By Matt Waterfield
Cards on the table – I’m a fully paid-up Merida fan. When it comes to high-value options from a world tour-level manufacturer, it’s hard to find a better contender than Merida. With their presence on the professional circuit for a number of years now, including with Bahrain Victorious, they are a fully-fledged top tier brand. Names like Matej Mohorič and former British national champion Fred Wright have demonstrated Merida’s capabilities on some of cycling’s biggest stages, showing that these bikes are built to win.
So, if you’re like me and value top performance without a sky-high price tag, the new Scultura 9000 could be the one for you...
In fact, we think this just might be one of the best all-rounders of 2025. When we say 'all-rounders', we mean a bike which is more than just 'light' or 'aero'. Think Pinarello Dogma, a bike which is fast on the flats and nimble uphill. Complete with tonnes of premium features, the Merida Scultura strikes an impressive balance between weight, aerodynamics, and ride comfort, making it a formidable companion on all terrains, for both pro and enthusiastic amateur riders alike.
The Merida Scultura 9000 is equipped with Shimano’s Ultegra Di2 groupset, known for its reliable and crisp electronic shifting - more than good enough for 99% of cyclists (basically unless you are a World-Tour Pro). It also comes with the Reynolds Black Label 46mm carbon wheelset, which are incredible value as a 'stock' wheelset. The 46mm depth offers the perfect balance of aerodynamics and lightweight construction, making it nimble on climbs while still able to motor along those faster roads. For 2025, Merida has further elevated the bike’s design with an integrated one-piece cockpit and stem, creating a super-neat front end which improves the look and performance of the bike.
One of the standout features of the 9000 is the CF5 carbon layup, Merida’s top-tier carbon used in their world tour-level bikes. This ultra-light and robust frame is engineered to excel in almost any terrain or riding style. And, while the one-piece bar and stem are Merida’s own, they stay up-to-date with modern preferences for narrower widths—38mm for XXS, XS, and S sizes, and 40mm for M, L, and XL— a nice touch when everyone is after narrower bars and more money saved if that includes you.
So, should you consider buying this bike? If you’re on the hunt for a versatile, all-round machine rather than a dedicated aero bike, the Scultura 9000 should be at the top of your shortlist. At £5,800, it’s a significant investment, yet in the high-performance road bike market, this bike delivers exceptional value and quality that’s hard to find.
Chapeau, Merida.
Check out Matt's YouTube video of the Scultura 9000 for a closer look!
