Commencal are celebrating 10 years of making top-notch bikes with some new models as well as updates on their ’09 range. Highlights include carbon full-suspension Metas and a long-travel Ramones hardtail lineup.
The popular MaxMax jump bike has been reworked in cromo to allow riders on a tight budget to hit the dirt jumps, BMX track or the pub.
The Ramones
Commencal enter the hardcore/long-travel hardtail arena in 2010 with two Ramones models, suitable for cross-country rides, hurtling down the big stuff or hammering the dirt jump park. This versatile frame allows the use of 10mm, 12mm, 12mm Maxle or Singlespeed hubs.
Spec highlights on the cheaper Ramones 2 include RockShox Tora 289 U-turn 130mm forks, a Race Face Ride XC oversize stem, Avid Juicy 3 brakes, Shimano Deore shifting with an SLX Shadow rear derailleur, and Truvativ Blaze 2.0 cranks.
Upgrades on the Ramones 1 include RockShox Recon 327 U-Turn 140mm forks with 20mm Maxle, Race Face Evolve AM oversize stem, Shimano XT Shadow rear derailleur, Race Face Ride AM cranks with bashguard and Mavic 321 rims.
Meta 55 Carbon
The time has come: this ever-popular, versatile and revered trail bike from Commencal gets a carbon makeover for 2010 and we can’t wait to get our leg over it. We've seen prototype versions of this bike, but the production model is now ready.
Developed in association with triple European marathon downhill champion Remy Absalon, the new carbon rear swingarm apparently improves rigidity and saves weight. There’s no gusset on the headtube either, saving weight and improving the look of the machine.
Claimed weight of the frame is 2.55kg, as opposed to the alloy Meta 55 model which hits the scales at 3.3kg.
Super 4
Commencal’s cross-country mile-munching marathon machine has also been touched with the carbon wand for next year, and tips the scales at a paltry 2.22kg (frame only).
This year’s entire range of Super 4 bikes are equipped with 120mm adjustable forks over last year’s 100mm offerings – more fun downhill, we’re thinking.
Component highlights on the Super 4 Carbon model include a Fox RPL rear shock and 32 FRL forks, Race Face Deus stem, Easton MonkeyLite XC low-rise bars, Formula R1 brakes, Sram X9 shifters and X0 rear derailleur, Race Face Deus XC cranks, and DT Swiss X430 white rims on Shimano XT hubs.
Furious
The Cedric Gracia-inspired Furious freeride platform also gets the Linda Barker treatment for 2010 with updated sealed cartridge bearings on all the axles along with nickel cromoly bolts. The complete bike uses a 135mm rear hub and 73mm wide bottom bracket (not 83mm like the ’09 version) allowing for more affordable parts to be used.
The Furious has a Marzocchi Roco Coil R shock and 66 RCV forks, Avid Elixir 5 brakes, Sram X7 shifting and Truvativ Ruktion cranks.
MaxMax
The MaxMax bikes are simple machines for the urban/jump/street/BMX rider, and the new cromo steel bike is going to please the wallets of riders on a budget.
Geometry is the same as on the higher-end models, and improvements over the 2009 range include a lower bottom bracket height, integrated rear mech hanger, integrated headset, integrated chain tensioner in the dropouts and a built-in rear disc brake mount allowing for easier rear wheel installation.
Babylon
As far away from carbon linkages, five inches of travel and gnarly downhills as you can get, the Babylon bikes in stealth black (Babylon 1) or bright white (Babylon 2) look like they’re going to be nippy commuting tools.
Based on the company’s Supernormal mountain bike frame, the Babylon also borrows disc brakes, transmission and flat bars from the off-road world.
The Babylon 1 boasts a carbon fork and upgraded componentry over the Babylon 2 including an XT Shadow rear derailleur, Truvativ Rouleur Compact cranks and Alex 700x rims.