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2017 Commencal Meta AM V4.2 Race Eagle 650b
(discontinued)

Vital Rating:
Discontinued
s1600 2017 Commencal Meta AM V4.2 Race Eagle 650BBike
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s1600 2017 Commencal Meta AM V4.2 Race Eagle 650BBike s1600 2017 Commencal Meta AM V4.2 Race Eagle 650B brushed.jpg?VersionId=dMSCoMQFdZdpuM2GiUATG
Related:
Commencal
27.5
Enduro
Tested
Test Sessions
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Review - 2017 Commencal Meta AM V4.2 from Vital MTB Test Sessions
This black beauty is a speed before comfort machine that thrives on steep mountain terrain.
Rating:
Vital Review
s1600 commencalA 195796
Rate review:
2
bturman
3/15/2017 9:43am

13 comments

Post a reply to: Review - 2017 Commencal Meta AM V4.2 from Vital MTB Test Session

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hbelly13
7 years ago
The reviews here are some if not the most thorough in the mountain biking media. I like that you all break stuff as this is something few reviewers readily discuss. The literary and historical references are fun too. I am long time Joseph Conrad fan and I hope to get to take one of these for a spin just for the allusion to HoD. It's high praise if you can compare a bike to a character that was brilliant, single-minded and insane.
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Headshot
7 years ago
Really enjoying the Vital reviews this year. I take something away from each one and find I can use them to interpret my own bikes behaviour. Plus the dry, rocky trails are more like home than the loam we often see in bike reviews
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sinewaiver
7 years ago
The wording on the RS Deluxe seems slightly misleading, a piggyback mono tube damper won't circulate any more oil than an inline mono tube confuguration? Though your comments on heat should be accurate.
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Dave_Camp
7 years ago
it does pump a little more oil- the piggy back shocks have a 12.7 (1/2") shaft where the inline shocks have a 10mm shaft. Bigger shaft = more oil displaced.
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bturman
7 years ago
Thanks, Dave! Always nice to get comments from one of the guys designing such rad components.
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sinewaiver
7 years ago
Ok. Thanks for the insight, I assumed you would use a common shaft diameter between the 2 designs. 61% more flow, I would count as more than "a little more oil".
Does the inclusion of the wave spring on the negative side provide something an appropriately sized neg air chamber doesn't? Or is it due to an axial space constraint?
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bturman
7 years ago
I believe you're referring to RockShox's Counter Measure technology. The spring system opposes the effect of IFP pressure, lowering initial breakaway force.
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onthewhiskey
7 years ago
I've been loving these reviews, and there is some pretty good insight into the bikes.

However, I think there's way too much focus placed on the chainstay length in reviews these days, and the affect it has on a bike is rather ambiguous. Especially since in these tests (and among many other tests performed by an array of media outlets), I've now read that shorter chainstays make it harder to weight the front wheel (i.e. rear weight bias), and that longer chainstays put more weight rearward. Totally contradicting arguments, and only two examples from this batch of reviews - many more have been written and published. (From my own observations, and logic, I believe it's the first one that is more correct)

I'm not saying that chainstay length shouldn't be looked at, actually I'm not even sure what I'm trying to say at all; I think I'm just trying to get at my feeling that the current trend for reviewers is to automatically use chainstay length as an easy number to describe a certain aspect of how a bike rides. Obviously it's not as easy as one piece of the bike, and based on the ambiguity surrounding what the affects of chainstay length are in terms of ride quality in todays reviews, nobody has a definitive answer worthy of being published.

An additional note (since I seem to be feeling like a pretentious *sshat today, my apologies); I'd love to see more on trying to describe how the bike wants to be ridden with regards to body position and riding style, rather than just how the bike reacts to the way the tester rides. You touch on it here a bit with saying it needs to be ridden aggressively. But there are varying styles of "aggressive". I'd like riding styles to be better categorized, and a clear pathway of which bikes suit which riding styles, more than just "it's a plow bike", "it's a fun, poppy bike", or "it needs to be ridden aggressively", etc.. It may be harder than it seems to systematize what I'm looking for, and I don't have the answers to my own request - but hey, it's not my job.

Actually, though, I do genuinely enjoy reading the reviews on Vital, and do believe that they are some of the most useful out there.
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Mint
7 years ago
I'm an atheist in the school of chainstay length. The chainstay is part of a system, different parts of the bike come together to make the whole. I have no doubt that there are great stubby stay bikes as well as lengthy bastard stay bikes. You caught me here. I was trying to point out that because of the geometry/purpose/damping of this bike its rear wheels may look like they've been run over by a Mack truck in no time. It is worth reading Dylan's response in the comments section on the Firebird, spot on.

