Showroom: Merida Big.Nine XT
26.02.26 14:11 1352026-02-26T14:11:00+01:00Text: NoPain (translated by AI)Photos: Erwin HaidenLonger, slacker, lower & cheaper: The revised hardtail classic with pro DNA, slightly heavier carbon fiber and everyday-ready equipment is clearly aimed at marathon fans and ambitious recreational riders. Same look & feel as the race version - but for €3,000 instead of over €9,000? Sounds like a fair deal.26.02.26 14:11 3112026-02-26T14:11:00+01:00Showroom: Merida Big.Nine XT
26.02.26 14:11 3112026-02-26T14:11:00+01:00 NoPain (translated by AI) Erwin HaidenLonger, slacker, lower & cheaper: The revised hardtail classic with pro DNA, slightly heavier carbon fiber and everyday-ready equipment is clearly aimed at marathon fans and ambitious recreational riders. Same look & feel as the race version - but for €3,000 instead of over €9,000? Sounds like a fair deal.26.02.26 14:11 3112026-02-26T14:11:00+01:00
Who says mountain biking always has to be an outrageously expensive high‑tech pleasure? That the fun only starts at €5,000, and everything below is at best good for beginners or penniless students? We say: Bullshit.
Because sometimes the real riding fun isn't in the upside‑down fork with 3‑chamber air damping or in the electronically networked 5‑axis carbon marvel, but simply in purism. In a bike that doesn't put on a circus, but just works. Like the Merida Big.Nine XT — a classic hardtail that neither screams nor sparkles, but can still do an awful lot.
Modern cross‑country tracks may demand more than an old steel tube with a rigid fork, but not necessarily a 15‑kg enduro with suspension travel down to your kneecap. With the Big.Nine XT, Merida proves that a well‑built, cleverly thought‑out carbon hardtail can be suitable for everyday use, race‑ready, and simply fun. And at a price that might even leave you enough for the right holiday. Because the model positioned as the entry bike essentially offers the same frame features as the top model, but costs noticeably less.
With room for 29x2.4‑inch tires, a race‑oriented CF3 carbon frame with "classic" 100 millimeters of travel, progressive geometry and clever Agilometer sizing, the bike hits the sweet spot between control, comfort and climbing pleasure. Or put another way: you get up, down, and over — and in style. And a pristine Shimano XT 1x12 groupset makes sure you never curse the shifting.
So if you're after an MTB hardtail that's reduced to the essentials without being boring, sporty but not elitist, you should definitely read on.
Less is bike.
Geometry & Ergonomics
True to the motto "Back to the Roots", Merida only last year fundamentally overhauled its Big.Nine Carbon hardtail. To avoid losing sight of the essentials when riding — and of course that means the sacred flow — the developers focused on what really counts: a progressive line, a well-thought-out frame design and a suspension platform that impresses both uphill and downhill. In particular, the new "Agilometer" sizing system is intended to give future Big.Nine riders maximum freedom when choosing their preferred handling characteristics.
If you’re after more stability, opt for a longer Reach variant; if you prefer agility, go for a shorter one — and if you want both, you’ll find your setup sweet spot somewhere in between.
Whether a bike with a long reach to sling yourself over, or one with lively agility and a short wheelbase is called for: Thanks to Merida's radical geometry, every bike can be perfectly configured to suit individual needs.
All of this is combined with a steep seat angle for enduring climbing performance, a slack head angle for composed handling, and a shorter head tube in all sizes to improve the cockpit position.
For more comfort, a significantly shorter seat tube leaves a larger portion of the seatpost outside the frame, allowing more flex.
Depending on frame size, the short seat tube also permits more seatpost extension — 40 to 90 mm — which boosts the confidence of beginner mountain bikers and gives everyone the option to use a long-travel dropper post.
To further improve handling, size-specific chainstay lengths were introduced. The remaining geometry data stayed the same.
On a cross-country bike, the rider often has to stay seated for maximum efficiency. If the chainstay length increases proportionally with reach, this means the finely tuned weight balance between the front and rear wheel while seated is maintained across a larger range of rider sizes. According to Merida, this results in excellent climbing and cornering characteristics, especially in flat singletrack turns.
Geometry Big.Nine XT
| S | M | L | XL | XXL | |
| Wheel size | 29" | 29" | 29" | 29" | 29" |
| Seat tube (mm) | 380 | 410 | 440 | 470 | 500 |
| Top tube (mm) | 591 | 611 | 633 | 655 | 678 |
| Chainstay (mm) | 430 | 433 | 436 | 439 | 442 |
| Head tube angle | 68° | 68° | 68° | 68° | 68° |
| Seat tube angle | 75.3° | 75.3° | 75.3° | 75.3° | 75.3° |
| Bottom bracket drop (mm) | 65 | 65 | 65 | 65 | 65 |
| Head tube length (mm) | 95 | 95 | 105 | 115 | 125 |
| Reach (mm) | 432 | 452 | 472 | 492 | 512 |
| Stack (mm) | 606 | 606 | 615 | 624 | 634 |
| Wheelbase (mm) | 1123 | 1146 | 1173 | 1199 | 1226 |
| Stand-over height (mm) | 704 | 704 | 710 | 731 | 752 |
Agilometer Sizing
The individually optimal geometry for the perfect flow on the trail
Merida Big.Nine XT
The entry-level model basically has the same frame features as the top model, but is built from the cheaper CF3 carbon fibers. The frame weight is said to be 1,100 grams in size Medium (i.e. 220 grams more).
