[Closed] new bike, AM wagon wheel content. commencal meta AM2 29

They open tomorrow ???

I'm away tomorrow so not back in Berks till Fri, so may see if I can collect Sat. I'm doing the SPAM enduro ride on Sunday and would mean I don't have to get the Spearfish dirty before its collected.

Very nice 🙂 I fancy one of these myself, the am1, just cause its neon yellow 😉

Where you gonna be riding it?

Ridiculously, mostly XC in Berks, Swinley etc.But plan on doing more trail centre stuff. I have a hire bike booked for Moraine but i'm very tempted to cancel it and take mine now

That guy in the moredirt review knows what's up.

Ooh, a bit of pressure on me! That's the fastest bike I have ever ridden, seriously fast and fun. I loved it. I might even buy one myself for next year 🙂

Hope you enjoy it as much as I did.

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heres mine! I really don't push it, shame. is really fast once it gets going. Plus with the 110-1430mm forks it goes up too.

1430mm forks!!!!!!

You iz awesomz.

I had the same thought when CRC were doing good deals on the 2012 version. Doug basque's report was also the deciding factor (should be on commission). Here's mine straight out the box, I've ridden it and love it just no dirty pictures yet.

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Yeah, they wanted their bike back and I never got another one to try 🙂 I think the Frank Zappa in the video offended them!

Nice looking bike and a good deal on CRC for the AM1.

No water bottle mount is a deal breaker...

Just had a look at that AM1, the shittyness of the components they put on what was a £3.7k bike is just remarkable.

Might've considered one if it had a set of Crossmax or similar and better transmission than X7.

I accepted the drive train limitations, as I'm getting much higher spec bouncy bouts with more travel, over time I will increase the shifting specs to clutch mech etc

The one you've got looks decent value at £1.6k, the top-end one was a joke.

Out of interest, anyone know what type of BB it comes with

All it seems to say is it's an SRAM X5 and 'included with crankset'

I assume a bog standard GXP then ?

Press-fit Shimano type.

Saw one in the flesh today, lovely it is, I'm even more excited now

I'm confused ! Thought you got the Endorphin ? 😳

No mate, the swap was done on that and Xmas eve I was telling the wife, she then informed me she'd put money down on one of these for me!

She's a keeper for sure and u r a lucky chap !

LOL i had to pay most of it... but it's the thought that counts

Nice.

Bike being built and prepped today... shipped tomorrow... arrives Thurs 🙂

Tick tock tick tock....

I've got a pile of tools, helicopter tape, coffee and 'fish and chips' snacks sitting ready and waiting... pics in the kitchen to arrive as soon as the box does

Maybe lets wait until you get a picture up before your next post. Enjoy it.

Let us hope RM have not decided it is on the dangerous goods list... 😉

http://www.imbikemag.com/issue26/?t=Commencal-Meta-AM-3-2014-Mountain-Bike-Review-and-Test&page=103

A nice review of the 650B version to wet the appetite... the bike rather than the trail comes alive on this occasion.

They do look nice bikes. Would be interested to hear your thoughts when you've built it up and how heavy it is.

How obviously bloody single is [b]mssansserif[/b] 😯 ?!!!

Black leather sofa, wide screen TV, Xbox Rock Band, 3 guitars, trainers left by the sofa and a new bike in the lounge. Clearly no woman nagging in the background there.

Carlsberg don't do man palaces but if they did..... 😀

chakaping - Member

Just had a look at that AM1, the shittyness of the components they put on what was a £3.7k bike is just remarkable.

Aye, almost up (down?) to Orange standards.

Well the Meta AM29 has landed, been built and is ready for testing almost. Just need to do a bit of heli taping on it first. Although not sure where as with internal cabling there's no rubbing of course.

first impressions are it's a bit RAAAARRRRRRRRRHHHH. It feels and seems massively robust and burly compared to the Spearfish... it's built like the proverbial tank.

the internal routing is lovely... including the extra bit for the dropper seatpost on the headstock and seatube.. nice touch that. The shockguard looks a bit flimsy, it's a small piece of Neoprene basically over the shock at the rear, but you never know, it may be brilliant.

Bars are 730mm, but seem a lot wider, making the general size of the thing seem even greater.

Added a few PSI into both the front and rear shocks, seem how that is and go from there. Not really played with the CTD function yet, but doesn't seem to fully lock the forks on C.

pics here of course.

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Mmmmm, nice. Out of curiosity, for the internal routing, are the holes sealed up (or totally filled with cable)? Pet hate of mine when frames fill with crap!

Bathroom scales with and without bike in my arms give me a weight of 34.8lb built.

It does feel HEAVY to pick up i must admit.

