After 5 years, Merida says, after seeing how the gravel world developed, it's time to launch an updated version of the Silex gravel bike. The brand says the recently launched Scultura Endurance GR is suitable for day gravel racing, while the new Silex focuses on multi-day gravel racing, bike packing and adventure riding.
The updated Silex series will consist of 6 models, including carbon fiber and aluminum options.
What does the new update bring?"Well, in short, it's currently boosting tire clearance for up to 45mm tires that follow the general trend for many of the best gravel bikes. There is a modified geometry featuring a longer range and lazy head angle as well as compatability and selection of fender and dropper posts. Details and specifications are discussed in more detail below.
Merida claims that Cyrex is close to the gravel adventure side where riders are challenging themselves, focusing on trips to the unknown. In this spirit, the brand says they have added more off-road features to accommodate the latest gravel equipment.
As mentioned earlier, the shape of the Silex has been revised so that the bike has a slacker head tube angle of 1.5 degrees and a shorter head tube to improve stability and suspension fork functionality in rough terrain. The stack and range numbers for medium frame are 607mm and 412mm respectively.
The Six-bike range features a range-topping £700'10K' model with an SRAM Red AXS group set including the Reverb XPLR wireless dropper post and Reynolds black label G wheel. At the other end of the range is the entry-level £1,250 Shimano Sora powered "Silex200" model.
Merida says the shape will be the same for both carbon and aluminum frames, but carbon is claimed more than the aluminum version 680 Silex Carbon fiber frame weighs the requested 1220 grams and Aluminum Silex Lite weighs 1900 grams. It's a good idea. Both share the same 540-gram fork with multiple mounts.
The carbon fiber frame is fitted with a pipe Fidlock base mount that can obviously be moved with any Fidlock attachment. There is also a mounting point for fittings on the underside of the downtube, fork leg and top tube. Merida frame bags are also compatible with frames for bikepacking trips and so on.
Tire clearance was boosted to accommodate up to 45mm tires and 42mm tires with fenders attached. The brand also claims that the ability to run up to 45mm tires makes the 650B wheel size obsolete. The larger 180mm disc is specced front and rear with carbon frame Merida "Disc cooler" fins. This is a piece of finned aluminum that helps to let the heat out of the brake caliper.
Like many other brands, Merida has a drop chain stay design on the rear, which adds tire clearance and supports the ability to run 1x or 2x group sets. The Seatpost clamp is now integrated into the top tube and has compatibility for internally guided dropper posts. Above the front, the forks also have routing for dynamo hubs. With the integration of the "wire port" cable, the gear or brake hose enters the top cover of the headset and is internally wired to the rest of the frame.
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