The current Silex was launched six years ago, with Merida presenting an unorthodox concept at the start of the big gravel boom: the frame's striking sloping geometry with a steeply sloping top tube is reminiscent of a mountain bike. The handlebars in particular are positioned very high, which puts the rider in a very upright riding position.
The stack (actual frame height) reaches an extreme value of 626 millimetres at medium frame height. For comparison: Gravel bikes are usually based on marathon bikes, for which a maximum stack of 600 millimetres is characteristic. Combined with a long reach (actual frame length) and wheelbase, the current Silex behaves extremely true to track, as our test of the Silex 700 (TOUR 5/2020) shows.
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The new version, which according to a Merida company spokesperson "will be presented to the public soon", is still characterised by a sloping frame. As can be seen in pictures and videos from the Gravel World Championships in Veneto, the second generation of the Silex is likely to have a more sporty design and be modelled more on a road bike. The head tube in particular is significantly shorter, which means that the riding position will be somewhat more stretched out. The bike also appears to have been aerodynamically optimised: The head tube has not only been made shorter, but is also characterised by a concave hourglass shape. In addition, the cables - at least on Mohoric's World Championship version - are completely integrated.
Unpublished Merida Silex: Massive seat knot
One exciting detail is the relatively bulky seat node. The construction not only accommodates the seatpost clamp, but is also likely to have a significant influence on suspension comfort. As with the competition all-rounder Scultura, there is a round seatpost in the frame, which allows the option of retrofitting a dropper post. Mohoric attracted attention with a similar setup at Milan-Sanremo in 2022, when he rode Merida's competition all-rounder Scultura Team retrofitted a telescopic seatpost and raced to victory in the spring classic.
In terms of tyre clearance, the first-generation Silex is approved for up to 42 millimetres. The unreleased new model appears to allow a little more space. In Italy, Mohoric rode a 40-millimetre Continental tyre. Judging by the pictures, however, there is room for slightly wider tyres on the fork and frame.
However, we can only speculate wildly about the equipment variants. Merida currently offers the Silex on its website in ten different versions with aluminium or carbon frames. With the Scultura Endurance GR, the Taiwanese company recently added a second, off-road platform to its range. With a maximum tyre clearance of 35 millimetres, the new model tends to be located in the young category of all-road bikes.
Next victory for the new Canyon Grail
Curious: A previously unreleased model also triumphed in the women's race at the Gravel World Championships. Kasia Niewiadoma (Poland) won on a camouflaged Canyon model, which is likely to be the new Grail that is expected shortly. The gravel bike from Koblenz had already caused a stir at the Unbound in June when Carolin Schiff triumphed on it in one of the most important gravel races in the world. The rider from Bremen was not at the start in Veneto due to injury, but the Canyon was used by several athletes. In addition to Niewiadoma, ex-road pro Alejandro Valverde (Spain) also rode the new bike, which was recognisable as a Canyon thanks to the company logo on the down tube.
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The most striking change to the current Grail, which has been on the market since 2018, is that the much-discussed double handlebar is apparently history. Instead, the control centre now apparently consists of an aero-optimised cockpit. As with the Merida, the Canyon also features a redesigned seat tube junction, with the seat stays connected to the top tube a little further forwards. Unlike the CF SLX, the current top-of-the-range version, Niewiadoma used a model without the comfortable leaf spring seatpost.
Due to the many racing applications of the model rumoured to be the Grail, it should only be a matter of time before Canyon officially lifts the curtain. The Koblenz-based company is currently offering its first gravel bike in two quality levels (CF SLX, CF SL), although many of the equipment variants are only available in marginal sizes.
Julian Schultz
Editor
