This new Fifth-gen Merida Reacto is the model’s fastest-ever aero highway bike. In reality, it’s additionally one of many world’s quickest bikes, topping each single bike to date in a well-liked biking business GST wind tunnel comparability. However the brand new aero bike does far more than merely going quick.
It additionally places a number of worth on all-conditions versatility with room for as much as 32mm tires. And it delivers outstanding consolation with good vibration-damping designs. Plus, it delivers shocking affordability, too. Positive, it does have three top-tier fashions that price over €11K. However there’s a full bike that sells for actually <25% of that top-tier mannequin, and but has precisely the identical aero frameset efficiency!
2026 Merida Reacto 5 snug carbon aero highway bike
Merida’s highway racing Reacto has been round for 15 years. But it surely feels just like the final two generations since 2018 & 2021 actually took it to the subsequent stage with deeper tube shapes and smooth integration. In reality, the outgoing Reacto 4 nonetheless appears to be like and feels quick in comparison with fashionable race bikes. However largely because of each newer UCI body rules and Merida’s personal improved carbon manufacturing, they have been ready to return to the drafting board to construct a quicker AND extra versatile highway race bike.
New efficiency objectives
For the brand new Reacto 5, Merida set 4 key objectives… after which delivered on all of them.
break the 200W barrier, primarily based on the TOUR Journal take a look at within the GST wind tunnel
shed weight to attain an actual 6.8kg race-ready weight, with out compromising stiffness
preserve or enhance rider consolation over tough roads
enhance tire clearance to 32mm
<200W within the GST wind tunnel
The German TOUR Journal benchmark aerodynamics take a look at calculates weighted drag, measured within the GST wind tunnel from -20° to +20° yaw angles with a decrease physique dummy pedaling at 45km/hr. Up to now, solely two bikes examined have are available below 200W – the 2022 Simplon Satisfaction II at 199W and the 2025 Storck Aerfast.5 Professional 1x at 198W. Some others haven’t but been examined, like the most recent Issue that’s prone to come below 200W, as properly.
Now, the brand new Merida Reacto One hits 196W with a digital 2x construct with a Labeled rear hub. However even the all-rounder Reacto 10K construct and lighter Reacto Workforce spec nonetheless are available at simply 202W & 203W with 2x groupsets, respectively. Even probably the most reasonably priced Reacto 4000 at solely 2800€ measured simply 215W, with low-profile alloy wheels, a standard cockpit & mechanical 105 2x. Not dangerous contemplating the highest of the outgoing Reacto 4 measured 210W.
How did it get extra aero?
Newer UCI guidelines gave Merida’s engineers extra freedom to deepen tube sections. However as a substitute of simply making thinner, deeper airfoils, Merida spent the previous few years taking a look at the place aero shaping mattered probably the most. And to resolve their aerodynamics drawback, they tapped the specialists at Reynolds to step up the CFD capabilities. And to review body shaping intimately, in 2D sections, in 3D fashions, after which repeatedly within the wind tunnel over 4 years.
The end result, the brand new bike truly provides extra room to the entrance & rear wheels to permit for smoother airflow. And the identical, pulling the downtube again away from the fork crown. Tighter frame-to-wheel spacing solely typically lowered drag, however even various tires created extra issues. As a substitute, extra space meant smoother airflow.
Merida discovered an identical final result with integrating bottles. As a substitute, they’re engaged on an answer (possible prepared by the tip of the yr) that can have a particular aero bottle cage designed for an aero bottle within the quickest resolution, but in addition suitable with a normal bottle, too.
Workforce CW 1P aero cockpit
As for cockpit, they diminished drag with an all-new 1-piece Merida bar & stem that’s stated to shave 5W itself in comparison with the Imaginative and prescient Metron 5D Evo. However didn’t sink the stem deep into the body, which added weight with out a lot aero profit.
The brand new Merida Workforce CW 1P aero cockpit is an fascinating story. Merida spent a number of years growing an ultra-narrow built-in carbon bar, solely to have new UCI 2026 rules make its two narrower sizes unlawful for professional racing. Most Reacto consumers may nonetheless fortunately run the narrower bars. However Merida went again to the drafting board so as to add a fourth measurement that can be UCI accredited. And solely the highest two bike builds include the present UCI-approved bar that’s 305mm on the hoods, flared generously at 17.5° to 400mm on the drops.
