Merida Big.Trail 500 (2018)

The 2018 Merida Big.Trail 500 is a mid-range trail-tuned mountain bike. The light aluminum frame is paired with a mid-travel Suntour fork for a controlled, precise ride, able to snake the most slender lines through the tricky stuff. Kit is a combination of reliable old-school, including Shimano's ever-reliable hydraulic disc brakes, and contributions from the avant garde, including SRAM's NX one-ring drivetrain, the cassette short just one 50T dinner plate of the 23-speed Eagle, and the delightfully supple Maxxis Rekon+ treads, offering speed and grip in a lightweight package.
A very good trail bike.