Merlin Malt 725 Steel SLX Hardtail Review

Is the geometry really that 'old school'? It's not super longlowslack, but the head angle of 67deg is a decent chunk slacker than the usual 70deg you'd get on actual old-school hardtails.

Somewhere between this and the On-One Huntsman is a bargain bikepacking rig to be had.

"all-round adventure bike" yet only one set of bottle cage mounts? They says it'll take 27.5 x 3" so I guess 29 x 2.6 or so, yeah?

£1.6 - 2k bike with Judy TK Silver. ☹️

I think they geometry is a bit old for the suggest use of 'trail centre destroyer', and I thought it before bothering to look at the actual numbers. To ride it feels like it'd be excellent for a long day out, or a multiday trip, where you aren't touching on playful trails. It's a sit-up-straight, good posture, no stress on your arms kind of ride.

sounds like it is mainly good on the sort of stuff that gravel bikes excel at. So for same money one could get a nice gravel bike with a decent grx groupset and a much lighter and lively ride...

£1.6 – 2k bike with Judy TK Silver

OTOH it's got mostly an SLX drivetrain and ISTR seeing quite a few £3k bikes using Deore. Despite Amanda saying it's near the bottom of Shimano's range.

As for the geo, 67 is a lot slacker than 'traditional' hardtails, and 446 reach on a 17/medium isn't that short either. I'm a bit puzzled by this review, and I wonder if it's down to 725 being a bit 'dead' feeling.

I'd take Deore with a useable fork, rather than the Judy.

67deg HA is six-year-old trail geometry, might be perfect for the people who moan that "all new bikes are LLS".

Let's see if it flies off the shelves shall we?

(it won't)

Almost a straight copy of a Stanton Sherpa. Cant believe that wheelbase figure though, must be nearer 1130mm for the 17"?

71.5° seat angle

Is that correct? Appears rather relaxed, maybe too relaxed to match the other numbers?

I’d take Deore with a useable fork, rather than the Judy.

67deg HA is six-year-old trail geometry, might be perfect for the people who moan that “all new bikes are LLS”.

Let’s see if it flies off the shelves shall we?

(it won’t)

+1 to all of that

Slx is fine but that fork isn’t acceptable on a hardtail at that price point (higher or lower). I wonder why anyone would take this over something like a Vitus Sentier whoch for just over £1k packs in a much better fork and more modern geometry.

Is it’s the steel factor then the Ragley Bigwig absolutely smashes it out the park on spec:

https://www.chainreactioncycles.com/p/ragley-big-wig-race-hardtail-bike-lollipop?color=lollipop&sizeStandard=m

Stif Squatch shows small companies can get a reasonable spec on stuff - Pike on a £1600 ish build and 130mm fork etc:

https://www.stifmtb.com/collections/stif-squatch/products/stif-squatch-am-kit

71.5 degree head angle seems odd. Even my that new gravrl bike is 74 degrees

If you are entertained by geometry figures you might enjoy this from spa cycles. Now I’m so old school that 67 degrees seems fine for a head angle. But even for me this is short and steep. 430mm reach on an XL. nb this isn’t as drop bar bike it’s a flat bar bike with space for a suspension fork

Stif Squatch shows small companies owned by much bigger ones can get a reasonable spec on stuff

FTFY

I just thought I would share my opinion of riding my Malt for the past couple of months.

I purchased a Malt to sit alongside my Hightower as a fun trail bike for family ride duties and to liven up my local trail centre. The Malt appealed due to price and that the geo is very similar to the highly regarded Stanton Sherpa.

I built the bike up to a decent trail specification with Rockshox Pike Select RC 120mm, Hope pro 5 wheels, Maxxis Ardent 2.4  tyres, SLX groupset, Burgtec Ride wide bars etc.

The Malt has been my go to bike over the last few months over a rather nice Hightower. I think that says a lot! To me the bike is hugely fun, versatile and capable. I have raced XC, enjoyed plenty of mellow trails and pointed it down some steep greasy enduro routes. My only complaint when it gets steep is that the seat tube is perhaps a little too long. Being able to get the saddle a little further down would add a lot more confidence on the steep stuff.

It is not a bike without faults though. The paint quality is awful. The thing flakes paint at any opportunity. Some welds are showing rust and the worst part is the dropper routing most forward cable mount on the down tube strikes the compression adjustment of my Pike fork. This is really annoying as I transport my bike on a pick up tailgate pad. I have expressed my annoyance with Merlin who have offered to inspect the frame if I stripped and returned it. I have not taken them up on this.

Despite these niggles the Malt is still a bike I would recommend due to its value, ride quality and versatility. Just buy a chain stay protector and plenty of heli tape!

I have expressed my annoyance with Merlin who have offered to inspect the frame if I stripped and returned it.

I had the opposite with my Merlin gravel bike - basically an email saying 'meh, suck it up' over the missing mudguard mounts issue.
I wouldn't buy Merlin again.