The Merida Silex is a highly versatile and award-winning aluminum gravel bike engineered for riders who love the road less traveled, backcountry exploration, and demanding all-weather journeys. Considered a certified star buy due to its incredible value for money, it features a ground-up design inspired by modern mountain bike geometry. By pairing long top and head tubes with a short stem, it delivers exceptionally nimble, stable, and confidence-inspiring handling on loose, technical off-road terrain.
The pedigree of the Silex concept is unmatched, having won the Gravel World Championship with Matej Mohoric. This second-generation model features a revised fork design that allows for an easy swap to a suspension fork without messing with the bike's geometry, alongside 12mm bolt-through axles for maximum frame stiffness.
Ready for any bikepacking epic or fully loaded commute, the frame comes equipped with five sets of bottle bosses, dedicated rack and fender mounts, and internal routing compatibility for both dropper seatposts and advanced dynamo lighting systems.
MTB-Inspired Gravel Geometry: Crafted with a high-quality aluminum frame featuring a longer cockpit and shorter stem for exceptional off-road stability, control, and upright comfort.
Full Carbon Tapered Fork: High-performance carbon fiber construction with a tapered steerer, multiple integrated mounting points for adventure gear cages, and clean internal routing for a dynamo hub.
Shimano GRX 2 x 10 Drivetrain: Equipped with a dedicated, gravel-specific 20-speed Shimano GRX groupset and GRX chainset, delivering tight gear steps on the flats and ultra-low climbing ratios for steep, loose inclines.
Shimano GRX Hydraulic Disc Brakes: Premium, gravel-optimized hydraulic stopping power paired with oversized 180mm rotors flat-mounted on the chainstay for excellent force dissipation and effortless control in all weather conditions.
Thru-Axle Design: Features stiff 12mm front and rear bolt-through axles that greatly improve wheel security, frame rigidity, and precise disc brake alignment over rough terrain.
Ultimate Adventure Mounts: Packed with multiple dedicated frame fixing points to effortlessly carry bags, water cages, protective mudguards, and heavy-duty rear pannier cargo racks.
Merida Silex 400 Gravel Bike
Frame: Lite II 6066 triple-butted, hydroformed, and smooth-welded aluminum tubing featuring clean internal cable routing. Built with a tapered head tube, inboard flat disc mounts, a durable threaded bottom bracket, and a stiff 142 x 12mm thru-axle standard. Complete with integrated mounting points for multiple bags, cages, mudguards, and a rear rack. (Max tire clearance: 700 x 45c / 700 x 42c with mudguards)
Full Carbon Fork: Merida Silex II CF2; premium full carbon fiber construction with a tapered steerer tube and internal routing. Engineered to absorb aggressive off-road chatter while delivering incredibly precise steering control. (Max tire clearance: 700 x 47c)
Gearing & Drivetrain: High-performance, gravel-specific 20-speed transmission powered by Shimano GRX 400 shifters, a Shimano GRX 400 front derailleur, and a clutched Shimano GRX 400 rear derailleur for ultimate chain stability on rough paths.
Cassette: Shimano CS-HG50; 11-36 teeth, 10-speed setup offering optimal, tight gear steps for maintaining a smooth cadence on tarmac and loose gravel flats.
Chainset: Upgraded Shimano GRX 600 double chainset with gravel-optimized 46-30 tooth chainrings. Crank lengths: 165mm (XXS/XS), 170mm (S/M), or 172.5mm (L/XL).
Bottom Bracket & Chain: High-quality threaded bottom bracket system paired with a durable and smooth-running KMC X10 chain.
Braking System: Shimano GRX 410 hydraulic brake levers paired with Shimano GRX 400 hydraulic calipers and oversized Shimano RT54 180mm Centerlock rotors (front and rear). Features a dedicated front Disc Cooler fin setup to reduce operating temperatures under heavy loads.
Wheelset & Rims: Merida Expert SL III double-wall aluminum gravel rims featuring a wide 23mm inner rim width for optimal tire volume. Laced with strong black stainless spokes and fully tubeless-ready (tape and valves not included).
Thru-Axle Hubs: Stiff Shimano HB-TC500 front hub (100x12mm) and Shimano FH-TC500-HM rear hub (142x12mm), premium 28-spoke configurations with secure Centerlock disc mounts.
Premium Gravel Tires: High-volume Maxxis Rambler adventure tires (700x45C) featuring a folding Kevlar bead, robust EXO puncture-resistant sidewalls, and Tubeless Ready (TR) technology for low-pressure off-road comfort.
Cockpit & Handlebars: Merida Expert GRII flared aluminum gravel handlebars providing enhanced leverage and control on technical drops. Widths: 400mm (XXS/XS/S), 420mm (M), or 440mm (L/XL), wrapped in premium Merida ROAD Expert tape.
Stem: Merida Team CC III lightweight aluminum stem (31.8mm clamp diameter) with a sporty -6 degree rise. Length: 80mm for all frame sizes to ensure nimble off-road handling.
Headset: High-end Acros ICR Merida External neck system with a durable die-cast split ring for completely integrated cable integration.
Saddle & Seatpost: Merida Comp SL saddle with integrated V-mount system (eco-friendly construction utilizing 25% recycled material) paired with a reliable, in-line Merida Comp CC aluminum seatpost (27.2mm diameter).
Wheel Size: Modern 700c performance adventure gravel standard.
Colorway & Season: Premium Warm Slate Grey finish with clean black detailing (Model Year 2026).