COMMENCAL META AM 29 ÖHLINS ED review – Not be underestimated

If there’s a brand that’s combined all the current geometry trends in one frame, then it’s COMMENCAL with the brand-new META AM 29. Long reach, super short chainstays, slack head and steep seat tube angles. But does that automatically mean that the new META delivers on the trail?

For an overview of the test fleet head to the group test: The best enduro bike 2021 – 13 models in review

COMMENCAL have been building exclusively aluminium frames for a long time and the latest META AM 29 is no exception. It offers 170 mm travel up front, 160 mm at the rear and, as the name suggests, rolls on 29” wheels. COMMENCAL have done a beautiful job of attaching the shock to the top tube. The entire frame is burly, with big bearings, thick frame protectors and massive rocker links. No wonder that it tops the scales at a whopping 16.20 kg with its Öhlins coil suspension and complete renunciation of carbon parts.

The components of the COMMENCAL META AM

The COMMENCAL team rely on a direct-to-consumer sales model, sending their bikes directly to the customer. If you want to own a META AM 29 ÖHLINS, you’ll have to fork out € 5,299. It comes with a complete Shimano XT 12-speed drivetrain, DT Swiss wheels built with robust EX511 rims and a Kind Shock dropper post. The dropper post on the size medium we tested offers 150 mm travel, whereas the size L comes with a 175 mm model, going all the way up to 200 mm on the XL – great! The dimensions of the Ride Alpha cockpit give no reason for complaint, but we’d have expected higher-end components at this price. Overall, the frame’s finishing quality is a little rough around the edges. Examples include the tube shapes at the head tube, the weld seams and the cable routing.

The geometry of the 2021 COMMENCAL META AM – Long, slack, short

The COMMENCAL META AM already looks very aggressive on paper. Its reach in size large is really long at 495 mm and the head tube angle is a slack 63.6°. Due to its length, it is one of the first bikes where we had to downsize to a medium with a 470 mm reach. The 433 mm chainstays are very short in relation to the ultra-long front centre on the size large. With the size medium, the ratio of reach to chainstay length is more balanced. The seat tube angle is very steep at 78.5°.

Climbing is only a means to an end but you can do so in a relaxed manner.

At 180 cm tall, you’ll still be within COMMENCAL’s size recommendation if you’re on a size medium. The riding position is central and upright, though you’ll quickly notice that you’ve got a lot of weight on your hands on flat terrain: this bike is clearly designed to ride up steep climbs and blast down even steeper descents. Despite its heft, climbing is a relaxed affair thanks to the efficient chassis which hardly absorbs any of your pedalling input, together with the upright but compact riding position which ensures that the front wheel always stays planted.

Though the META AM 29 prefers taking things easy on the climbs, its character flips as soon as you let gravity take over. In size medium, it’s a super agile, direct and playful bike and rides very differently than the size large we had for our race bike group test. Contrary to what you might expect, the Öhlins coil suspension doesn’t transform the COMMENCAL into a sofa. Instead, it offers a lot of feedback from the ground and reserves its travel for the moments when it’s really needed.

Party time! The direct handling of the META AM delivers hard to beat fun!

As a result, the rider’s input gets implemented immediately, allowing you to pump the bike through dips and rollers, carry a lot of speed and jump to flat without hesitation. However, there are bikes that offer significantly more traction at the rear and the RXF 36 can’t keep up with the best suspension forks in the test. By downsizing, the handling becomes pleasantly agile and balanced despite the short chainstays. Due to the rather firm chassis and the generally short frame, the COMMENCAL META AM 29 isn’t quite as composed at high speed. The bike’s weight helps to calm things down, though you’ll feel it when trying to pop off small features. This will only be exacerbated when you upgrade the tires to more robust models – unfortunately, the stock Schwalbe tires in the Super Trail casing don’t do the bike justice.

How does the META AM compare to the competition?

The COMMENCAL META AM and the Nukeproof Mega 290 Alloy both make relaxed work of every climb thanks to their steep seat tube angles and efficient rear end but they differ significantly on the descents. Despite the air suspension, the Mega 290 Alloy is significantly more sensitive and generates more traction, whereas the META AM is more direct and provides more feedback from the ground. At high speed, the Nukeproof pulls away with ease, providing significantly more control and confidence.

Tuning tips: order the bike with a FOX instead of an Öhlins fork | keep an eye on the total weight

Conclusion

The COMMENCAL META AM 29 is an excellent bike to be playful on. Its handling is direct, agile and lively on the descents, getting you psyched from the get-go. However, it lacks composure at high speed, requiring you to stay focused and alert so that you don’t get caught out by the trail. If you choose to downsize to compensate for the enormous reach, the riding position is rather compact on the climbs. Because of its weight, the META is a slow but steady climber.

Tops

• direct and fun handling
• provides a lot of feedback from the ground
• relaxed climbing position

Flops

• the handling of the large frame sizes is unbalanced
• downsizing comes at the cost of composure
• heavy

You can find out more about at commencalusa.com

The test field

For an overview of the test fleet head to the group test: The best enduro bike 2021 – 13 models in review

All bikes in test: Canyon Strive CFR (Click for review) | COMMENCAL Meta AM 29 Öhlins | GIANT Reign Advanced Pro 0 (Click for review) | Ibis Ripmo V2 (Click for review) | Nukeproof Mega 290 Alloy Pro (Click for review) | Propain Spindrift CF Mix Custom (Click for review) | Rocky Mountain Altitude Carbon 90 Rally Edition (Click for review) | Santa Cruz Megatower CC X01 Coil RSV (Click for review) | Santa Cruz Nomad CC X01 RSV (Click for review) | Specialized Enduro Expert (Click for review) | Specialized S-Works Stumpjumper EVO (Click for review) | Transition Sentinel XT (Click for review) | Trek Slash 9.8 XT (Click for review)