Commencal have some exciting new additions to their 2009 range including a brand new cross country carbon hardtail, marathon full suspension bike and reworked and upgraded frames on their ever popular Meta 5.5 and Meta 6 range.
Skin
After much testing and three prototypes later, Commencal enter the world of carbon with the Skin high performance hardtail. Built with High Module 12K carbon fibre (the best available), the Skin has been designed for use with a 100mm fork and has a slightly slack head angle for the descents – signalling that this isn’t only a machine for the preserve of 9 stone weight weenies.
Super 4
The Super 4 is Commencal’s new marathon cross country bike, and after two years and three prototypes’ worth of development, it’s set to be the weapon of choice if you’re after a shorter travel bike than offered by the popular Meta range (see below).
The sloping top tube for increased manoeuvrability, shorter chainstays for dynamic handling and a slack head angle for more fun on the downhills all combine to make this a great looking bike on paper.
The main pivot point has been positioned so as to avoid pedal bob and kickback, and the chainstay has been shortened making it stiffer and more reliable.
Supreme
There are two new frames in the Supreme downhill range which have been developed around Commencal’s new Contact System - offering more travel and a lower centre of gravity – crucial on a downhill bike
Important changes on the new bikes include - rear travel increased from 7” to 8”, shock length increased from 8.74” to 9.5”, and bottom bracket width has been increased from 68mm to 83mm. A new three-position rear disc mount is being used for the first time, and the frame has been designed to easily accept a majority of chain-guides available on the market.
Meta 5.5
The single pivot Meta 5.5, Commencal’s most versatile full suspension bike, has been overhauled for 2009 with the help of triple European Marathon Downhill champion Remy Absalon – and the company has tried to make this an even better bike than last year, whether hitting the big climbs or flying downhill.
The 5.5 frame has a new hydroformed top tube which is designed to absorb force from the rear shock more efficiently. New gussets have been added to the head tube to increase its rigidity and strength, and the Meta 5.5 uses the same swingarm as the Meta 6 – using no chainstays, which will put an end to chain-suck forever on this bike.
Meta 6
Commencal’s Marathon Downhill guided Remy Absalon and Greg Noce to victory at the Vallnord Maxi Avalanche race in Andorra last year, and the 2009 version of the 6” bike has been tweaked for increased performance – including a new top tube with increased slope, an adjustable head tube angle, and cable guides for the installation of an adjustable seatpost with remote adjustor. The swingarm has also been improved like on the Meta 5.5 in order to increase rigidity.