Riding this bike epitomizes the loose but firm rider style. In order to ride it semi smoothly you need to move all over the bike and remain loose to soak up the trail coming through the bike. At the same time it takes a firm hand to bend this I-beam of a bike round corners and to press your weight into or pull out of compressions. That is what I meant by aggressive versus the more playful Firebird where you can be more lackadaisical and still make the corner.

Thanks for the comments, they made me think and I enjoy doing that. I hope I came within a few miles of satiation.
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sinewaiver
7 years ago
Agreed, longer chainstays will reduce the average vertical force going through the rear axle for a given wheelbase.
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EBlackwell
7 years ago
Would love to upgrade my 2016 Meta to this one sometime, absolutely love the feel of these bikes. Great review Vital. Two things worth noting for folks that are interested in the bike. First, I have noticed the heel clearance is much less of an issue if you do a little bit of hamstring stretching. Tight hamstrings cause you to flare your toes out to compensate for the lack of mobility, making the heel rub issue worse. Obviously this seems like something Commencal should address, but don't let it be too much a deterrent if you are interested in the bike. Second, you can actually tighten the inner linkage bolts (at least on the 2016 version) without taking the wheel off. You just need to have a set of long-handled allen keys instead of a multi tool. It is still a bit awkward but it is doable.
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Mint
7 years ago
Consululted Miss Cleo about my hamstrings did you. Well you're...right. I've never touched my toes in my life. Interesting tid-bit there. You'd have to have hamstrings tighter than mine to be deterred by the wide seatstays and that is going some. Sign me up for yoga. Thanks
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Specifications

Product
Commencal Meta AM V4.2 Race Eagle 650b
Model Year
2017
Riding Type
Enduro / All-Mountain
Freeride / Bike Park
Rider
Unisex
Sizes and Geometry
S
M
L
XL
Wheel Size
27.5" (650b)
Frame Material
Aluminum
Frame Material Details
NEC + ULTRA SL (Aluminium 6066 Triple Butted)
Rear Travel
160mm
Rear Shock
RockShox Super Deluxe RC3, 230x60, 3 Positions
Fork
RockShox Lyrik RCT3, Solo Air, Boost
Fork Travel
170mm
Head Tube Diameter
Tapered 1-1/8" / 1-1/2"
Headset
Cane Creek 40 Series Tapered ZS44/ZS56, Semi-Integrated
Handlebar
Ride Alpha, Alloy 7075, Double Butted, 30mm Rise x 780mm x 31.8mm
Stem
Ride Alpha, Alloy 2014 Forged, 50mm x 0º Angle x 31.8 mm
Grips
New Ride Alpha, Ergonomic Grips, One Lock, Super Soft Compound
Brakes
SRAM Guide RS, 200mm / 180mm
Brake Levers
SRAM
Drivetrain
1x
Shifters
SRAM X01 Eagle, 1x12 Speed
Front Derailleur
N/A
Rear Derailleur
SRAM X01 Eagle, 12-Speed
ISCG Tabs
ISCG05
Chainguide
N/A
Cranks
SRAM X1 1400 Eagle, Boost 170mm on S/M, 175mm on L/XL
Chainrings
34 Tooth
Bottom Bracket
SRAM GXP Press Fit BB92
Pedals
N/A
Chain
SRAM X01 Eagle
Cassette
SRAM XG 1295, 10–50 Tooth, 12-Speed
Rims
Mavic 427, 32 Holes, Hookless, Tubeless Ready, 27mm Inner
Hubs
Formula, 32 Holes, Sealed Bearings
Spokes
Pillar Spokes, Stainless Steel, 2mm, Black, Nylock
Tires
Front: Maxxis HRII 27.5" x 2.4" EXO Tubeless Ready
Rear: Maxxis DHRII 27.5" x 2.3" EXO Tubeless Ready
Saddle
Ride Alpha, SuperLight Foam, CrMo Rails
Seatpost
RockShox Reverb Stealth, 125mm on S/M, 150mm on L/XL
Seatpost Diameter
31.6mm
Seatpost Clamp
Standard
Rear Dropout / Hub Dimensions
148mm x 12mm Boost
Max. Tire Size
57mm
Bottle Cage Mounts
Yes
Colors
Black, Brushed
Warranty
5 Years
Weight
32 lb 0.5 oz (14,530 g)
Miscellaneous
Piggy Back Shock Compatible
Price
Black paint: $4,449.00
Brushed finish: $4,599.00
More Info

​Commencal Website

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International shipping available. Some exclusions apply.
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International shipping available. Some exclusions apply.
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