MERIDA SCULTURA 400 vs CANYON ENDURACE AL 7 vs ROSE PRO-SL 2000

ADRIAN. ALBU12

Hello. I'm researching for a roadbike for a few months now (had some problems on my ankle and couldn't ride this year, so I had plenty of time). The thing is that I narrowed the list at 3 bikes:
1. MERIDA SCULTURA 400 (listed at 8.8 kg, with Shimano 105 groupeset)
2. ROSE PRO-SL 2000 (listed at 8 kg, with Shimano 105 groupset - from what I heard the real weight is around 8,4-8,5 kg)
3. CANYON ENDURACE AL 7.0 (listed at 8,4 kg, with Shimano 105 groupeset - the real weight again is around 8,5 kg)
My first choice was ROSE, but at this time of the year they don't have small sizes anymore (by the way, I'm about 165 cm tall and have a 73 cm inseam, so my guess is that I would need a 50 size frame). I found only good reviews and seems to know what they are doing.
The second choice would be Canyon, but lately I started to read more and more bad reviews about delivery process, failures in frames and components, etc. I also tried to contact Canyon a few times for different info and they didn't reply me at all, or I had to talk to some guys that didn't know anything about the subject and also didn't want to help. That made me think twice.
So I decided to order a Merida Scultura
from my local dealer (I owned a Ride 100 for about 3 years, no problems at all), as soon as the discounts start, since I consider the price a bit to high, especially it has a lot of own branded components that are on the heavy side. A quick switch of the wheels and it should be at around 8,4 kg.
My budget is maximum 1200 euros.

So, I wanted to ask you, what are your opinions about the decision I took? Do you guys recommend something else out of those 3 bikes mentioned above? Did you have any kind of experience with those brands? Thanks in advance and sorry for my poor English skills.

StillGoing

I'm a big Merida advocate. I ride a Reacto 4000 frame that I've built up to my spec as my main bike, but I also own a Ride 400 as my winter trainer/turbo bike. I ditched the 105 5800 on the Ride 400 for a SRAM Force 22 set up, but switched to Rival 22 shifters around a year ago as I made a killing on the resale of the Force items. Both frames are well built being German designed and a couple of Sculptures that I've built up for others were up to the usual standards of Merida. Don't forget that Merida are one of the biggest manufacturers of bikes in the world with their plant in Taiwan sitting alongside Giant. You don't see a lot of them on the road though unlike Giant.

ADRIAN. ALBU12

Thank you very much for your opinion. Indeed, the frames seems to be very well built, I was very pleased with my Merida Ride, but I like climbing and want a lightweight bike with 105 groupset. I'm a bit worried about the size though, a few months ago the reach value was 375 for the size 50, and now it is 384. I sent an e-mail to them and they confirmed me that the reach is 384 wich it seems a bit to stretched for me.

StillGoing

The Scultura does measure big when compared to what you'd normally expect. I recently built one up for someone size 50". My Reacto is a 47" XS and when I tried the Scultura, it seemed massive in comparison.

ADRIAN. ALBU12

philthy3 wrote:

The Scultura does measure big when compared to what you'd normally expect. I recently built one up for someone size 50". My Reacto is a 47" XS and when I tried the Scultura, it seemed massive in comparison.

So should I go for the 47 size frame? I'm 165 cm. Thanks

StillGoing

ADRIAN. ALBU12 wrote:

philthy3 wrote:

The Scultura does measure big when compared to what you'd normally expect. I recently built one up for someone size 50". My Reacto is a 47" XS and when I tried the Scultura, it seemed massive in comparison.

So should I go for the 47 size frame? I'm 165 cm. Thanks

Same as me so I'd recommend the 47 frame. I'm long torso but short thighs and find the 47 size perfect with an 80mm stem.