The Commencal Meta AM 29 has been updated for 2021 with – no prizes for guessing – longer and slacker geometry, updated suspension kinematics, new cable and hose routing, and four build kits that reflect its enduro leanings.
The Commencal Meta AM is the rowdier sibling of the Meta TR – a former Trail Bike of the Year winner – with more travel, a lower standover and a longer reach.
The 2021 Commencal Meta AM 29 now has a fashionably long (and rightly so) 470mm reach in a size medium. To put that into context, the reach of a size large 2019 Meta AM 29 was 468mm, so things have grown considerably.
To compensate for this increase in reach, 40mm stems are now equipped across the board. The seat angle has also steepened to 78.5 degrees across all sizes compared to the original 76.5 degrees.
Up front, the head angle has slackened out to 63.6 degrees from 65.5 degrees, and short offset forks are now specced on all models.
The overall shape of the bike has been slightly altered, losing the distinctive kink on the top tube. The seat tube height has also been reduced considerably (25mm shorter on a size large frame), allowing riders to run the very longest dropper posts possible.
The bike sticks with a 170mm travel fork and 160mm of travel at the rear, but the kinematics have been updated to be, Commencal claims, “both more dynamic and more comfortable during suspension travel”, resulting in less leg fatigue.
This updated geometry combined with 29er wheels should make for a very capable bike and addresses some of the concerns we had with the original version of the Meta AM 29.
Cable and hose routing is also said to have been updated, though exactly how is not divulged in the press release.
Likewise, the bike is said to use “double-row Enduro Bearings”, but whether or not this is on all pivots or just the main pivots is not clear.
The bike is still only available with an alloy frameset but, as Tom commented in his first ride review of the 2019 version of the bike, weight really isn’t a key focus on this kind of bike. The longevity and hardiness an alloy frameset can bring is greatly preferable over the modest reduction in weight carbon could potentially offer.
Prices start at €2,499 for the Shimano Deore 11-speed equipped 2021 Commencal Meta AM 29 Origin, which ships with a RockShox Yari RC fork and Deluxe Select shock.
The top-end 2021 Commencal Meta AM 29 Signature will set you back €5,299 for an XT-equipped bike with Fox Factory suspension components.
| Frame size | S | M | L | XL |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Seat tube length | 380 mm | 420 mm | 440 mm | 460 mm |
| Seat tube angle | 78.5° | 78.5° | 78.5° | 78.5° |
| Head tube angle | 63.6° | 63.6° | 63.6° | 63.6° |
| Head tube length | 115 mm | 120 mm | 125 mm | 130 mm |
| Wheelbase | 1,231 mm | 1,258 mm | 1,285 mm | 1,312 mm |
| Top tube length | 573 mm | 600 mm | 626 mm | 652 mm |
| Chainstay length | 433 mm | 433 mm | 433 mm | 433 mm |
| BB drop | -21 mm | -21 mm | -21 mm | -21 mm |
| Reach | 445 mm | 470 mm | 495 mm | 520 mm |
