The Best E-Mountain Bike of 2025. Merida eONE SIXTY SL 10K on Test
This bike is part of our big group test: The Best E-Mountainbike of 2025 – Featuring the 30 Most Exciting E-MTBs of the Year. Click here for the full intro, key takeaways, and all the bikes we tested.
19.6 kg in size L | € 10,999 | Manufacturer’s website
Back in 2021, Merida claimed victory in our e-mountainbike group testwith the eONE-SIXTY 10K, which comes equipped with a full-fat Shimano EP8 motor. Since then, a lot has changed: the eONE-SIXTY was redesigned from the ground up, and returned for another round in last year’s comparison test, and now gets a completely new sibling added to the family.
This year, MERIDA enter the race with yet another eONE-SIXTY model. However, this time there’s an intriguing “SL” acronym in the name and a Bosch SX motor under the hood. Despite the familiar “10K” suffix, the €11,000 price tag makes it slightly more expensive than the usual top-tier spec variants in MERIDA’s portfolio. The eONE60 10K a slim frame silhouette and 29″ wheels, standing out from the crowd with its NATO-green paint finish and speckled flex-pivot rear end. But will the camouflaged finish help this 19.6 kg eMTB deliver outstanding results in on the trail? We put the new eONE-SIXTY SL to the test to find out.
What Sets the Merida eONE-SIXTY SL 10k Apart From the Competition?
The Merida eONE-SIXTY SL 10K presents itself with a slim, clean, and sporty frame silhouette. Although the Bosch Performance Line SX motor adds some bulk around the bottom bracket area, it still looks more refined than many of the light eMTB competitors in this test – especially considering that it churns out slightly more power than some of its rivals, like the Specialized Levo SL or Canyon Spectral:ON FLY, for example. With 55 Nm of torque and up to 600 watts peak power, it delivers the same output as Bosch’s full-power CX motor, with only the torque figure reduced on paper.
The 400 Wh battery is permanently integrated into the frame, enabling a sleek downtube design that rivals the clean lines of bikes like the YT Decoy SN and AMFLOW. Charging is done via a neatly integrated port on the seatstay, right next to the rear shock mount. Merida use a high-quality twist cap that seals tightly. A full charge takes 2 hours and 28 minutes, which is slightly longer than the Specialized Turbo Levo, despite the fact that the battery is half the size. A Bosch Purion 400 display on the handlebar shows all basic riding data, including speed and battery charge status in percentage with a colour interface. The only thin that’s missing is a navigation feature. The display is paired with a Bosch System Controller built into the top tube with five LED indicators, and a wireless Bosch Mini Remote on the left side of the handlebars, which is easy and intuitive to control.
Mounting points on the downtube allow you to carry either a bottle cage or Bosch’s PowerMore 250 Wh range extender, which boosts the total capacity to 650 Wh. While Merida forgo a tool mount altogether, they’ve cleverly hidden a mini-tool underneath the saddle. If you want to carry a full repair kit, you’ll have to use a third-party tool strap or use a frame bag or backpack to carry all your trail essentials.
A generously sized, ribbed chainstay protector effectively prevents chain slap, ensuring a quiet ride on the trail. The cable are routed internally and disappear into the frame through the headset, which ensures a tidy overall look but can make it harder to service the bike. In contrast, the flex seat stays don’t require any maintenance at all: Unlike conventional seat stays with a bearing pivot, they use a specific carbon layup that allows controlled flex without additional pivot points.
