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Looking at new bikes in current lockdown situation. Lots of window shopping going on.
Currently riding a Bird Aeris 120 LT and fancy trying a 29er.
Commencal Meta TR been catching my eye for a few weeks but not seen one in the flesh or seen many user reviews.
Anyone got one? Need something versatile like the Bird that peddles reasonably well. Only have one bike at a time.
Was Pinkbike's favourite of their recent value bikes.
https://m.pinkbike.com/news/field-trip-commencal-meta-tr-review-2020.html
Bird AM9?
Never tried the Meta TR, but doubt it will be more versatile/better climber than the AM9 if on similar wheels and tyres
Or wait for the Bird Ather9?
Will test ride Aether9 if it comes out soonish but also interested in the Commencal if anyone has any direct experience?
My mate has one in the british racing green with grip 2 fox etc. I think it was the 4k build. I have has a couple of goes on it although it's a little small for me. It is built like a tank and does not feel like a 130mm bike, helped by the 150mm fork. It tracks well and I really liked it, not the most poppy bike but just really nice and solid bike to ride. I would consider one as my next bike.
I have the 2019 Ride model, which comes with 140mm Revelation. Before it I've owned a variety of more enduro oriented bikes with longer travel (Process 153, Patrol, Spitfire) and was slightly worried about the bike being overwhelmed in rougher tracks. Was completely wrong. The bike feels really solid and stable even in chunky terrain. Rear suspension tracks very well but doesn't feel mushy in berms or soft when pedalling. Also, due to the relatively steep HA, its surprisingly agile. Just an extremely well-balanced bike. Originally I intended to have the bike just for a year and get something fancier but I've been so happy with the bike that the plan was scrapped.
“Also, due to the relatively steep HA, its surprisingly agile.”
It’s not as steep as the geometry chart suggests - they’ve quoted the numbers based on a 130mm Pike/Lyrik even though all the current models have 150mm forks. Strange but clearly a good bike!
Commencal has this very weird habit of publishing the geo charts based on fork travels they don't even sell the bikes with. They do the same with the Meta AM 29.
Roughly speaking, a 150mm fork equipped TR 29 is about 1° slacker and 10mm shorter on reach than they announce
It’s not as steep as the geometry chart suggests – they’ve quoted the numbers based on a 130mm Pike/Lyrik even though all the current models have 150mm forks.
Yup, aware of that and it's a bit of a weird one. Anyway, I considered HA relatively steep since mine has "only" 140mm fork and the two main alternatives I was looking at when buying the bike were Sentinel and Evolink 140 which have 64 HA 🙂
@tuomoe Many thanks - that is very helpful. Do you have an issue with the heel rub on the stays that some of the reviews mention?
I ride with pretty toes out heels in clipless setup, so I tend to get heel rub with all bikes. The heel rub issue in meta is not such that it would have forced me to switch my stance or started to annoy me. Still, it's perhaps a bit more noticeable than with some of the other bikes I've had. If one is very sensitive to that it might be something to take into account.
Bought the commencal (race edition). Only got a few rides on it and still getting used to it. Have put a CCDB inline coil on it and the rear is mega for 130mm. Not sure about the Pike up front but still fiddling with it. Bike is shorter than my bird which is taking a little getting used to. I was torn between a large and XL but wanted to try a bike with a little less reach and 29er. Apart from the shock I haven't needed to change anything else on the bike which is well specced. Interrupted seat tube is a little annoying as had long dropper on the bird and only 150 on the meta.
As stated above the bike is built like a tank. Very heavy and this is a little noticeable climbing compared to the bird, although the seated climbing position is really nice.
As I say still getting used to the bike and I am far from any sort of riding guru TBH, so the limitations are mainly mine rather than the bike. Will post back in a few weeks when I have more time on it.
Bought the commencal (race edition). Only got a few rides on it and still getting used to it. Have put a CCDB inline coil on it and the rear is mega for 130mm. Not sure about the Pike up front but still fiddling with it. Bike is shorter than my bird which is taking a little getting used to. I was torn between a large and XL but wanted to try a bike with a little less reach and 29er. Apart from the shock I haven’t needed to change anything else on the bike which is well specced. Interrupted seat tube is a little annoying as had long dropper on the bird and only 150 on the meta.
As stated above the bike is built like a tank. Very heavy and this is a little noticeable climbing compared to the bird, although the seated climbing position is really nice.
As I say still getting used to the bike and I am far from any sort of riding guru TBH, so the limitations are mainly mine rather than the bike. Will post back in a few weeks when I have more time on it.
Cheers for that, @nicknameless
I've sold all my bikes and I'm looking for something new. The Bird AM9 seems to be what the head is telling me to get but there's just something about it I'm not sure about!
The one thing that stands out about the Meta TR is the head angle is quite steep, how are you finding that?
Not had any issues with it, although it is not much different to my previous bike and I am not riding anything mega steep.
I've seen comments about Commencal's geo measurements being out as they quote using a shorter fork. However, with tape measure and angle finder they seem spot on to me when measuring myself.
Not had any issues with it, although it is not much different to my previous bike and I am not riding anything mega steep.
I’ve seen comments about Commencal’s geo measurements being out as they quote using a shorter fork. However, with tape measure and angle finder they seem spot on to me when measuring myself.
Cheers for that, again! The bike gets really good reviews.