Merida BIG.TRAIL 500 Mountain Bike Black/Grey (2022)

The Merida Big.Trail 500 is a nice upgrade from the impressive Merida Big.Trail 400. It’s still incredibly fun, combining the simplicity of a hardtail with long travel excitement to create an All Mountain Bike that’s as at home on technical descents as it is climbing. The Big.Trail offers modern trail geometry, big 29″ wheels and long travel for a grippy, yet comfortable ride. Merida has designed the Big.Trail 500 to get the most out of a hardtail that is easy to set up, maintain and affordable. With the Big.Trail 500, you get an All Mountain Hardtail perfect for a one-bike garage – it completely replaces the need for a dual-suspension mountain bike, offering unparalleled fun and versatility!

The Big.Trail 500s lightweight alloy frame has a clean and simple look thanks to the internally routed cables and is perfectly paired with the upgraded RockShox Recon Silver SL Air Fork that offers 140mm travel. Indeed, the upgraded fork offers better mid-stroke and low-speed compression, while still maintaining the adjustable rebound and lockout riders desire. Not only does this truly mean you can customise your ride to suit your style, it’ll increase your confidence, helping you to push your boundaries ever further! Before you know it, you’ll be bombing down technical trails and sending it over huge gaps as you chase personal records! With the included Merida-branded long travel dropper post, standover height can be reduced allowing you to manoeuvre more easily as the trail gets more technical. While the modern trail geometry ensures that you can maintain control even when pushing your limit and yet still climb with ease thanks to the central seating position over the bottom bracket.

Merida has taken the liberty of upgrading the Big.Trail 500 to an 11 speed Shimano Deore drivetrain with remote actuated clutch, enabling you to climb faster and harder without getting so tired – you can now spend hours in your local bike park perfecting your cornering ability. When you factor in the Tektro Hydraulic Disc brakes which are powerful enough to quickly bring you to a stop, and won’t fade after repeated braking, you’ll be confident to really send it and aggressively attack corners as you chase Q/KOM status. Finally, the neat inclusion of multiple mounting points for bottles and hidden rack, fender and kickstand mounts means the Big.Trail 500 is just as capable out on the trails, as it is bike-packing or commuting.

The Big.Trail 500 is the perfect bike for riders wanting a single bike garage – it’s a fantastic All Mountain Hardtail capable of conquering demanding technical trails that normally only Dual Suspension models would expect to be seen on. If you’re looking for a model that offers a smoother trail ride that keeps your arms and shoulders fresh day-in, day-out, then you should really consider the Big.Trail 600 with its’ Marzocchi Z2 Bomber Fork. It offers better damping resulting in a significantly smoother and more plush ride. It also has the added bonus of an additional rear sprocket increasing mid-range efficiency. The Merida Big.Trail 500 is a fantastic All Mountain Hardtail offering a fantastic mix of efficiency, comfort and fun whether you’re out on the trails or commuting to work.