NINETY-NINE

to NINETY-NINE Carbon Team

Since its introduction to the market for Season 2008, our high-end racing fully NINETY-SIX has been winning virtually tons of laurels: The bike press raved about this thoroughbred racing machine characterized by no-compromise propulsion, minimum weight and so far unmatched stiffness data. Already its prototype catapulted our MULTIVAN MERIDA pro rider Ralph Naef to Vice World Championship in 2007. And until Season 2011, our MULTIVAN MERIDA BIKING TEAM rode the NINETY-SIX always into the top ranks. Therefore this excellent bike’s designated successor had to accept a considerable inheritance.

Intensive development work was necessary to realize the NINETY-NINE as an evolutionary stage of the 100 mm racing fully that was consistent with the precursor’s earnings. So our R&D team followed the objective to conserve all excellent NINETY-SIX genes with their optimization for racing and to transfer them to a new bike that meets the current trends of the XC World Cup circus.

There had to be speediness, agility, high traction and neutral suspension performance even on steepest ascents – as well as sufficient sensitivity for technically demanding downhill sections plus, especially, optimization for the 2x10 cranksets that represent the current racing standard.

The latter are mostly operated under utilization of their big chain rings and require appropriately adapted kinematics.

Juergen Falke (MERIDA’s Head of Design) states, “The better is the enemy of the good. With the NINETY-NINE, we have created a characteristic racing machine that uses any open development potential of its precursor to the full extent. It was hardly possible to outclass the weight and stiffness data of our NINETY-SIX – but the successor to the throne stands for an absolutely new level of handling and suspension performance.”

Main frame, seat and chain stays as well as the rocker link for suspension strut linkage consist completely of an intelligent mix between High Modulus (HM), Ultra High Modulus (UHM) and Intermediate (IM) carbon fibres. The reinforcing “Double Chamber” technology in top and down tube enhances bending and torsional stiffness once again. Together with the current 165 mm suspension strut that is shorter in comparison to the previous version, the NINETY-NINE frame* achieves an outstanding weight of ultra-light 1.85 kg (incl. shock) – in spite of the mighty BB30 bottom bracket or the sensitively reacting and durable mounting of the complete rear stay in sealed groove ball bearings! “State-of-the-art” are also the tapered steerer (increasing from 1 1/8 to 1.5”) and the post-mount standard for direct mounting of the rear disc brake. In addition, the NINETY-NINE offers 100 mm front and rear suspension travel. Together with the racing-orientated kinematics and a chassis that is completely lockable from the cockpit, this design means nothing more than our next attack towards the World Cup’s top ranks!

*At frame size 18“

VIDEO

NINETY-NINE

Technology statement

Sure-footed: The BB30 bottom bracket generates powerful propulsion; the suspension strut works sensitively and neutrally.

Organic design language: The equally stylish and functional seat stay layout around the seat tube gives the rear stay its racy look. Also “state-of-the-art”: The transition between top and seat tube.

Leadership skills: The tapered head tube encloses the 100 mm fork in a torsion-resistant way and provides maximum steering precision.

Kinematically clever: The suspension’s no-compromise adaption to double cranksets.