Tempted by a Merida Race Lite 904, any thoughts or Merida owners ?

[bully74uk]

As a current hybrid / flat bar road bike owner I have decided to purchase my first road bike on C2W scheme.

I had been looking at a Cannondale CAAD8 Tiagra (£899) or 105 (£1049) and its clear from a previous thread I posted that the Cannondales are pretty well recommended.

I have come across the 2013 Merida Race Lite 904 (£999) and quite like the look and spec of the bike.
http://www.merida-bikes.com/en_gb/bike/2013/225/Road_Fitness/Race+Lite+904

I have researched Merida so I know they are a large Taiwanese Manufacturer who own a large % of Specialized and make frames for other companies. The reviews I have read on line are pretty much all positive.

Are there any Merida owners on the forum who can comment on their experience with a Merida bike.
Or general comments on the bike / spec itself ?

£1000 is the max on my cycle scheme and im very reluctant to pay any extra on top which puts the CAAD8 105 £49 over my budget (yes i know its not a lot over :-)

Im sure that as Cannondale are probably slightly more well known with a good history of aluminium frame manufacture that they will get most peoples votes.
I like the CAAD8 Tiagra at £899 but im thinking for the extra £100 which would be absorbed into the C2W scheme, the Merida spec looks appealing.

Like Cannondale, Merida also have a lifetime guarantee on their frames.

I will of course try both before making a decision. My local Merida dealer doesn't have them in stock yet but has rigged up their jig to the correct gyometry so I can get an idea of riding position and size required.
I will go to the Cannondale dealer tomorrow to try the CAAD8

Any comments appreciated.

 

[bully74uk]

Any Thoughts ?

 

[accountantpete]

Since going carbon and then getting full carbon forks you are not going to see me back on an alloy frame any time soon.

Save up a bit extra.

 

[Oldspice]

It will show the dirt. If you can see one in the flesh and if you like it, then buy it.
You are the one who will ride it, not anyone else.

Good luck with what ever you choose........

 

[bully74uk]

Since going carbon and then getting full carbon forks you are not going to see me back on an alloy frame any time soon.

Save up a bit extra.

Thanks For The Reply, However As Per My Original Post I Don't Really Want Too Spend Any More Than £1000 On My First Road Bike

 

[musa]

id most likely go for the caad105..better rep but its up to u 49 quid extra may be worth it but do look there is others about
and maybe the store can cut a discount to get under 1000
why i say that....if you got cash i bet they will push a sale for kit so worth a try

 

[Oldspice]

Cubes look pretty

http://www.cyclesurgery.com/cube-bi...s/bikes-components-bikewear/fcp-product/46855

http://www.cyclesurgery.com/cube-bi...s/bikes-components-bikewear/fcp-product/46860

http://www.cyclesurgery.com/cube-bi...s/bikes-components-bikewear/fcp-product/46861

http://www.cyclesurgery.com/cube-bi...s/bikes-components-bikewear/fcp-product/46862

 

[bully74uk]

Cubes look pretty

http://www.cyclesurgery.com/cube-bi...s/bikes-components-bikewear/fcp-product/46855

http://www.cyclesurgery.com/cube-bi...s/bikes-components-bikewear/fcp-product/46860

http://www.cyclesurgery.com/cube-bi...s/bikes-components-bikewear/fcp-product/46861

http://www.cyclesurgery.com/cube-bi...s/bikes-components-bikewear/fcp-product/46862

They do look nice, my current hybrid is a 2012 Cube and its OK although there are little elements of the design that after owning the bike for a while niggle me a bit.

Its strange because Cube already seem quite well known in the UK despite being a relatively new company whereas Merida have been about since the 70's but are not so popular here.
Looking at the £1000 Cube, it comes with Tiagra groupset so bang for pound the Merida spec is better I think.

 

[Robwiz]

Merida strikes me as a slightly left field choice. They are a big manufacturer and make bikes for many of the well known brands. However, it's not really a brand that's sought after used, whereas, a Cannondale will attract more interest and will almost certainly achieve a higher price used. I'm sure the difference in resale values will be way more than £49!

It's generally agreed that the CAAD8 and CAAD10 are amongst the best sorted alloy frames available.

 

[lulubel]

I can't say for certain regarding their road bikes, but I've done quite a bit of research into Merida mountain bikes because I was looking to buy one and it's quite a popular make over here. The conclusion I came to from my research was that you could get more for your money elsewhere, and I ended up buying a Cube.

 

[smokeysmoo]

CAAD10 everytime. Yes I'm biased but I also believe in buying the best frame you can when you get a bike, and the CAAD10 is the best alu frame in the world, no question, and it's a better quality of frame than all the low end carbon frames as well IME, plus plenty of higher end ones to boot. and FWIW my CAAD10 is lighter than any of the cf bikes I've owned before it, go figure

FWIW I know a couple of guys with Cubes, and yes they offer good VFM, and they look OK as they go down the road, but close up I'm not personally impressed by the build quality and finish, and IMO they are too decal heavy as well. One guy has a Cube Agree road bike and the other bought a Cube LTD MTB. Not my cup of tea at all TBH, but then again I like being a bit different and having something you don't see shed loads of every time you go out for a ride

 

[merida100]

Hi i have a Merida Ride lite 93 which has a higher front end,ive had it a year and done 2,000 miles and it does ride very well and no issues so far .
Also as yet never seen another merida on the roads so you have something different from others .

 

[bully74uk]

Thanks for the replies so far. Certainly plenty to think about.

 

[r80]

I have a Merida 750 road race, an it is incredibly reliable, and even survived when I took it off road. The gears are nicely spaced, and the position comfortable for the princley sum of £300. I saved up £100 to improve it, but didn't spend it in the end because I couldn't thinnk what to improve. For a grand though you will get a lot of bike.

 

[bully74uk]

I Think What's Clear From The Replies Here And From The Research That I Have Done Is That There Isn't Much Negative About Merida Bikes And The Quality Seems Good.
It's Also Clear That They Are Not As Well Known In The UK As Many Of The Other Brands.
Personally I Don't Mind Left Field And I'm Not Too Interested In Re Sale Value Either.
So Long As The Quality Is Good, I Think It's Nice To Have Something Slightly Different.

It's Down To The Merida Or CAAD8 Tiagra I Think, And Whilst I'm Yet Too Try The CAAD8 I Think I Prefer The Look And Spec Of The Merida.