New Merida Reacto 2025 2026: First Look, Features, Price, Weight, News, Everything We Know
- Details
- Written by: Luca
- Parent Category: Bicycles news review test
- Category: Merida news review test
New Merida Reacto 2025 2026: First Look, Features, Price, Weight, News, Everything We Know
New Merida Reacto 2025 2026: First Look, Features, Price, Weight, News, Everything We Know
The Merida brand has introduced a new evolution of its Reacto model, the aerodynamic road bike currently in use by the Bahrain-Victorious team during the 2025 Tour de France. This update comes close to the fifth anniversary of the fourth-generation Reacto's launch in July 2020. The previous Reacto model is recognized for its excellent value in the professional peloton.
The modifications implemented in the new version primarily affect the fork and frame structure, with the aim of further optimizing aerodynamic performance and overall characteristics.
Technical Details of the New Merida Reacto 2025 2026
1. Optimized Head Tube Profile
The head tube of the new Reacto is significantly deeper than the previous model. This modification aligns with recent trends in aerodynamic design and follows the 2023 UCI regulation revisions, which increased the maximum permitted depth-to-width ratio of tubes from 3:1 to 8:1. This regulatory change has provided designers with greater freedom in aerodynamic optimization.
The previous Reacto's head tube design was characterized by a predominantly rectangular shape, while the new configuration adopts a more extended and flattened profile, similar to a "slab."
2. Redesigned Fork for Aerodynamics
The fork of the new Merida Reacto has undergone significant aerodynamic intervention. A more sculpted design is evident, featuring a pronounced ridge on each side of the fork crown, which extends harmoniously into the head tube. The shape of the fork blades, as they progress towards the axle, also appears optimized to improve air penetration.
In contrast to the previous fork, which had a more rounded shape at the leading edge before becoming angular near the axle, the new design is clearly conceived to reduce aerodynamic drag.
3. Tapered Top Tube and Absence of Compensation Triangle
The top tube now features a conical design, progressively tapering and flattening in profile as it approaches the seat tube. The previous model had a top tube with a more consistent shape.
The so-called "compensation triangle," an element that filled the space at the top tube/seat tube junction in the previous model, has also been eliminated. Although Merida has not yet released official information, this modification to the top tube design could contribute to improved comfort and a slight reduction in overall frame weight. The seatpost clamp also appears to be repositioned, now located behind the seatpost rather than in front.
4. Seat Tube Update and Increased Tire Clearance
Changes extend to the seat tube. The upper section of the new seat tube appears slightly deeper, and there's a more pronounced gap between the lower section and the rear tire. In the previous model, the rear tire was generally closer to the seat tube, within a more defined seat tube cutaway.
These interventions indicate an almost certain increase in tire clearance on the new Reacto. The previous model allowed for tires up to 30 mm. Considering that modern aero race bikes commonly offer tire clearance for at least 32 mm tires (as with the Colnago Y1Rs) or 34 mm (like the Ridley Noah Fast), it's plausible that the new Reacto follows this trend.
5. Reinforced Bottom Bracket Area
The bottom bracket area of the new Merida Reacto features a notably more robust structure. This visibly taller section has likely been reinforced with the aim of improving the frame's torsional stiffness, a critical factor for efficient power transfer. Concurrently, the larger size of this area provides designers with further opportunities to optimize airflow channeling and minimize aerodynamic drag.
The links lead to the details of the news:
All New 2026 Road Bike: News, Info, Prices and Photos of the New 2026 Road and Racing Bicycles
All New 2026 Gravel Bike: News, Info, Prices and Photos of the New 2026 gravel Bicycles
All New 2026 MTB Bike: News, Info, Prices and Photos of the New 2026 MTB Bicycles
All New 2026 E-BIKE Bike: News, Info, Prices and Photos of the New 2026 E-BIKE Bicycles
All the New 2026 Bike News, Info, Photos - Our Sources