2008 Meta 5.5

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May 23, 2012, 04:20:56 PM

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Total Voters: 287

[dezmo]

hi guys,

this is a pretty noob question but heck i really need to find out. I am thinking of buying a Meta 5.5.3 since its within my budget but if it is worth it I don't mind to fork a bit more out to get 5.5.2. The questions are:

1) Are all the frames used in 5.5.1, 5.5.2, 5.5.3 and VIP the same (put aside the color of course)?
2) I am 174CM with 80CM inseam, should i get S or M size? I won't have any chance to test ride so need to guess it right.
3) Is it worth the extra cash for 5.5.2?
4) In the commencal site, it stated that the meta 5.5.3 uses Marzocchi XC600 TST2 140mm but i can only find info on the 120mm version. Is the 140mm specially built for Commencal Meta bike?

 
thanks 

[druidh]

1) Frames are all identical.

2) I'd go for a medium. I'm 172cm and it works out fine. There are a couple of threads on sizing which you might want to take a look at .

3) Personally, I'd go for the new XT 5.5.2. I got a 5.0 built up with XT by Merlin.

4) Hmmm - might be an OEM version. Check the Marzocchi site, they list OEM kit too.

[druidh]

http://www.marzocchi.com/Template/detailSPAForksMTB.asp?IDFolder=113&LN=UK&Sito=mtb&IDOggetto=55948#details

Says that the XC 600 ATA version is "- 100 to 140mm Adj. Travel or - 90mm to 130mm Adj. Travel"

[dezmo]

hmmm.........thanks for the info. really helps!

Regarding the XT version, unfortunately I am from East Malaysia where it is a pain in the arse to get hold of certain bike brand. To buy a Commencal i will have to place an order from Kuala Lumpur which is few thousand miles away in the West. What is considered common in our local LBS would be Jamis, Merida and Giant. For other higher end brand like Specialized, Scott, Santa Cruz and etc will need special order from the West or oversea, which a lot of rich dudes did.

Of course, if i have a thicker wallet i would love to special order a XT version but a 5.5.3 here is already costing around USD1900. Its a lot of money for a student like me.

[Tomm]

With the £/$ rate at the moment, I would imagine most people in the UK would be paying much more than $1900 (£927) for their Meta 5.5.3!  In fact my 2007 5.5.3 was £930 which was a bargain compared with the retail price, and that was in the end-of-year sales.  You're lucky to get a 2008 one for less than £1300 ($2660) over here.

As for the 5.5.2 you do get a few nicer bits, and it's probably money well spent if you have it.  The forks are probably the biggest difference Fox Floats on the 5.5.3 compared to Marzocchi x600, and then apart from that it's just little differences throughout.  Better brakes (Juicy 5s are much better than Juicy 3s IME), better drivetrain (X7/9 instead of X5/7) but nothing hugely different so if money's tight then the 5.5.3 is a good buy.

[dezmo]

oh mann...........Tomm you have just poisoned me with all the better little bit and pieces of 552 and now I m thinking all over again to fork out more cash. hahaha I cant sleep again tonight just thinking about which to get.....

Oh well....i think you guys don't exactly pay for more because standard of living there is much more than here and Pound is like 7 times of Malaysian Ringgit (£1 = RM7). 553 is selling for approx. £914 and 552 is approx £1151. This is a lot of money for most of us here even the normal middle class folks! I really sux in economy but i could give you an example of the living of standard here compare to UK, for example for people who work in McDonald as a cashier, he/she would earn only RM2.50 per hour and I believe in UK its like £10 right?

Don't blame them for charging higher price because you guys can easily get customer service and warranty claim while for us, i think it is almost impossible or too much of a hassle due to costly shipping and etc. So wish me luck for a 100% perfect condition bike.

I am thinking of a smaller size actually, because I am currently riding a 17" (Center-to-Top) KHS Alite2000 hardtail with a 23 inch top tube and 90mm stem and I feel its too lengthy for me. Some dude told me that for an all mountain bike i should get a size smaller for better maneuver and control. How true is that?   

Btw, does anyone know the overall weight of 552 and 553 for 2008 models?

[Tomm]

Yeah I know it obviously all depends on how much money you're earning...  I don't think Britain is too bad since most people earn quite a good living I guess.  I just like moaning about it.  I don't really know what people in Malaysia live like but working in McDonald's here doesn't earn anyone very much.  It'll be minimum wage which is £5.20/hour I think.  Which is only just enough to buy a meal from there 

It's all relative and I guess people here probably are better off than in Malaysia.