Meta 5 Demo

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February 07, 2012, 08:04:02 AM

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[Pedal Head]

Anybody able to tell me where I can get hold of a demo rig close to Derby / the Peaks. I'd originally hoped to take a day out @ Llangedla but theirs isn't available.

While not being a Commencal owner (yet) it's one of the two bikes that fit the bill well, the other being an Orange 5. Anyone any comments about how they ride in comparison?. I'd be looking at higher end spec / custom build against a 5 pro

[doml]

Didnt STW do a review recently and conclude that Orange was infinitely better cos it was made by inbreds in yorkshire? Meta 55 is more of a laugh and orange 5 is more of an xc bike (on it rather than in it)

[creamsoda]

Somewhere on UK MTB someone has put up an extensive review of both bikes. He extensively tested them at Dalby and chose the Meta.

Do a search on Meta/dalby i can't remember who it was but unclehomer may know as he loiters on that site as well.

It pretty much swayed me into buying my Meta.

I think they're similar bikes.

[Crag]

I don't think you'll go too far wrong with either of those 2 tbh.

The Yorkshire inbreds know a thing or 2 about single pivots and everyone I know who owns/has owned them has raved about them.  Granted, being one of those Yorkshire inbreds probably sways the decisions a bit.  However, its not just them there inbreds that like 'em.  I know Dirt and MBR (if you take notice of their reviews) think they're great bikes too.

I'd go on about the merits of the Meta but it wouldn't be anything thats not already being said on this forum.

As for demo's, I only know of the one dealer, but unfortunately its north Leeds.  JD Cycles (I know, they got bollocked for advertising on here) were great when I was demoing.  They let me take it for 2 or 3 days so I could have weekends away down at Afan and Cwmcarn on it.  They are a good bunch if you can be arsed with the drive.

[bigsteve]

Following comes from a happy Meta 5 owner, so bias declared, but...

I was looking for a new bike to replace my ageing cannondlae jekyll in summer 2006. The dealer I bought my dale from had dropped them and taken on an orange franchise so given my excellent relationship with him and my desire to buy into the whole  "hewn from yorkshire granite" thing I pretty much decided to get an orange 5.

As luck would have it orange then announced that the 2007 frames would be slightly different and my dealer then offered me a stonking deal on a 5. He lent me a demo bike not once, not twice, but three times. I really wanted to want it, but just could not fall in love with it. It was fine, but just a little bit dull to ride. You almost felt detached from the trail; the only way I could describe it was that it was a bit like driving a hyundai coupe...

Then I heard about the commie and the great reviews it was getting and arranged to demo one from another dealer. What a difference! It was so much more alive, like driving a toyota celica compared to the hyundai.

Bottom line i got the Meta 5.20 and haven't regretted it for a moment. Never thought any more about it until a couple of weeks ago when a riding buddy borrowed the latest orange 5 demo bike and unprompted reported it as feeling like having sex with a gorgeous woman who was in a coma! Since then he has tried the giant anthem and specialised stumpy, both of which he prefers to the orange. He is now about to try a Marin.

So my advice is make a shortlist and trial as many bikes as you can either through shops or by borrowing from other riders. I would never spend money on a proper bike without at least one long test ride and preferably several.

Don't worry about missing out on deals, there will always be another one along.

 

[Tomm]

Somewhere on UK MTB someone has put up an extensive review of both bikes. He extensively tested them at Dalby and chose the Meta.

No he didn't, because Dalby doesn't have any steep uphills, or downhills, or technical bits, or in fact anything interesting.  Maybe that review would be worthwhile if you wanted a bike just to ride trail centres.  But then I would suggest that a fully rigid Argos bike might make Dalby interesting to ride, so perhaps we should all go out and buy one of them.

/trail snobbery.

[Pedal Head]

Thanks for the replies.  Intresting comments about the 5 being a bit dull to ride as most mags consider it to be one of the more active bikes. I've only ridden one over a couple of tame miles so can't really make a call however I've got a mates on loan in a week or two's time. If you think a 5 is dull then try my (about to be retired) '03 Enduro, you are only vaguely aware that there's something hard under the rear wheel. Once rode an '06 Marin Wolf Ridge, liked the back end feel but couldn't get on with the high BB. What's swinging me to a Meta is simplicity, the many write ups about it's descending and ability to get back up at a reasonable pace, price vs. spec, it looks good and add to that those your comments of a feel of whats happening under the wheels.

