New 2025 MERIDA eONE-EIGHTY on test: peak conqueror with a penchant for descents?

The eONE-EIGHTY is one of the first MERIDA eMTBs to feature a Bosch motor. MERIDA didn’t hold back with their aluminium trail bruiser providing their eMTB with a brand-new Bosch Performance Line CX motor and 180 mm of travel front and rear. Read the full review to find out why the eONE-EIGHTY is a perfect match for both freeriders and beginners alike!

“The longest-travel eMTB we’ve ever built.” – That’s how the Taiwanese bike manufacturer MERIDA aims to appeal to freeriders with the new eONE-EIGHTY, which is designed for all those who are sick of queueing up at the lift but still want to push hard both up and downhill. With its mullet wheel setup and a massive 180 mm of travel front and rear, the eONE-EIGHTY is all about maximum fun. In terms of travel, the eONE-EIGHTY sits right above the eONE-SIXTY in MERIDA’s portfolio, which, we’ve already tested in our big e-mountain bike comparison test along with 27 other e-MTBs.

Alongside the new eONE-SIXTY SL and the brand-new eFLOAT urban bike, the eONE-EIGHTY is one of the first MERIDA models to feature a Bosch motor. While the eONE-SIXTY SL comes equipped with the light-assistance Bosch Performance Line SX motor, the eONE-EIGHTY is powered by a full-fat Bosch CX motor, which, depending on the spec, draws its from either an 800 Wh or 600 Wh Bosch PowerTube battery. The cool thing is that the robust aluminium frame platform allows both battery options to fit in the same frame – nice! We tested the eONE-EIGHTY 900, which comes standard with the bigger 800 Wh battery, tipping the scales at 27.5 kg. Retail price is € 7,499.

The new 2025 MERIDA eONE-EIGHTY E-MTB in detail

Discreet, robust, and sleek – despite the robust alloy frame, the eONE-EIGHTY boasts a relatively slim silhouette. The smoothed out weld seams complement the bike’s sturdy appearance. This is discreetly understated overall, which, together with the curved lines and the MERIDA branding on the downtube, ensures a distinctive look. Partly responsible for this is the headset cable routing, which ensures a quiet ride but also makes it harder to service the cockpit. What sets the eONE-EIGHTY apart from the eONE-SIXTY and eONE-FORTY, is the distinctive triangle that extends from the seat tube, which not only looks great, but also houses the linkage for the single-pivot rear suspension.

Bosch, Bosch, and more Bosch! For the new eONE-EIGHTY, MERIDA rely on the latest iteration of the Bosch Performance Line CX motor. Bosch’s 5th generation powerhouse delivers 85 Nm of torque and 600 watts peak power. Compared to its predecessor, the motor is quieter and more responsive, which is mainly due to the improved sensor system. For more detailed information about the new Bosch Performance Line CX motor, check out our comprehensive review.

The Bosch Performance Line CX motor is paired with a handlebar-mounted Mini Remote and Bosch System Controller into the top tube. Both boast excellent ergonomics and haptic feedback, which makes them easy to operate even with gloves. A Bosch Purion 400 screen right next to the stem shows all essential riding informations.

MERIDA’s engineers did a great job integrating the motor and battery into the frame. The big 800 Wh Bosch PowerTube battery doesn’t look bulky and, thanks to the Bosch Smart System and updated batteries, can be swapped for a smaller 600 Wh unit if needed. The battery removal and replacement procedure is straightforward too: all you have to do is remove the plastic battery cover, which is secured by a Fidlock closure system. Unfortunately, this is positioned low in the downtube, meaning that it gets easily covered in muck and dirt. The battery cover can be removed without the need for tools, although the system is a little finicky when operated with gloves. Once the cover is off, you can unlock the battery using the ABUS lock on the side of the downtube and slide out the battery with a downward motion.

You can also charge the battery directly on the bike using the charging port on the distinctive triangle, which is protected by a sturdy plastic cover that stays firmly in place even on rough descents. For epic backcountry expeditions, you can expand the 800 Wh battery with the optional 250 Wh Bosch PowerMore Range Extender, which fits onto the bottle cage mounts.

Two mounting points in the main frame triangle allow you to carry a water bottle and a tool strap. As usual, MERIDA hide a multitool under the saddle, which, unfortunately, is protected just by a thin rubber case, meaning that it gets easily covered in muck on a rainy day – mud party guaranteed! On the other hand, the seat tube and main pivot are well-protected against flying debris by a robust plastic fender.

