With the model name spelling out suspension travel and hinting at the 650b wheel size, Merida hasn’t left much to the imagination. What the name doesn’t tell you, however, is that the One-Forty 1-B has a thoroughly modern profile with a slack head angle, rangy front-end and low BB. This contemporary geometry is complemented by a suitably stubby 60mm FSA stem and fairly wide 730mm handlebar.

The Shimano XT groupset is all top-quality kit too. But, given the progressive geometry and attitude, this bike needs the full 125mm drop Reverb seatpost, not the shorter 100mm, and a beefier Fox 34 fork would improve steering precision and boost confidence over the spindly Fox 32 Talas fitted. Also, we weren’t won over by the prickly profile of the Prologo Scratch saddle.

Merida’s twin-link ‘Virtual Pivot Kinematics’ suspension is not dissimilar to the old 26in BMC Trailfox. Setting up the suspension wasn’t anything like as straightforward, however, and I spent a lot of time on the first ride tweaking the shock pressure and fiddling with the dials on the Fox Float CTD shock to iron out some of the wallow and pedal feedback from the rear suspension. It’s definitely one of those linkage designs where you have to find the suspension sweetspot, rather than simply pump it up and go shred. Then, just as I was starting to find my mojo, I sent the Merida off a drop with an almighty clang on landing. The unmistakable sound of metal on metal was caused by the seatstay bridge smashing into the back of the seat tube on full compression of the suspension. So, as it turns out, the Merida shares more than just a similar profile with the old BMC — that bike also had clearance issues.

>>> Click here to find out more about geometry with our handy guide