The Merida Scultura 400
The Scultura’s Lite Frame made from Merida’s high quality Triple Butted Prolite 66 material.
Frame
The Scultura 400 is an entry level bike easy on the budget. Clad in Scultura’s Lite Frame made from Merida’s high quality Triple Butted Prolite 66 material, the frame boasts a strong, light and durable 6066 aluminum alloy. It comes in 7 sizes – 44cm to 59cm to accommodate a wide range of riders. Its cool red/matt black/gray finish gives you a classic color scheme for any occasion. The avid rider enjoys an easy everyday ride to nearby vicinities as well as sporting occasions on the Scultura’s combined Shimano 105 gruppo and Merida’s own brand of componentry melded seamlessly into one cycling machine.
Componentry
The Scultura hails with a tapered shaft carbon fork which adds stiffness while delivering steering precision. A tapered head tube endows the front end of the bike with more strength and stiffness, and Flex Stay technology in the rear gives you some vertical movement on the frame built to absorb vibrations and bumps for a comfortable ride. Internal cable routing gives the bike a clean outlook and protects the cables from the wear of years.
The Scultura is geared into action by its Shimano 105, 5800 22 speed groupset. This means that for $1581, you get a groupset ranked just one notch below Ultegra, Shimano’s second-tiered brand for groupsets. Critical components like the shifters, rear derailleur and cassette enjoy the 105 badges which ensure smooth shifting between gears as you tackle different terrains. The forceful Merida Road Pro brakes are Merida’s own to quickly stop the Merida Comp 24 alloy wheels fitted with Maxxis Dolomites 25 fold tyres.
Merida has outfitted the Scultura with its own house brand: the Road Anatonic OS handlebar is clamped to a Merida Pro OS-5 stem, and the Merida carbon H SB15 27.2 seat post dutifully supports a Merida Race 5 saddle which aids in your body weight adjustment uphill and downhill.
Shimano + Merida Wheelset
Shimano 105 is again the language of precision: the Scultura is well-fitted with the Shimano RS500 50-34 chainwheel and CS-5800-11 11-28 freewheel. It comes with Merida’s Comp 24 alloy rims and also features sealed bearing hubs that protect it from unwanted grime.
The tyres used on the Scultura are the Maxxis Dolomites 25 fold tyres. Equipped with a lightweight 120 TPI casing and dual-compound rubber, the Maxxis tyres perform well on rugged, steep terrains. The tyre brand’s under-tread Silkworm puncture protection also assures you of conquering tough topographies with ease.
Ride Quality, Ride Feel
The Scultura 400 balances speed with long ride comfort
Coming at a mere 8.65kg, the Scultura 400 is one of the lightest alloy road bikes among the four in this review, justifying its $1581 price tag. It is geared for mid-level road cycling – I felt it commanded itself well on the roads and up slopes with a good balance of speed and long ride comfort. I did not feel stiff on disembarking. The Scultura responds well to gear shifts and I did not feel much vibration thanks to its Flex Stay technology. It is also well-suited for the big climbs and relatively steep descents of Mount Faber’s roads. This means that you can ride it to the nearby malls, tackle distant long climbs or go on round-the-island race marathons all in the package of a well-rounded bike.
The Merida Scultura 400 retails at $1581 @:
Hup Leong Company
Block 51 Chin Swee Road, #01-107,
Singapore 160051
Opening Hours: Mon-Sat (11AM–7:30PM), Closed on Sundays & PH
Tel: 6532 3700
Email: [email protected]
https://www.togoparts.com/bike-shop/16/hup-leong-company