The Merida eONE-SIXTY SL 10K comes equipped with a top-tier FOX suspension consisting of a 160 mm 36 GRIP X Factory fork and a matching 160 mm FOX Float X Factory shock, which delivers sensitive, well-balanced performance. While the GRIP X damper in the fork produces an annoying slurping noise on the trail, it delivers strong performance with a wide range of adjustability, including high- and low-speed compression and rebound. FOX also supply the Transfer Factory dropper post, which offers a generous 210 mm of travel and therefore ensures maximum freedom of movement on the trail. It performs reliably and, with its signature Kashima coating, matches the suspension perfectly. Shifting is taken care of by a wireless SRAM XX Eagle AXS Transmission drivetrain, which relies on a robust, direct-mount rear-derailleur, and delivers precise gear shifts even under load. SRAM Maven Ultimate brakes do stopping duties, delivering powerful, reliable deceleration in combination with 200 mm rotors front and rear. The MERIDA eONE60 rolls out of the factory on a 29” FSA SC i30 carbon wheelset but can be converted to a mullet bike with a flip chip. The rims are paired with MAXXIS tires, with an Assegai in the soft MaxxGrip compound at the front and a Minion DHR II in the firmer MaxxTerra compound, both in the EXO+ casings – a solid combination for trail riding. However, heavier and aggressive riders(or anyone frequently tackling rocky terrain), should consider upgrading to a tougher DoubleDown casing at the rear.
MERIDA eONE-SIXTY SL 10K
€ 10,999
Specifications
Motor Bosch Performance Line SX 55 Nm
Battery Bosch CompactTube 400 Wh
Display Bosch Purion 400
Fork FOX 36 Factory GRIP X 160 mm
Rear Shock FOX FLOAT X Factory 160 mm
Seatpost FOX Transfer Factory 2025 210 mm
Brakes SRAM MAVEN Ultimate 200/200 mm
Drivetrain SRAM XX Eagle AXS Transmission 1×12
Stem MERIDA Expert eTRII 45 mm
Handlebar Race Face Era Carbon 780 mm
Wheelset FSA SC i30 29″
Tires MAXXIS ASSEGAI, MaxxGrip, EXO+ / MAXXIS Minion DHR II, MaxxTerra, EXO+ 2.5″/2.4″
Technical Data
Size XS S M L XL
Weight 19.6 kg
Perm. total weight 140 kg
Max. payload (rider/equipment) 120,4 kg
Kickstand mount no
Specific Features
flip-chip
tool mount
multitool
Tuning Tip: If you’re an aggressive rider and spend most of the time in demanding terrain, you should consider upgrading to the more robust DoubleDown casing at the rear, which also allows you to run lower air pressures for more traction.
| Size | XS | S | M | L | XL |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Seat Tube | 400 mm | 410 mm | 425 mm | 445 mm | 465 mm |
| Top Tube | 543 mm | 567 mm | 591 mm | 616 mm | 640 mm |
| Head Tube | 100 mm | 105 mm | 110 mm | 115 mm | 120 mm |
| Head Angle | 64° | 64° | 64° | 64° | 64° |
| Seat Angle | 78.5° | 78.5° | 78.5° | 78.5° | 78.5° |
| Chainstay | 450 mm | 450 mm | 450 mm | 450 mm | 450 mm |
| BB Drop | 27.5 mm | 27.5 mm | 27.5 mm | 27.5 mm | 27.5 mm |
| Wheelbase | 1202 mm | 1228 mm | 1253 mm | 1278 mm | 1303 mm |
| Reach | 420 mm | 443 mm | 466 mm | 489 mm | 512 mm |
| Stack | 611 mm | 616 mm | 620 mm | 625 mm | 629 mm |
What Is The Merida eONE-SIXTY SL 10K Capable Of?
As soon as you swing your leg over the saddle, the Merida eONE-SIXTY SL 10K puts you in a sporty pedalling position that puts more pressure on your hands than on the saddle. While this makes it more tiring on long, flat gravel transfers and less comfortable for commuting, it clearly underlines the bike’s dynamic and performance-focused DNA. As soon as the gradient kicks up, the sporty position becomes an advantage, keeping the front wheel planted on the ground and thus generating plenty of traction – even on steep, technical climbs.
The eONE-SIXTY SL 10K comes with a top-tier spec – but Merida make you pay for it at €10,999.
