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After reading the thread about the 2021 version and watching a few positive reviews online. I fancy trying one. Though after searching through the STW forums there seemed to be a few mutterings about cracking frames and warranties. Is this still a issue now or have they improved? The frame only price seems pretty good compared to the other bikes I've been looking at.
Have they had any recent issues? There was an issue with 2009 year metas cracking.. mine was one of them, they replaced the frame and I rode the replacement (hard) until last year when I sold it.
Jeff
I've no idea to be honest. I'd not considered the brand until seeing a few videos and the STW article. I forgot when the warranty thread was made.
They did have issues but I've not heard of anything recently. In 2010 I was working with a race team who also had a fleet of demo bikes and almost every frame cracked. There was a whole shed which was taken over by the Commencal graveyard. Metas and Supremes stacked to the ceiling.
It was a short but intense period of shoddy build quality or heat treating by the factory involved.
They look mint now. I'd buy one.
It's not a problem anymore. Three years of my fat ass on my 2017 Meta says that they build pretty good frames nowadays!
They used to be genuinely bad for it, and not just on one model or one year. But that was a while ago. I'd not hesitate now, myself.
Metas since the v3 (2012?) have been pretty bombproof as far as I know. I think they looked at the bad couple of years and said ‘never again’. Mate and I had the 26 and 29 versions of the same frame from 2013ish, never skipped a beat. He sold his last year, I still have mine. The 29er only has 130mm of travel and has spent years being landed badly and having rocks bounce off the downtube because I have terrible line choice and still going strong. I’d happily buy another.
I’ve had a Commencal Meta 29 TR for a year and a bit, great bike, frame has been fine.
Oddly I had the KS Integra seatpost crack at the saddle clamp, Commencal were very helpful and sent out a replacement clamp straight away.
I've got a 2021 Meta TR (essential spec). Frame seems pretty bomb proof to me, certainly no lightweight, can't imagine it breaking anytime soon. Very happy with it, nice bike.
I have a 2020. They are literally built like a tank. I think I could take any WWII Panzer out if I had the high ground and a little run up.
Thanks for all the replies. Going to give it a go.
I bought a 2nd hand 2016 meta, rode it for a year before selling it last year, great bike. Loved it, no problems at all.
My son has had the meta AM 29 and ragged it senseless for a couple of years . They are rock solid . I doubt you will have any issues , they are heavy but a joy going downhill.
This review just landed on PB
LINK
If I needed a new bike this would be top of the list. I'm just scared to buy my first 29er without even a brief test ride. If anyone is buying one let me have a spin on it!
The new bikes make my 2019 look steep!
Seems to be more room in the seat tube for a long dropper which is nice. I got a 170mm in mine but needed a lot of measuring to make sure it'd go.
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If you want a 140mm bike theres loads of lighter options with similar geo
If you want a burly bike theres loads at that weight with 150/160mm travel (starting with the meta AM)
Not sure who this is for at that weight and travel?
Suppose the same people as the privateer 141...
I think if you are gonna drag that weight around it may as well have the travel to get you out of trouble.
Geometry gets you out of trouble as much as big travel does.
Big travel can make for ponderous pedalling vs 140mm.
Love the look of these.
Travel is just a number. Geometry is everything.
Not sure who this is for at that weight and travel?
Me!
Yeah but theres lots of lighter bikes with similar geo and travel
TBH bikes pedal so well these days, not sure I'd notice much difference in pedalling a 140 vs 150 bike at the same weight.
Yeah but theres lots of lighter bikes with similar geo and travel
Are they twice the price?
Not sure there are that many - what frames are you thinking of?
Great bike but £5k for a 34lb trail bike???? That’s just getting silly. You can get a carbon Scott genius for £4K that’s 5lbs lighter
Not with Factory36 and a Factory X2.
£7.2K for one with Factory 36s (and it has a FIT 4 damper rather than a Grip 2) and a feeble Factory Float rear shock. Not really particularly comparable bikes. Genius doesn’t appeal to me in the slightest, but the Commencal does.
Some people just aren't that concerned about weight. It's a 29er with a metal frame, big wheels and proper tyres. I bet you can absolutely hammer it in a way you just can't on most twitchy trail bikes.
I wouldn't have a Scott. It's a personal beef but I worked there for a while and it put me off for life.