Big.Nine XT - Austria Edition
| Frame | Big.Nine CF3 III, BSA, max. 29x2.4", 148x12 mm axles | Fork | Fox 32 SC Performance, Air, 100 mm, Tapered, Remote Lockout, max. 29x2.4", 44 mm offset |
| Color | Cool Grey (Silver/Black) | Frame sizes | S, M, L, XL, XXL |
| Crankset | Shimano XT, 34T, 170 mm (S), 175 mm (M-XXL) | Cassette | Shimano XT, 10-51T, 12s |
| Front brake | Shimano XT M8100 | Rear brake | Shimano XT M8110 |
| Front rotor | Shimano RT54, 180 mm | Rear rotor | Shimano RT54, 160 mm |
| Handlebar | Merida Expert CC, Aluminum, 760 mm | Headset | Acros ICR Merida Integrated |
| Stem | Merida Team CC III, Aluminum, 31.8 mm, 6°, 60 mm (S-M), 70 mm (L-XL), 80 mm (XXL) | Spacers | 1*10mm, 1*5mm, 1*2.5mm |
| Grips | Merida Expert EC | Shifters | Shimano XT M8100 |
| Front tire | Maxxis Rekon Race, 29x2.4" WT TLR, 3C MaxxTerra EXO | Rear tire | Maxxis Rekon Race, 29x2.4" WT TLR, 3C MaxxTerra EXO |
| Rim | Merida Expert CC II, Aluminum, 25 mm inner, TLR | Spokes | Double-butted, stainless steel, black |
| Rear axle | Merida Expert TR | Chain | KMC X12 |
| Rear derailleur | Shimano XT SGS | Seatpost | FSA SL-K, carbon, 30.9mm, 0 mm setback |
| Saddle | Merida Comp SL | Seat clamp | Merida Expert |
| Weight | 10.86 kg (weighed including mount) | RRP | €2,999 |
Features
MODERN CROSS-COUNTRY SUSPENSION FORK
The Big.Nine XT is equipped with a Fox 32 SC Performance Air with 100 mm of travel and a short 44 mm offset, which provides a comfortable and stable ride without making the bike feel sluggish in corners. That is also why a longer reach combined with a shorter stem is used across all frame sizes.MODERN CROSS-COUNTRY SUSPENSION FORK
The Big.Nine XT is equipped with a Fox 32 SC Performance Air with 100 mm of travel and a short 44 mm offset, which provides a comfortable and stable ride without making the bike feel sluggish in corners. That is also why a longer reach combined with a shorter stem is used across all frame sizes.
IMPROVED TIRE CLEARANCE
Comfort and grip are two of the key elements of a modern mountain bike. To improve both, the tire clearance has been significantly increased. This makes it possible to mount tires up to 2.4". Wider tires also contribute to better puncture protection and increased traction.IMPROVED TIRE CLEARANCE
Comfort and grip are two of the key elements of a modern mountain bike. To improve both, the tire clearance has been significantly increased. This makes it possible to mount tires up to 2.4". Wider tires also contribute to better puncture protection and increased traction.
WIRE PORT
The Acros headset system developed by Merida enables all control cables to be routed through the headset into the frame, creating a clean and uncluttered look.WIRE PORT
The Acros headset system developed by Merida enables all control cables to be routed through the headset into the frame, creating a clean and uncluttered look.
VERSATILE MOUNTING OPTIONS
For maximum flexibility in carrying water and tools, the Big.Nine is equipped with two mounting options for bottle cages (two 750-ml bottles) on the downtube, as well as a Trail-Mount bracket on the lower top tube. In addition, it comes fitted with the V-Mount multitool under the saddle and a 4/6‑mm Allen (internal hex) key at the rear axle.VERSATILE MOUNTING OPTIONS
For maximum flexibility in carrying water and tools, the Big.Nine is equipped with two mounting options for bottle cages (two 750-ml bottles) on the downtube, as well as a Trail-Mount bracket on the lower top tube. In addition, it comes fitted with the V-Mount multitool under the saddle and a 4/6‑mm Allen (internal hex) key at the rear axle.
TEAM CC II STEM WITH SMART-MOUNT
Lightweight aluminum stem that works perfectly with Merida’s Wire Post cable integration and is equipped with the forward-facing Smart-Mount bracket. This allows mounting various bike computers directly in the riders’ field of view. Accessories such as a front light can be attached to the underside of the mount.TEAM CC II STEM WITH SMART-MOUNT
Lightweight aluminum stem that works perfectly with Merida’s Wire Post cable integration and is equipped with the forward-facing Smart-Mount bracket. This allows mounting various bike computers directly in the riders’ field of view. Accessories such as a front light can be attached to the underside of the mount.
| Geometry & Ergonomics |
| Geometry Big.Nine XT |
| Merida Big.Nine XT |
| Big.Nine XT - Austria Edition |
| Features |
| Links |
