The Merida Silex gravel bike gets a facelift
The original Merida Silex was a versatile dropbar bike - the new one gains more capability, plus much less of a beating with the ugly stick.
Back in 2018 Merida launched the Silex. It pulled what they knew about mountain bike handling and off-road capabilty and rolled it into a bike that would tackle gravel routes and provide a bike better suited for those looking for a dropbar bike for more uses than a road bike can manage.
The only thing was, it did look pretty odd.
Anyone who rode one or owned one was immediately amazed by the ride quality, specifically for stability and comfort, which worked to increase control on off-road adventures. As such the Silex has found favour amongst bikepackers, adventure fiends and even commuters.
Merida have now released an all-new Silex, and while the remit remains the same, it is likely to have a broader scope than before.
Merida have worked to create more tyre clearance for 700x45mm tyres, this aids comfort but also capacility via steering, braking and climbing traction. The updated geometry delivers a longer reach and a 69.5 degrees head angle for greater stability, this will be a big bonus for those loading up on a bikepacking trip or sending it down rougher terrain.
The head tube is much shorter, and Merida spec a longer, suspension corrected fork. So the ride dynamic of the OG Silex remains – it just doesn't look so strange. Cable routing does run into the headtube from the top.
What's interesting is the 180mm disc rotors. This is a bump up from 160mm and of course the reasoning is the same for any size increase; better cooling, better modulation and better control. Merida have their Disc Cooler on the carbon frames, although that needs to be removed if you run 160mm rotors instead.
Alloy and Carbon
While these photos show off the snazzy Silex 10K with a carbon frame, the versatile bike will also come in alloy-framed models starting at $1799. Each frame design gets an updated internal routing system and compatability with 1x or 2x drivetrains. Mudguards can be fitted for people who live in Melbourne.
The carbon frame will weight 1220g, which is super light for a capable gravel bike.
Go forth into the night
If ultra-distance riding or commuting is your bag, the Silex can take a hub dynamo cable inside the fork, to keep a svelte appearance and keep it out of harms way. There are also approximately a bajillion mounting points for bottle cages and gear.
Silex Models in Australia
Expect to see Merida Silex models rolling into Merida dealers from November, depending on the model. Merida Australia have a huge range coming in, so get in touch with your local dealer or visit the Merida website for finer details.
SILEX 10K (SPACE TEAL(SILVER/CHAMELEON)) RRP $10,999
SILEX 7000 (BLACK(BRONZE/GOLD)) RRP $4,299
SILEX 4000 (MATT BRONZE METAL(GOLD/BLACK)) RRP $3,199
SILEX 700 (DARK STRAWBERRY(GREY/RED)) RRP $3,399
SILEX 400 (BLACK(GREY/TITAN)) RRP $2,299
SILEX 400 (FALL GREEN(GREY/BLACK)) RRP $2,299
SILEX 200 (BLACK(GREY/TITAN)) RRP $1,799
SILEX 200 (CRAYON TEAL(BLACK/TEAL)) RRP $1,799
