Merida have just announced their all new 2020 eONE-SIXTY. With a new carbon frame, mixed 29er and 27.5 wheels and an integrated battery, its quite a departure from the original, highly regarded trail whippet. The bike uses the all new Shimano BT-8035 internal battery, but the capacity remains the same at 504Wh.
The eONE-SIXTY has new, revised geometry and a slackened head angle at 65.5 degrees, changed the crank length to 165mm (from 175mm) and follows the on trend offering of many new Shimano powered bikes by providing a 29er on the front, with a 2.5″ Maxxis Assegai and a 27.5″ on the rear wrapped in a 2.6″ DHR2. The new
Merida claim that helps keep the chain stay as short as possible whilst offering as much grip as possible in the rear, whilst the 29er on the front helps with the rolling abilities for rocks, roots and chunkier stuff.
Moving to carbon meant that Merida had to work out a way of dissipating the heat generated from the battery. Carbon is not a great heat dissipator, so Merida have placed slots near the head tube to help keep the battery cool. Merida call this the Thermo Gate!
29er at the front 
Fox X2 shock 
Bottle mount compatible
The eONE-SIXTY integrated battery has a dual locking mechanism. Firstly, the battery is held in place with a catch then it is secured with Allen bolts. The tool for this is neatly held in the rear axle. Merida claim that this not only protects the battery, but reduces the risk of battery noise and vibrations, as well as making it easy to remove, replace with a spare or just recharge without having to do so on the bike.
Power button on top tube 
Neatly fastened Cables 
Battery secure 
With cover removed 
Bottom cover fasteners
e-ONE-SIXTY uses the regarded Shimano E8000 motor, with up to 70 Nm of power. The bike also moves over to the neater E7000 mode shifter which means an under bar dropper can be used.
One of the strongest attributes of the original bike was its playful, agile but composed handling. Merida wanted to all of that into the new generation of bike. Lowering of the bottom bracket, slackening the head angle and the new mixed wheel sizes, Merida say, should help retain the lively character of the original bike.
4 models will be available, but the UK will be taking 3 of them. Priced at £5850 for the 8000, £7000 for the 9000 and £9500 for the 10K, the bikes certainly are at the top end of the pricing for the category.
The eONE-SIXTY won’t be available until October 2019, which seems to be the case with a few other of the new Shimano BT-8035 equipped bikes (Propain EKANO is the same release time). So plenty of time to consider it as an option for your next EMTB.
For a closer look at the eONE-SIXTY 10K, check out Knut’s video below:
