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Liv Avow Advanced SL 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 €300 cheaper (€7,199 vs €7,499 for the Liv Avow Advanced SL).
- Our verdict scores the Liv Avow Advanced SL higher overall: 77/100 vs 71/100.
- Only the Liv Avow Advanced SL has integrated hydration.
Liv Avow Advanced SL
Merida Time Warp TRI
| LivAvow Advanced SL | MeridaTime Warp TRI | |
|---|---|---|
| Overview | ||
| Brand | Liv | Merida |
| Build | Avow Advanced SL 1 | Time Warp TRI 10K |
| Build notes | Model year 2027. EUR price from Liv Germany (Liv Italy lists €8,999); not listed on Liv's UK or US sites. | Merida's sites do not publish prices. Colour metallic black (Flash BCP). |
| Price (MSRP) | €9,500€9,500€9,500 | — |
| Model year | 2027 | 2026 |
| Generation | Avow Advanced SL (first disc-brake Avow) | TIME-WARP TRI CF5 IV |
| Launched | 2025-01 | — |
| Discipline | Triathlon | Triathlon |
| UCI legal | Yes | Not stated |
| Verdict (out of 100) | ||
| Overall score | 77 | 71 |
| Aero | 84 | 74 |
| Frame | 82 | 74 |
| Components | 72 | 74 |
| Hydration & storage | 85 | 66 |
| Fit | 82 | 68 |
| Practicality | 62 | 66 |
| Price | 70 | 72 |
| Frame & fork | ||
| Frame material | Carbon (Advanced SL-grade composite) | Carbon (CF5) |
| Fork material | Carbon (Advanced SL-grade composite, full-composite OverDrive steerer) | Carbon (Time-Warp TRI CF5 IV disc) |
| Frame sizes | XXS, XS, S, M | XS, S, M, L |
| Colours | Carbon; Gloss Pearl White/Chrome (2027 SL 2); Gloss Ultra Navy (2025 tri frameset); Gloss Mercury Gale (2027 SL-FF) | Burgundy red (black); metallic black (Flash BCP); black (titan); titan (black) |
| Also available as | Giant Trinity Advanced SL (Giant-branded sister model); Avow Advanced SL framesets | Time Warp TT frame kit (time trial version, now archived) |
| UCI frame approval | Approved 21 Apr 2024 as 'MY25 AVOW ADV PRO' (frame and fork), category ALL, sizes XXS-L (5), code LIV-010 (UCI list version 2026.10.02); the list does not use the Advanced SL name | — |
| UCI configuration | Liv says the frameset is compliant for TT events; the 2027 SL-FF frameset ships with a UCI bottle alongside the hydration kit | — |
| Compatibility & standards | ||
| Brake type | Flat-mount disc | Hydraulic disc |
| Max rotor size | 160 mm | — |
| Wheel size | 700c | 700c |
| Max tire width | 30 mm | 30 mm |
| Bottom bracket standard | Press-fit (PowerCore, 86 mm wide) | 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 only (Shimano Di2 and SRAM AXS) | — |
| Mechanical shifting possible | No | — |
| Cable routing | Internal, with ports at the head tube and rear dropout | Fully internal |
| Electronic battery location | Battery holder in the down tube | — |
| Hydration & storage | ||
| Integrated hydration | Yes | — |
| Hydration volume | 850 ml28.7 fl oz | — |
| Hydration details | AeroVault reservoir with a straw near the armrests: 850 ml on M, 700 ml on XXS, XS and S. A metal threading tool is included for cleaning, and a standard bottle cage and bottle can be fitted instead. | — |
| Integrated storage | Yes | Yes |
| Storage details | Top-tube bento box for up to six 32 g gels. | Top-tube storage box (bento) bolted to the frame. |
| Top tube bento box | Yes | Yes |
| Fit & adjustability | ||
| Aerobar system | AeroDrive base bar with integrated stem and Sync armrest set; Giant SYNC EVO Pro extensions fit the bridge without an adapter | Merida Metron TT carbon base bar/stem with height- and position-adjustable tri armrests and TRI MAX or TFE carbon extensions depending on build |
| Pad stack adjustment range | Armrest stack 0-80 mm in 9 positions (tri pad stack 604-686 mm on XXS to 672-752 mm on M) | — |
| Pad reach adjustment range | Armrest reach 0-75 mm in 10 positions (tri pad reach 309-383 mm on XXS to 360-435 mm on M) | — |
| Pad width range | 192-244 mm in 8 positions | — |
| Extension options | 10 and 15-degree extension wedges; armrest angle 0, 10 or 15 degrees; extension width 82-166 mm in 4 positions | — |
| Seatpost type | Liv Avow Composite aero seatpost (7x9 carbon rails compatible) | Merida Team TT II carbon aero seatpost (Flip Flop Head for fore-aft saddle position) |
| Saddle position range | Four offset positions within a 51 mm range | — |
| Aerodynamics | ||
| Testing method | CFD and dynamic wind-tunnel testing (AeroSystem Shaping) | — |
| Travel, maintenance & warranty | ||
| Derailleur hanger | — | Merida DH-067 (Shimano direct mount) or DH-068 |
| Proprietary parts | AeroDrive base bar and stem, Sync armrests, Avow Composite seatpost | Metron TT bar/stem, Team TT II seatpost and clamp, Time Warp TT headset, storage box |
