I concider myself as a mountainbiker, but during the covid years Istarted commuting on a gravelbike. An Trek Checkpoint alr5 came to the stable. On my first real bikepacking trip (tuscany trail) I definitaly found the limits of the bike. I needed a more mtb orientated gravelbike. When the new Merida Silex was presented and I had seen one at the Merida HQ in the Netherlans I ordered the bike. Looking forward to that! What you do not see in the video, because of the color, is the nice shape of the tubes on the Merida Silex. That surpriced me the most.
I've been riding Cannondale Topstone 0 (Topstone Alloy) for the past two seasons. It's a perfect gravel bike at a good price and in a gorgeous colour - Champagne, which is very nice for ladies.
The older merida silex sounds like a better option. Merida says it can clear up to 42mm tire but I know couple of guys rocking 45mm without no problem. The cables through headtube is a nono for me.
Thanks for this! The Silex is firmly on my radar as I am a fan of Merida in general. Have you reviewed the Sonder Camino? I'd love to hear your views. I am also interested in a comparison of the Fox and Reba gravel suspension forks if you get a chance, Cheers!
Both beautiful bikes slightly biased to Merida I own 2 MTB's from them. Bang for buck I will go with Merida but that Wilier bike looks beautiful as well you cannot go wrong with these two awesome bikes. 🍻🍻🔥🔥🚵🚵
3:54-3:58? So the Wilier does a better job of the routing up front than the Wilier? I´m guessing you mean the Wilier better than the Merida, but I´m not quite sure.
Ouch.... Nice movie, but. - Overall.... you're comparing apples and oranges.... The Merida is a Gravel bike the Wilier is the adventure bike. - But litle nice movie... / And try replacing the Merida's front fork with a suspension fork..... / It's correct that is your opinion.
@davidarthur Great video. So merida win. Bad there are no options for wireless transmission on the merida. Soon you make a video on the your best gravel bikes you tested in last years ? So i can choose my new bike 😂
Agreed, because they both have the wrong drivetrain - Apex/Eagle has a slightly wider range, and being more interested in the MTB end of gravel, I like the fact Wolftooth have a suitable 34t chainring for the SRAM direct mount crank - they only go down to 36t for Shimano GRX.
The most successful gravel racer on the planet races one of the slackest gravel bikes on the planet. Stetina routinely chose Canyon's Grizl over their Grail until they pushed the newest model on their team. Gravel bikes are getting more progressive and fitting wider tires because the data says its faster. Because smooth is fast. And on long 5+ hour gravel races, comfortable is also fast. This notion of a gravel "race" bike vs "adventure" is meaningless, esp in the US where gravel races blur the line with XC MTB. This is just roadie-centric, European-design baggage that is irrelevant to the sport.
I concider myself as a mountainbiker, but during the covid years Istarted commuting on a gravelbike. An Trek Checkpoint alr5 came to the stable. On my first real bikepacking trip (tuscany trail) I definitaly found the limits of the bike. I needed a more mtb orientated gravelbike. When the new Merida Silex was presented and I had seen one at the Merida HQ in the Netherlans I ordered the bike. Looking forward to that!
What you do not see in the video, because of the color, is the nice shape of the tubes on the Merida Silex. That surpriced me the most.
I've been riding Cannondale Topstone 0 (Topstone Alloy) for the past two seasons. It's a perfect gravel bike at a good price and in a gorgeous colour - Champagne, which is very nice for ladies.
The older merida silex sounds like a better option. Merida says it can clear up to 42mm tire but I know couple of guys rocking 45mm without no problem. The cables through headtube is a nono for me.
I got an older silex with 45mm tyres. No chance you could go bigger than that as there's absolutely minimal clearance between the tyre and frame.
@@simonlyndsey503 knobby 45 or nah?
Thanks for this! The Silex is firmly on my radar as I am a fan of Merida in general. Have you reviewed the Sonder Camino? I'd love to hear your views. I am also interested in a comparison of the Fox and Reba gravel suspension forks if you get a chance, Cheers!
Of the two, the Merida please. I would change the seat post and the fork.
Merida Silex or Trek Checkpoint? I choosing my next bike between these two.
Do you think the pressfit BB will make problems on the willier? What do you think about PF vs. Bsa?
Please make a Review of the new Bianchi Impulso
Wilier with press fit? Get the Merida for sure!
Compare the Stigmata V4 with the new Silex would be interesting
Both beautiful bikes slightly biased to Merida I own 2 MTB's from them. Bang for buck I will go with Merida but that Wilier bike looks beautiful as well you cannot go wrong with these two awesome bikes. 🍻🍻🔥🔥🚵🚵
Hello Arthur, is it possible to mount a classic (back)rack like a Tubus rack to the Merida Silex?
love that wilier
3:54-3:58? So the Wilier does a better job of the routing up front than the Wilier? I´m guessing you mean the Wilier better than the Merida, but I´m not quite sure.
Let's be honest. Riding trails on a gravel bike is a marketing gimmick. Other than that it's a pretty versatile bike 😀
call me shallow but merida lacks the sexyness
Silex looks way better
Argon 18 dark matter?
No, the gearing absolutely is NOT perfect for loaded tours - the gearing is still too high. I'd want a significantly smaller chainring - ideally 32t.
Ouch.... Nice movie, but. - Overall.... you're comparing apples and oranges.... The Merida is a Gravel bike the Wilier is the adventure bike. - But litle nice movie... / And try replacing the Merida's front fork with a suspension fork..... / It's correct that is your opinion.
IMO they are both gravel bikes are the adventure flavour
Better not best
@davidarthur Great video. So merida win. Bad there are no options for wireless transmission on the merida. Soon you make a video on the your best gravel bikes you tested in last years ? So i can choose my new bike 😂
Did you see my best bikes of 2023 video? Revealed the best bikes in it…
Wasn't this video released yesterday with a totally different title?
misses "Bikepacking Gravel Bike" at the end on the original title.
Yeah there was a small issue so reuploaded it, sorry about that
Neither.
Agreed, because they both have the wrong drivetrain - Apex/Eagle has a slightly wider range, and being more interested in the MTB end of gravel, I like the fact Wolftooth have a suitable 34t chainring for the SRAM direct mount crank - they only go down to 36t for Shimano GRX.
The most successful gravel racer on the planet races one of the slackest gravel bikes on the planet. Stetina routinely chose Canyon's Grizl over their Grail until they pushed the newest model on their team. Gravel bikes are getting more progressive and fitting wider tires because the data says its faster. Because smooth is fast. And on long 5+ hour gravel races, comfortable is also fast. This notion of a gravel "race" bike vs "adventure" is meaningless, esp in the US where gravel races blur the line with XC MTB. This is just roadie-centric, European-design baggage that is irrelevant to the sport.
Nonsens
Bikepacking bikes need UDH...