Final week, Merida launched its newest eMTB, the full-power, long-travel Lithos. Fairly than leaping on the Avinox bandwagon, Merida selected the time-tested, confirmed, and dependable Bosch CX and CX-R drive techniques to energy its new, carbon-framed e-enduro machine. With 170/174mm of journey entrance/rear, blended wheel sizes, and an aggressive geometry, Merida says the Lithos is made to deal with the hardest terrain with confidence and management.
With the Lithos, Merida desires riders to seek out “unstoppable move” whereas taking up the hardest tracks, whether or not driving with pals or racing the clock. And, they need you to proceed discovering that move for so long as attainable with a spotlight not simply on efficiency, however sturdiness and reliability, too. Let’s take a look at the brand new Merida Lithos.
Merida Lithos Particulars
Proper out of the gate, Merida is strolling the sturdiness speak with the Lithos’ Class 4-rated CF3 carbon body, which is backed by a lifetime guarantee. The Lithos will get 170mm within the entrance and 174mm of rear journey, the latter utilizing Merida’s favored linkage-drive single-pivot design with flex stays.
Based on the model, the flex keep design enhances reliability with fewer bearings, and the kinematic, shared with the eONE-SIXTY SL and eONE-EIGHTY, works completely with air and coil shocks. Merida says this yoke-less design “prevents side-loading and untimely put on, boosting sturdiness, however permits us to get an ideal steadiness of pedaling effectivity, small bump efficiency, and large hit management.”
The Lithos comes normal with blended wheel sizes to maintain the rear finish extra agile. Because of its FLIP CHIP design, Merida says it’s additionally attainable to run a 29” rear wheel whereas sustaining the identical geometry. That mentioned, switching to a 29” rear wheel decreases rear journey to 160mm and elongates the chainstay to 449mm, in comparison with 174mm of journey and 447mm chainstays in the usual, blended wheel setup.
On the Lithos body, Merida supplies choices to route cables by the headset or by ports on the top tube with molded channels within the entrance triangle and liners within the rear. The body comes with an built-in rear fender, together with a big rubber chainslap protector and heel rub protectors on each side. Riders even have the choice so as to add the model’s lengthy fender for extra mud safety.
Merida says that all the Lithos’ bolts will be tightened with the 4 or 6mm hex instrument saved within the rear axle lever, or the V-Mount Multi-tool beneath the saddle. The Tube Base Plate supplies house to stash a spare tube. Moreover, all body sizes have been designed to maximise dropper publish size. The 2 highest-end builds include the 230mm Group TR II dropper, adjustable between 30 and 230mm of journey with out instruments, whereas the remainder of the vary comes with the Knowledgeable TR II dropper, with drop size various by body dimension.
Geometry
Merida says the Lithos has a “progressive however balanced e-bike particular geometry.” Based mostly on what we are able to see within the geometry chart, it seems to be proper within the wheelhouse for a contemporary enduro bike, with a slack head tube angle, steep seat tube angle, long-ish attain, and excessive stack. Listed below are among the highlights, in line with the model:
Steep seat angle: 78.5°
Slack head tube angle: 64°
Lengthy head tubes and elevated stack for upright, confidence-inspiring driving place (646 mm in dimension M)
Longer chainstays for a extra centred steadiness (447mm)
The Lithos is available in 5 body sizes: XShort, Quick, Mid, Lengthy, and XLong. Take a look at the chart under for all the small print.
Bosch Drive Techniques
Whereas a lot of the bike trade appears enamored with the large energy of the brand new Avinox motors, Merida selected the confirmed, dependable Bosch CX drive models for the Lithos. They are saying, “Bosch’s monitor document of confirmed efficiency, wonderful reliability, and worldwide service backup was a significant factor in why we selected to associate with them for LITHOS, in addition to their sustainable and accountable strategy.”
Whereas Bosch isn’t battling for probably the most highly effective e-bike motor, the model’s CX and CX-R drive models have been getting steadily extra highly effective with latest over-air updates. The CX drive unit nonetheless tops out at 750W, however the newest replace boosted the CX’s peak torque to 120Nm. So, though it will not be probably the most highly effective, many riders would agree that the Bosch CX provides greater than sufficient pedaling assist for his or her wants.
The 2 higher-end builds include the Bosch CX-R motor, which is barely lighter and contains the particular “Race Mode.” Race Mode permits lag-free accelerations, help with full energy as much as max pace, and Prolonged Increase.
With the Lithos, Merida says the detachable Bosch PowerTube battery permits riders to change between the longer vary 800Wh and lighter weight 600Wh batteries or do scorching swaps for tremendous lengthy rides. The 600Wh battery weighs ~900g lower than the 800Wh model, which can make a noticeable dealing with distinction for some riders. Moreover, the Lithos is appropriate with Bosch’s PowerMore 250Wh vary extender.
