Top of the range, and it looks the part. The AL-A IV aluminium frame is built with smoothed welds so the tubes flow into each other more like carbon than alloy, and up front there is a proper carbon fork, the Silex II CF2 taken from the gravel range. That fork is the single biggest reason the 500 feels calmer than its cheaper siblings over broken tarmac. Internal cable routing, frame clearance for 700 x 50c tyres and mounts for a rack, mudguards and a kickstand keep it every bit as practical.

SRAM handles the transmission with a 1x12 XPLR setup: a Rival XPLR 42 tooth chainset, an Apex XPLR rear derailleur and an 11-44 cassette, shifted by an Eagle S200 trigger at the bar. Tektro Orion M6020 hydraulic discs give plenty of control with a firm lever feel, and the tubeless ready Expert SL III rims run a 12mm thru axle Shimano TC500 front hub. Schwalbe G-One R tyres in 45mm are the fastest rubber in the range, which suits a bike meant to get across town quickly and still take a gravel track home.

Features

• AL-A IV aluminium frame with smoothed welds and internal cable routing
• Silex II CF2 carbon fork, tapered
• SRAM 1x12 XPLR drivetrain, Rival XPLR 42 tooth chainset with 11-44 cassette
• SRAM Eagle S200 MMX trigger shifter and Apex XPLR rear derailleur
• Tektro Orion M6020 hydraulic disc brakes, 2 piston
• Schwalbe G-One R 45mm tyres, 700c
• Merida Expert SL III tubeless ready rims, 23mm internal width, 12mm front thru axle
• Merida Team CC III stem with -6 degree rise, Expert CC 680mm bar
• Mounts for rack, mudguards and kickstand
• Frame clearance for 700 x 50c tyres, carbon fork rated to 700 x 47c