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Factor SLiCK vs Merida Time Warp TRI
Pick up to 4 bikes. Rows line up component by component. Highlighted rows differ, and green marks the best value where lower or higher is clearly better.
Key differences
- The Merida Time Warp TRI starts €2,200 cheaper (€7,199 vs €9,399 for the Factor SLiCK).
- Our verdict scores the Factor SLiCK higher overall: 78/100 vs 71/100.
- Only the Factor SLiCK has integrated hydration.
- Tire clearance: up to 32 mm on the Factor SLiCK vs 30 mm on the Merida Time Warp TRI.
- The Factor SLiCK comes in 5 sizes, the Merida Time Warp TRI in 4.
Factor SLiCK
Merida Time Warp TRI
| FactorSLiCK | MeridaTime Warp TRI | |
|---|---|---|
| Overview | ||
| Brand | Factor | Merida |
| Build | SLiCK Premium SRAM Red w/ Power Meter | Time Warp TRI 10K |
| Build notes | Premium build: Black Inc Tri Bar and Black Inc SIXTY TWO wheels. Crank length is chosen at order. | Merida's sites do not publish prices. Colour metallic black (Flash BCP). |
| Price (MSRP) | €12,499$11,399€12,499 | — |
| Model year | 2025 | 2026 |
| Generation | Redesigned SLiCK (launched December 2024), Factor's first triathlon-only bike | TIME-WARP TRI CF5 IV |
| Launched | 2024-12 | — |
| Discipline | Triathlon | Triathlon |
| UCI legal | Not stated | Not stated |
| Verdict (out of 100) | ||
| Overall score | 78 | 71 |
| Aero | 82 | 74 |
| Frame | 86 | 74 |
| Components | 85 | 74 |
| Hydration & storage | 85 | 66 |
| Fit | 72 | 68 |
| Practicality | 82 | 66 |
| Price | 57 | 72 |
| Frame & fork | ||
| Frame material | Carbon (Toray and Nippon Graphite pitch-based fiber) | Carbon (CF5) |
| Fork material | Carbon (SLiCK wide-stance fork) | Carbon (Time-Warp TRI CF5 IV disc) |
| Frame weight | 1,250 g2.76 lb | — |
| Fork weight | 459 g16.2 oz | — |
| Weight measured on | Size 54 (Factor press release) | — |
| Frame sizes | 48, 52, 54, 56, 58 | XS, S, M, L |
| Colours | Shadow White, Nebula Blue | Burgundy red (black); metallic black (Flash BCP); black (titan); titan (black) |
| Also available as | HANZŌ is Factor's UCI time-trial bike | Time Warp TT frame kit (time trial version, now archived) |
| Compatibility & standards | ||
| Brake type | Disc, max rotor 160 mm front and rear | Hydraulic disc |
| Max rotor size | 160 mm | — |
| Wheel size | 700c | 700c |
| Max tire width | 32 mm | 30 mm |
| Bottom bracket standard | T47 (CeramicSpeed aluminium cups, 30 mm spindle bearings) | Pressfit 86.5 |
| Front axle | 12x100 thru-axle | 12x100 thru-axle (Merida Expert SL) |
| Rear axle | 12x142 thru-axle | 12x142 thru-axle (Merida Expert SL) |
| Drivetrain compatibility | Electronic groupsets; max chainring 56T | — |
| Mechanical shifting possible | No | — |
| Max chainring | 56T | — |
| Cable routing | Internal | Fully internal |
| Hydration & storage | ||
| Integrated hydration | Yes | — |
| Hydration details | Hydration reservoir on top-tube bosses, placed in the wake of the stem. | — |
| Integrated storage | Yes | Yes |
| Storage details | Bento box on top-tube bosses behind the reservoir, plus an in-frame storage space under the down-tube bottle cage with a zipped soft bag for tubes, levers and small tools. | Top-tube storage box (bento) bolted to the frame. |
| Top tube bento box | Yes | Yes |
| Fit & adjustability | ||
| Aerobar system | Standard build: Vision/FSA TriMax 3-piece aerobar (clip-on, carbon base bar, NS SMR II stem). Premium builds: Black Inc Tri Bar. | Merida Metron TT carbon base bar/stem with height- and position-adjustable tri armrests and TRI MAX or TFE carbon extensions depending on build |
| Third-party aerobars possible | Yes | — |
| Seatpost type | Factor SLiCK carbon straight post with 42 mm of adjustment; Ritchey-style 7x7 rail clamp | Merida Team TT II carbon aero seatpost (Flip Flop Head for fore-aft saddle position) |
| Effective seat angle range | 73-79° depending on saddle height (geometry chart lists 76°) | — |
