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review

Merida Reacto Disc 5000 2020

7
£2,500.00

VERDICT:

7
10
Not the lightest or most comfortable, but if speed is your main goal then the Reacto delivers
Powerful riders will love the stiffness levels
Integrated rear seatpost light is a neat touch
Not the lightest aero bike out there
Non-series crankset cheapens the look
Weight: 
8,970g

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The Reacto is Merida's aero race bike with this 5000 model sporting the majority of a Shimano Ultegra groupset. It is rapid on the flat and a fun bike to ride hard, although its boxy frame errs on the side of firmness over comfort, and it's just screaming out for some deep-section wheels to really exploit the aerodynamics.

Ride

I kind of like the way the Reacto presents itself. It's an honest sort of bike, stood there with its chunky, almost square tube profiles going, 'Yeah, I'm not going to treat you to the most cosseting ride you've ever had, but if you want to go fast stand on the pedals and I will deliver!'

And that's it in a nutshell really. On the flat or punchy, rolling terrain this is basically a time trial machine with drop bars.

2020 Merida Reacto Disc 5000 - riding 2.jpg

At 8.97kg (19.77lb) it isn't that light for a two-and-a-half-grand bike, but everywhere other than the hills, aerodynamics will always win out over weight, and this is where the Reacto excels.

Get yourself hunkered down into the drops and once this thing is rolling, it flies. The reasonably stretched out position allows you to get long and low to get the power down, and with the geometry sitting somewhere between a race and endurance machine you don't need to be a supple racing whippet to exploit it.

The Fulcrums aren't a bad set of wheels, but with a steady flow of deep-section hoops passing through my hands for testing, a change to something of at least 50mm deep really highlights just how well this frameset cuts through the wind, while also dropping a bit of weight.

2020 Merida Reacto Disc 5000 - riding 3.jpg

The ride is quite firm, there are options out there that take much more of the road buzz and vibration out before it reaches your contact points, but it doesn't exactly make the Reacto uncomfortable.

I enjoy quite a firm, stiff frame and the Reacto definitely suits the majority of my riding. With time for being on the bike often being at a premium, especially at the moment with home schooling and the like, the Reacto was great to grab for a couple of hours so I could just smash out the tension and enjoy the escape from monotony.

With the semi-relaxed geometry of the CF2 frame, it is a surprisingly easy bike to ride fast too. The steering is slightly to the quick side of neutral and you can really push it hard through roundabouts and flowing bends without having to scrub off any speed.

The overall weight, while taking the edge off acceleration, does give a very good feeling of security at speed. It feels planted – if you hit an unexpected patch of rough road or get pushed off your line by an impatient close pass, the Reacto never feels nervous or twitchy in your hands.

2020 Merida Reacto Disc 5000 - riding 4.jpg

If you hit some hilly terrain the Reacto 5000 doesn't exactly fly up the climbs, but then again neither do I! What it carries in weight is more than offset by the huge levels of stiffness from the oversized tube sections, so if you are like me – a climber trapped in an off-season sprinter's body – you can get out of the saddle and really smash the Merida to the top.

On the whole, if you are looking at an aero bike then speed is probably your priority, and the Reacto isn't going to let you down.

Frame and fork

The Reacto range is available in a number of material and braking options.

Entry-level models are made from aluminium alloy and come with rim brakes, although this does spread into the carbon fibre options too, like the super-bling 8000-E with its more aggressive and lighter CF4 frameset and Shimano Ultegra Di2 components.

The majority of the models are disc brake, and the 5000 uses the CF2 frame and fork. The geometry is slightly slacker and more relaxed than the CF4 but the claimed weight is pretty impressive: 1,150g for the M/L size that we have.

2020 Merida Reacto Disc 5000.jpg

Up front you are getting a tapered head tube which blends into one with the front section of the top tube and that huge down tube. There is also some aero integration with the fork into the front of the frame too.

2020 Merida Reacto Disc 5000 - fork detail.jpg

As you can see from the photos, aerodynamics have been considered everywhere, with flared sections behind the head tube and down tube, and the seat tube with its cutout to bring the rear wheel as close as possible.

2020 Merida Reacto Disc 5000 - rear.jpg

All the cabling is fully internal, too, for a clean look.

2020 Merida Reacto Disc 5000 - cable route.jpg

Merida has gone for a press-fit bottom bracket on the CF2 frame. This means the bottom bracket shell can be wider than with a threaded version as the bearings are pressed into the frame rather than screwed onto the outside; it's 86mm wide rather than 68mm.

