Competition road bike test: The Merida Reacto Rival Edition
Merida Reacto Rival-Edition - A heavy legacy!
Introduced in 2020, the Merida Reacto, which was significantly lightened at the time, is now the first choice for the pros in the World Tour team Bahrain-Victorious. With Sonny Colbrelli's eponymous Paris-Roubaix winning bikeits counterpart, which can be purchased for 11,699 euros a grade of 1.6 in the 2021 TOUR test the current Merida test bike essentially only has the frame shape in common.
The Reacto version, which remains within our budget limit for 4199 euros, rolls on unseasonably heavy aluminium wheels with only a hint of an aero profile. The relatively heavy components of the SRAM Rival groupset and the frame set, which isn't light either, push the scales to a value that you wouldn't expect from a modern-day competition racer: 9.1 kilograms.
All ambitions for a top score are thus thwarted from the outset. A change to carbon rims and better tyres would help the bike in all respects; our reference wheels save a clear eight watts of power and around 600 grams of weight in the wind tunnel test. This would also bring the riding experience closer to that of the pro's dream racer, as the sporty steering geometry of the bike is much more compatible with higher-quality lightweight wheels.
The plus points of the Rival edition are the unusually well-sprung seat post for an aero bike and very practical details such as the rear light in the seat post and a waterproof mini-tool packed under the saddle. Outstandingly accommodating warranty conditions and a dense dealer network with professional sales could be further arguments in favour of the Merida, but despite these hardly assessable strengths, the bike seems somewhat overpriced in comparison.
If you want to save weight and money with a mechanical gearbox, you could be in luck: The website shows a total of three variants with mechanical eleven-speed gearboxes from 2999 euros; it was not possible to check to what extent these are available.
Facts & measurements of the Merida Reacto Rival-Edition
- Price4199 Euro
- Weight: 9,1 Kilo
- Aerodynamics: 223 Watt
- Frame/fork/steering bearing weight* 1205/535/83 grammes
- Frame sizes** XS, S, M, L, XL
- Seat/top tube/head tube 540/575/140 millimetres
- Stack/Reach/STR*** 566/389 millimetres/1.46
- Wheelbase/caster 985/53 millimetres
Equipment
- Drive/Circuit SRAM Rival eTap AXS (2x12, 48/35, 10-36 t.)
- Brakes SRAM Rival (160/160 millimetres)
- Wheels/tyres (weights)**** Fulcrum Racing 800 DB/Continental Grand Sport Race 25 millimetres (f./h.: 1468/1998 grams)
Strengthsgood comfort, extensive warranty, practical details
Weaknessesvery heavy, only five sizes
The Merida Reacto Rival-Edition received an overall score of 2.4 in the TOUR test of competition bikes.
More competition road bikes in the test:
>> Canyon Aeroad CF SLX 7 eTap
>> Benotti Fuoco Aero
>> Cube Litening Aero C:68X Race
>> Giant Propel Advanced 1
>> Lapierre Aircode DRS 5.0
>> Cervélo Soloist 105
>> Ridley Noah Disc 105
>> Rose XLite 04 105
>> Storck Aerfast.4 Comp Disc Ultegra
The test results in detail
*Weighed weights.
**Manufacturer's specification, test size bold.
***Stack/reach projected vertical/horizontal dimension from the centre of the bottom bracket to the top of the head tube
STR (Stack to Reach): 1.36 means a very stretched, 1.60 a very upright sitting position.
****Wheel weights including tyres, cassette, quick release/threaded axles and brake discs if applicable.
Jens Klötzer
Editor
