Merida NINETY-SIX RC 5000 2022

Where it stands

Priced below the market rate for its equipment, but another bike in its price range is priced further below it in the sizes where both are in stock. That is the only reason it is not the pick.

Our pick · €4,500 – €5,000

• KTM Prowler Exonic 2023 at BikeExchange€4,599EUR 2099 more expensive, XX1 Eagle AXS instead of Deore, entry-level carbon rather than unidentified wheels.

What you get

Frame

Carbon NINETY-SIX RC CF4 III

Drivetrain

Shimano Deore, 12-speed (mixed build)

Wheels

not stated by the shop: scored level with basic aluminium

Brakes

Hydraulic disc, the maker's mid series

Weight

not stated by the shop: not scored

Power meter

No

Suspension

full suspension

Fork

RockShox Reba, 100 mm travel

Wheel size

29"

Tyres

Maxxis Rekon Race/Maxxis Rekon Race

The compromises

• Mixed groupset: not every component is Shimano Deore.
• Wheels not identified from the listing, so we scored them level with basic aluminium rather than guess.
• 2022 model year.

Your size

What B.O.C. lists, and what it has today

Where to buy

The same bike at 3 shops, matched on the same manufacturer barcode at every shop

• B.O.C.· this listing€2,499.99not in stockopen
• BikeExchangecheapest in stock€4,999in stock: L and XLopen
• bikes.decheapest in stock€4,999in stock: Lopen

Our pick is the cheapest shop that actually has your size, not the lowest headline price.

Price so far

• B.O.C. states an RRP of €4,399 (43% off). That is the shop's claim; we rank on today's price, never on the discount.

How sure we are