Upon closer inspection, you’ll notice two mounting points on the swingarm, which can be used to secure a longer mudguard – perfect for protecting both the tool and your backside from mud splashes. Not only does this make the bike a downhill beast, but also – for those who want it – a capable commuting machine.

Fittingly, the eONE-EIGHTY 900 comes with a Lezyne Hecto STVZO E350+ headlight, which draws its power directly from the bike’s main battery and generously brightens up the path ahead when making your way back from a rowdy shredding session. The headlight is complemented by a small tail light, which can be easily attached to the seat tube with a rubber mount.

The spec of the 2025 MERIDA eONE-EIGHTY 900

We had the pleasure of testing the MERIDA eONE-EIGHTY 900 flagship model, which delivers a top performance without unnecessary bling. The spec includes a 180 mm RockShox ZEB Ultimate fork with the new Charger 3.1 damper, and a matching RockShox Vivid Ultimate air shock, which controls 180 mm of travel at the rear and delivers a tremendous performance on the trail. Both the fork and shock offer countless adjustment options, and yet are easy, intuitive to set up, allowing you to fine-tune the suspension to suit your needs and preferences.

An 11-speed Shimano DEORE XT groupset with LinkGlide technology ensures smooth shifting and long service life thanks to its steel cassette. This is especially beneficial on ebikes, where the drivetrain is subjected to higher loads due to the increased torque. The 1×11 setup has slightly less gear range than a 1×12 drivetrain, but with motor assistance, you won’t notice the difference while riding.

Shimano also supply the DEORE XT four-piston brakes, which are paired with a 220 mm rotor up front and 203 mm disc at the rear, providing powerful, reliable deceleration and good modulation. However, the basic, stamped Shimano rotors leave something to be desired. The reduced contact surface between the pads and rotor limits the brakes’ performance on long descents. Additionally, heat dissipation is sub-par, which can affect the overall braking performance. A cost-effective rotor upgrade could significantly improve this.

The DT Swiss HFR 1700 wheels consisting of Hybrid 350 hubs and DT’s popular, super-tough EX 511 rims are paired with MAXXIS tires, with an ASSEGAI in the robust EXO+ casing and softer MaxxGrip compound at the front, and a Minion DHR II in the tougher DoubleDown casing and slightly harder MaxxTerra compound at the rear. This is one of our editorial team’s favourite tire combos! The DoubleDown casing at the rear provides the necessary puncture protection, and the MaxxGrip compound at the front delivers superb grip on almost any surface – keep it up!

MERIDA rely on their in-house components for the dropper post and cockpit. The MERIDA Expert TR II dropper post offers an impressive 230 mm of travel, which can be reduced to as little as 30 mm. To do this, you simply have to loosen the post’s collar, activate the remote, and tighten the collar again in the desired position. However, this requires a bit of dexterity – if you tighten the collar too much, the dropper may not extend at all, or it might do so very slowly.

Tuning tip: Upgrading to Shimano XT brake rotors is a worthwhile investment if you want to improve braking performance and heat dissipation.

Spec variants of the new 2025 MERIDA eONE-EIGHTY

Four! Alongside the flagship model we tested, MERIDA offers three morespec variants, the MERIDA eONE-EIGHTY 400, 600, and 700 – though the 600 variant isn’t available in Germany, so we won’t give you a breakdown of the spec in this review. All spec variants feature the same Bosch Performance Line CX motor, mullet wheel setup, and 180 mm of travel front and rear. All four versions are available in two different colours.

Except for the top-tier model, all versions roll on MERIDA Expert TR II alloy wheels, while the MAXXIS tire combination remains the same across the entire range – awesome! The MERIDA Expert TR II dropper post is standard on all models too.

The MERIDA eONE-EIGHTY 400 entry-level model retails at €4,999 and is the only one in the range that comes factory-fitted with the slightly lighter 600 Wh PowerTube battery and Bosch Purion 200 remote with integrated display. It also has a Shimano CUES 9-speed drivetrain, which limits the range but is designed to improve durability. Braking is taken care of by TEKTRO Gemini M535 four-piston brakes. For the suspension, the 400 model relies on an SR Suntour AION 38X fork and SR Suntour TRIAIR2 shock.

The eONE-EIGHTY 700 costs € 6,499 and has a spec similar to that of the flagship model. It relies on an 800 Wh battery, a Mini Remote and Purion 400 display. A cable-operated, 12-speed SRAM GX drivetrain ensures reliable shifting and a long service life. SRAM DB8 Stealth brakes do stopping duties. The suspension consists of a RockShox ZEB Select fork with Charger RC damper and a Vivid Select shock. Compared to the Ultimate version, the Select model offers fewer adjustment options and doesn’t offer the same outstanding performance on the trail.

