Mr Toast rode a 2008 Meta 5.5 for years, and it never cracked – he sold it when he got his Orange 5 earlier this year.

I had a 2008 meta and it’s still going strong.

I thrashed the arse of it as well, great bike.

My O/H has an 08 553 and I have a 09 552 (mediums). No problems yet with either frame. I seem to recall it was 09 Large frames which had most issues.

great bikes, to honest the cracking issue got over blown, there was a problem with some of the bikes. But if it was one of those, unless its been ridden on nothing but tow paths it would very probably have gone by now. Front triangle on mine was replaced on warranty after under 1 yr. Not a very heavy one either.

I’m just about to get rid of my 07 meta 5 (new front triangle over 4 yrs old now), and even on its last ride part of me was still thinking, i could just keep this. Its been ragged round the alps and all over the shop. But I came into some money so am getting a meta AM

My advice would be get it. FWIW.

Yep my 08 Meta 552 is still going strong & it has had a hard life with no complaints – shamefully still on same main pivot bearing as well 😳

AFAIK it was, as stated above, the large frames or mediums with a lot of seatpost showing that cracked. On which note if you like dropper posts remember the Meta is 27.2 🙁

Just to clarify, it’s a 2008 model I had since 2007. One of the first back of UK specific Meta XT models.

Also got a couple more 2008 Commencals – an Absolut 4X and Supreme DH. The Supreme has been raced all over from Scotland to Croatia and the Alps and is great!

Buy buy buy, great bike. As others have said the cracking issue has been blown out of proportion, look at all the people slating the Yeti ASR 5. Sometimes there are issues with bikes but if it’s an 08 and been ridden and not cracked I suspect it will be fine. My 09 is still going strong after 3 years of abuse, the cracking may be due to fatties 😀

I’m selling my large 2011 on ebay if you’re interested. 😀

If its a large or xl then seatpost is 31.6, medium is 27.2
Sold my 08 meta yesterday, been a brilliant bike not a problem at all and loved it
2nd what was said about 08 to 09 factory change causing the issues (some very later 08’s where affected also but mainly 09)
Also 2nd the Maxle upgrade
Like the poster above I only sold as I got the new Meta AM model
Now on my 3rd Commencal, my 09 Ti hardtail also going strong despite almost weekly peaks bashing and running with longer forks than recommended
You will find good advise and many friendly people over on http://www.commencalownersclub.com
(real cycles no longer deal Commencal and have sold pretty much all their left over stock and spares)

£195, is a bargin.

Enjoy…..

Either an S or an M with the top shock mount position.

Old thread I know but this cracking issue on the 08/09 Meta’s, was it just on carbon frames or Alu ones?

I’ve just bought a secondhand carbon 2011 but there’s also an 08-09 one going for £275 and my friend is looking for a frame as well… don’t want to advise him to get it and find it’s a high risk job but at the same time I firmly believe if is was defective it would of surely cracked by now as it shows plenty of signs of being used enough.

He’s on a really limited £500 budget as well and despite be advising him he’d be better off getting a better spec’d HT he’s got his heart set on a FS bike.

I can’t find anywhere which states if the 08-09 models were all alu, carbon or mix?

Alloy was all I heard about cracking-wise, but I’m really not sure I’d buy a well worn carbon anything.

Im looking for £370 posted for the lot, but open to sensible offers.