The Echo sports a proprietary pivotless rear suspension that radically improves traction and comfort | Outstanding performance comes from the Merlin MTS size-specific 3Al-2.5V tubing | Drivetrain stiffness is enhanced by the large diameter 7/8" butted V-bend chainstays | The super-strong Merlin seatstay crown is beautifully crafted from a solid billet of titanium | Disc-compatible dropouts allow for choice of brake systems
Submitted by
Joergen
a Cross Country Rider
from Salt Lake, Utah
Date Reviewed: April 29, 2004
Strengths: Weight, climbs like crazy, nice stable wheelbase on downhills. Accelerates instead of bouncing
Weaknesses: Tire clearance could be an issue in muddy conditions
Bottom Line:
These bikes are still sitting around in shops because everyone wants a full suspension, too bad they can have it. Unless your willing to spend over $5K; the $2000-2500 comparables to the Merlin basically suck because of their weight. The Merlin still outclimbs most bikes and is quite fast on level to downhill rides. This bike is a real pleasure on long rides (Leadville 100, White Rim in a day, etc.). Wouldn't ride anything else.
this is the best bike i've ever riden..crosscountry,singletrak,rocks and drops. i'll never lug around a full suspension when i can get a ride like this..
Submitted by
Patrick Cheng
a Weekend Warrior
from Hong Kong
Date Reviewed: March 17, 2001
Strengths: Light, Fast
Weaknesses: The pivotless suspension is very weak, which has cracked twice.
Bottom Line:
I bought the Echo frame in 1999. The pivotless suspension has cracked twice. An aluminium bracket, which is a critical part of the suspension, cracked without any reason since I ride the bike on road only and never experience any crash.
I guess there is a design problem in the suspension. I have tried to contact Merlin since Feb but there is no response.I am very disappointed with customer service of Merlin as I have paid over US$3,000 in the frame.
Weaknesses: minimal seatstay/chainstay clearance with large tires.
Bottom Line:
If your into mountain biking (which means climbing as well as descending) you'll never wish for more.
I had always wanted a Moots YBB (Merlin licensed the technology and credits Moots by displaying the Moots logo on the rear shock), but could never justify the expense...Well, I finally pulled the trigger and I don't regret it one bit. This is the best bike I have ever ridden. It's light (not silly light), floats over the rough stuff, climbs great, always looks new and the handling...Merlin magic (perfectly balanced).
My only gripe is that the clearance in the rear is a little tight, but I have yet to find a bike that has enough when the mud is the consistancy of peanut butter.
Complain all you want about price, but take one ride and you'll never complain again.
Bike Setup: Full XTR, Racelites, Rockshox Race, Titec.
Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Terry
a Cross-Country Rider
from Dublin, Ireland
Date Reviewed: August 3, 1999
Strengths: Ultra lightweight almost full suspension without being skittish. Balance, agility. A hardtail with comfort and a back wheel that tracks all the knarly stuff.
Weaknesses: Poor mud clearance with 2.0 tyres.
Bottom Line:
Purchased because I got fed up waiting for delivery of Klein Mantra Pro frame. Rode 98 Mantra for 18 months and wanted to retain back friendly nature with more traditional styling. I ride a Scott carbon Endorphin during the winter months but despite the 1/2 flex in the chainstays I was starting to get back trouble again. Merlin has same geometry as Scott so bike felt familiar immediately.Have raced 4 times and only crashed twice which is a record for me. Much stronger seatstay to pivot joint than Moots with no brakeflex (no squeally brakes/great power) however there is little tyre clearance with 2.0/2.1 tyres which causes total fouling in extreme mud conditions. Echo seems to excel in all areas, climbing, fast fire roads, fast singletrack, technical ascents and descents. Nothing fazes it. One particular section of a trail nearby tells it all. A 1/2 width fireroad about 100 yds long which was repaired with loose crushed stone, fist sized and larger. This section regularly ground a bike virtually to a halt with maybe a pinch flat or a chipped rim thrown in. The Echo literally floats over the top as if it doesn't exist with the comfort of a DH rig. Lateral rigidity isn't compromised. I like to get out of the saddle and sprint uphill after a downhill section. No loss of power detected. Frame has a high rider weight limit (unlike the Moots) which indicates that it probably can take some punishment.
Bike Setup: Superfly, Crossmax, King headset,Easton Carbon bars, XTR Groupo,Thomson seatpost,WTB SST 98 saddle, Hutchinson Phythons
Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Michael
a Cross-Country Rider
from Park City, UT
Date Reviewed: July 21, 1999
Strengths: Beautiful frame Not quite full suspension with enough rear travel to make it comfortable Climbs like a mountain goat Moves nicely through technical singletrack Sexy welds Light weight
Weaknesses: Expensive, but once you get into this price range, you know what you're doing Really hard to service rear shock Rear stays lack braze ons for discs.
Bottom Line:
The bottom line is thus: if you are concerned about the price, well, then you don't want to buy it. It's like buying a Ferrari...if you can afford it, you aren't really give a crap about how much it costs.That being said, I really wondered if I was overpaying. But, after a few months of riding on and off-road, it is by far the best bike I've ever owned. I actually quit riding my Trek Y-foil on the road, because I love this bike so much.The softail concept is just right. I like the fact that Merlin admits to licensing the idea from Moots and puts the Moots logo right on the shock. For those of you who are wondering what softail means, in this case, it means that there are no linkages in the rear. The natural flex of the rear triangle is absorbed into a monostay shock attached to the seat tube. The rear flexes about 1.5, which means I can descend through some technical stuff without my back dying on me.Also, the rear shock can be locked out for climbing or road riding, but I never lock it out, since you do not get the pogo feeling in the rear. This bike climbs as well or better (because of it's light weight) than a hard tail.I honestly dislike full suspension bikes because they seem to suppress the excitement of working the technical aspects of mountain biking. Also, FS bikes, despite the claims to the contrary, just don't work that well in climbs. But, I do enjoy the smoothing out of the rougher parts of the ride.In summary, I just believe that the Merlin Echo gives me a hardtail for all the fun things in Mountain biking, but give me just enough rear suspension to make it a bit more comfortable without compromising the hard tail character of the bike.If you can afford this bike, and you want a hard tail character with some rear suspension, then the Merlin Echo is for you. You will have a beautiful, unique, performance bike that will be the envy of the single track.
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I hope I'm not stepping on any toes posting this but I noticed that the 2012 site is updated now.
[url]http://www.echohillstrailbuilders.com[/url]
I'm just excited because I' Read More »
