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All-new Commencal Meta AM v4.2 evolves for enduro

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From its naming the new Meta AM v4.2  may sound like just the next minor firmware update to some piece of electronics, but the new bike takes Commencal’s long-standing all-mountain platform and extends it into a more capable enduro ride. At first, the bike looks similar to the current fourth generation of the bike, but by stretching the rear end out to 160mm of travel with a revised shock and suspension movement, the 650b/27.5″ trail bike gets more capable for hitting the rough stuff while retaining the versatility to pedal to the top of the mountain. Get a good look at the bike hitting the trails, plus all the new details and updated tech…

Commencal thinks that an enduro bike is just a DH bike that knows how to climb, so that is kind of where the Meta seems to be headed. In its latest update Commencal has revised the movement of the new metric shock to give it both more travel and a more directly progressive suspension curve.

Commencal_Meta-AM-v4-2_aluminum-160mm-enduro-mountain-bike_frame Commencal_Meta-AM-v4-2_aluminum-160mm-enduro-mountain-bike_shock

Commencal_Meta-AM-v4-2_aluminum-160mm-enduro-mountain-bike_shock-curve

While the previous v4 bike came with a long and detailed chart highlighting which shocks could and couldn’t be used in the frame, the revised 2-piece toptube design builds in clearance and compatibility for all shocks on the market. Now with a 230x60mm metric damper for the new 160mm of rear wheel travel, Commencal can offer a lot more shock options to tune the bike to the way you ride. Overall the move to a longer shock, mounted a bit higher up in the frame, is also said to add a bit more space inside the main triangle around a water bottle.

Commencal_Meta-AM-v4-2_aluminum-160mm-enduro-mountain-bike_geometry

With longer travel out back, the Meta AM v4.2 sticks to pairing with 170mm forks, but slackens the head angle by 0.5° (and slightly grows the wheelbase as a result) to better suit the more aggressive riding to come. Otherwise geometry is said to stay the same (seat angle, toptube length, BB height, chainstay length), although the XL bike does stretch out a tiny bit and frame stack increases about 5mm across the range to get the bars up a bit to match the longer travel.

Commencal_Meta-AM-v4-2_aluminum-160mm-enduro-mountain-bike_bb

The updated frame builds in a new integrated downtube protector at the bottom bracket. It also gets a revised cable guide there to transition the internally routed rear derailleur and brake lines into the chainstays, as well as to get the stealth dropper cable out, around the main pivot and back into the seat tube.

Commencal_Meta-AM-v4-2_aluminum-160mm-enduro-mountain-bike_rear-end

With the move to Boost 148 spacing out back, the updated Meta gets a new forged non-driveside dropout that also opens up more space around the chainstay-mounted brake for less interference with larger caliper designs. With wider Boosted Formula hubs, Commencal has also spec’d wider rims too, with 25-30mm internal on each of the bikes for a wider tire contact patch.

Commencal_Meta-AM-v4-2_aluminum-160mm-enduro-mountain-bike_colors

The new Meta AM v4.2 will come in three paint colors, depending on each of the six spec levels on offer. Plus, the top two bike builds will also have the option to go with a lighter brushed alloy finish with just a clear coat over the pared back graphics.

Commencal_Meta-AM-v4-2-Origin_aluminum-160mm-enduro-mountain-bike_yellow-side-studio Commencal_Meta-AM-v4-2-Ride_aluminum-160mm-enduro-mountain-bike_orange-angled-studio

The most affordable bike in the lineup is the yellow-only $2200/2200€ Origin spec with a SRAM NX1 11 speed group, Level brakes, WTB STP i25 rims, RockShox Deluxe RT shock, and a Yari RC fork. Step up to the orange-only Ride for $2500€ and you get a Lyrik RC fork upgrade and Guide R brakes, plus a GX1 shifter.

Commencal_Meta-AM-v4-2-Essential_aluminum-160mm-enduro-mountain-bike_black-angled-studio Commencal_Meta-AM-v4-2-Race_aluminum-160mm-enduro-mountain-bike_black-side-studio

The next two bikes come only in matte black with the more subtle graphics look. The $3000€ Essential gets the same Deluxe RT, Lyrik RC & Guide R brakes, but goes up to a full GX1 drivetrain and 27mm internal Mavic 427 rims. It also is the first to add a dropper post with the Reverb Stealth, which carries through on all of the more pricey models. With its race-ready designation, the $3500€ Race gets more tunable suspension by way of the top-of-the-line Deluxe RC3 & Lyrik RCT3, that also carry through as the prices go up. The Race also goes to Guide RS brakes, a Cane Creek 40 headset, stickier 3C Maxxis rubber, and adds in an X01 derailleur.

Commencal_Meta-AM-v4-2-Race-Eagle_aluminum-160mm-enduro-mountain-bike_brushed-side-studio

The Race Eagle is the first in the line to offer a choice of color, available in the matte black or gloss yellow for $4000€, or brushed aluminum for $100€ more. As the name suggests, it goes to 12 speed with a new X01 Eagle setup with the 10-50 cassette and an X1 crankset.

Commencal_Meta-AM-v4-2-World-Cup_aluminum-160mm-enduro-mountain-bike_brushed-outside

The top Meta AM v4.2 World Cup gets a full X01 Eagle 12 speed drivetrain, and throws in a set of Spank Oozy Trail 345 tubeless wheels with 30.5mm inner width rims. The World Cup will come in either $4500€ matte black or $4600€ brushed alloy versions.

Commencal_Meta-AM-v4-2_aluminum-160mm-enduro-mountain-bike_laid-over

All of the new Meta AM v4.2 bikes share the same hydroformed aluminum frame and come in 4 sizes: S-XL. They will be available from November 2016, and can be pre-ordered now.

Commencal.com

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Tyler B
Tyler B
7 years ago

Leverage ratio graph with no y-axis labels are pointless. This could be graphing 3:1 to 2:1 (progressive), or it could be 2.55:1 to 2.50:1 (linear).

Marin
Marin
7 years ago

Commencal names their bikes like they’re a piece of software.

JNH
JNH
7 years ago
Reply to  Marin

If you ever get the chance to meet Max Commencal you will understand why, the guy is a pure engineering type, dreaming up silly names would be wasting time that could be spent on a better tubing profile!

Craig
Craig
7 years ago

That world cup edition in brushed finish has to be the best looking bike of 2017!

Esteban LV (@es7ebanlv)

What a hideous top tube.

stiingya
7 years ago

wonder if the XL frames will be all funky looking again. The shock lines up perfect and tucks in on the other frames. But then on the XL it didn’t work last time! 🙂

LOL, how it fits every shock… every metric shock. Of which you can buy ONE at the moment… 🙂 still at least they made the switch. Bummer other 2017 frames that didn’t. May as well join em than have to buy a new shock mount later…

stiingya
7 years ago

And also… if they were going to make a new frame why didn’t they do a horst link this time. Just as many moving parts, may as well get the brake and wheel path benefit…?????

bearCol
bearCol
7 years ago
Reply to  stiingya

Yeah, I don’t understand why faux bar still exists. Even VPP is open patent now. This is a great time to make frames with what used to be expensive designs and they choose to stick with faux? 4 bar has been open since 2012, faux should be gone by now.

randal
randal
7 years ago

Agreed. Kona, Commencal, and a few others still still trying to use the older single pivot faux bar design. Not sure why that’s the case.

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