Merida Reacto 9000 review: the updated aero bike is here, but is it still the value-for-money king?
Now in its fifth generation, the latest Reacto features a new carbon layup and clearance for 32mm tyres
The Merida Reacto 9000 is a high-performance aero bike that has been updated with some significant changes from its predecessor. Despite these upgrades, the question remains whether it still stands out as the best value-for-money option in the market. The bike's design features a more pronounced wheel cutout on the seat tube and a cutout on the S-Flex carbon seatpost, both of which are intended to enhance comfort by providing vertical compliance over rough surfaces without sacrificing lateral stiffness for out-of-the-saddle sprints.
The bike is available in two colour options, a slate grey and black, and a 'Effect Silver' with a metallic silver and bronze finish. The frame is the most affordable in the range to feature the top-spec CF5 V carbon, and it's designed to accommodate up to 32mm tires, which should be sufficient for most riders. However, the bike uses a press-fit BB86 bottom bracket instead of a threaded one, which might not be to everyone's liking.
The bike comes equipped with Shimano's Ultegra R8100 Di2 groupset and a 60mm-deep pair of Reynolds BL60 wheels, which help to dominate flat rides. The bike's price of £6,250/$8,500 is still quite reasonable when compared to other top-tier aero bikes on the market.
Written by urgent.news from Cycling Weekly's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