Weight saving food regimen
Merida says they diminished weight by over 100g vs. the outgoing body. Simply 11g of that’s from the brand new top-level CF5 carbon body at 950g, paired to an incrementally heavier 475g fork. Many of the weight financial savings comes from the completely redesigned tremendous slim & deep aero seatpost. As properly, from its much-improved 2-bolt expander seatpost clamp that’s now extra accessible from the flat again of the seattube.
Once more, there’s a decrease spec CF3 body and fork (1185g & 519g, respectively) that provides weight with a extra reasonably priced carbon materials, however matches the CF5 on all stiffness measures. Even the decrease price body shares equivalent shaping, so if hits the very same aero efficiency numbers, too.
As comfortable as ever
The earlier Reacto was already surprisingly snug, and the brand new Merida Reacto 5 carries that over. One actual signature consolation function is the large S-flex cutout on the high of the deep aero seatpost, placing a halt to the inherent trip stiffness of an aero submit, tech that has been in each Reacto submit since 2011. This new model goes to zero-offset, with a safer 2-bolt head and a brand new tender rubber cowl that makes it simpler to regulate the saddle. Plus, there’s a brand new elective rechargeable Lezyne taillight that may securely match into the S-flex cowl for improved on-road visibility.
One other massive enhance in rider consolation comes from the distinctive riser form of the brand new Workforce CW 1P built-in cockpit. The decrease stem design helps easy airflow, however these angled ramps as much as the flats & tops of the bar do a fantastic job of filtering out highway buzz whereas retaining dealing with stiffness, even with narrower bars.
And let’s not overlook, 32mm tire clearance is all the time a great way so as to add extra consolation on these cobbled classics days, even when most riders will keep on with 28-30mm tires for many driving.
MY2027 Merida Reacto 5 – Pricing, choices & availability
The brand new Merida Reacto 5 is available in 7 sizes in 10 completely different full bike construct choices, spreading throughout an enormous worth vary, relying in your market.
Apparently, there are even three utterly completely different flagship builds created, so the top-tier rider will get probably the most out of a motorbike particular to how they trip. Reacto One for the aero obsessed. Reacto Workforce for the burden weenie. And the traditional Reacto 10K for the all-rounder in-between.
High-tier CF5 builds
At £10k / 11,500€, the Reacto One is probably the most aerodynamic and the costliest, combining a Shimano Dura-Ace Di2 construct, a 1x Rotor energy meter crankset, a Labeled Powershift rear hub inside a set of 66mm deep DT Swiss ARC wheels, and the brand new Workforce CW 1P cockpit (7.4kg, M claimed).
As extra of an excellent fancy highway all-rounder, the £9500 / 11k€ Reacto 10K will get SRAM Pink 2x with an influence meter, 60mm Reynolds Blacklabel wheels, and the brand new Merida cockpit (7.2kg, M claimed).
Lastly on the high, for a similar £9500 / 11k€ worth, you possibly can additionally decide the lightest construct with Dura-Ace Di2 2x, carbon-spoked Imaginative and prescient Metron RS 60 wheels, and a lighter Imaginative and prescient Metron 5D EVO built-in cockpit (7.1kg, M claimed).
Subsequent up is a strong worth at £7500 / 8750€ Reacto Professional that also will get Dura-Ace Di2 and cheaper 4iiii energy meter, built-in Imaginative and prescient cockpit & extra reasonably priced spec aero DT Swiss ARC 65mm carbon wheels.
The final to share the identical high lightest CF5 frameset as these 4, there’s additionally the Reacto 9000 for £6250 / €7250 with Ultegra Di2, an influence meter & Reynolds Blacklabel 60 carbon wheels.
Extra reasonably priced CF3 bike builds
Then costs begin to get extra reasonably priced with the CF3 frameset. The Reacto 8000 for £5000 / €5750 will get Ultegra Di2, Reynolds AR 60 carbon wheels, and the Metron 5D EVO cockpit, however no powermeter. Then, the Reacto 7000 for £4750 / €5500 will get a SRAM Rival AXS 2x construct, 2-piece Merida Workforce SL bar & stem, and Imaginative and prescient SC 60 carbon wheels. The Reacto 6000 for £3800 / €4400 will get 105 Di2 and the entry-level aero Imaginative and prescient SC 60 carbon wheels. Subsequent up, the Reacto 5000 for £3000 / €3500 will get 105 Di2 and mid-profile alloy Imaginative and prescient Workforce 35 wheels.
And lastly, the Reacto 4000 for £2400 / €2800 will get mechanical 105 & alloy Merida wheels.
The brand new Reacto is accessible now globally, just about in all places besides the USA.
Merida-bikes.com
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