Merida Speeder 200 (2018) - Review

The 218 Merida Speeder 2 combines a road bicycle's speed and maneuverability with an upright riding position for better handling and visibility on urban roads. The triple-butted aluminum frame is sturdy but relatively light with a chunky X-Tapered headtube, which adds to the bicycle's sleek appearance, and the clever internal cabling means that all cables are protected from grease, dirt and water. The full carbon fork is bladed and that not only shaves weight of the frame but also makes the bicycle even more aero in performance.

Technically the Speeder 2 is classified as a flat-bar road bicycle. Which means this bicycle can give you the same performance output as a road bicycle but with a comfortable ride geometry. This road focused hybrid bicycle comes with a 2 x 9-Speed Shimano Sora derailleurs. The derailleurs worked smoothly and were perfectly suited for rapid shifting to accelerate on flat roads. The Sora shifters were easy to use and responded quickly.

The bicycle I test rode came in a full grey colour with blue as the secondary colour. The smooth welds and sleek tubes with bladed forks made the bicycle aero in appearance. The internal cable routing through the frame not only saved the cables from dirt but also made the bicycle look neat. The colour coded rims and saddle definitely enhanced the aesthetics of this bicycle.

Stopping quickly every time is one of the most important attributes a bicycle must have when tackling city traffic. The Speeder's Shimano M315 Hydraulic Disc brakes are powerful, reliable and consistent in all conditions so you can ride with confidence through both wet and dry conditions. The disc brakes felt balanced and helped coming to quick halts.The Merida Expert handlebar was fully flat but did feel a little short. This made the ride geometry aggressive and also had cushioned grips.

The Speeder 2 rolls on a pair of Maxxis Detonator 7x32C tires. Offering reasonable grip and puncture resistance, these tires are well suited for this road- focused hybrid. While they are not the fastest rolling treads going, they are dependable in a range of conditions. The Merida Sport stock saddle may be flat and thinly padded, but its generous width makes it one of the most comfortable. The overall ride quality was fast and packed with performance for riding on both urban roads and highways.