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Merlin ROC Review
Merlin has been in the industry for a couple of decades now, pioneering full titanium frames and providing cycles for some top athletes. The ROC is not made of titanium, but it is a lower-midrange aluminum bike at a budget road bike price.
We would have loved to try the new 2017 version, but we hear that the new model will not have changed much. There will be a few upgrades on the finishing kit, from 4ZA alloy stems, seatposts, and handlebars to Deda RHM.
For the model we were able to get our hands on for this review, we were pretty satisfied. The best part about this bike is that it’s punching above its class. The Shimano 105 drivetrain, quality treads, and aluminum and carbon construction make for a great combination. The only issue we had was that the carbon blade forks have an aluminum steerer; a full carbon fork would have been an improvement. The bike is nice and light, affording some easy, fast rides. Overall, we were happy with the efficiency and speeds we racked up.
+Pros:
- Lightweight
- Above par quality for the price
- Affordable
- Good combination of componentry
- Fast and efficient
- Great for road and urban riding
-Cons:
- Aluminum steerer
The Verdict
A great budget road bike from Merlin, definitely its best aluminum and Shimano-heavy construction yet!
We really liked the Merlin ROC, and it’s a near perfect construction for its price tag. At well under a thousand dollars, this bike offers easy and mostly smooth road rides. The 2017 model will have a new and improved finishing kit to look forward to.
