Merida integrates UMF bikes into its own program

The bike brand UMF, which was introduced at Eurobike 2004 and has been active in the dirt sector ever since, will be integrated into the product range of the parent brand Merida with the presentation of the entire 2013 model year at the upcoming Eurobike in Friedrichshafen.

UMF (United Merida Freerider) was initially founded as a racing team in the early 2000s and from then on successfully developed into an independent bike brand, which currently includes riders such as Thomas Genon (BEL), Clemens Kaudela (AUT), Dominik Raab (AUT) and Tanja Hendrysiak (GER).

According to a press release, the example of the further development of the UMF Freddy freeride bike, whose rear suspension kinematics were the model and pioneer for the Merida One-Sixty enduro bike to be presented at the 2013 Eurobike, makes it easy to see how much both brands benefit from the integration of a UMF bike into the Merida portfolio.

"This will make Merida a supplier that can also offer first-class bikes in the mountain bike sector above cross-country and marathon," explains Merida's Head of Development Jürgen Falke. The development teams at the brands will be brought together and will join forces to drive forward the development of Merida bikes.

"We are very pleased to now be able to offer high-quality longtravel and dirt bikes with an optimally integrated UMF series, whose technological innovations will also play an important role for the rest of the Merida range," comments Falke on the merger of the two brands.

www.merida.com