rode the merlin all day today and i have to say it is by far the best hardtail Ive ever experienced. Climbs like monkey on coke and downhill i cant believe what im about to say but its even better then the arc.
I had to think long and hard about it and this was my conclusion:
yeti: for show
merlin: for a pro ( not that im a pro but i like to use and abuse my bikes like i was one )
sell you house, wife and children, throw in a kidney and get your self a merlin
anyway I need help with pimping it up: if you have any suggestions or ideas please let me know.
checked the frame nr against the merlin website and it wasnt a 99 version but 95, so i have a retro merlin now