MERIDA BIG.TRAIL 500
SCORE
IN THE STAND
7/10
ON THE TRAIL
7/10
OVERALL
7/10
When it was first released in 2016, the Big Trail aimed to bring some fun to the world of hardtails. It came about when plus-size tyres were all the rage and was equipped with 2.8-inch wide tyres. The bike also had a 130mm travel fork, short stem, 760mm wide bars and the geometry was pretty progressive for a hardtail of that era; 67.5-degree head angle and short 427mm stays. It certainly broke the mould of the stereotypical Merida XC hardtail but time has marched on, and the reach and seat tube angle of the 2016 edition now look pretty dated.
For 2021 the bike gets a complete face-lift and while their intent remains unchanged, the new Big Trail features geometry and specs that bring it up to speed with current trends. Before we launch into the design intricacies, let’s take a look at the models and pricing…
Merida offers the Big Trail in four models ranging from $1,249 up to $2,299, and all are based on the same template—they share the same TFS alloy frame, wide tubeless-ready rims and a mid-travel suspension fork. What varies is the quality of the parts spec…
In the stand
The line-up kicks off with the Big Trail 200. For the humble asking
