eONE-SIXTY SL 2025

The Merida eONE-SIXTY SL 2025 is the Taiwanese giant's first lightweight e-MTB platform: full carbon CF3 Nano Matrix front and rear triangle, 160 mm of travel front and rear (174 mm with mullet flip-chip), Bosch Performance Line SX motor at 55 Nm and 600 W peak, and a removable 400 Wh Bosch CompactTube battery. At a claimed 19.5 kg and £6,000 entry price, the SL distinguishes itself from the full-power eONE-SIXTY siblings (EP801, 600 Wh+ batteries) with a lighter, more agile, range-extender-compatible build philosophy. Nine size options with reach progression from 420–525 mm give one of the best fit spreads in the category.

Drive system and range. Bosch SX delivers 55 Nm of torque, 600 W peak (post-July 2025 firmware) and a 2.0 kg unit weight. It is one of the more refined lightweight motors on the market with the full Bosch Smart System ecosystem, eBike Flow app and OTA firmware path. The 400 Wh CompactTube battery is removable — a meaningful advantage over the integrated lightweight motors on competing brands. Real-world range with Bosch SX and 400 Wh typically lands at 800–1,200 m of climbing per charge on mixed riding, with a Bosch range extender for big-day capability. The SL platform is fundamentally different to the full-power eONE-SIXTY where @Astro66 ran a 2025 eONE-SIXTY 400 (EP801-powered) and upgraded to Shimano XT Di2 12-speed with Coastshift before reselling at a 40% drop after 500 km.

Geometry and handling. A 64.0 degree head angle is bang in the modern enduro/all-mountain sweet spot. Reach progression is one of the best in class: 420 mm (XS) through 466–475 mm (M variants), 489–500 mm (L variants), 512 mm (XL). Chainstays grow proportionally from 446 mm to 453 mm — a thoughtful nod to size-balanced rear-centre. Wheelbase grows 1,200 mm to 1,325 mm. The 29er/mullet flip-chip is genuinely useful: mullet mode bumps rear travel to 174 mm, expanding the bike's intent from lightweight trail-enduro into long-travel territory. The 4-bar suspension with flexstay seatstay is Merida's well-proven layout.

Build and value. Two trims share the same chassis. The £6,000 base at 19.5 kg uses RockShox Lyrik Select+ eMTB fork (160 mm, 35 mm stanchions, 44 mm offset), RockShox Super Deluxe Select+ air shock (230x60 mm), SRAM DB8 Stealth 4-piston brakes and SRAM GX Eagle Transmission AXS. The £7,199 8000 is the same chassis with a near-identical kit save for brake-rotor mount detail. Both feature wireless GX Transmission AXS — strong value at this price point.

Community-verified strengths. The Merida eONE-SIXTY platform has earned strong reviews on the forum across generations. @Mr Scooter, a former downhill racer, picked the eONE-SIXTY over Levo, Trek Rail, Commencal and Pivot specifically for handling. @melonhead ditched a Specialized Kenevo demo and chose the eONE-SIXTY 900E for ride feel. Merida's longstanding component-spec deals deliver genuinely competitive build kits. The nine-size lineup is class-leading.

Caveats and known gripes. Internal cable routing requires motor removal to access according to @Re-Cycle — frustrating for owners who prefer simple maintenance. @RoJo recommends Polaris enduro straps around the battery to stop the system turning off on big drops on the older 800 model — worth checking whether the new SL frame solves this. The 400 Wh battery is the platform's compromise — buyers wanting big-day range should plan on a range extender. @Astro66 reports up to 30–40% value depreciation within a year on the full-power eONE-SIXTY 400 sibling, a useful resale-value reality check. The 55 Nm SX motor is meaningfully less powerful than the EP801-powered full-power eONE-SIXTY for riders who want maximum punch.

Verdict. The Merida eONE-SIXTY SL is one of the more interesting lightweight 160 mm carbon platforms of 2025: 19.5 kg, a Bosch SX drive system with full Smart System ecosystem, nine sizes and a flip-chip that doubles its versatility. It will suit riders who want full-suspension all-mountain travel with the lighter ride character of an SL-class motor, and who value Bosch's reliability and OTA updates. Buyers wanting the most torque per pound (look at Avinox or Bosch CX Gen 5 alternatives) or full-power range without a range extender should consider the EP801-powered eONE-SIXTY or Cube One77 SLX. Production status: current.