We'll see how much difference the HOPE/Crests make

Northwind - Member
Mmmmm, nice. Out of curiosity, for the internal routing, are the holes sealed up (or totally filled with cable)? Pet hate of mine when frames fill with crap!

Most have rubber seals to keep it all in place, the one for dropper doesn't, neither does the one where the brake cable comes out of the swingarm.

Very nice. Have a 2013 26 AM waiting to be built up after finally working out what BB and Headset is required. Mine came with 3 of those chain stay protectors but I can't work out where the smallest goes?

In terms of weight I'm getting my frame at a whopping 8.7lbs 😯

wheel and tyre combo must be VERY heavy, the Hope/Crest combo come in at almost 600gr lighter per wheel.

Standard with Nevegal, 2950gr REAR
Hope with Maxxis Aspen 2400gr REAR

That's a heavy one that is.......

Aye... it's deffo on the heavy side... it's made my decision as to whether to buy an XC29 bike for later in the years XC events a LOT easier hahahaha

Question for owners/riders, do you get tyre rub on the inside of chainstay protector?

Looking good matey!
Really pleased with the fish - got some goldtec/ crest wheels coming to lighten it up a bit !

Nice, I bought the 26" AM1 a few months back & kind of regret not getting the 29", same as my hardtail, which I love riding.
I didnt think it was heavy at all, certainly not compared to the gt sanction it replaced.
I absolutely hate the sram gears though, junk compared to xt & first on the list to replace.
I recon the stock stem is too long also, planning to fit a 55mm as soon as I get some time.

Absolutely love my 2012 AM1.

It's pretty heavy but hey so am I ha.

Here it is mid build, for some reason I have no more built up pics.

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Sorted the rubbing by trimming the chainstay protector and adjusting shockguard.

Just converted the front brakes to 203's.

Only really because i had 4 Formula 203 rotors left over and all the mounting kit etc. Looks good. Rear will remain at 180.

Hmm, not so sure about Crests & Aspens on an 'AM' bike.

Especially on a 29".

The Crest/Aspen combo are the summer lightweight XC style riding and local stuff, the more agressive stuff gets stronger options.

2 sets of wheels, i for light/fast, 1 for AM.

Suppose we better have a review really.

Did about 18 miles or so.. it's a complete and utter mudfest, so i guess as good a time for a ride as any, dry in the air though, lovely and sunny...

The bike is noisy on the road with the Kenda Nevegal rubber on, proper Spitfire type noisy actually LOL. The front end being very AM type geometry feels quite 'wandery' on the road, but that's something i've always felt about AM type bikes. On the trails though you certainly seem to notice it a lot less.

The gearing of 38T front makes my brain hurt, i'm so used to having a glance at the cassette and knowing what gear i should be in for a specific hill, but i'm now 3 gears different. I find i'm using 1st on the rear quite a lot... certainly a LOT more than i would have in the past. But it's not an issue as such, just something i need to get used to.

The CTD mode on the front doesn't make quite the difference it does on the rear, on the rear, the difference is MASSIVE, from almost no bounce, to loads of bounce, but on the front, it's some bounce to more bounce.. i expected the forks to be locked out, or very close... but it seems to allow a bit of initial 'squish' and then restricts the bounce from there.
You can certainly notice the weight of the bike when out on the trails... i have to admit, if i were being picky it's a ridiculous choice of bike for where i ride... It's heavy, burly and a bit of a beast. It ploughs through things with ease and the suspension is very soft and plush (need a few PSI more in the rear i think).

The Nevegals feel great on the dirt, really impressed with them.

Seat.. Hmmm... it's not the comfiest seat ever i admit. Riding this bike i can sort of now see why people run droppers, way more so than on the Spearfish, i never once felt the seat was in the way on that, whilst i don't feel it's hindering me currently, you're more aware of it being 'there'. So i can see a shopping trip on the way soon.

Grips are cheap and a bit firm and blocky for me.. .they're coming off being i head to Bike Park Wales tomorrow for my Giant grips... which have been long my preference now.

The rear shock protector/cover works well, indeed stopping it getting messy.

Hard to say anything on the true handling of the bike, i've not done anything even remotely bumpy yet...so we'll wait on that one for now.

My mate got one in the CRC sale and had issues with the forks. Got sent another bike which had the same issue. Turns out the forks were on the recall list. LBS sent them off to have internals changed to 2014 and now he is razzing around like a holigan on it!!!!! It is quite heavy and defo worth a wheel upgrade at some point. He has put a reverb on it and loves it.
off to bike park wales tomorrow as well so you will see another fluro am blasting around!!!!

Looks good ..enjoy ...

