Merida Scultura Endurance 6000 vs Trek Checkpoint SL 5

Hello friends!

Earlier I posted asking for recommendations of which bike I should check out to graduate from my hybrid bike for longer rides. I don’t want such an aggressive aero stance as traditional road bikes because my back is iffy, and I mostly ride on paved roads, but I also go on, like rail trails and some dirt paths (the Capital City Trail, for those in Melbourne). I’m building up to go for longer 50-150km rides more frequently, and I want to be comfortable and speedy.

I have now narrowed down my search to three bikes:

Merida Scultura 5000 ($3499AUD) [https://www.99bikes.com.au/merida-22-scultura-endurance-5000-matt-fog-green-black](https://www.99bikes.com.au/merida-22-scultura-endurance-5000-matt-fog-green-black)

Merida Scultura Endurance 6000 ($3999AUD) [https://www.99bikes.com.au/merida-22-scultura-endurance-6000-glossy-race-red-black](https://www.99bikes.com.au/merida-22-scultura-endurance-6000-glossy-race-red-black)

Trek Checkpoint SL 5 (with a discount that comes down to $3499AUD, and comes with a bike fit and MIPS helmet) [https://www.trekbikes.com/au/en\_AU/bikes/road-bikes/gravel-bikes/checkpoint/checkpoint-sl/checkpoint-sl-5/p/35169/?colorCode=red\_bluedark](https://www.trekbikes.com/au/en_AU/bikes/road-bikes/gravel-bikes/checkpoint/checkpoint-sl/checkpoint-sl-5/p/35169/?colorCode=red_bluedark)

I like the feel of the Trek, and I love the store that it comes from – it’s close and the people are kind and helpful. But I worry that given my goal is going fast, a gravel bike is less fast, and I’m not familiar with the GRX 810 or GRX RX600. While I love riding, I’m still very unfamiliar with bikes as a thing. I know I can change the tubeless tyres to be narrower, though, which would probably solve the gravel bike tyre slowing me down problem.

With the Merida 5000 vs 6000. On the 5000, I like getting to have an extra $500 in my pocket. On the 6000 I like that it’s red, and I’ve read that electronic shifting means that my gears will need less maintenance, so that will save me money in the long run?

I’m going to test drive both the Trek and the 5000 this weekend (the 6000 is on back order, and I’m hoping that getting my fit on the 5000 means that I could just order the 6000 if I decided to go that way), but I was wondering if any of you fine folks had opinions about these three bikes, and if there was one that stuck out.

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What do you think?

by Ampersand_Forest