Commencal Meta AM 29 2014
The Meta AM 29 has been around for a couple of seasons now and is built with the same intentions and ethos of the AM, but obviously with the bigger wheels to cater for that part of the market.
Where does this bike excel? As Nico Menard, Commencal’s chief bike designer, told us, “When the tracks open up and get fast, you can just blast through everything on the 29.” The words of the passionate bike rider – a trait shared by just about all the staff at the company – couldn’t have been proved any better than on the super-fast and rough lower slopes in Vallnord: the bike motors.
Of course, all the benefits and indeed failings of 29” wheels are also present. Once it’s up to speed this bike truly rockets and on one particular wide-open section of singletrack the AM 29 was noticeably pulling distance on the SX. Having said that, on tighter, slower and more technical sections we preferred the agility of the two smaller-wheeled options.
In short, this is not a lightweight 29” XC slayer; its abilities and intended strengths go further and into bigger terrain. However, if choosing from the Meta range you need to be sure that big wheels are your thing if you are to forfeit the agile and robust nature of the AM and SX.
Brief impressions:
- It’s big, it’s burly and it’s a 29er. We’re even bored of saying “the debate rages on” but it’s true. At the end of the day bigger wheels suit some riders and styles and the options are all there in the Meta range – you decide which you prefer and thank Commencal for making the sensible offering of all three wheel sizes in one range of bikes
- As far as 29ers go, this is a burly beast and suited to big mountains and big terrain
What Commencal say about the 2014 Meta AM 29:
“For its amazing grip and its breath-taking nimbleness. No matter if it’s your taste or riding style, this 29er AM is both nice to handle and pleasing to ride.
Whether it is a matter of taste or riding style, an All-Mountain 29er must first enable you to ride your favourite singletracks while providing a seamless riding comfort. High-end components, and 130mm of travel make it irresistible.
But woe to those who think it is clumsy because once it’s a full speed, this bike will surprise you with its agility. You have been warned!”
Fin.
To read more about the Commencal Meta range trip, including tales of woe such as ‘The pig’s ear of doom’ and ‘Heli me in Scotty’, pick up a copy of our sister publication Dirt Magazine issue 140 (out end of September).
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