While at € 6,499, the MERIDA eONE-EIGHTY 700 strikes a pretty good price/pèrformance ratio, we recommend spending € 1,000 more for the top-tier model, which comes with far superior suspension setup.

The geometry of the new 2025 MERIDA eONE-EIGHTY

The MERIDA eONE-EIGHTY 900 is available in sizes XShort, Short, Mid, Long, and XLong. Reach values range from a compact 415 mm in XShort to 505 mm in XLong, in 25 mm intervals between Short and Mid, and in 20 mm increments between all other sizes. Overall, the MERIDA eONE-EIGHTY 900 is on the short side. Our test bike in size L combines 485 mm reach and a fairly short 445 mm seat tube. The latter is consistently short across the board, allowing you to choose the frame size based on your desired reach. At 435 mm, the chainstays are relatively short, making it easier to pull the bike into a manual.

Good to know: you can easily swap to a coil shock, but a 29” rear wheel isn’t an option.

Size	XShort	Short	Mid	Long	XLong
Top tube	556 mm	577 mm	604 mm	630 mm	652 mm
Seat tube	400 mm	410 mm	425 mm	445 mm	465 mm
Head tube	110 mm	115 mm	120 mm	125 mm	130 mm
Head angle	64.5°	64.5°	64.5°	64.5°	64.5°
Seat angle	78.5°	78.5°	78.5°	78.5°	78.5°
Chainstay	435 mm	435 mm	435 mm	435 mm	435 mm
BB Drop	12 mm	12 mm	12 mm	12 mm	12 mm
Wheelbase	1,195 mm	1,218 mm	1,245 mm	1,272 mm	1,294 mm
Reach	415 mm	435 mm	460 mm	485 mm	505 mm
Stack	652 mm	657 mm	661 mm	666 mm	670 mm

Between adrenaline and control – The new 2025 MERIDA eONE-EIGHTY 2025 on the trail

In Spain, our daring tester Bene had the chance to push the MERIDA eONE-EIGHTY to its limits on the stunning trails around Girona.

When riding uphill, the eONE-EIGHTY places you in an upright, comfortable pedalling position, which is mainly due to the steep seat angle. This causes the weight to shift onto the rear wheel and takes pressure off your hands, which is especially beneficial on fire roads and long, flowy climbs. On technical climbs, however, this results in less pressure on the front wheel, while the low bottom bracket causes the cranks and motor housing to smash into rocks and roots from time to time.

The suspension is on the plush side, ensuring a comfortable “tractor-like” ride feel – perfect for long rides, combined with the comfortable riding position. The Bosch Performance Line CX motor provides powerful support, allowing you to quickly reach the trailhead without breaking a sweat.

When gravity takes over, the low bottom bracket ensures a deeply integrated riding position. Together with the high front end, this inspires huge amounts of confidence, especially when flying down steep descents at Mach 10 – no more fear of OTBs! The plush suspension smooths out small bumps as if by magic, slapping a big grin on the face of beginners in particular, as it gives them confidence even on gnarly, technical trails they wouldn’t have dared to ride before.

The bike’s system high weight contributes to a composed, planted feel, adding an extra layer of security by preventing the bike from bouncing around too freely – though this comes at the cost of agility. The MERIDA eONE-EIGHTY bulldozes the trail flat rather than dancing between corners like a black-swan.

However, on bikepark jump lines with big jumps and drops, the MERIDA really shines. The massive suspension travel provides plenty of reserves and offers solid support, even with botched landings. The robust components fit right in here – no flashy bling, just solid, reliable gear.

Who should take a closer look at the 2025 MERIDA eONE-EIGHTY 2025?

The MERIDA eONE-EIGHTY is a great match for riders who have a bike park or trail park without a lift nearby, and those who enjoy long rides with steep, rough trails. Even beginners will feel confident thanks to the low, integrated riding position, while the plush suspension ensures a comfortable and controlled ride.

Conclusions about the 2025 MERIDA eONE-EIGHTY

The MERIDA eONE-EIGHTY is extremely versatile, and an optimal choice for riders who want to tackle long rides and steep, rough trails without relying on a lift. The integrated riding position inspires huge amounts of confidence, especially at high speeds and on technical descents. The plush suspension and powerful Bosch CX motor ensure plenty of comfort while still delivering enough power. Both beginners and experienced riders will benefit from the bike’s high level of safety, and the spec is almost perfectly suited for a range of different uses.

For more info, visit the manufacturer’s website at MERIDA.com.

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Words: Robin Ulbrich Photos: Merida