The Bosch SX motor is tuned for high cadence and only delivers its full potential when your legs are spinning fast. With its stiff frame, the MERIDA responds with punchy acceleration and is plenty of fun even on mid-climb sprints. Ride it actively and you’re rewarded with an extra surge of support – ideal for steep, technical climbs. Just drop into the easiest gear, drop the saddle halfway, and keep pushing. If your pedal clearance can keep up with the cadence, the Merida will climb almost anything proving one of the best climbers in its class alongside the Rocky Mountain Instinct Powerplay SL. In fact, it even outperforms some full-power contestants on technical climbs, like the Canyon Neuron:ON Al.
When it’s time to descend, the Merida stays true to its sporty character. The firm suspension offers great support, but also transmits lots of feedback from the ground to the rider – and vice versa. With an active riding style, you can build up crazy amounts of speed by pumping through rollers and berms. On flowing trails, the eONE-SIXTY SL turns into a rocket, performing on par with the Rocky Mountain Instinct Powerplay SL – and keeps up with full-power bikes like the Santa Cruz Vala and Transition Regulator CX.
The Merida eONE-SIXTY SL 10K shines on flowy trails with its firm, responsive character – but can be a handful when things get rough.
But once the trail gets more technical and demanding, the firm suspension shows its dark side. While always precise, it’s not very forgiving and requires a confident line choice and active control. Unexperienced riders may find themselves overwhelmed, as the Merida doesn’t tolerate mistakes easily – and the low front end doesn’t inspire huge amounts of confidence either. If the front tire hits a slick root or sharp rock, it can easily slip away under your arms. Additionally, the combination of a stiff chassis and firm suspension increases pressure on the hands, leading to arm pump on long, rough descents. In terms of handling, bikes like the FOCUS Jam² are significantly more comfortable and forgiving, which makes them noticeably easier to control in rough terrain.
Who Should Take a Closer Look at the Merida eONE-SIXTY SL 10k?
The Merida eONE-SIXTY SL 10K is a light eMTB that rewards active riders. If you mostly stick to flowy, familiar trails, you’re in for a lot of fun – this bike rewards precise line choice and active pumping with high speed and sharp, direct handling. However, if you’re venturing off the beaten path into rocky, technical terrain, you’ll need solid riding skills and a good level of fitness. The firm suspension and precise handling make it a demanding bike, but experienced riders will be rewarded with a direct, sporty ride feel and plenty of suspension reserves when things get rough.
Conclusions about the Merida eONE-SIXTY SL 10K
The Merida eONE-SIXTY SL 10K is a flow trail specialist and tends to reach its limits on rough terrain. Experienced riders will love the direct handling and sporty character, and will be able to ride it fast and with precision. Beginners, on the other hand, will get the most out of it on smoother, more forgiving trails, as the MERIDA is not very forgiving of riding mistakes. The spec is well thought-out, and the Bosch SX motor performs impressively on the climbs. In the end, the eONE-SIXTY SL is a strong performance bike – with a few marks knocked off when the going gets truly rough.
Tops
- Intuitive handling
- Good pressure on the front wheel – both uphill and downhill
- Suspension offers plenty of feedback and support
Flops
- Very stiff frame and firm suspension
- So firm that it can lead to arm pump
For more info, visit merida-bikes.com
The test field
For an overview of the test field head to our “Best E-Mountainbike of 2025” comparison test – 30 of the most exciting trail bikes in our 2025 group test
All bikes in test: AMFLOW PL Carbon Pro, Canyon Spectral:ONfly CF LTD, FOCUS JAM² 6.0, GHOST E-RIOT LTD, Haibike HYBE CF 11, MERIDA eONE-SIXTY SL 10K, Orbea WILD M-LTD, Orbea Rise LT M-Team, R RAYMON Tarok Ultra, Rocky Mountain Instinct Powerplay SL, Santa Cruz Vala X0 AXS RSV, SCOTT Patron ST 900 Tuned, Specialized S-Works Turbo Levo 4, Transition Regulator CX XT, UNNO Mith Pro, YT DECOY SN MX CORE 3.
Words & Photos: Julian Schwede
