Versatility never goes out of style. The SILEX 400 is an adventure-ready gravel bike that’s equally at home doing a rough commute or winter training laps, thanks to a durable aluminium frame, lightweight carbon fork and huge tyre clearance of 700 x 45 mm – or even 42 mm tyres with fenders. Our MTB-inspired geometry gives you huge confidence off-road, the huge number of mounts mean you’ll be able to carry what you need easily, and the durable Shimano 2x10-speed GRX groupset and brakes will make short work of the ups and downs.
The SILEX turns any ride into an adventure, whether you’re on a multi-day gravel bikepacking mission or just taking the fun route to work. With multiple test wins, press accolades, industry awards and even a World Championship title under its belt, our SILEX takes the off-road capability of gravel bikes to new heights, thanks to a slacker head angle and boosted tyre clearance of up to 700x45 mm or even 42 mm with fenders. We've combined that confident mountain bike-inspired handling with all-surface versatility so that it is utterly stable when loaded up with luggage but still fast and fun when you put the hammer down. With carbon and aluminium frame options, there's a SILEX to suit every budget, but they all share the multiple mounting points for fork cages, water bottles and accessories and other features that make this drop-bar do-everything machine so versatile. We’ve added our sleek WIRE PORT cable routing for improved looks – and fewer cables to catch on with a handlebar bag – and the carbon fibre fork used on all models now has more cargo mounts plus internal routing for a dynamo hub. With the ability to use 1x or 2x drivetrains, you can pick your gearing to suit the task at hand or your own personal preference, opening up a world of opportunity for you and your SILEX.
Highlights
- Award-winning aluminium frame with dropped chainstay for 700x45mm clearance
- WIRE PORT internal cable routing for clean looks and scuff free bag fitting
- Relaxed head angle and MTB-style geometry for off-road stability
- Multiple mounting points for cages, bags and fenders
- Carbon fork with cargo mounting points and routing for dynamo hub
- Wide-range gravel-specific Shimano GRX 2x10-speed groupset
"Second generation of the Merida Silex.
The original was a ground up design that rather than take a road or cyclocross bike and re-jig the recipe, started with modern MTB inspired geometry; long top and head tubes and a short stem, offering nimble, confidence-inspiring off-road handling. It is fair to say that riding wise the original concept was incredibly well received by the press and consumers alike, at launch, it was hailed as the most comfortable and versatile bike Merida had ever made.
Over time gravel has developed and riding has evolved, splitting into racing and adventure. Silex remains all about the road less travelled, the spirit of adventure and camaraderie.
The Silex retains all of the key qualities that made the original so successful but becomes more off-road capable with a 1.5 degree slacker head angle and bigger volume tyres. All frames have five sets of bottle bosses, the aluminium frame has rack mounting points offering multiple luggage carrying options for any adventure and has the ability to run internal routed dropper posts and even dynamo systems.
A week before its launch, Matej Mohoric rode to victory at the 2023 Gravel World Championships proving it is fairly handy off-road!
If we are absolutely honest, the looks of gen 1 were not to everyone's taste, the long headtube made the front end look awkward. Gen 2 runs a revised fork design meaning you can swap to a suspension fork without affecting the geometry and visually the longer fork and shorter headtube look far more appealing.
To match the new off-road capability all Silex models (with the exception of the 200) are equipped with powerful hydraulic disc brakes and 180mm rotors. Calipers are mounted on the chainstay for better dissipation of braking forces using the flat-mount standard for a neat, flush fit. On the carbon models calipers sit on top of CNCd aluminium Disc Cooler fins reducing operating temperatures by up to 35%; particularly important when running fully loaded."