Back to a demo. Most I've called have shifted them on to make way for new stock.

"So my advice is make a shortlist and trial as many bikes as you can either through shops or by borrowing from other riders. I would never spend money on a proper bike without at least one long test ride and preferably several.

Don't worry about missing out on deals, there will always be another one along."

Certainly, I've made that mistake before.

Thanks for the advice.

[curly]

Pedal Head

I was in exactly the same position as you at the beginning of the year.

I tested the Orange 5 Pro from Swinnertons at Cannock chase, took it round Follow the Dog and loved it. It tracks well, feels super strong and the kit is fantastic. I nearly bought one until I took out the meta 5

I got the bike from Royles in Wilmslow which isn't a bad run from Derby, through Buxton then Macclesfield straight through the peaks. It cost £30 for the weekend and you can pick it up Friday/Saturday and return it Sunday/Monday so you've got time to play. I took the Meta back to Cannock again and a couple of circuits of Follow the Dog again and you could notice the difference between the 2.

The easiest way of explaining it is it that with the Orange you feel as though you're sat on the bike but with the Meta you feel as though you're in it. It tracks just as well and feels as tough. It's more chuckable than the orange, which feels bigger (tested medium meta and 18inch orange so hardly any size difference and I'm 6ft and weigh about 14 stone). All in all it's a laugh to ride, in no time at all you'll ride bigger, quicker and grinning like an idiot.

I was going to get the XT spec Meta 5 from Royles but they'd sold out so they did me a deal on a custom build VIP which looks trick. They did a great job and look after you, some of the guys there ride meta's so they know alot about them.

I ride Cannock & Llandegla trail centres and live in the peaks so ride round Hope, Edale & Buxton which sounds like your kind of riding so this helps.

[Pedal Head]

Tried Royals thanks, they have had the demo bikes serviced and are now for sale. Knock down price but I can get a new 5.2 on offer for an extra £175. Ideally I'd like something with a higher spec but at that price I'd be daft not to. Just a bad time of the year for demo's and regretting my choice last time round is all that's stopping me.

[bigsteve]

slighty off at a tangent, but the mate I mentioned who tested the orange, meta, anthem etc. has now bought...a spesh stumpie

obviously doesn't choose a bike based on looks then!

[Pedal Head]

I'm pricing up a custom build as one option. I'm not a heavy rider & the bike would be built light to suit Cannock, the Peaks & the odd visit to the trail centers, you guys reckon it's worth paying the extra for a Fox Talas over a Float or is the front end generally OK on steep climbs / switchbacks?

[Bippa]

i'd just get the float mate, the meta climbs really well and i've not had any problems with it wandering on climbs

[Tomm]

I'm pricing up a custom build as one option. I'm not a heavy rider & the bike would be built light to suit Cannock, the Peaks & the odd visit to the trail centers, you guys reckon it's worth paying the extra for a Fox Talas over a Float or is the front end generally OK on steep climbs / switchbacks?

On steep climbs I find you have to position yourself over the front to keep the nose down, but that's only on very steep climbs.  I haven't tried it with adjustable travel forks so can't comment on that but I'm generally not a fan of changing fork height.  I would tend to just leave it on 140mm and be done, so I'd go for the floats and save a bit of money I reckon. 

[doml]

got 140mm pikes on mine. No issue with climbs, just a bit of body positioning required. Wouldnt bother with travel adjust unless your going for a 160mm rc2. Its just more to go wrong

[Pedal Head]

I'd never considered the Revo's as I was working on a 140/140 set up along the lines of standard build. I was originally looking at Fox with the QR15 however only the RLC variants come with QR15 & then it's a £60 premium so they are out the question, Pike 454 air U-Turns are around at less than 400 notes but ideally I'd be looking at a Sub 28lb build. Next years prices have risen substantially so a custom build using discounted '08 components is on the cards. I should have a chance to ride a Meta this week 

PS, there's not that many 2008 Floats around the shops either.