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It's too late now to do anything about it, but have purchased a second hand meta 5.5 2008 frame. the price was too irresistible.
Been researching the cracking issues on forums, not the most reliable as it always seems to be the same 5 or so frames in pictures, then regurgitated again and again in later threads as proof. or the old "friend of a friend" story. but it's a place to start.
I noticed a pattern though, cracks always appeared to be on the l/xl frame sizes, either where the shock mount is welded to the seatube or the seat tube/tt junction, which is no doubt cause by too high of a seat.
The s/m frames have the top shock mount welded to the seat tube and tt and seemed to have far less problems. Also, if you're riding s/m, you tend to have less seat post sticking out.
Are my observations somewhat accurate? Have people had more luck with the different shock mount position on the s/m? Any genuine catastrophic failures like the head tube snapping off, not just small cracks in "safe" areas?
My Meta 6 cracked MASSIVELY. I read all the same things. Unfortunately they seem to be true.
I don't have a Commencal now.
^where did it crack?
I've seen a mate's Meta crack. I believe it was on the top tube. His was a medium.
Swingarm, Huge crack exactly where a badly made swingarm would crack.
My first Meta 5 went at the seat/top tube weld, propogating backwards through the seat tube. 2009 Large.
which is no doubt cause by too high of a seat.
I'd dispute that as I'd fitted a longer seat post virtually from new, so certainly wasn't the case that the seat was too high.
The problem year was predominantly 2009 and yes it was large and XL that were prone to failure in the area you identified.
2010 saw the issues resolved by redesign and new factory.
Very happy with my 2010.
^where did it crack?
Walna Scar 😆
Had one mate replace his Meta twice due to cracks, before binning completely. Then had another mate snap the seattube clean in half whilst riding UPHILL. Its only a matter of time for you IMHO.
I ride a M 09. Were these people thrashing harder dh/jump stuff? Also, what kinda weight were they?
I now have the fear.
Cracked a 2007 frame on the underside or the top tube on the weld with the headtube.
2010 frame is fine so far.
I think Commencal have not only sorted out their build quality etc but the newer frame definitely doesn't feel like you could or would want to thrash it as hard as the older ones. Plus the seat tube wont allow you to drop a long seat post into it right down the whole way any more. Design or just a conincidence? as it happens I would rarely ride anything with my saddle more than about an inch or two below a normal riding along height so its fine for me.
I have seen a 2008 frame (black with blue and white decals) crack (i'll be honest, I cant even remember where on the frame the crack appeared) But almost all the dodgy frames I have seen have all been 2009 yokes.
Apart from my 2007 (large) and mates 2008(medium)
brother has a 2006 one (it might actually be one of the earliest gen 2005 ones bought in 2006) and its grand.
Though he only has the front triangle left from the original bike! The rear triangle suffered damage, but not due to build or material problems. It was a bad rear mech into the spokes incident that caused it all.
If the frame was as cheap as that, I would just ride the thing and enjoy it. The worst that will happen is that you will crack it. You'll have no trouble picking up a front triangle or a swing arm to keep it going for another period of seriously fun and cheap biking
Herman, it's not a thrashing or rider weight issue. It was a design/build quality issue on the 09 meta 5.
The seat tube thickness was increased between 09 & 10. I could see this from the fact that the outer now tapers down to the clamp (same size clamp) where before it was straight-walled throughout.
The profile and weld area around the joint with the top tube was also redesigned.
my mates medium 08 meta5 cracked at the shock mount on a ride in the peaks was a medium and hes quite light
not so sure it was just an 09 issue
Sorry Kimbers, my grammar let me down there (shame on her :lol:)
I meant to say "on the 09 meta, this issue was..."
it came out as "the issue was on the 09 meta"
I didn't mean to imply that the issue was restricted only to the 09.
It was certainly the most prevalent model-year for failure though.
Where i used to work I had 6 boxes of components waiting for warranty frames...out of 9 we sold.2 of those 6 frames were replaced a second time.
Was not confined to one issue or one model.Meta 6's,meta 5's and super 4's with cracks at shock mounts,tt/st junction and headtube gussets.
Hav'nt seen any issues with 2010 models onwards....yet.
I have a 2008 Meta 5.5 in medium. It was one of the first UK specific XT models into the country in late 2007. It's now set up with Pikes, short stem, wide bars, low seat and twin and bash. While not the hardest or fastest rider, I ride it as hard and fast as I can, often not on the best line (!) down the rocky Peak descents, have taken to the Alps and done a couple of mini DHs on it and jumps like the quarry fly off at the bottom of the Steel City DH.
Checked regularly, especially since the stories of cracks started circulating but so far, all is well.
I also ride an Absolut 4x, casing jumps more than I clear them, and a Supreme DH that I thrashed down Wharncliffe and 'raced' including Masters Worlds track and Bala - all with my lack of finesse and bad line choice - and they are fine too.
The problems seem to be concentrated on the 2009 batch and no means affect the brand or all production years.
So far it's looking like if there is a defect, it shows up pretty easily and soon after first use.
Then if it makes it through the initial period, it's defect fee and generally strong.
^gravity slave, the build on mine is going to be just like yours, pikes, short stem, wide bars etc. Im in sheffield too, so will get used in the same places, an alps trip is coming up. Might be worth taking a spare frame with me.
Two of my mates have meta 5.5 and so do I. Both of theirs (2007 & 2008) cracked and they are now riding 2010 and 2011 replacements. Mine hasn't cracked after 3 years of riding including two alpine trips and 6 foot drop offs.
My mate got a 2nd hand Furious which must have had a crack when he got it, he only rode it once and noticed a big old crack on the front shock mount.
How did he feel about that?
A mate ripped the head tube right off his Supreme DH and the rental bikes were rattly pieces of shit. The guiding company I worked for now appears to distribute them in Canada, which maybe isn't surprising as I guess none of the local distributors want to touch the brand.
Was he Furious?
If you got it dirt cheap I wouldn't worry too much. Give it a good check over and then just ride it - its a very capable and fun bike. If it cracks it cracks, not much you can do about it.
Have a look at the commencal owners club forums
Mine had cracks in the shock mount welds top/ bottom.
A lot of the larges went on the Seat tube (this was beefed up on the Meta for 2010 and I have read lots about cracking where the head tube joins the downtube
Mine has had the Shockmount welds ground out, filled and carried along across the tubes (not just down the sides)
hasnt come back and I am a fatty with a Van r coil stuck in it
I had an '08. Ran it for 2 years and sold it on, still going strong. Great bike. I used a DHX Air and Pikes with it, to give some indication of the build.
At the time I thought the paint marked very easily, but having had a few frames since, I actually think it was better than average.
I would say that the rear swingarm is a bit flexy, a 10 mm QR or 12 mm bolt-thru axle improves the ride a lot.
My mate cracked his large 08 xt uk edition at the shock mount, it got plenty of hammer as does his 2010 warranty replacement which hasn't skipped a beat. Not yet heard of any of the current batch failing.
What's the consensus then? Weak design or simply manufacture defects?
I'm around 95% of the opinion it's manufacture defects.
The ones that have broke, have mainly broke quickly under not much use.
The ones that haven't broke have kept on going.
Suggests to me the problems are pretty much manufacture defect. The one ive bought hasn't had an easy life, it would have broken by now if it was going to if there were manufacture defect in this one, i think that's comfort enough for me.
I have a Meta 6 frame with a new 2010 rear end if any one wants one 😉
For anyone that's interested, the frame arrived yday, it had a crack in it.
LOLZ
Bad news.
Where's the crack?
oops. Hope you can get your money back