| Frame warranty | Lifetime limited warranty on the frame and ten years on the rigid fork, original owner only (US) | — |
| Sold via | Liv online store with delivery or pickup through authorized Giant/Liv retailers, and in store | Merida dealers |
| Drivetrain | ||
| Groupset | SRAM Force AXS E1 | Shimano Dura-Ace Di2 R9200 |
| Launched | 2025 · current generation | 2021 · current generation |
| Speeds | 12-speed | 12-speed |
| Electronic | Yes | Yes |
| Wireless | Yes | — |
| Drivetrain | 2x12 | 2x12 |
| Shifters | SRAM eTap Clics (extensions) / eTap Blips (basebar) | Shimano Dura-Ace Di2 ST-R9180 |
| Position | Extensions and basebar | — |
| Crankset | SRAM Force AXS E1 Power Meter | Shimano Dura-Ace |
| Chainrings | 50/37 | 52/36 |
| Crank length | 160 (XXS-S) / 165 (M) | 165 (XS) / 170 (S-M) / 172.5 (L) |
| Notes | — | With power meter |
| Power meter | SRAM Force AXS E1 Power Meter | Shimano Dura-Ace power meter crankset |
| Launched | 2025 · current generation | 2021 · current generation |
| Bottom bracket | SRAM DUB Pressfit | Shimano SM-BB92-41B |
| Standard | Press-fit | — |
| Front derailleur | SRAM Force AXS E1 | Shimano Dura-Ace Di2 |
| Rear derailleur | SRAM Force AXS E1 | Shimano Dura-Ace Di2 |
| Cassette | SRAM Force E1 | Shimano Dura-Ace R9200 |
| Range | 10-33 | 11-30 |
| Speeds | 12-speed | 12-speed |
| Chain | SRAM Force E1 | Shimano CN-M9100 |
| Brakes | ||
| Brake levers | SRAM Force Aero hydraulic | Shimano Dura-Ace |
| Brake calipers | SRAM Force Aero eTap hydraulic | Shimano Dura-Ace |
| Type | Hydraulic disc | Hydraulic disc, 2-piston |
| Rotors | SRAM Paceline X | Shimano RT-CL900 |
| Front rotor | 160 mm | 160 mm |
| Rear rotor | 140 mm | 140 mm |
| Mount | — | Center Lock |
| Wheels & tires | ||
| Wheelset | Giant SLR 1 50 WheelSystem | Vision Metron 81 SL |
| Front rim depth | 50 mm | 81 mm |
| Rear rim depth | 50 mm | 81 mm |
| Internal rim width | — | 21 mm |
| Material | — | Carbon |
| Tubeless ready | — | Yes |
| Hubs | Giant Low Friction Hub, CenterLock, 30T ratchet driver | — |
| Spokes | Sapim CX-Ray | — |
| Tires | CADEX Aero | Continental Grand Prix 5000 S TR |
| Tire width | 28 mm | 28 mm |
| Set up tubeless | Yes | — |
| Cockpit | ||
| Aerobar system | Giant AeroDrive base bar with Sync armrest set | — |
| Pad stack adjustment | 0-80 mm in 9 positions | — |
| Pad width adjustment | 192-244 mm in 8 positions | — |
| Tilt adjustment | 0, 10 or 15 degrees | — |
| Basebar | — | Merida Metron TT |
| Material | — | Carbon |
| Notes | — | Integrated bar and stem, -17° stem angle |
| Extensions | Giant 10 and 15-degree extension wedge | Vision TFE carbon |
| Headset | — | Merida Time Warp TT |
| Saddle & seatpost | ||
| Saddle | Liv Contact SL Tri | Prologo T-Gale TT CPC Nack |
| Seatpost | Liv Avow Composite | Merida Team TT II |
| Saddle position range | Four offset positions within 51 mm | — |
| Material | Carbon | Carbon |
| Notes | — | Aero shape, Time Warp TT insert clamp |
| Included extras | ||
| Hydration system | Liv AeroVault hydration kit | — |
| Volume | 850 ml28.7 fl oz | — |
| Notes | 700 ml on XXS, XS and S | — |
| Storage / bento | Liv Top-tube bento box | — |
| Geometry (smallest – largest size) | ||
| Sizes | XXS, XS, S, M | XS, S, M, L |
| Rider height min | 151–173 cm4′11″–5′8″ | — |
| Rider height max | 161–182 cm5′3″–6′0″ | — |
| Stack | 467–532 mm18.4–20.9″ | 496–574 mm19.5–22.6″ |
| Reach | 387–432 mm15.2–17″ | 376–427 mm14.8–16.8″ |
| Pad stack min | 604–672 mm23.8–26.5″ | — |
| Pad stack max | 686–752 mm27–29.6″ | — |
| Pad reach min | 309–360 mm12.2–14.2″ | — |
| Pad reach max | 383–435 mm15.1–17.1″ | — |
| Seat angle min | 77° | 76–77° |
| Seat angle max | 77° | 76–77° |
| Head tube angle | 71–73° | 71–72° |
| Head tube length | 65–125 mm2.6–4.9″ | 110–173 mm4.3–6.8″ |
| Effective top tube | 493–554 mm19.4–21.8″ | 490–570 mm19.3–22.4″ |
| Seat tube length | 440–538 mm17.3–21.2″ | 460–580 mm18.1–22.8″ |
| Chainstay | 405 mm15.9″ | 415 mm16.3″ |
| Wheelbase | 969–1,013 mm38.1–39.9″ | 984–1,045 mm38.7–41.1″ |
| BB drop | 70 mm2.8″ | 55–70 mm2.2–2.8″ |
| Fork length | — | 371 mm14.6″ |
| Fork offset | 40 mm1.6″ | — |
| Trail | 63–79 mm2.5–3.1″ | — |
| Standover | 733–814 mm28.9–32″ | 752–838 mm29.6–33″ |
| Saddle height min | 530–615 mm20.9–24.2″ | — |
| Saddle height max | 680–765 mm26.8–30.1″ | — |
| Wheel size | 700c | 700c |
| Crank length | 160–165 mm6.3–6.5″ | — |
| Basebar width | 400 mm15.7″ | — |
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).