Not sure there are that many – what frames are you thinking of?
um.... Trance X ?
Ha! its a 140mm bike bike with the geo and weight of a 150mm - 160mm bike
You said lots? 😉
Maestro and swoopy bollocks rules that out for me.
Also seems closer to the Scott - long legged XC/Trail bike with XC/trail dampers and 135/150 vs a far more aggressive 140/160.
um…. Trance X ?
Barf. You're not converting me.
Seems to occupy a similar niche to the Banshee prime - over built trail bike with not that much travel. I do wonder if it's more appropriate for a lot of riding than the longer travel versions, but impossible to demo anything and find out at the moment.
I've got one of these bikes, before buying I and was really concerned about the weight (started MTB'ing in the 90's so a trail bike weighing over 30lbs did not compute). It's honestly not a bother. If I was mainly doing 8hr lake district hike a bikes I might have a different opinion, but for my average 3 hour or so ride, it's just not an issue.
"Seems to occupy a similar niche to the Banshee prime – over built trail bike with not that much travel."
160mm forks and almost 140mm on the back is still quite a bit of travel - especially when you've also got 29" wheels. We've only recently had many longer travel 29ers appear, driven mostly by the gnarliness of the EWS courses.
However if you do want an overbuilt trail bike with not that much travel, the Banshee Phantom with 130mm forks and 115mm rear certainly fits the bill and is very well reviewed:
The latest Commencals look great too. I don't care that they're not terribly light - the difference in weight between a hefty and a light MTB full-sus frame is so small compared to the total weight of bike and rider (for a normal sized man anyway). And considering you hardly hear of them breaking, unlike the Commencals from ten years ago which seemed to have built in obsolescence...
I’m riding a 2021 meta am 29 at the minute, it’s built like a tank but pedals real well and I don’t think I notice the weight. A mate has the new tr 29 It’s a real nice looking bike and seems to pedal real well. Downhill no one on bigger enduro bikes could keep up. He is real quick anyway but it certainly wouldn’t hold anyone back I don’t think
Go frame only, build it up like you want, never weigh it, don't look at the receipts and be happy! or at least that was my approach with my AM9.
People get so caught up on weight. If I can stand to loose 10kg I'm not gonna worry about a bike being a a few 100g heavier here and there.
My AM9 will weigh loads more than a Giant Trance I used to have but is night and day better at climbing.
I have a 170mm 29er that weighs the same as that.
But I bet that Meta is just as authoritative when you're off the brakes and charging.
Nothing wrong with a heavier, mid-travel bike - I reckon it'll have a similar feel to the older Kona Processes.
I feel like I’m in quite a minority but I love how the weight of my Levo makes it behave downhill. It’s not even that bad uphill with the motor off despite being fifty something pounds and not having a whole lot of anti-squat.
My view might be quite different if it was shorter and steeper with smaller wheels and less/no travel but it just carries speed in such an amusing way.
Say yes to big heavy 29ers!
My ransom 910 with xm1501s and carbon kit was 30lbs. Didn't ride it enough to warrant keeping it though as my Genius rides better in most places. The Ransom was too fast down but no where near as quick as the genius up even though the genius only ended up a half pound less. If I could get my hands on a Nude TR for the Genius then I'd be set.
Oddly I've ordered a ransom 920 alloy to build as a mini DH bike build and hope to get this in about 34lbs with a 38 and appropriate tyres. No need for an X2 as the nude rates very well.
For local group riding here though when the up's about shooting the sh*t rather than hurring along, the Meta TR would no doubt be an absolute blast!
I'm a little late in replying but a Banshee Prime is also on my list.
Modern Commencals do seem to carry a bit extra frame weight, but that is well known and they've stuck to it for some time.
If you're going to carry more weight, for enhanced durability, on a full suss, the frame and maybe bars would be where its at. On a hardtail, rear wheel and cranks, IMO.
It's true a heavier bike is a bit less agile, but I think a lot of that is psychological. Incremental changes in bike weight are a small percentage of the bike+rider+gear total.
Sag, leverage curve and anti-squat are so much more important.
Where that isn't true is wheels and tyres. Heavy wheels and tyres you definitely feel. That's why 29ers blow in my view.
Until recently a lot of Commencal looked horrendous, but this and the Clash bikes are bang tidy.
Look right. Ride right.