2020 Merida Reacto Disc 5000 - bottom bracket.jpg

There are setbacks, like if tolerances aren't adhered to then water and grit can get in and cause creaking, or if the position of the openings for the bearings aren't lined up properly during manufacture then the bearings can wear unbelievably quickly, but over recent years of testing press-fit-equipped bikes through the winter months I've seen fewer and fewer issues.

The wider shell has allowed Merida to go wider with the down tube, seat tube and chainstays, which means the Reacto is very stiff indeed. Acceleration and climbing definitely benefit.

2020 Merida Reacto Disc 5000 - frame detail.jpg

Other neat touches are the integrated seat clamp for the aero seatpost. It certainly gives a smooth look and I had no issues with slippage.

2020 Merida Reacto Disc 5000 - seat post bolt.jpg

The seatpost has a large notch cut out of the rear which is usually filled in with a rubber section to give a little bit of damping against the vibration, but our test model came with a rear light that fits inside the elastomer. It's a simple light – a single static LED that runs off an AA battery – but it's quite effective.

2020 Merida Reacto Disc 5000 - integrated light.jpg

Battery life is pretty short, especially if you use cheap supermarket batteries like I was, but it's ideal for those times when you misjudge what time you'll be home or if bad weather comes in.

I probably don't need to highlight the fact that the Reacto comes with flat mount calliper mounts and thru-axles, as that is pretty much the standard these days. One addition that you don't see often, though, are the disc coolers: grooved aluminium sections that sit under the callipers and allow heat to dissipate through the fins.

2020 Merida Reacto Disc 5000 - rear dsic brake.jpg

Merida claims they reduce temperatures by about 35%, though this is probably more relevant on long Alpine descents than the short, steep ones we have here in the UK.

Groupset

As I mentioned in the opening paragraph, the Reacto 5000 comes with the majority of a Shimano Ultegra groupset, which is pretty much par for the course for the money. I say majority because the crankset is a non-series RS 510 model which, for me, does cheapen the look slightly as I prefer to see a complete groupset if possible.

2020 Merida Reacto Disc 5000 - crank.jpg

The shifting isn't affected, though, as the chain happily skips across the 52/36-tooth chainset, and paired with an 11-30 cassette gives the Merida a decent spread of gears, probably better than most aero bikes – that 36x30 bailout gear helping offset the weight on really steep hills.

2020 Merida Reacto Disc 5000 - drivetrain.jpg

Shimano's hydraulic brakes are some of the best in the business, and I certainly had no issues with the setup fitted to the Reacto.

The RT64 rotors don't have quite as much bite as Shimano's Ice Tech rotors, although I never really found myself struggling for power or modulation, I'm just being picky.

2020 Merida Reacto Disc 5000 - front disc brake.jpg

Finishing kit

When it comes to the contact points, they are all Merida branded and they do a very good job.

2020 Merida Reacto Disc 5000 - bar and lever.jpg

The Expert CW handlebar is typical in its dimensions to most compact bars on the market, with the drops easily accessible for the majority of riders, and the stem of the same name varies in length depending on the size of the frame.

2020 Merida Reacto Disc 5000 - bars 1.jpg

The Expert CC saddle is thinly padded and firm, just like a race saddle should be, and I liked it a lot.

2020 Merida Reacto Disc 5000 - saddle.jpg

A neat addition is the multi-tool hidden underneath in a small case that comes as standard. It's positioned in a way that you can still attach a saddlebag, which is a bonus.

2020 Merida Reacto Disc 5000 - saddle detail.jpg

Wheels and tyres

The Fulcrum Racing 900 DB are quite a belt and braces approach for the Reacto 5000; it really deserves something lighter and more aero. Saying that, they're a good set of training wheels as they'll take plenty of knocks and abuse.

2020 Merida Reacto Disc 5000 - rim.jpg

Tyre-wise, the 25mm Continental Grand Sport Races strike a good balance of grip, puncture resistance, rolling resistance and longevity without really setting the ride alight.

2020 Merida Reacto Disc 5000 - clearance.jpg

Basically, the tyres and wheels do a decent enough job, but the frame and fork really deserve something better.

2020 Merida Reacto Disc 5000 - tyre.jpg

Value

The Reacto 5000 has an rrp of £2,500 which isn't too bad considering the quality of the frameset and kit level, non-series crankset aside.

Something like the Fuji Transonic 2.5 Disc comes in at £2,899.99. It's heavier than the Reacto by a couple of hundred grams and comes with, in the most part, a 105 groupset, swapping out the crankset for an Oval model.

