road.cc say the REACTO 9000 “is one of the best-performing aero race machines I’ve ever ridden”

In a superb 4.5/5 start review, road.cc has tested the REACTO 9000 and said that it “feels incredibly fast, very light, and incredibly fun to ride” and that it “has taken things to a new level in terms of speed”.

Since the launch of the fifth-generation of REACTO, the world’s cycling press has been hailing our all-new aero bike as one of the very best on the market, so this latest review helps to confirm that status.

In a comprehensive review, the tester said that the REACTO 9000 “just does everything exceptionally well, and you don’t need to be a racer with immense bike-handling skills to get the rewards from its ride characteristics. Merida’s designers have really nailed it here, and the fact the price isn’t even that extreme is impressive”.

While the focus of the new bike was of course to make it more aerodynamic and help riders go faster for the same effort, the design team spent a lot of time making sure that the handling was up to scratch, something appreciated by the test rider.

“Merida has done a great job of keeping the handling balanced. The front end feels very direct and, considering how fast the geometry makes the steering, it remains incredibly easy to control regardless of how fast you are going.”

Of course, the REACTO has always been aimed at serious road cyclists, with geometry designed to be competitive at the very highest levels of the sport, something noted in the review, saying that the bike is “a full-on race machine in terms of numbers, with a short wheelbase, steep head and seat angles, and a low front end. It means the riding position feels purposeful, without going into overtly aggressive”.

Of course, the specification is all important and the bike was heavily praised in that regard too: “I reckon Merida has delivered an excellent specification here. This is a setup designed by a rider rather than an accountant, and there wouldn’t be a single component I’d change”.

In summary, the review said that: “from a ride point of view, Merida has absolutely nailed it with this new Reacto. It’s capable of exploiting all of the power and skill any racer can throw at it, but it will also flatter anyone who just wants a quick bike they can just ride and enjoy”.

To read the full review of the REACTO 9000 on road.cc, follow the link here.

To find out more about the latest REACTO, including key features, R&D and design thinking, as well as the intended use, please visit the micro page here.

To view the full REACTO range, please click here.