Commencal Meta AM 29 SRAM Edition First Look

First look at the Commencal Meta AM 29 SRAM Edition, a 29er EWS slaying enduro machine from Andorra.

Ever since first riding a Commencal Meta AM 4.0 back in Spain, I have wanted to swing a leg over the Andorran full bouncer for a long-term review, and finally, after a few years of waiting, my time has come.

This Commencal Meta AM 29 SRAM Edition will be my long-term test bike throughout 2019. On top of reviewing the bike as it is, I’ll also be using it as a testbed to test for upcoming component reviews over the coming months. First off though I should introduce my new companion.

The video below is followed by a written introduction to the 29er Commencal.

Video: Commencal Meta AM 29 SRAM Edition first look

Commencal Meta AM 29 SRAM edition

Although the AM 29 looks like the smaller wheeled 27.5in Commencal Meta 4.2, there are very few details shared between the frames. Actually, just the head tube, dropouts, and shock mounts are shared between them, everything else on the Commencal Meta AM 29 has been redesigned to make the most of out those larger wheels.

Suspension kinematics have been updated to give a better pedaling platform and to reduce pedal kickback. The main pivot point has moved forward and the chassis as a whole has been stiffened up. The Meta AM comes fitted with a downtube protector, miniature mudguard to protect the rear linkage, and all pivot points now use high-end Enduro bearings.

Hidden from the eye are internal updates to cable and hose routing, and there’s even a piece of foam added to the top tube to help prevent water entering and splashing on to the rear shock. Still, with all these changes and improvements, the main triangle still has ample room for a piggyback shock and bottle cage.

The Commencal Meta AM 29 SRAM Edition is designed to be competitive on the EWS circuit and it actually shares the same frame with the Team Edition bike, the bike raced by Commencal riders Yoann Barelli and Cecil Ravenel – and as such has a substantial amount of travel.

Up front, the Meta AM 29 has 170mm of travel via the impressive RockShox Lyrik RC2 fork. The rear wheel travel is handled by a RockShox Super Deluxe RCT air shock providing 160mm of rock gobbling comfort. Despite the big wheels and equally big travel though, the Meta AM 29 retains a playful side that feels just at home on local trails as it does on the World Cup EWS circuit.

This being the SRAM Edition bike, the majority of the components come from the SRAM stable. The suspension, dropper post and drivetrain are all SRAM kit.

This size large test bike runs a RockShox Reverb Stealth dropper with 150mm of travel. If you chose a M frame a shorter 125mm dropper comes as standard, while the larger XL frame gets a 170mm  travel post. Brakes are also SRAM models, in this case, a pair of Code R brakes with 4 pot calipers.

Gearing is SRAM Eagle, GX level Eagle, providing a wide range 1×12 drivetrain at a decent weight. It’s cost-effective too meaning that if you were to smash off a rear derailleur it’s not going to be too expensive to fix.

Where SRAM isn’t present we have hand-picked components from Spank, Formula, Fabric and Commencal’s own brand Alpha brands. The wheelset is made up of Spank 350 rims laced to Formula hubs with Sapim spokes and topped off with Schwalbe rubber. The Commencal Meta AM 29 SRAM edition comes with a Magic Mary on the front and Hans Dampf on the rear, both in soft Addix compounds. The wheelset is tubeless ready but comes with tubes as standard.

Contact points come from Fabric, the butt friendly Scoop Flight Elite, and Commencal. Out of the box a 40mm Ride Alpha stem and 780mm wide Ride Alpha handlebar are mounted to the Meta AM 29 along with Commencal branded lock-on grips. As you’ll see in these photos I’ve switched to Burgtec Minnaar signature Bartender Pro grips, not that there’s anything wrong with the Commencal models but simply because the red matches the bike rather well.

As mentioned above I’ll be testing this bike throughout the year so watch out for updates, or if you see me riding it feel free to stop me and say “Hi”. If you have any questions about the Commencal Meta AM 29 SRAM Edition, let me know in the comments below.

Commencal Meta AM 29 SRAM Edition Specifications.

• Frame // 2019 META AM 29 160 mm travel
  
• Fork // ROCKSHOX LYRIK RC2, 170 mm, 15 mm axle, High / Low speed compression, rebound, boost
• Shock // ROCKSHOX SUPER DELUXE RCT, 230 x 60 mm, 2 positions, compression, rebound
• Rims // SPANK OOZY 350, 32 holes, 30 mm inner width, tubeless ready
• Hubs // FORMULA, high engagement, 32 holes, sealed bearings
• Tyres // SCHWALBE MAGIC MARY, 29 x 2.35, TLE, Addix soft, front SCHWALBE NEW HANS DAMPF, 29 x 2.35, TLE, Addix soft, rear
• Chainset // SRAM DESCENDANT EAGLE 7K X-Sync, 32 t, boost 170 mm on S/M/L/XL
• Rear Mech // SRAM GX EAGLE, 1 x 12 speed
• Shifter // SRAM GX EAGLE, 1 x 12 speed
• Cassette // SRAM XG EAGLE 1275, 10-50, 12sp
• Brakes // SRAM CODE R, 200 mm rotors front and rear
• Bar // RIDE ALPHA, Alloy 7075, double butted, 20 mm rise, 780 mm, 31.8 mm
• Stem // RIDE ALPHA, Aluminium 2014, 40 mm, 31.8 mm, 0° Angle
• Grips // RIDE ALPHA, DH Grips, ultra soft compound, single clamp
• Seatpost // ROCKSHOX REVERB STEALTH, 31.6 mm, with new 1x remote Travel: 100 mm on S, 125 mm on M, 150 mm on L and 170 mm on XL
• Saddle // FABRIC SCOOP FLAT ELITE, 142 mm width, vaccum, cromo rails, black
• Size On Test // L
• Sizes available // M,L,XL
• RRP // €3 699,00
• From // Commencal