida have incorporated air vents into the top of the downtube known as "Thermo gate", dissipating heat and prolonging battery life.

The eOne Forty is a mid-travel electric trail bike, boasting 140mm of suspension travel up front and 133mm out back on all models. The frame has a single pivot suspension design, using a rocker link to activate the shock. This makes for a simple and effective design, using the same rear triangle as the previous version of the eOne Sixty means spare parts and bearings should be readily available.

Merida uses a wide range of manufacturers for the suspension, The entry-level 4000 model gets travel handled by SR Suntour with the well respected Raidon up front. The 8000 model gets the all-new Rock Shox Pike Select forks and Deluxe Select+ shock, also from Rock Shox. The top-end 9000 model has the excellent Fox float performance elite shock and the progressive DT Swiss F535 fork.

Proven to be the motor that behaves most transparently for mountain bikers, the Shimano Steps E8000 e-bike system delivers 250W of power and 70Nm of torque. There are three riding modes to electronically assist you along the trails. Eco offers the least and will conserve your battery the most, while trail is the middle setting that reacts to rider input and Boost will propel you up the most difficult ascents.

The 500Wh battery is an all-new Shimano Steps unit specifically designed to fit in the downtube and is long-lasting, though the distance you’ll get out of it will vary significantly based on the mode you ride in. The Switch Unit that allows you to toggle between modes is neat and ergonomic, and the display is from Di2 drivetrains.

All but one model in the Merida eOne Forty range feature the new Shimano 1x12 drivetrains, matching the electric motor system. The eOne Forty 8000 has SLX 1x12 and the 9000 has XT 12 speed drivetrain, both have the wide range 51-10 cassette, giving ample gearing for both climbing and descending. The entry-level 4000 model has the reliable and strong Deore 1x10 set up. All models feature powerful 4 pot brakes up front with large 203mm rotors.

As you would now expect, all bikes have dropper seatposts. Under the saddle on the 8000 and 9000 models, there is a multi-tool housed in a neat and weatherproof casing. Finishing kit is from Merida's in-house department.

Following the success in racing of mixed wheel sizes, Merida has realised that this can be perfectly suited to ebikes. Running a 29" wheel up front to plough through any trail obstacles while the 27.5" back wheel works well with shorter riders and arguably gives more torque from the motor, this allows the fitting of a wide and high volume rear tyre for added comfort and grip while keeping the chainstays short.

All bikes have wide and strong wheelsets, Shimano and Merida provide the wheelset on the 4000 model. Fulcrum provides the rims on the 8000 and DT swiss on the top line 9000 model.

All bikes have an excellent tyre choice that should provide ample grip in almost all conditions for all tyres of riding. Rear tyres are the Maxxis Minion DHR at 2.6 wide, and out front is the well respected Maxxis DHF at 2.5" wide. Both tyres are treated to EXO sidewall protection from Maxxis giving a great balance between protection and low weight.