Straightforward dirt road slogs went as expected - slow and steady - but what about more technical, twisty sections of trail? Well, I still wasn't setting any speed records, but the Meta's handling is very manageable, with a comfortable seated climbing position, and a front end that I didn't have any trouble keeping on track. I'm not ashamed to admit that the 50-tooth cog on the Eagle cassette saw plenty of use on those climbs – after all, this thing weighs as much as a modern downhill bike. It certainly took more effort compared to bikes that weigh five or more pounds less, but with the lockout engaged on the Super Deluxe coil, I was still able to make my way up some seriously nasty logging roads in Bellingham and Squamish. In fact, I can't think of the last time that I had any noise-related issues with a BB92 bottom bracket, despite all the mud and grit that I regularly ride through.Įvery time I started grinding my way uphill, the Hollies' 1969 hit, He Ain't Heavy, He's My Brother would start floating around in my head, except that this version had the refrain of 'It ain't heavy, it's my Meta.' (There's a reason I usually ride alone.) That became my mantra as I spun those cranks on this over-35 lb machine, and it seemed to work. ![]() Threaded bottom bracket fans will have to look elsewhere, as Commencal have stuck with the BB92 shell found on the 27.5”, although I do think the fear of pressfit bottom brackets has been blown out of proportion. There's a thick chainstay protector to minimize chainslap noise, along with a down tube protector and a little mud flap on the back of the seat tube. Still, it's good to see that this feature wasn't overlooked. Other details include the ability to carry not one, but two water bottles, although one of them will need to be pretty small to avoid hitting the shock, and the other one will be mounted to the bottom of the downtube. There's now a brace between the seatstays in order to add a little extra stiffness, and the size of the bearings in the rocker link has been increased as well. Something worth considering when looking at sizing.The Meta 29's frame looks even burlier in person than it does on a computer screen, with a wide and flat top tube that curves over the shock, and a chunky swingarm that provides loads of tire clearance. And even with the extended seat mast, we couldn’t slam the 175mm KS Lev dropper post all the way into the frame, so at full extension the saddle was too high of anyone under 6ft tall. ![]() ![]() It leaves quite a sharp edge right where you naturally reach to pick up the bike though. This is not simply about maintaining a clean line front to back, it also maximizes standover clearance. It’s big and burly, but the new Fox chassis it’s very much in keeping with the rest of the numbers on the Meta Power – the 1,282mm wheelbase making it the longest bike in test and, at 25.11kg (55.36lb), it’s also the heaviest.Īnother carry over from the old world is the cutaway in the underside of the top tube that the shock sits into. ![]() On the entry-level Meta AM Power Essential that means a Fox 38 Performance fork. Travel is similar too both frames boasting 160mm with geometry designed around round 170mm travel suspension forks. Read more: Best electric mountain bikes, E-Bike of the YearĬommencal Meta Power 29 Essential e-bike review And with the battery now hidden inside the 6066 alloy frame, the Meta AM Power casts a very similar shadow to the analogue bike. Commencal has built on the success of the original Commencal Meta Power 29 by boosting the output with the new Shimano EP8 motor and expanding its range with a 630Wh battery.
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