Merida Lithos: Builds
The Lithos is accessible in 5 full builds, all of that are constructed across the similar carbon body.
Lithos 10 Ok
Motor: Bosch CX-R
Battery: Bosch PowerTube 800, 800Wh
Fork: Fox Podium Manufacturing unit, 170mm
Shock: Fox Float DHX Manufacturing unit Stay Valve Neo w/SLS Coil
Drivetrain: SRAM XO AXS Transmission
Brakes: SRAM Maven Final w/ 200/220mm HS2 rotors
Wheels: DT Swiss HXC 1500 carbon
Tires:
F: Continental Kryptotal-F, 29 x 2.4, Enduro, Tremendous Gentle
R: Continental Kryptotal-R, 27.5 x 2.4, Enduro, Gentle
Cockpit: Race Face Period Carbon handlebar, Merida Knowledgeable eTR II stem
Seatpost: Merida Group TR II adjustable (30 – 230mm)
Colours: Gray to Wild Honey (Holo Honey), Gray to Gunmetal (Holo Silver)
Lithos 8000
Motor: Bosch CX-R
Battery: Bosch PowerTube 800, 800Wh
Fork: RockShox ZEB Final, 170mm
Shock: RockShox Vivid Final
Drivetrain: SRAM GX AXS Transmission
Brakes: SRAM Maven Bronze w/ 200/220mm HS2 rotors
Wheels: DT Swiss HX 1700
Tires:
F: Continental Kryptotal-F, 29 x 2.4, Enduro, Tremendous Gentle
R: Continental Kryptotal-R, 27.5 x 2.4, Enduro, Gentle
Cockpit: Merida Knowledgeable eTR handlebar, Merida Knowledgeable eTR II stem
Seatpost: Merida Group TR II adjustable (30 – 230mm)
Colours: Halo Inexperienced (Wildberry), Heat Slate Gray (Golden Black)
Lithos 6000
Motor: Bosch CX
Battery: Bosch PowerTube 800, 800Wh
Fork: RockShox ZEB Choose, 170mm
Shock: RockShox Vivid
Drivetrain: SRAM Eagle 70 Transmission
Brakes: SRAM DB6 Stealth w/ 200/220mm Centerline rotors
Wheels: Reynolds 309 Enduro Comp aluminum
Tires:
F: Continental Kryptotal-F, 29 x 2.4, Enduro, Tremendous Gentle
R: Continental Kryptotal-R, 27.5 x 2.4, Enduro, Gentle
Cockpit: Merida Knowledgeable eTR handlebar, Merida Knowledgeable eTR II stem
Seatpost: Merida Knowledgeable TR II, XS: 125mm, S: 150mm, M: 170mm, L: 200mm, XL: 230mm
Colours: Wild Honey (Wildberry), Heat Slate Gray (Golden Black)
Lithos 5000
Motor: Bosch CX
Battery: Bosch PowerTube 800, 800Wh
Fork: RockShox Area Gold R 170mm
Shock: RockShox Deluxe
Drivetrain: Shimano Deore M7200
Brakes: TRP Evo Comp HD0M7040, 4-piston w/ 200mm TRP rotors
Wheels: Merida Comp TR II aluminum
Tires:
F: Continental Kryptotal-F, 29 x 2.4, Enduro, Tremendous Gentle
R: Continental Kryptotal-R, 27.5 x 2.4, Enduro, Gentle
Cockpit: Merida Comp TR II handlebar, Merida Knowledgeable eTR II stem
Seatpost: Merida Knowledgeable TR II, XS: 125mm, S: 150mm, M: 170mm, L: 200mm, XL: 230mm
Colours: Anaconda Inexperienced (White), Heat Slate Gray (Golden Black)
Lithos 4000
Motor: Bosch CX
Battery: Bosch PowerTube 600, 600Wh
Fork: RockShox Area Gold R 170mm
Shock: RockShox Tremendous Deluxe Base
Drivetrain: Shimano Cues U4000
Brakes: SRAM DB4 Stealth w/ 200/220mm Centerline rotors
Wheels: Merida Comp TR II aluminum
Tires:
F: Continental Kryptotal-F, 29 x 2.4, Enduro, Tremendous Gentle
R: Continental Kryptotal-R, 27.5 x 2.4, Enduro, Gentle
Cockpit: Merida Comp TR II handlebar, Merida Knowledgeable eTR II stem
Seatpost: Merida Knowledgeable TR II, XS: 125mm, S: 150mm, M: 170mm, L: 200mm, XL: 230mm
Colours: Anaconda Inexperienced (White), Heat Slate Gray (Golden Black)
Availability
Merida’s new Lithos eMTBs can be found now. Head to the Merida web site to study extra, test availability in your area, or finder a supplier close to you.
merida-bikes.com
