Merida Mountain Bikes Review: Are They Worth Buying?

Last Updated on April 20, 2023 by Emmanuel

We feel compelled to share the Merida Mountain Bikes review, giving detailed information on its range of MTBs and showing you how to buy a top-quality bike.

You will learn what Merida company is, the range of MTBS it designs, how much they cost, and from which countries you can buy its products.

In addition, we will answer some questions people ask about the Merida Bikes brand.

We will end this post by showing North American customers where they can buy high-end bikes.

Overview Of Merida Bikes International  

The history of Merida company is somehow funny because Ike Tseng founded it in 1972 after a fruitful journey in the United States.

During his visit, Ike Tseng passed in front of a bicycle repair shop and read a note stating that Taiwanese-made bicycles could not be accepted for repair due to their bad quality.

After returning to Taiwan, he decided to open a factory manufacturing bicycles by Merida Industry Co., Ltd.

Since then, Merida Bikes has become so successful in Taiwan and the surrounding countries that the founder decided to expand internationally.

This company is now among the largest brands in Taiwan, publicly traded on the Taiwanese stock exchange.

It is also in many other Asian, European, and African countries, but not the US.

Enough with the Merida background; let’s go on and see its range of mountain bikes.

Merida Bikes Range Of Mountain Bikes 

This brand’s MTBS ranges under the following categories:

Full Suspension Mountain Bikes.

Merida Bikes’ official website features over fifteen full-suspension MTBs designed for rough terrains.

They will enable you to tackle challenging trails and tracks easily.

These types of riding are not straightforward, meaning you need a vital full-suspension MTB.

Ensure you buy a full suspension MTB offering extra control and comfort and enabling you to reach your destination quickly.

So, if you live in a country where Merida Bikes International has a presence, you can choose from its wide variety of full-suspension bikes.

You will find the one you feel comfortable with and buy it at a great price.

You can, for instance, buy One -Twenty RC XT Edition equiped with a trail-proven geometry, a 120 mm rear travel, a smooth-shifting buttery, etc.

This versatile MTB is unstoppable when it comes to hitting trails. It also has many other capabilities to cover all types of grounds efficiently.  

Merida Hardtails MTBs.

The people behind Merida Bikes company say the bicycle world cup inspired them to design its wide array of hardtails bikes.

Their online shop currently features over thirty race machines with carbon and aluminum frames for all budgets.

We will not enter the detail to give the essential specification of each Merida hardtail mountain bike.

Instead, we encourage you to visit its online shop if these bicycles interest you.

You will find the ideal whether you are looking for a hardtail bike for rugged trails, weekend rides, or hitting the most demanding tracks and trails. 

RELATED: What are the best downhill mountain bikes for under $3,400?

Merida XC / Marathon.

XC / Marathon is another type of mountain bike manufactured by the Merida brand.

The Merida Bikes online shop features fifteen XC, making choosing the one you like easy.

We can name, for example, the Big Nine among the best-selling Merida Marathon bikes, which are super light, efficient, and fast.

These bikes come in many options to ease everyone’s choice. The last version is the Big Nine 9000, with the following main components.

• A super-light CF5 carbon frame and RockShox’s latest SID Ultimate fork.
• Fast Maxxis tires and Reynolds carbon wheels. 
• A featherweight Shimano XTR/Race drive train and carbon wheelset.
• A 100 mm travel suspension fork with a remote lockout for more safety.
• Shimano XTR brakes and a 12-speed drivetrain.
• Seat post and carbon handlebar.
• And lots more.

Other Merida MTBs.

Besides the above range of mountain bikes, this brand also designs trail MTBS for those who like to ride in technical climbs and obstacle-littered dirt gullies.

Other options are all-mountain bikes, such as the 140 mm trail machine launched in 2018, which provides excellent pedaling efficiency.

You can even choose into the enduro category if you like an MTB with a lightweight aluminum or carbon frame, aggressive geometry, and many other spec levels.

Before ending this section, it is also worth noting that this brand sells many other bikes and products.

You can, for instance, buy bicycles for youth and kids, road, electric, gravel, fitness, parts, accessories, etc.

Is Merida A Good Mountain Bike Brand?

Now that you have the basic information about Merida Bikes, you may ask if it is a good brand you can trust before spending your hard-earned money.

We can tell that this brand is trustworthy in Taiwan, where Ike Tseng founded it in 1972. It also has a significant presence in many other countries.

However, if you are in the US and want to buy a Merida mountain bike or any other product from this brand, it doesn’t have a presence there.

We will tell the season in another section and show you the best alternative for us customers.

Clients from other countries can go to Merida Bikes’ official website. A map shows the nearest dealer.

Is Merida The Same As Specialized?

This is another interesting question about this brand, and we thank you for asking it. We will do our best to give you a detailed and satisfying answer.

Indeed, a statement made by one of the Specialized Bicycles Inc’s officials (Morgan Hill) mentioned that Merida Bikes International had taken a stake in this company.

However, we will refrain from adventuring into the size of this participation because Morgan Hill did not mention it in the statement.

We know Merida Bikes International is not the main shareholder in Specialized Bikes Inc.

Mike Sinyard, who founded Specialized Bikes Inc. in 1974, is still keen to remain the major shareholder.

He wants to keep a close eye on the complete control of this company and its ongoing development. 

RELATED: Rad Power electric bikes review.

Can You Buy Merida Bikes In The US?

Merida Bikes are not available in the United States. This company has never officially announced why it doesn’t target the US market.

However, some sources indicate that when it took the stake in Specialized Bicycles, both brands agreed that Merida would not have a presence in the US.

They decided that Specialized would keep this market exclusivity. You will never find the Merida wide array of bicycles in the United States.

We will also mention that such arrangements are allowed in the US if they are not against the law or restrict competition.

How To Buy High-end Bikes In The United States?

There are many retailers of high-end bikes in the United States, and it will help if you try to find your nearby store or make a purchase online if you know the type of bicycle you need.

Final Thoughts.

That’s all we had to tell you in this review of Merida Mountain Bikes, and we hope you will find this information helpful.

Merida Bikes International is a good brand with top-quality bicycles, but it doesn’t have a presence in North America. 

You can go to its official website and try to find a dealer near you if you live in another country. 

However, if you live in the US or Canada and want to buy a high-quality bike from one of the big brands we have mentioned, Mike’s Bikes is the best choice.  

Thank you for reading the Merida Bikes review. You can ask questions or comment at the bottom of this page.

We will get back to you as soon as possible.