It was the right decision in the end 😉

The wandery feel may be due to the clown wheels 😉

Those stock wheels look pretty heavy. Mine with Flow EX/Hope Evo, 34mm forks and reverb is coming in at a smudge under 32lbs.

Having a minor issue or two on the back end of the MetaAM.

When out at BPW on both days the 12mm axle has come loose. Now, i may be missing something here in the plan, but i really don't know, some eduction from experienced guys may help. When i tighten up the first bit, which is the cut-out section, if i tighten it 'tight' then i can't tighten the QR, so i have to have the cut-out bit fairly loose, then the QR can be done up fully. But both times now it's come loose.

Secondly is a bit of play from the rear wheel. It's almost as though it's the cassette rather than the wheel, but i'll throw the HOPE on later to compare and see if i can work out what's happening.

Other than that... the bike is superb 🙂

Interesting read.

[url= http://enduro-mtb.com/en/biketest-commencal-meta-3-wheel-sizes-compared/ ]biketest-commencal-meta-3-wheel-sizes-compared/[/url]

I read they really liked the 29er.

Interestingly ..Whyte t129's had similar problems with the rear bolt through ...though mine has been fine ......I think they replaced under warranty

weeksy - Member

i may be missing something here in the plan, but i really don't know, some eduction from experienced guys may help. When i tighten up the first bit, which is the cut-out section, if i tighten it 'tight' then i can't tighten the QR, so i have to have the cut-out bit fairly loose, then the QR can be done up fully. But both times now it's come loose.

Looking at pics, is it a Maxle? The bit with the cut-out should be tight, then the QR should be tight on that. But there's a wee allen bolt in the middle of where the axle joins the qr, which adjusts the tension- back that off a little and you should be able to get things working.

If it's not a maxle, ignore all this pish 😉

it is. I'll have a look at that in a min and report back.... thanks.

Weeksy - you may need a mavic cassette spacer on the rear if its a 10 spd cassette?

How was BPW? Are the blacks rideable if you don't want gaps and 5ft drops?

Worked a treat Northwind, thanks lots 🙂 much better now.

I removed the cassette off the wheel and you can feel the 'play', so will drop wheel into the LBS for a bit of investigation.

When i fit the HOPE/Crest, there' no movement at all from it. So it's deffo the wheel that's not quite right.

Dan,

The cassette is a weird one i've not seen before, it comes in 10 pieces, each cog is individual with a small black spacer between each one. I'll leave to the LBS to advise me.

Blacks, mostly OK, apart from the odd MASSIVE thing that's way above my level. TBH, i think it could VERY easily be pretty dangerous, for example the wall drop, if i hadn't stopped in time i'd have gone head first over it as it was WAY too late to pick up speed etc and i'd already thrown in the towel on it.. so could have been nasty. but 90% of the black was just harder red...

To anyone with a Meta, SL, AM, AM29.... does your Fox CTD lever actually make any difference when flicked to Trail or Climb? mines doesn't seem to and it's the second shock I've tried so im wondering if it's something to do with the suspension design.

Cheers

Front is less noticable than the rear at a standstill. The rear goes from firm to proper boingy. The front seems to have little effect when bouncing on it. However, when you are riding you can really notice the difference on the front if flicking between modes.

Thanks. seems like i may have another duff!

Well it's looking like the bearings are dead according to LBS...

3 weeks from new to dead... that's pretty poor.

Wow- which bearings?

Jesus, that's not what I was expecting.

Finally took my 26 AM out for a very brief weekend ride. Any advice on rear CTD shock set up gladly received.

Northwind - Member

Wow- which bearings?

He thinks it's the wheel bearings, not hub bearings but needs to strip it down and have a peek later tonight.

Bummer. Still yellow though, that's the main thing

LOL. TBH I can accept wheel bearings, I've got spare HOPEs for use so it's not the end of the world.

The actual bike itself more than makes up for the bearing issue.

It's not like I've been using the wheels for towpaths, they've been getting lobbed down mountains, so it's sort of understandable.

LBS looked at and inspected/stripped the wheel.

"Your hub is just a completely mangled mess"... Was the simple answer.

15 miles.... it's destroyed...

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That's poor. Worth asking Crc for some credit you can put towards a wheel upgrade?

I didn't buy it from CRC mate.

Dealer has been spot on and good communication, he's currently on the blower to Commencal regarding the plan.

I've got other wheels, so it's not causing me a major issue, but not sure i really want another one of these particular wheels.

Finally i got a wheel back.... but...

Oh... FFS...

This is the wheel as it arrived....It's just not good enough IMO.

Tyre and tube were no re-fitted and the wheel was in the box with no wrapping, packaging etc, just lobbed in the box... then dragged all over the floor by the courier !

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