| Fit notes | A standard 1-1/8 in steerer (1-1/8 in upper and 1-3/8 in lower bearings) lets riders fit third-party base bars, risers and extensions. Factor says the geometry has a particular focus on smaller riders. | — |
| Aerodynamics | ||
| Manufacturer aero claims | About 6 W saved at 48 km/h and about 12% better aerodynamics than the previous SLiCK | — |
| Travel, maintenance & warranty | ||
| Travel & packing | Factor says the standard steerer lets the bike be taken apart and rebuilt for travel easily and consistently. | — |
| Headset bearings | CeramicSpeed SLT, 1-1/8 in upper and 1-3/8 in lower bearings | — |
| Derailleur hanger | — | Merida DH-067 (Shimano direct mount) or DH-068 |
| Proprietary parts | — | Metron TT bar/stem, Team TT II seatpost and clamp, Time Warp TT headset, storage box |
| Frame warranty | Limited lifetime warranty | — |
| Sold via | Direct from factorbikes.com and through retailers | Merida dealers |
| Drivetrain | ||
| Groupset | SRAM Red AXS | Shimano Dura-Ace Di2 R9200 |
| Launched | — | 2021 · current generation |
| Speeds | 12-speed | 12-speed |
| Electronic | Yes | Yes |
| Wireless | Yes | — |
| Drivetrain | 2x | 2x12 |
| Shifters | — | Shimano Dura-Ace Di2 ST-R9180 |
| Crankset | SRAM Red AXS Power Meter | Shimano Dura-Ace |
| Chainrings | 48/35 | 52/36 |
| Crank length | 165 / 170 / 172.5 (chosen at order) | 165 (XS) / 170 (S-M) / 172.5 (L) |
| Notes | — | With power meter |
| Power meter | SRAM Red AXS Power Meter | Shimano Dura-Ace power meter crankset |
| Launched | — | 2021 · current generation |
| Bottom bracket | CeramicSpeed T47A | Shimano SM-BB92-41B |
| Standard | T47 (aluminium cups, bearings for 30 mm spindle) | — |
| Front derailleur | — | Shimano Dura-Ace Di2 |
| Rear derailleur | — | Shimano Dura-Ace Di2 |
| Cassette | SRAM Red AXS | Shimano Dura-Ace R9200 |
| Range | 10-33 | 11-30 |
| Speeds | 12-speed | 12-speed |
| Chain | — | Shimano CN-M9100 |
| Brakes | ||
| Brake levers | — | Shimano Dura-Ace |
| Brake calipers | — | Shimano Dura-Ace |
| Type | — | Hydraulic disc, 2-piston |
| Rotors | 160 mm rotors | Shimano RT-CL900 |
| Front rotor | 160 mm | 160 mm |
| Rear rotor | 160 mm | 140 mm |
| Mount | — | Center Lock |
| Wheels & tires | ||
| Wheelset | Black Inc SIXTY TWO | Vision Metron 81 SL |
| Front rim depth | — | 81 mm |
| Rear rim depth | — | 81 mm |
| Internal rim width | — | 21 mm |
| Material | — | Carbon |
| Tubeless ready | — | Yes |
| Tires | — | Continental Grand Prix 5000 S TR |
| Tire width | — | 28 mm |
| Cockpit | ||
| Aerobar system | Black Inc Tri Bar | — |
| Basebar | — | Merida Metron TT |
| Material | — | Carbon |
| Notes | — | Integrated bar and stem, -17° stem angle |
| Extensions | — | Vision TFE carbon |
| Headset | CeramicSpeed SLT 1-1/8" / 1-3/8" | Merida Time Warp TT |
| Saddle & seatpost | ||
| Saddle | — | Prologo T-Gale TT CPC Nack |
| Seatpost | Factor SLiCK Carbon | Merida Team TT II |
| Saddle position range | Straight post with 42 mm adjustment range | — |
| Material | Carbon | Carbon |
| Notes | — | Aero shape, Time Warp TT insert clamp |
| Geometry (smallest – largest size) | ||
| Sizes | 48, 52, 54, 56, 58 | XS, S, M, L |
| Stack | 470–570 mm18.5–22.4″ | 496–574 mm19.5–22.6″ |
| Reach | 385–445 mm15.2–17.5″ | 376–427 mm14.8–16.8″ |
| Seat angle min | 76° | 76–77° |
| Seat angle max | 76° | 76–77° |
| Head tube angle | 71.5–72.5° | 71–72° |
| Head tube length | — | 110–173 mm4.3–6.8″ |
| Effective top tube | — | 490–570 mm19.3–22.4″ |
| Seat tube length | 478–582 mm18.8–22.9″ | 460–580 mm18.1–22.8″ |
| Chainstay | 405 mm15.9″ | 415 mm16.3″ |
| Wheelbase | 968–1,044 mm38.1–41.1″ | 984–1,045 mm38.7–41.1″ |
| BB drop | 76–78 mm3–3.1″ | 55–70 mm2.2–2.8″ |
| Fork length | — | 371 mm14.6″ |
| Fork offset | 43–51 mm1.7–2″ | — |
| Trail | 61–62 mm2.4–2.4″ | — |
| Standover | 725–882 mm28.5–34.7″ | 752–838 mm29.6–33″ |
| Wheel size | 700c | 700c |
Geometry overlay
Pick a size for each bike to see frames and arm-pad ranges on top of each other.
Drawn to scale (how to read it).