A year ago, the Reacto aero road frame was a guest in the TOUR test with the expensive Dura-Ace Di2. With the Ultegra Di2, the price of the complete bike drops to a more or less acceptable level without any noticeable functional difference. What's more, the current test bike is even superior to last year's model in one crucial aspect, despite the significantly heavier fork. The fully height-adjustable aero seatpost flexes noticeably through a window with enclosed elastomer, thus taking away much of the bike's previous vertical stiffness. The revised seatpost also has an impact on the test result: With very well-balanced performance, the frameset now just manages an A before the decimal point - proof of a truly top frame. Aerodynamically good wheels from Mavic round off the performance.
Price 4,499 Euro
Weight 7.8 kilos
Available in specialised shops
Reference/Info www.merida-bikes.com
Weight frame/fork/steering bearing* 1,046/472/79 grammes
Frame sizes** 47, 50, 52, 54, 56, 59 cm
Seat/steering angle 73,5°/74°
Seat/top tube/head tube 540/575/161 mm plus 16 mm headset cap
Wheelbase/caster 1,000/50 mm
Stack/Reach/STR*** 557/408 mm/1.36
EQUIPMENT
Fork Merida
Steering bearing FSA (top 1-1/8, bottom 1-1/2 inch)
Brakes/gears/bottom bracket Shimano Ultegra Di2 (50/34 t, BSA)
Wheels/tyres Mavic Cosmic Elite/Vittoria Rubino Pro Slick
Handlebar/stem FSA SL-K/ FSA Energy
Saddle/post Selle Italia SL/Merida S-Flex
* Weighed weights. ** Manufacturer's specification, test size greased. *** Stack/reach: projected vertical/horizontal measurement from the centre of the bottom bracket to the top of the headset cap; STR (stack to reach): Values from 1.45 to 1.55 indicate a sporty riding position, values below that are race-like, above that comfortable.
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