This was my son's bicycle and he has finally outgrown it. It's been really great bike! We just put $60 worth of German Schwalbe tires on it this summer so it rides like a dream. Those tires even have reflective side walls which is nice. Merida is a well-known European brand. Bicycle was purchased from a US service member who purchased the bike while stationed in Korea. I think this bike has been around the world.
I've owned a few Specialized bikes and this one feels very similar. I put a chain on it when I bought it and that was about it other than tires. The gear shifters are easy to use and plenty intuitive. Oh, we put a cushy seat on it as well. And a nice sounding bell for trail riding. It is pretty light so it's easy to load. It is optimally sized for a person from 5'2" to 5'7". It needs nothing other than a new rider, male or female.