Hardtails are incredibly capable machines which make perfect sense for everyone from leisure riders, mountain bikers, cross country explorers and even occassional commuting. The Merida eBIG Nine 400 we review here is one of these hardtails that you cannot pin down to just being good at one thing, again showing versatility and incredible bang for your buck.
But what does all this mean for the rider? Does the bike become a jack of all trades and master of none? Or will it shine in many categories and help the consumer pick an electric mountain bike which works for them in many different areas? Let’s take a look at the Merida eBIG Nine 400 in closer detail.
Merida eBIG Nine 400 review: The headline details
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Pros
Versatile and capable
Motor climbs well
Generous battery size
Cool tool stow under the saddle
Comfortable
Cons
Tyre upgrade needed for more off-road
Compromised in UK Winter conditions
Features
Matching tan handle bar grips and seat
Adjustable kickstand
No tool battery removal
Integrated 630Wh battery
100mm travel SR Suntour Fork
Specs
Frame material: eBIG.NINE LITE III (Aluminium)
Motor: Shimano EP6
Battery: Shimano EN806 Integrated 630 Wh battery
Drivetrain: Shimano LG300
Brakes: Shimano MT200
Saddle: Merida Comp SL
Tyres: Maxxis Ikon
Suspension: SR Suntour XCM34-Boost LOR DS
The review of the Merida eBIG Nine 400 was carried out by Myles Warwood. The bike was tested on city streets, pot-holed and rough tarmac back roads, as well as bike paths, mountain bike trails and off-road to test its performance over various types of terrain you may encounter while riding. The review followed Cycling Electric’s guidelines, covering the motor, chassis, components and overall ride quality.
How does the Merida eBIG Nine 400 handle?
The eBIG Nine 400 is an incredibly capable bike, from the moment you set off, to the moment you get back again you can feel how comfortable the bike is and how easy it is to ride. You can ride this bike from your front door, take the back route, through the farmers field, down the canal and then to the office block without the bike skipping a beat. It really was enjoyable to ride in all conditions.
With that being said, though, the Maxxis Ikon tyres the bike comes with are much more for summer and late spring riding. They will struggle to handle British autumns and winters where the mud is sticky and sloppy. They just don’t have enough mud moving knobbly-ness to them and what I found was the mud compacting to the tyre and pretty much turning them in to a slick. That didn’t mean the bike couldn’t handle but it certainly made going round corners a twitchier than I would have liked scenario.
Where they excelled and the bike really came to life, was on dustier, more gravel like bike park terrain where they could cut through the gravel and power on. I didn’t think that this was a limiting factor for the bike, though, because if you were to switch out for knobblier tyres then it becomes a machine which you can ride all year round despite the conditions.
Shimano’s EP6 Motor
Having ridden the Merida eBIG Tour 675 EQ, the trekking-friendly cousin of the eBig Nine 400, I was blown away by the way the Shimano EP6 motor worked on that bike, so I was looking forward to trying it on a lighter version of the bike, albeit with the same geometry. Of course, the motor has plenty of power at 85Nm of torque, enabling you to turn mountains in to molehills, but it also has plenty of play between modes. By this, there is enough difference in the power bands, and using the bike’s gears to get what you really want.
Coupled up with a 630Wh battery pack, then you have plenty of grunt for all day riding. The display system on the handlebar seems fairly basic and large, but that’s a minor niggle over what is essentially a very good motor system, that’s easy to read and understand.
Comfort and handling
From the moment you get on, you can feel comfort on the bike, it’s confidence boosting and relaxed. What I really love is that the bike doesn’t make big noises about being capable off-road but it really is, very much so. You can pummel round the edge of farmers fields, through bike tracks, down wooded terrain and it handles it all with gusto. Even with components jammed with mud, the gear clicked through and felt reliable.
It handles predictably, so I found it had a positive response to steering input, but not too sharp. The on-the-fly adjustable front forks add to either comfort or sharpness through the turns, helping you find the perfect balance for the terrain. A full-scale 29er, which can help you look like a wonder parent as you ride with your kids, why not?
My only complaint is that all the exposed component parts will have a rough ride over winter, as i experienced. The front hanger on the chain gets clogged quickly and the tyre and frame over the rear wheel is another spot where claggy mud loves to hang out. You often find yourself clearing this way yourself to keep everything running freely.
Conclusions
If you want a do anything bike, without all the equipment, look no further, at £2,750 this hardtail electric mountain bike is a brilliant bike for the money. It gives you the capabilities of going anywhere, within reason, and doing whatever style of riding you want to do. It’s a more than capable commuter with weekend leisure riding as well.
I really enjoyed my time on this bike, with some really nice little features, too. The no-tool removable battery is great but what I really loved is under the saddle, tucked nicely away, was a little multi-tool which allowed you to change or tighten any nut or bolt on the bike. This was a really handy get you out of jail card.