> Buyer’s Guide: 21 of the best and fastest 2020 aero road bikes

Another option though could be the Orro Venturi Evo 105 at £2,099.99. True, it might be a closer match to the Reacto 4000 with its 105 groupset (again, minus the crankset), but it is only a few grams heavier than the 5000 and offers a very good ride quality.

Conclusion

On the whole, I like the Reacto 500. It has a quality frameset and while some might find the ride on the firm side, it is one of those bikes where you can just get out and smash it around a bit.

The overall quality is impressive and it is certainly a fun bike to ride, and with a few component tweaks it could be very good indeed.

Verdict

Not the lightest or most comfortable, but if speed is your main goal then the Reacto delivers

If you're thinking of buying this product using a cashback deal why not use the road.cc Top Cashback page and get some top cashback while helping to support your favourite independent cycling website

road.cc test report

Make and model: Merida Reacto Disc 5000 2020

Size tested: M/L

About the bike

List the components used to build up the bike.

Merida lists:

FRAME REACTO DISC CF2

FRAME SIZE XXS, XS, S, S/M, M/L, L, XL

COLOR GLOSSY BLACK/SILK BLACK

FORK MERIDA REACTO CF2 disc

BRAKE FRONT Shimano Ultegra

BRAKE REAR Shimano Ultegra

ROTOR FRONT Shimano RT64

ROTOR REAR Shimano RT64

BRAKE LEVER Shimano Ultegra

HEADSET MERIDA REACTO neck

HANDLEBAR MERIDA EXPERT CW

HANDLEBAR STEM MERIDA EXPERT CW

GRIP MERIDA ROAD EXPERT

DERAILLEUR (F) Shimano Ultegra

DERAILLEUR (R) Shimano Ultegra

SHIFTER FRONT Shimano Ultegra disc

SHIFTER REAR Shimano Ultegra disc

SEAT POST MERIDA EXPERT CW

SEAT CLAMP MERIDA REACTO AERO

SADDLE MERIDA EXPERT CC

CHAIN KMC X11

CHAINWHEEL Shimano RS510

CRANK SIZE 165 mm-XXS, 170 mm-XS/S, 172.5 mm-SM/ML, 175 mm-L/XL

FREEWHEEL Shimano CS-R7000

BOTTOM BRAKET FSA 386-BB30 PF6000 [SMN FC]

WHEELSET Fulcrum Racing 900 DB

TIRE FRONT Continental Grand Sport Race

TIRE REAR Continental Grand Sport Race

AXLE REAR MERIDA EXPERT SL

LIGHT REAR REACTO light seat post + Battery

Tell us what the bike is for and who it's aimed at. What do the manufacturers say about it? How does that compare to your own feelings about the bike?

The Reacto is Merida's aero race bike range, with this 5000 model using the slightly less aggressive CF2 frame geometry rather than the race-inspired CF4 found on the top models.

I found it delivers well on its aerodynamic claims – it's a quick bike to ride.

Where does this model sit in the range? Tell us briefly about the cheaper options and the more expensive options

This model sits second in the CF2 range. The 4000 is below with a full Shimano 105 groupset and then there is the 6000 above which steps up to full Ultegra. The range topper is the 7000-E which still uses Ultegra but comes with DT Swiss P-1800 wheels.

Frame and fork

Overall rating for frame and fork
 
8/10

Tell us about the build quality and finish of the frame and fork?

A good quality finish throughout.

Tell us about the materials used in the frame and fork?

FRAME REACTO DISC CF2

material: carbon

700C wheelsize

100x12/ 142x12mm axle standard

BB386-PF30 bottom bracket standard

FORK MERIDA REACTO CF2 disc, full carbon fibre with tapered steerer.

Tell us about the geometry of the frame and fork?

The Reactos that use the CF2 frame and fork have a slightly taller front end and shorter top tube than the top end models, which means they sit somewhere between the geometry of a race bike and an endurance machine.

How was the bike in terms of height and reach? How did it compare to other bikes of the same stated size?

This M/L size has a reach of 390mm and a stack of 575mm, giving a position that is racy without being too aggressive.

Riding the bike

Was the bike comfortable to ride? Tell us how you felt about the ride quality.

It has a firm ride but I wouldn't say that it is uncomfortable. It's where the levels should be for a stiff, fast bike.

Did the bike feel stiff in the right places? Did any part of the bike feel too stiff or too flexible?

The frame is very stiff throughout.

