Merida Silex 2024

"Silex” is the Latin word for "pebble”. Merida's developers couldn't have named their interpretation of the perfect gravel bike more aptly when it was introduced in 2018. The in-house design department in Magstadt didn't want to sell us a cyclocross bike with drop bars, nor a Gran Fondo road bike with knobby tires as a "gravel bike”. Instead, they designed the Silex as a completely new bike concept for an extremely wide range of uses. Loaded with independent ideas, the Silex sets itself apart from the competition not only in terms of technology but also visually and achieved unparalleled sales sucess despite its polarizing front.

Now, six years later, it was time for further development without compromising the handling and versatility that made the first version so successful. With increased tire clearance, a shallower head angle, and 180 mm disc brakes, the new Merida Silex is more comfortable and confident, while the shorter head tube combined with the longer fork gives it a sportier appearance. The semi-integrated, rattle-free cable routing, a seat clamp integrated into the top tube, and the Fidlock base mount on the down tube emphasize the clean aesthetics. Additionally, Silex offers unrestricted compatibility with 1x or 2x drivetrains, even with maximum-width tires, and the option to mount mudguards, dropper seat posts, bags, and dynamos.

Merida Road/Endurance/Gravel

During the presentation, Merida repeatedly emphasized the mountain bike-inspired geometry for a relaxed and comfortable riding position with improved stability, especially when the bike is loaded with bikepacking gear; however, only two days before the press launch, Mr. Matej Mohoric won the UCI Gravel World Championship on a new Silex.

Matej Mohoric is the new UCI Gravel World Champion - in the first gravel race he ever took part in. "I've always wanted to participate in a mountain bike race, and this was pretty close,” the Slovenian joked after the race. He was referring to the partly challenging sections of the 169-kilometre route in the northern Italian Veneto region. The pro riding for Bahrain Victorious team, who even lost control of his front wheel on a turn covered in leaves just 2.5 kilometres from the finish, arrived in Pieve di Soligo 43 seconds ahead of the Belgian Florian Vermeersch and 3 minutes and 40 seconds ahead of Connor Swift.

Not bad for a "bikepacking bike”..

Bikeboard.at was on site for the three-day presentation in Scandiano, Italy, on behalf of you and had the opportunity to thoroughly test the new all-around weapon during four varied rides.

Even if it looks different in photos or to onlookers, the riding position on the new Silex is almost identical to its predecessor. This allows for comfortable and controlled riding on nearly all terrains. Merida’s developers made great efforts to maintain the mountain bike-inspired geometry and delved deep into their bag of tricks to positively influence both handling and appearance without compromising the bestselling bike’s DNA.

Improved off-road capability: Apart from minimal adjustments, Merida stuck with the concept of a high front end, short stem, and steep seat angle, but gave the new Silex a 1.5° flatter head angle, which, combined with the wider tires, enhances stability at high speeds on rough terrain or when heavily loaded.

Sportier appearance: To give the new Silex a more aggressive look, the head tube was significantly shortened, and the fork was lengthened. Thus the handlebar height and riding position remain roughly the same, but the appearance is more dynamic, similar to a Reacto or Scultura. Moreover, the updated frame geometry is compatible with the latest generation of gravel suspension forks.

Geometry

The newly designed longer fork not only enhances the bike’s appearance but also significantly increases tire clearance. Now, it’s possible to run 45 mm wide tires on 28” (700c) rims both front and rear, improving comfort as well as grip. The larger overall wheel diameter provides a smoother, more stable ride without the need for heavy and complicated suspension systems. With mudguards installed, you can use tires up to a width of 42 mm.

To increase the distance between the chainring and the rear tire, Merida incorporated heavily dropped chainstays in the frame design. This helps keep the chainstays short, makes the handling responsive, and offers the choice of 1x or 2x drivetrain systems, even with the widest tires. 1x drivetrains reduce weight and simplify operation, while 2x setups have smaller gaps between gears for a consistent cadence.

In theory, 650b wheels could also be used. However, during the presentation, Merida’s technicians repeatedly emphasized that the use of smaller 650b wheels no longer offers significant advantages. This is because 700c wheels can now be combined with wider, more off-road capable tires that also have better roll-over properties.

