Merida Big Nine 40D (2019) - Review

The Merida Big Nine 4D is built on an aggressive and strong alloy frame. This frame has a slanting top tube which makes the stand over height bigger than most standard hardtail MTB's. This helps the bicycle climb and roll over harsh trails without the frame taking a hit at the bottom bracket area. The top tube and bottom tube are fused together at the top near the headset, this makes the frame stronger in that area which usually experiences a lot of vibration of the surface when ridden on trails.The Suntour XCM front suspension fork came with a massive 1mm travel which made sure the bumps on trails were rolled over without any difficulty. The suspension lockout was easy to use and helped with riding faster on flatter surfaces.

The Big Nine 4D is equipped with Shimano Altus at the front and rear as derailleurs. The mid-level Shimano Altus front derailleur with a 3x9 Speed range is the perfect setup for fast and efficient trail riding. The 27-Speed drivetrain gave that extra bit of speed for the rider and also enough range for steep climbs. The ST-EF55 Shimano EZ shifters were easy to operate.

The bicycle which I test rode came in a full neon green frame with black graphics in a gloss paint shade. The dotted line pattern on the edges of the top tube, bottom tube and seat stay gives a refreshing new outlook to the frame graphics. The colour coded graphics on the suspension fork, rims and saddle all make the bicycle look uniform in design. The bulky treads on the tire add to the much needed rugged look of this MTB.

The name D in the Big Nine 4D stands for Hydraulic Disc brakes. The Shimano Hydraulic Disc brakes were powerful and balanced during the test ride. These brakes are the best in line that can be found on MTB's at this price range and makes this bicycle capable of handling the wettest and roughest of trails. The Merida CC 69mm handlebar was wide and comfortable to hold on to but like the previous year the 219 edition also has a 15mm rise. A fully flat handlebar would have made the riding posture aggressive, aligning with the aggressive frame geometry.

The Merida Big Nine 4D rolls on a pair of stock Merida K18 29” x 2.2” tires. These tires were treaded heavily and perfectly suited for the rough and wet trails. High-speed turns and jamming of the brakes were transformed well into a balanced reaction on these pair of tires. The Merida Sport Comfort stock saddle was shaped ergonomically with the perfect length and width. The grip patches on the widest part of the saddle on both sides were useful and made it non-slippery. The overall ride quality was fast and comfortable on trails.