by Simon Ananda Raj July 08, 2025 1 min read
Merida were one of the first International brands to launch their 2022 range in the Indian market. The Big series are performance focused race ready MTB's which come in both 27.5 inch and 29 inch models. We got the opportunity to test ride the Merida Big Seven 2-3X and here is what we thought. Weight: 14.5kgs Type: Trail/Fitness/Leisure
The Merida Big Seven 2-3X is a lightweight and fast hardtail MTB with performance focused components like a Suntour 1mm suspension and Shimano Hydraulic Disc brakes.
Product Rating Out of 5
✔ Smooth 100mm Suntour front suspension
✔ Shimano Tourney/Acera 24-Speed gears
✔ Powerful Hydraulic Disc brakes
✖ Altus at the front would have been an ideal
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Big Seven TFS III
The Merida Big Seven 20-3X (2022) is built on an aggressive and strong TFS Alloy frame.
Suntour XCT30 HLO 100mm travel and Lockout
The suspension lock-out was easy to use and helped with riding faster on flatter surfaces.
Shimano Tourney/Acera 24-Speed
The 24-Speed drivetrain gave that extra bit of speed for the rider as well as enough range for steep climbs.
Power DS100 Hydraulic Disc Brakes
The Hydraulic Disc brakes were powerful and safe to use on rough trails.
Merida K1080 27.5" x 2.2"
These tires were treaded heavily and perfectly suited for the rough and wet trails.
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The Merida Big Seven 2-3X (2022) is built on an aggressive and strong TFS 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 might usually experiences a lot of vibration of the surface while riding on trails.The Suntour XCT3 front suspension fork came with a massive 1mm travel which made sure the bumps on trails were rolled over without any difficulty. The suspension lock-out was easy to use and helped with riding faster on flatter surfaces.
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The strong yet lightweight frame comes with a larger standover clearance and a useful suspension Lock-out
The Big Seven 2-3X (2022) is equipped with Shimano Tourney at front and Acera at the rear as derailleurs. The mid-level Shimano Tourney/Acera gear setup with a 3x8- Speed range is the perfect combination for fast and efficient trail riding. The 24-Speed drivetrain gave that extra bit of speed for the rider as well as enough range for steep climbs. The ST-EF55 Shimano EZ shifters were easy to operate.
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The Shimano Tourney/Acera 24-Speed combination worked well during the test ride
The Bicycle which I test rode came in a full Teal Blue frame with Lime graphics in a gloss paint finish. The full Lime coloured patch on top of the top tube gives a refreshing new outlook to the frame graphics. The colour coded graphics on the rims and saddle make the Bicycle look uniform in design. The bulky treads on the tires add to the much needed rugged look for this MTB.
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The Merida Big Seven 2-3X (2022) comes in 2 colour variants; Teal Blue with Lime and Matte Fall Green with Black
The Shimano MT2 Hydraulic Disc brakes were powerful and balanced during the test ride. These brakes are one of the best in the industry, which can be found on MTB's in this price range and makes the 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 edition, has a 15mm rise. A fully flat handlebar would have made the riding posture aggressive, aligning with the aggressive frame geometry.
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The Hydraulic Disc brakes were powerful and safe to use on rough trails
The Merida Big Seven 2-3X rolls on a pair of Merida K18 27.5” 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.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.
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The 27.5” x 2.2” MTB tires can handle the roughest of trails with ease
This 27.5” hardtail MTB is built for performance and it did that well during the test ride. The Hydraulic suspension lock-out and the smooth gear shifting on the 24-Speed Tourney/Acera drivetrain, made it easy to accelerate on flatter sections of the trail. At 14.5kgs this is one strong and lightweight MTB which can take a lot of hard hitting. Priced at Rs.53,99(as on March 29th 222) the Merida Big Seven 2-3X is an ideal choice for anyone looking to buy an MTB for leisure trail rides and amateur/semi-professional trail races as well.Prices and Specifications/Components are subject to change by the brand, without due notice.
Frame
Aluminum/Alloy
Fork
Front Suspension with Lockout
Front Derailleur
Shimano Tourney TY700 3-Speed
Rear Derailleur
Shimano Acera M360 8-Speed
Shifters
Microshift TS39 24-Speed
Brakes
Power DS100 Hydraulic Disc Brakes
Brake Levers
Shimano ST-EF505
Tires
Merida K1080 27.5" x 2.2"
Rims
Merida CC
Handlebar
Merida CC 690mm
Stem
Merida CC
Seatpost
Merida Comp
Saddle
Merida Sport Comfort
Pedals
VP VPE-891
Hubs
Shimano Tx505
Cassette
Shimano CSM558 11/32T
Chain
Sunrace M84
Crankset
Shimano TY301 42/34/24T
Bottom Bracket
FSA TH-7420T-W
No of Gears
24-Speed
Riding Purpose
Leisure/Fitness