

This isn’t totally unusual for modern-geo trail and enduro bikes, and there’s a certain degree of readjustment that you need to go through if you’re coming off an older bike with a much slacker seat tube angle and a longer effective top tube. The Meta TR’s front end can feel a little floppy through slow-speed tech. The sensation of your body being folded up is more pronounced on the Meta TR than we’ve experienced elsewhere, and on longer and more traversing backcountry trail rides, it proved to be quite a fatiguing bike to ride.

Confirmed Weight | 15.2kg (Medium, tubeless, w/out pedals).Stem | Ride Alpha Freeride, 50mm Length.


The bike we’ve been testing is the top-banger of the range the Meta TR Signature. The three base models are equipped with a 150mm travel fork and in-line shocks, while the two higher-end models get a 160mm travel fork and a piggyback shock. All models are built around the same alloy frame with 140mm of rear wheel travel and 29in wheels. Of course weight isn’t everything, but that’s a significant increase over its carbon counterparts, including the Canyon Spectral 29 CF (3kg), Specialized Stumpjumper EVO (2.75kg) and the Giant Trance X (2.5kg).Ĭommencal offers five different spec levels in the Meta TR range, starting with the $3,499 AUD Meta TR Origin. Commencal claims a Meta TR frame weighs around 4.1kg including the rear shock. It’s one mighty buff frame, both in appearance and on the scales. The Meta TR gets a whole new frame for 2021, and it’s one beefy number. The seat tube is also shorter and fatter too – it now accommodates a 34.9mm diameter dropper post, an increasingly common size we’ve seen used by Specialized, Norco and Trek. There’s no more hockey-stick top tube, and the seat tube doesn’t kick back nearly as much, simultaneously steepening the effective seat angle while improving seatpost insertion depth. The hydroformed tubes are much straighter than the previous generation frame, with less curves and sharper angles. Not that we mind, because the Meta TR is a very good looking piece of hardware, with a reassuringly tough look about it. If you’re hot for carbon you’ll have to look elsewhere, because Commencal doesn’t do carbon – it’s metal-only around these parts. The Meta TR has received an all-new chassis for 2021, which is made from triple butted and heat treated 6066 alloy. Mick and the Meta TR where they’re at their best – foot out, flat out! Commental Meta TR overview
