The Meta 5 gained the small Andorran company Commençal a worldwide following when it was launched in 1995, but it's lost ground to its rivals in recent years. Commençal are fighting back though, with a new Meta AM for 2012.
At the heart of the bike is a new triple-butted 7005 alloy frame frame that bears a striking resemblance to the latest Supreme DH V3 downhill bike being used by the Atherton clan. Perhaps this shouldn't be a surprise; on their website, Commençal boldly state of the Meta AM that "a great enduro bike isn't a cross-country bike that can descend, but a downhiller than can climb".
Despite its downhill DNA, the Meta AM has been designed with climbing and pedalling in mind, too
The new bike has a longer top tube and chainstays than the current Meta, a lower bottom bracket and shock position, and a 0.5° slacker head angle (67°), which should make it more stable at speed and in corners (you can view a geometry chart here). It's also said to be both stiffer and better pedalling – the latter thanks in part to a steeper seat tube and a reduced offset.
There's a tapered, AngleSet-compatible head tube up front, with internal cable routing throughout (including for the dropper seatpost). Other features include a 142x12 rear hub, direct post mount rear brake tabs (180mm), ISCG05 mounts, a BB92 press-fit bottom bracket and direct-mount front mech.
Old versus new: the 2012 Meta AM, front, compared to the current Meta 55
The Meta AM has 150mm of rear travel, courtesy of a scaled down version of the Contact System EVO suspension design used on the DH V3 – essentially a four-bar rear end, with a floating upper shock mount. This is said to be more progressive than the linkage activated single-pivot suspension of the current Metas, and has been optimised for 2x10 gearing setups.
Check out our massive gallery for more pictures of the Meta AM, along with the video below which shows it in action. There are more details at www.commencal.com. Commençal bikes are distributed in the UK by Decade Europe, who expect to have stock of the new bike in two to three months. It'll be available in four sizes – S, M, L and XL – and with three spec levels (see below for more on this). Pricing is still to be confirmed.
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Specifications
Commençal Meta AM 3
- Frame: Commençal Meta AM, 150mm
- Shock: Fox Float RL
- Fork: Fox 32 Float RL, 15QR
- Headset: Integrated w/sealed bearings
- Stem: Commençal VIP OS
- Bar: Commençal VIP OS, 730mm
- Grips: Commençal lock-on
- Brakes: Formula RX, 180mm rotors
- Shifters: SRAM X5 2x10
- Front mech: SRAM X7 2x10
- Rear mech: SRAM X7 2x10
- Cranks: SRAM S1000 w/ press-fit BB, 39/26T
- Chain: SRAM PC-1030 10-speed
- Cassette: SRAM PG-1030, 11-36T
- Rims: Mavic XM119
- Hubs: Commençal disc 15QR front/142x12 rear
- Spokes: Stainless, black, 3x lacing
- Tyres: Schwalbe Nobby Nic 2.25in front, Rocket Ron 2.25in rear
- Seatpost: Commençal VIP, 31.6mm
- Saddle: Commençal Race
Commençal Meta AM 2
- Frame: Commençal Meta AM, 150mm
- Shock: Fox Float RP2
- Fork: Fox 32 Float RL, 15QR, tapered
- Headset: Integrated w/sealed bearings
- Stem: Commençal VIP OS
- Bar: Commençal VIP OS, 730mm
- Grips: Commençal lock-on
- Brakes: Formula RX, 180mm rotors
- Shifters: SRAM X7 2x10
- Front mech: SRAM X7 2x10
- Rear mech: SRAM X9 2x10
- Cranks: SRAM S1000 w/ press-fit BB, 39/26T
- Chain: SRAM PC-1030 10-speed
- Cassette: SRAM PG-1030, 11-36T
- Rims: Fulcrum Red Power XL
- Hubs: Fulcrum 15QR front, 142x12 rear
- Spokes: Fulcrum
- Tyres: Schwalbe Nobby Nic 2.25in front, Rocket Ron 2.25in rear
- Seatpost: Commençal VIP, 31.6mm
- Saddle: SDG Circuit for Commençal
Commençal Meta AM 1
- Frame: Commençal Meta AM, 150mm
- Shock: Fox Float RP2 Boost Valve
- Fork: Fox 32 Float RL FIT, 15QR, tapered
- Headset: Integrated w/sealed bearings
- Stem: Commençal VIP OS
- Bar: Commençal VIP OS, 730mm
- Grips: Commençal lock-on
- Brakes: Formula RX, 180mm rotors
- Shifters: SRAM X9 2x10
- Front mech: SRAM X9 2x10
- Rear mech: SRAM X0 2x10
- Cranks: Race Face Turbine X type
- Chain: SRAM PC-1030 10-speed
- Cassette: SRAM PG-1070, 11-36T
- Rims: Fulcrum Red Power XL
- Hubs: Fulcrum 15QR front, 142x12 rear
- Spokes: Fulcrum
- Tyres: Schwalbe Nobby Nic 2.25in front, Rocket Ron 2.25in rear
- Seatpost: RockShox Reverb
- Saddle: SDG Circuit for Commençal
