For Season 2011, our All Mountain tourer ONE-TWENTY got a new family member: In form of the ONE-TWENTY Carbon, our engineers complemented the “carefree” all-rounder’s broadband character with additional racing ambitions and sent the bike to the world’s long-distance race courses. With success: Already the aluminium ONE-TWENTY version had received a “position in the Marathon starting block” (bike 1/10) from international bike journals. After this, the light-weight and stiff carbon model was even described as “velocity-addicted racing machine” (MountainBIKE 3/11). So our ONE-TWENTY Carbon collected premium results on all tackled testing grounds. For Season 2012, the aluminium version is lifted to its next stage of evolution: From now on, its revised kinematics differs completely from the carbon model’s concept. Thus our 2012 ONE-TWENTY accentuates even more the 120 mm category’s “carefree” suitability for every day. The latter has turned this bike class virtually into a kind of two-wheeled “Swiss pocket knife” – especially for tour riders.

The distinctive differences compared to our still racing-orientated ONE-TWENTY Carbon are obvious already at first sight: The hydroformed one-piece top tube with support against the seat tube does not only speak an organic design language. Due to its specific construction, it also provides large inseam height via small standover height – and therefore a lot of freedom for active cycling. 

Another result of HFS (“Hydroforming System”) manufacturing technology is the new seat tube with its directly integrated adaptors for the also newly designed rocker link that drives the suspension strut. Compared with MY 2011, this aluminium element has been slimmed down by impressive 40 % – and weighs now even less than its carbon equivalent from the previous year. All in all, the MERIDA R&D team was able to reduce the ONE-TWENTY’s frame weight to low 2500 g* – again a perceptible improvement especially with respect to long climbs. Together with the “Tapered Steerer” (increasing from 1 1/8 to 1.5”) and the torsion-resistant BB section, this low total weight yields an outstanding STW (“Stiffness-to-Weight”) ratio for an All Mountain tourer.

Less obvious but all the more perceptible: The ONE-TWENTY’s kinematics that has been revised for 2012. From now on, the chassis is designed for a more effective utilization of available suspension travel – the 120 mm feel considerably bigger to the rider. The new plus flat steering angle of just 68.5° underlines and enhances the ONE-TWENTY’s suitability for every day once more: Especially on rough downhills, it offers improved running smoothness and tracking stability while lifting the bike’s strengths to a new level. Thanks to its overall geometry, our ONE-TWENTY remains an immensely swift and agile model. In 2012, it is the MERIDA with the broadest range of application – once again.

No detours: Via the ONE-TWENTY’s direct post-mount receiver, 160 mm discs can be installed without an adaptor. 

Organic design language – all of a piece and in its shapeliest realization: The low-positioned top tube with a double stay at the seat tube. Thus our ONE-TWENTY performs superbly and has a stylishly modern design.

Functional design: The tapered head tube (increasing from 1 1/8” to 1.5”) guides the 120 mm perfectly for outstanding steering precision.

120 mm suspension travel that feels mightier thanks to intelligently designed kinematics.