Last week I gave you all the heads up on what's new in the 2009 Commencal range, this week it's a heads up on the rest. Some tweaked, some tuned, some left untouched.
The Other Stuff Pt. 1. The Meta 5.5Since it's inception in 2005 every year have seen the Meta5.5 change in one way or another, the 2009 Meta is no different.
It's sometimes forgotten that the Meta 5.5 is only in it's forth season. It's now regarded by most as the benchmark five inch trail bike: It's the bike by which most others in this extremely competitive sector are judged. And make no mistake the five inch trail bike is the single most important model in any brands line up. Get this model wrong and watch your market share crumble, get it right and..., well, who had heard of Commencal three years ago? See, that's how important it is!
Commencal are aware of this, it's why they're exceptionally careful about changing what is a winning formula. In 08 they made a few tiny changes to the frame (excluding the new "cosmetic" swingarm) and the mags were beating seven colours of you know what out of them for it, most without even throwing a leg over the new 08 version. Interestingly by the middle of the season almost all of the mags who complained Commencal had ruined a great bike changed their story once they'd actually put away the angle finder and ridden the damn thing. Eventually they agreed the new 08 version WAS better than the 07. See, Commencal do actually know a thing or two about bike design after all. Ironically it was this beating at the hands of the mags that is behind one of the biggest changes to the new 09 Meta 5.5: The head angle has been slackened off half a degree back to what it was in 07!
Now, some might say this is pandering to the mags, some might say it's admitting when you've got it wrong, some might not say a thing, ignore all the angle bollox and carry on riding their bikes day in day out. Bottom line: On a full suss bike, with five and half inches of bounce at each end are you really going to notice half a degree here or half a degree there? The jury is out on that one, and out it most likely will remain. Which really is not a bad thing. Too many mags, and for that matter too many people pay way to much attention to the numbers on bits of paper. To coin one of the main protagonists in the whole 2008 magazine/angle debacle, just get out and ride!
So, what else other the head angle has changed on the Meta 5.5? Not much really, and if you could ride a bike blindfolded you'd be hard pushed to tell any discernable difference between the two. The new 09 Meta 5.5 has been tuned as opposed to changed. Which is good. Very good. As someone who has ridden almost exclusively a Meta5 since 2005, the 2008 was without doubt the best version, the 09 builds on that not detracts from it.
Visually the main change is the top tube. gone is the hydroformed upsweep at the seat tube end of it, now it's a good old fashion straight tube that is lower than the 08 so giving even better standover and it has to be said cleaner lines. At the other end of the top tube big beefy gussets have made a welcome return. Yes, they add weight, but after two seasons trying to replace them with hydroformed this and manipulated that, Coomencal came to the conculsion that old tech is often the best tech.
Staying at the headtube end of things it's now flared to accept an intregrated headset, so no more swanky Chris King headsets for the bling boys and girls, but you do get lower stack heights and thanks to bigger weld areas stiffer front ends, so it ain't all bad.
Last week I mentioned the new one piece triangle linkage plates that were coming on the new Super Four, albeit in a miniture size, well this technology has found it's way onto the new Meta 5.5 too, meaning a stiffer lighter linkage system. Best of it's compatible with ALL previous Meta 5 frames so it's upgradetastic! Weak linkages has always been the Meta 5's, erm, weak link, so it's a welcome improvement.
In the line up for 09 is the usual 5.5.3, 5.5.2 and 5.5.1 with the special XT version, this time called the Meta 5.5.UK being exclusive to, yep you've guessed it, the UK! A VIP frame will also be available and overall the weights are much the same as the 08 models: Frame only- Low 7lbs, 5.5.1- 28.5lb. 5.5.2- 29.5. And 5.5.3- 31lb. Weights as ever are subject to change so don't use them as a decision maker!
Worth noting is that the frame only will ship with a Thompson seatpost and stem and headset.