How did the bike transfer power? Did it feel efficient?

Lighter wheels would really highlight the efficiency of the frame.

Was there any toe-clip overlap with the front wheel? If so was it a problem?

No.

How would you describe the steering? Was it lively neutral or unresponsive? The slightly quick side of neutral.

Tell us some more about the handling. How did the bike feel overall? Did it do particular things well or badly?

Overall, it is a very easy bike to ride. The handling inspires confidence and is well balanced.

Which components had the most effect (good or bad) on the bike's comfort? would you recommend any changes?

On the whole I'd say everything works well. The saddle is a good shape and promotes a fair bit of comfort.

Which components had the most effect (good or bad) on the bike's stiffness? would you recommend any changes?

The components match the frame for stiffness.

Which components had the most effect (good or bad) on the bike's efficiency? would you recommend any changes?

This frame is crying out for lighter and more aero wheels.

Rate the bike for efficiency of power transfer:
 
8/10
Rate the bike for acceleration:
 
8/10
Rate the bike for sprinting:
 
7/10
Rate the bike for high speed stability:
 
8/10
Rate the bike for cruising speed stability:
 
8/10
Rate the bike for low speed stability:
 
8/10
Rate the bike for flat cornering:
 
8/10
Rate the bike for cornering on descents:
 
7/10
Rate the bike for climbing:
 
7/10

The drivetrain

Rate the drivetrain for performance:
 
7/10
Rate the drivetrain for durability:
 
8/10
Rate the drivetrain for weight:
 
7/10
Rate the drivetrain for value:
 
7/10

Tell us some more about the drivetrain. Anything you particularly did or didn't like? Any components which didn't work well together?

Ultegra is a great groupset; I would just like to see a matching crankset though to give the bike a complete look.

Wheels and tyres

Rate the wheels for performance:
 
7/10
Rate the wheels for durability:
 
8/10
Rate the wheels for weight:
 
7/10
Rate the wheels for comfort:
 
7/10
Rate the wheels for value:
 
7/10

Tell us some more about the wheels.Did they work well in the conditions you encountered? Would you change the wheels? If so what for?

The wheels will take plenty of abuse but the frame deserves something much lighter.

Rate the tyres for performance:
 
7/10
Rate the tyres for durability:
 
8/10
Rate the tyres for weight:
 
7/10
Rate the tyres for comfort:
 
7/10
Rate the tyres for value:
 
7/10

Tell us some more about the tyres. Did they work well in the conditions you encountered? Would you change the tyres? If so what for?

Good all-round tyres that balance performance and durability well.

Controls

Rate the controls for performance:
 
7/10
Rate the controls for durability:
 
8/10
Rate the controls for weight:
 
7/10
Rate the controls for comfort:
 
7/10
Rate the controls for value:
 
7/10

Tell us some more about the controls. Any particularly good or bad components? How would the controls work for larger or smaller riders?

Decent in-house branded kit that'll work for the majority of riders.

Your summary

Did you enjoy riding the bike? Yes

Would you consider buying the bike? Yes

Would you recommend the bike to a friend? Yes

How does the price compare to that of similar bikes in the market, including ones recently tested on road.cc?

It's in the right ball park when you consider other aero road bikes on the market like those from Fuji and Orro mentioned in the review.

Rate the bike overall for performance:
 
7/10
Rate the bike overall for value:
 
7/10

Use this box to explain your overall score

It's a good all-round package, and just a few component tweaks would turn it into a proper superbike.

Overall rating: 7/10

About the tester

Age: 41  Height: 180cm  Weight: 76kg

I usually ride: This month's test bike  My best bike is: B'Twin Ultra CF draped in the latest bling test components

I've been riding for: Over 20 years  I ride: Every day  I would class myself as: Expert

I regularly do the following types of riding: time trialling, commuting, club rides, sportives, fixed/singlespeed,

As part of the tech team here at F-At Digital, senior product reviewer Stu spends the majority of his time writing in-depth reviews for road.cc, off-road.cc and ebiketips using the knowledge gained from testing over 1,500 pieces of kit (plus 100's of bikes) since starting out as a freelancer back in 2009. After first throwing his leg over a race bike back in 2000, Stu's ridden more than 170,000 miles on road, time-trial, track, and gravel bikes, and while he's put his racing days behind him, he still likes to smash the pedals rather than take things easy. With a background in design and engineering, he has an obsession with how things are developed and manufactured, has a borderline fetish for handbuilt metal frames and finds a rim braked road bike very aesthetically pleasing!

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