The offshoot of the world champion bike combines an aluminium frame with a steeper seat tube and a high-quality carbon fork. In contrast to conventional bikes, this model is sprung at the rear and rigid at the front. Merida has managed to make optimum use of the metal by using special raw moulds.
Merida Silex 700: Short wheelbase ensures stability and manoeuvrability
This includes thinner seat stays, asymmetrical chain stays and a narrower rear top tube that widens towards the front. Even riders with strong legs have enough room to pedal. The weight is distributed neutrally between the two wheels, with the short wheelbase ensuring stability and manoeuvrability.
The Merida Silex 700 offers easier control than the 3T Exploro Primo or the Corratec Allroad C2, especially in difficult passages. It is versatile and has a wide XT cassette with twelve gears and a spread of 42 teeth. The gear jumps are logically large to huge, which means that you often have to shift gears as the gear ratio never fits perfectly. This can be particularly annoying when you are travelling in a sporty manner. The total weight of ten kilos does not completely compromise the performance of the Silex, but it is not ideal for racing. The high-quality wheels contribute to the dynamics and a larger brake disc at the front ensures sufficient control.
With a little less on the ribs and a less rigid fork/handlebar combination, the Merida would also have been one of the very best in terms of numbers. In the balancing act between accelerating and rolling along in a relaxed manner, it was very well received, and off-road beginners in particular will be pleased with its good-naturedness.
More gravel bikes from the test
Merida Silex 700 in detail
- Price: 2599 Euro
- Weight of complete wheel: 10.1 kilos
- Frame sizes: XS / S / M / L / XL (test size greased)
- Note: 2.3 (tip: off-roader)
Features of the Merida Silex 700
- Brakes: Shimano GRX 822 (180/160 mm) | Grade: 1.5
- Drive/gear shift: Shimano GRX 822 (1 x 12; 42, 10-51 t.) | Note: 3.0
- Tyres: Maxxis Rambler Exo TR 700-45c (eff.: 45 mm) | Grade: 2.0
- Impellers: Easton EA 70
- Impeller weights: 1593 / 2307 grams (front/rear)
Geometry of the gravel bike
- Seat/top/head tube: 525 / 580 / 172.4 millimetres
- Wheelbase/caster: 1080 / 82.8 millimetres
- Stack/Reach/STR: 621.6 / 408 millimetres / 1.524
- Stack+/Reach+/STR+: 673 / 584 millimetres / 1.152
Advantages and disadvantages
- Plus: Easy to control, 12-speed groupset with 180 mm brake disc
- Minus: little damping on the handlebars, huge rescue sprocket, min. weight