The Other Stuff Pt.2. FuriousNew in 08 the Furious took everyone by surprise, the entire 08 supply ran out in days, top up bikes were produced but they arrived well into the season, so during the busy buying season at the beginning of the year no one could get their hands on a Furious for love nor money. The mags wanted them badly for review but there simply wasn't any. Those who were lucky enough to get one in the first place loved em, everyone else kinda forgot about them and bought something else. Meaning the Furious had a funny kinda start in the UK. But never fear, the bike is more or less unchanged in 2009 and stock will be plentiful so everyone will get to try CG's brain child.
The only real change to the Furious in 09 is the introduction of a cheaper model (ironically not cheaper than the original 08 bike thanks to the 09 price increases), and some messing about with the names. Let me explain.
In 08 there was one bike, the Furious. It retailed for £2199 and considering the complete bike was only £700 more than the frame only option, it had a killer spec list. Well in 2009 this bike remains more or less unchanged except it's now called the Furious CG, has a bit of white on the frame (main colour is still turquoise) and a few spec upgrades. Oh and the price has changed, it's not set yet but expect it to be well over the £2.5k mark. Coming in below it specwise and costwise is the new Furious. The main difference other than a lower spec is the frame has been "downgraded" with a 73mm BB (opposed to 83 on the CG) and 135mm rear dropouts (opposed 150mm on the CG). This is purely to get the cost down. The bike rides the same, will still be supremely balanced in the air and is still hugely fun to ride. It's not quite as stiff and bompproof as the original Furious or the new Furious CG. But honestly, who really needs that level of bombproofness?
The Other Stuff Pt. 3. AbsolutThe Absolut has gone through some radical changes over the years. It started as a hardcore trail hardtail, now it's firmly a bike park and street machine. To help it cope with the ever increasing demands this type of rider is making of their bikes every frame in the new range has got beefed up headtubes and top tubes. The complete bikes also come with stronger wheels.
The range starts with the Maxmax, which true form is as basic as it gets with single speed gears, V's and a rigid fork. The Asolut CG is essentially a MaxMax with a suspension fork. The Absolut AL2 is a CG with gears and better suspension fork and the Absolut AL1 is a AL2 with disc brakes, 9sp drive train and a better fork still.
Best of all though is the MaxMax24, a 24" wheeled version of one of Frances best selling entry level street bike. Is the MaxMax24 for the 24" wheel'd street rider or the kids? Who knows. Who cares? Maybe both. All that matters is it's cool and a MaxMax and seriously LOUD!
The Other Stuff Pt.4. Combi & NormalThe Normal and Combi range is often forgotten about, most only see Commencal as producers of fine mid to top end bikes, but they do low end/entry level too, and do it rather well. Sure there will always be cheaper bikes if your shopping on spec, but as has been proved with the Meta 5.5, Commencal know a thing or two about bikes, and there cheap ones ride like much more expensive rivals.
For 09 the entire Normal and Combi range gets lower top tubes and most inportant of all the forks are custom sprung to suit the size of the bike: Based on the fact that normally the bigger the bike the bigger the rider so the heavier they'll be. And heavier riders need stiffer forks. Even better the XS size now comes with a shorter fork so the front end is not higher than the rider when standing.
The V equipped Normal now comes with disc ready wheels to make future upgrading cheaper and the Normal disc now gets hydro's as standard. The Combi also gets better forks in the shape of Rock Shox Tora.
The Combi and Normal range is never going to be a big seller for Commencal, I wouldn't be surprised if they make little or no profit on each one sold, but the very fact that they bother to produce them says a lot about the company. Max Commencal has always believed that everyone has the right to decent bikes that don't cost the earth. Cheap should not mean a bad ride. The MaxMax and the Combi's are testament to this.
Finally the Supernormal. In the words of David, Commencals international export manager
"The supernormal is the Supernormal. It will always be the Supernormal, it will never change" I think that's Canadian for it's not changed!
Please mention any typos below!
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February 08, 2012, 11:51:39 PM
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