Merida Dakar 960

[Sloth108]

Can anyone provide any information on the bike in the pictures attached. It is a Merida Dakar 960. I reached out to Merida UK on any information but they didn’t have anything other than it’s from the 90’s. There is little to nothing on the net either. I’m new to these forums so excuse me if this is not the right forum.

 

[Guinessisgoodforyou]

Wow! That's mint, is it new? I like that a lot.

 

[Sloth108]

It was a bit rusty and rough looking as it had been in my neighbours shed for the past 14 years. Prior to that my father in law owned it and gave it to me. Just finished stripping it down and tidying it up. She came up pretty good. Will probably list it for sale once I get some more info on it.

 

[joglo]

Hi, this is most likely a 1993 or 94 model and 690 not 960!

Please find below some pictures from the 94 brochure and spec sheet (but the 690 was silver there)



while in the pricelist I've got with the brochure above, a black 690 is mentioned.


It seem to be a reliable and solid mid level bike for an attractive price (new).

Personally I think that Merida is underrated, especially the carbon and albontech models e.g. from same year are really nice.
Yours seem to be in almost new condition

If you want to identify the year more precisely you have to use the model numbers and ideally date code from the original Shimano components.
This link is to a Trek forum, but the provided information about dateing components is really great.
http://www.vintage-trek.com/component_dates.htm

 

[Sloth108]

Your a legend. Thanks heaps that is great info.
Dave

 

[durotmk]

Hello, please what is difference between 690 and 690SX? Does anybody know?

Your materials doesn't mention this model, maybe some (central) European version as I'm based here?

(I'm looking at one listing, it has front suspension & revoshift - but that seems odd to me, as that looks pretty new

 

[joglo]

Hello, please what is difference between 690 and 690SX? Does anybody know?

Your materials doesn't mention this model, maybe some (central) European version as I'm based here?

(I'm looking at one listing, it has front suspension & revoshift - but that seems odd to me, as that looks pretty new

SX has been often used to indicate models with suspension fork., SX = shox ;-)

Please find below a picture of the 690SX from 1994 (sorry for the bad quality)


Revoshift is the name of the nowadays and cheap twist shifter (gripshift copy) from Shimano. They are around maybe since 10years at max, so it looks like a replacement shifter.

 

[durotmk]

Thank you joglo,
for quick & to the point answer.
Yes, that maked sense now - it has some kind of Rockshox suspension (I suspect it's elastomer probably? To put it in shape after that years.)

The frame...just to be sure, is it CroMo, double butted as the chart says?

I like that bike much, probably I will buy it & restore what I can. Now I have Stumpjumper '89 and I love the geometry & generic feel, but it's a bit small for me (like 17 or so, for my 178cm). I hope Merida in 20.5 will solve this

Best regards!