• Tire clearance: up to 700x45 mm or 700x42 mm with mudguards
• Flatter head angle of 69.5° for increased stability and off-road capability
• Dropped chainstay allows compatibility with 1x or 2x drivetrain systems
• 180 mm disc brakes as standard
• Merida’s integrated cable routing “Wire Port”
• Option for fully integrated FSA ACR/SMR cockpit routing
• Integrated seat clamp
• Compatible with dropper seatposts
• Carbon fork with mounting options for “Anything Cage” and hub dynamo cable routing on all models
• Ample storage space for luggage, designed for bikepacking bags
• Cable routing for hub dynamo
• CF carbon fibre frame with mounts for mudguards, multiple attachment points on frame and fork, including an integrated Fidlock mount on the downtube
• Merida's Disc Cooler heatsink mounted on the frame

Merida Disc Cooler: This is a lamellar piece of forged aluminum positioned between the brake caliper and the carbon frame or fork. As aluminum conducts heat well and carbon fibres do not, it helps quickly dissipate heat from the brakes through its CNC-machined cooling fins, benefiting function significantly.

Merida Wire Port: A headset system developed by Merida that allows all cables to be routed through the headset into the frame, creating a clean and tidy look without making structural changes to the frame.

• LITE frame with mounts for mudguards, multiple attachment points on the frame and fork, as well as a rear rack mount
• No “Disc Cooler” on the chainstay
• Otherwise, the same geometry, including all features of the carbon models (e.g., “Wire Port”)

For three days, we had the opportunity to intensively test Merida’s new universal weapon in the area around Scandiano, an Italian municipality in the Emilia-Romagna region. Since I had arrived quite early on the first day, I could take the Silex 10K on a longer ride even before the official presentation without knowing any background information.

Although the Medium frame size was generally at the upper limit for my body height of 175 cm and 84 cm inseam length, I could easily adjust the saddle position. And despite having two spacers pre-mounted, the riding position did not feel touristy at all. Once I started riding, I enjoyed the direct acceleration due to the stiff frame and the excellent mix of grip/traction and high stability. The Maxxis Rambler EXO in 45C, with the Reynolds Black Label G700 Pro Tubeless setup (25 mm internal width), delivered excellent performance with 1.75 bars in the front and 2 bars in the rear.

After just an hour, I was hooked and convinced that there was hardly a stone left unturned with the new Silex. Not only did it look more stylish and sporty but also conveyed a more aggressive riding position. The handling, on the other hand, felt somewhat more relaxed and neutral – sufficiently agile on flat terrain but a rock-solid performer even on challenging downhill terrain.

I was even more surprised when, at the evening presentation, Merida designers explained that they had made only minimal changes to the geometry. Small cause, big effect, is all I can say: In my opinion, the new Merida feels much sportier, safer and faster than its predecessor, without sacrificing the comfort advantages of the moderately stretched and more upright riding position. The wide tubeless tires and the 25 mm rim width of the wheels contributed to this.

Even on deep or loose gravel, the Merida felt as if it was riding on rails. The option of a dropper seatpost was the icing on the cake. I would not consider the 5 cm of travel a must-have, but on steep sections, the lower riding position generated noticeably more confidence. It could be lowered wirelessly by simultaneously pressing the buttons on the Sram Red Etap AXS levers, which also kept the cockpit clean.

Another advantage of the modernized geometry with a long reach, short stem, and high handlebar is that the handlebar drops are easily accessible to regular riders, and they are automatically used more frequently. This, due to improved aerodynamics, results in faster speeds on flat terrain and optimal control on rough or bumpy terrain.

Those whose body height is between two frame sizes can either spend weeks making a decision or simply choose based on personal preferences.

Smaller frame: more agile, higher drop possible, more flex in the seatpost, sportier use
Larger frame: more stable, longer reach, high handlebar position without a stack of spacers, commuting or bikepacking

Here you can find more information about the Merida Silex.

The first generation of Silex was challenging to categorize due to its extensive range of use. The new bike now offers even more possibilities. It is suitable for serious bikepacking and long-distance travel, as well as for gravel riding, fast road cycling, and commuting to work. Whether you use it with panniers for errands or with mudguards to stay clean on your way to work, the Silex will comfortably get you to your destination thanks to its relaxed, upright riding position and balanced handling.

Although Silex is not designed to cover given distances as quickly as possible, it now even impresses die-hard racers. This is especially true for long-distance races and multi-day events where the bike's stable handling and off-road capabilities are needed. It's a bike that can be used virtually anywhere, combining the sturdiness of a mountain bike with the efficiency of a road bike.

For short gravel races, the Scultura Endurance GR might be the better choice. However, Silex was good enough to win the UCI Gravel World Championship in 2023.