Boardman TRVL 9.2 DB vs Merida Silex 700
Both are gravel bikes at a similar price. Here is what actually separates them.
The short answer
For a typical all-round rider the Boardman TRVL 9.2 DB comes out ahead (67% against 62%). That is not a universal verdict — change the terrain or the priority and the order can flip.
What actually separates them
- Weight
- The Merida Silex 700 is 0.5kg lighter, which you notice on long climbs more than anywhere else.
- Riding position
- The Boardman TRVL 9.2 DB sits you more upright (1.49 stack-to-reach against 1.47). The Merida Silex 700 is the more aggressive of the two — quicker if you can hold it, harder work if you cannot.
- Tyre clearance
- The Boardman TRVL 9.2 DB takes 50mm tyres against 45mm — the single most common thing buyers wish they had more of.
- Climbing gear
- The Merida Silex 700 has the easier bottom gear (22 gear inches against 25), which matters more than weight on anything genuinely steep.
- Shifting
- Only the Boardman TRVL 9.2 DB has electronic shifting. Crisper and lower maintenance, but it needs charging and costs more to replace.
Side by side
| Spec | TRVL 9.2 DB | Silex 700 |
|---|---|---|
| Price | £2,100 | £2,100 |
| Weight | 11.1 kg | 10.6 kg |
| Frame | alloy | alloy |
| Groupset | SRAM Apex AXS 1x12 | Shimano GRX820 1x12 mechanical |
| Stack / reach | 1.49 | 1.47 |
| Tyre clearance | 50 mm | 45 mm |
| Lowest gear | 25 in | 22 in |
| Mudguard mounts | Yes | Yes |
| Comfort | 69 | 65 |
| Speed | 15 | 22 |
| Climbing | 39 | 50 |
| Value | 21 | 2 |
Neither might be the right answer
This page assumes an average rider. Tell us how you actually ride and we will rank these two against everything else at the price.
Find my bike