Previously best known for its road and cross-country bikes, Merida’s trail bikes have really impressed us in recent years. The new Big.Trail 600 is a bike with a big bag of tricks.

Merida Big.Trail 600 frame

The 6061 aluminium alloy frame is eye-catching and accompanied by a number of useful features. The double-butted 6061 aluminium alloy chassis looks sleek with its low-slung top tube and smooth welds. A host of neat features make the Big.Trail a highly versatile bike. These include two bottle cage mounts plus an equipment mount under the top tube, so you can load it up for all-day epics. There are also discreet rack and mudguard mounts, in case you fancy doubling it up as a commuter or adventure bike. Boost rear-hub spacing will make any wheel upgrade easier.

The frame is limited to 2.5in tyres, although clearance seems ample. It has a small chainstay protector to curb chain slap. Reach numbers are conservative – just 455mm on our large frame. However, short seat tubes (430mm on the large) mean you can size up if you want more stability at speed. The Big.Trail’s 75.5-degree effective seat tube angle is steep and modern, and the 65.5-degree head angle makes for confident handling on a wide variety of trails.

Merida Big.Trail 600 kit

The fork is a Marzocchi Bomber Z2. The Big.Trail 600 delivers a capable package, but it comes at a price that seems high. The Marzocchi Z2 fork gives you the basics required to set it up for your weight and riding style. You get 12-speed Shimano Deore gears, paired with Race Face Ride cranks and an upper chain guide. The Shimano MT410 brakes have only two pistons, but you do get lever-reach adjustment. Merida’s Expert TR wheels have a 29mm internal width and are shod with 29×2.4in Maxxis Dissector tyres. Finishing kit is also own-brand, with a 780mm bar, 50mm stem and 150mm dropper.

Merida Big.Trail 600 ride impressions

The Big.Trail is a composed ride that won’t make all-day adventuring an uncomfortable experience. The Big.Trail is comfortable to sit on. I removed the stem spacers to lower the bar height, and it puts you in an upright, relaxed position when pedalling seated. That doesn’t make it a poor climber, though – its steep 75.5-degree seat angle gives you a strong position over the bottom bracket for pedalling. It also helps keep your weight forward, maintaining pressure on the front wheel to keep it tracking up steep ascents. Whether seated or standing, the Big.Trail is a proficient climber, so if all-day adventures are your cup of tea, it’s not going to stretch you out into a painful position. Some flat-pedal riders have found the chainstays prone to heel rub, but that wasn’t an issue for me, riding clipped in.

Chainstay height could be an issue for flat-pedal riders. While the Merida feels casual in its seated position, it’s anything but tame when things get more challenging. Thanks to its low BB and standover height, short seat tube and long dropper post, the frame and saddle don’t get in your way when you’re hitting the descents. This gives you plenty of space to manoeuvre the bike when tackling tight turns and technical sections of trail. Although it’s not as agile as some of the best trail bikes, it’s certainly no slouch. The 140mm-travel Z2 fork has enough small-bump sensitivity and progression, helping to instil confidence in the front end, while the Maxxis Dissector tyres give a good balance of grip and support, without being too harsh and reducing comfort.

While the Merida feels casual in its seated position, it’s anything but tame when things get more challenging. The 1×12 Deore drivetrain works predictably well, giving crisp and precise shifts both up and down the cassette, and has the edge in feel and performance over SRAM’s equivalent offerings. Its 10-51t cassette, here paired with a 32t chainring, provides an ample gear range to grind up the steepest climbs and not spin out on the fastest descents. Under the saddle is an 11-function multi-tool, plus there’s a mount below the top tube to carry essential spares. With its 34mm stanchions and 140mm of travel, the Marzocchi Z2 fork inspires confidence when tackling bigger hits. The 2.4in Maxxis Dissector tyres give good grip and support.

Merida Big.Trail 600 geometry

Merida Big.Trail 600 bottom line

My only niggle with the spec (other than value) is the MT410 brakes, which are okay in the dry, but lack punch in the wet. Taking everything into account, the Big.Trail 600 is a composed ride with handling that never felt too demanding.