Merida Magnesium 909

Price Paid:  $1500.00 at second hand

Favorite Ride:
Royal National park loop

Bike Setup:
Campagnolo mix of 9 speed chorus and veloce. Great running gear for roadies.

Summary:
I bought the merida magnesium 909 second hand but was in very nice nick, have ridden for approx 3 years about 150 kms a week on smooth roads. Very stiff frame especially for powering uphill. However have just snapped the frame at the seatpost, typical fatigue type break, very disappointed as I very much liked riding this frame. Will not go back to magnesium, its time to carbonise if I can afford the stupid prices...

Strengths:
Great colour and stiff frame.

Weaknesses:
Fatigue will break the frame

Similar Products Used:
Many steel frames and plenty of aluminium mtb frames.

Price Paid:  $1500.00 at internet

Favorite Ride:
long rides (100km+) on moderate to hilly roads

Bike Setup:
Merida Mag 909 frame + carbon/alu fork
Shimano Ultegra and FSA drivetrain
WCS components
high profile alu wheels

Summary:
stiff.. this frame has an enormous potential to build a bike that'll simply fly. the responsivness is great, the 'feel' is great in the way you know you can always step on it and it'll blast off. though the ride is harsh and not comfy at all. you can feel even some thicker paint signs on the road, though it's probably also the tires and stiff wheels that make you go buz..

there's one huge con about this bike. it's made very sluggish. those frames tend to brake (mine didn't and hope it won't till i buy something else..) near the seat cluster. besides you can't attach the bottle cages right cause the bolt inserts in frame go round'n'round and don't hold bolts as they should. if you're lucky enough and your frame doesn't wanna break (like mine;) and the bottle cages hold tight (mine don't..) you'll love that bike . for me any "will-it-break-or-not" and "f.....-bottle-cages" issues are to much to handle while riding so i'm planning to swap for some other frame.. though i know i'll miss merida's brut stiffness..

Strengths:
transfers every piece of your power without hesitation and without any sovire-vivre.. pretty light, very cheap and nice looking

Weaknesses:
it breaks and you gotta carry bottles in pockets..

Similar Products Used:
nothing compares to it ;)

Price Paid:  $0.00 at australia

Favorite Ride:
Merida 909 magnesium

Summary:
Mice bike to ride .Quite stiff

Strengths:
Good paint job. Well appointed

Weaknesses:
Fragile . I bought a one month old bike, which was a warranty replacement - due to breakage. This one broke. Now moving back to a Giant

Price Paid:  $650.00 at www.cyclelink.com.au

Favorite Ride:
any ride doesn't require driving.

Bike Setup:
mix of Dura Ace 8spd STI setup with gigantex carbon crank, carbon seatpost, axlightness, spinrgy rex

Summary:
Magnesium frame has been in existence for some time.
I just order a Magnesium road frame from Merida called magnesium 909. Not the lightest. The frmae weight 1466g on my scale for size 54cm.
Massive down tube, stiffer than viagra. if you like the stiff and harsh
alum type of riding, then this is it. I build it up and rode for few weeks already. It's stiff climbing
and solid on descending. Just might beat you up a little, just a little on long ride. I like the candy
apple green color, it's shiny, very rare and exotic
look. The top tube slope a little. All in all, kick ass bike.

Strengths:
Stiff, massive down tube. Nice color, ok paint job. Bike feel stiff climbing out of saddle, feel solid descending.

Weaknesses:
Weight 3.2 lbs, not light at all.
Also, waterbottle mount on st and dt are too close to each other, results in both cages/bottle touching/rubbing each other, minor problem.
Weld on difficult spot are not pretty looking.
Finally, not as comfortable as my last OCLV. Tends to beat you up a little on a long ride, typical harsh riding stiff alum characteristic.

Similar Products Used:
Trek 5200 OCLV, Sano scandium, Kestrel 200sci, Cramerotti stainless steel.