Francisco Pardal's Commencal Supreme DH V4 - Crankworx Les Gets 2016

Jun 19, 2016
by Paul Aston  
Franscisco Pardal s Commencal Supreme DH V4


We spent some time 'Getting To Know' Francisco Pardal back in March. Since then the Portuguese powerhouse has recovered from breaking both wrists in a crash and having two successful surgeries. Les Gets is Fran's second Crankworx event and he seeded 39th place in the downhill today after a sliding out near the finish. It will take more than that to dampen his spirits as he's one of the friendliest faces in the paddock, always a big smile and always holding the fantasy throttle wide open on the track. Fran is a privateer and runs his own program with individual sponsors including Commencal, Fox Shox, Shimano, Maxxis, Fox Head, New Race, Renthal, DMR, Ti-springs, RedBull Portugal, 100%, Speedfreak and Louzan Bike Park.


Franscisco Pardal s Commencal Supreme DH V4

Fran uses an alloy Rental Fatbar that s 780mm wide with 30mm rise.
Fran uses an alloy Renthal FatBar that's 780mm wide with a 30mm rise.

Me and Fran share the same favorite grip. The soft kevlar compound Renthal push-on grip isn t glued but they are wired to prevent water ingress.
Me and Fran share the same favourite grip - the kevlar compound Renthal push-on grip, which he doesn't glue, but wires them to the bars to prevent water ingress.
Fran also has removed some of the plastic on the bar end plugs so he can rest his hands right at the ends of the handlebar though he won t have to do this mod much longer.
Fran has also removed some of the plastic from around the bar end plugs so he can rest his hands right at the ends of the handlebar although he won't have to do this mod for much longer...

Honesty is the best policy. I m sponsored by Ti-Springs but I forgot to bring my stem spacers so a friend made this one for me
Honesty is the best policy, "I'm sponsored by Ti-Springs but I forgot to bring my stem spacers, so a friend made this one for me." At 182cm tall, Fran runs the XL V4 frame and uses the +10mm reach adjust headset keeping the head standard at 63.5 degrees.

Who doesn t want black dials for their Fox 40 s
Fran weighs 76 kg and runs 76 PSI in his Fox 40s with six volume spacers. Fran says his damping is middle of the road and only changes a few clicks in and out depending on the course. And, who doesn't want black dials for their Fox 40's?

Fran sets his seat slightly lower than possible.
Buzz works? Fran sets his seat slightly lower than he should.

Franscisco Pardal s Commencal Supreme DH V4
#longlivechainsaw

A well carved chunk of moto foam under the top shock mount.
A well-carved chunk of moto foam fills the void under the top shock mount.

Floating on Fox damping.
Floating on Fox damping - Fran uses a 325lb spring to give 26% sag.

This neat zip tie passing through a clear rubber tube keeps the cables on hoses in the right place.
This neat zip tie passing through a clear rubber tube keeps the cables and hoses in the right place.

Franscisco Pardal s Commencal Supreme DH V4
A second MarshGuard is used to keep rear ended roost to a minimum.

Commencal s ribbed chain guide is neat and should keep the noise down.
Commencal's ribbed chain guide is neat and should help keep the noise down over the rough stuff.

Flat pedals win medals Fran uses Brendog 1 signature DMR Vault
Flat pedals win medals... Fran uses Brendog's signature DMR Vaults.

Standard 10 speed Saint drivetrain.
A standard 10-speed Saint drivetrain handles transmission duties.

New Race is a small brand from Portugal. Fran uses the MTB XX wheelset with 25mm internal width rims.
New Race is a small brand from Portugal and Fran uses their MTB XX Comp wheelset with 25mm internal width rims.

Franscisco Pardal s Commencal Supreme DH V4
The wheels are laced together with Sapim bladed spokes for a little more compliance.

Fran uses standard Saint levers and calipers along with 200mm IceTec rotors
Fran uses standard Saint levers and calipers along with 200mm IceTec rotors
Franscisco Pardal s Commencal Supreme DH V4

Mud tires are the only option this weekend. Maxxis Wetscreams with slightly trimmed down knobs and pumped up to 26 and 27psi.
Mud tires are the only option this weekend. Maxxis Wetscreams with slightly trimmed down knobs and pumped up to 26 and 27 PSI.

Moustache Marsh Guard extension for the large clearance on the Fox 40.
Fran runs the Stache MarshGuard extension for the large clearance on the Fox 40.

Renthal s narrow wide chainring and a Shimano bashguard for safety.
Chain management courtesy of Renthal's narrow wide chainring and a Shimano's bashguard.

Franscisco Pardal s Commencal Supreme DH V4
Franscisco Pardal s Commencal Supreme DH V4

The small plastic bosses moulded in to the lens are to help the roll-off film travel more easily.
A quality pair of roll-off goggles can be the difference between first and last at a wet race - 100%'s Forecast system utilises small plastic pimples molded into the lens to prevent the film from sticking to the lens in the wettest of conditions.

MENTIONS: @COMMENCALbicycles / @MarshGuard / @foxracingshox / @foxracingshox / @Fox-Head-Inc / @ride100percent / @tisprings


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Reviews and Tech Crankworx Commencal


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48 Comments
  • 26 0
 being a privateer in these muddy conditions must suck big time.
  • 17 2
 The piece under the shock that is shaved down is to accomodate large volume air shocks. I know this as I ride with pardal quite often and he informed me of this.
  • 1 0
 Can you ask him, why he flipped the little part that connects left and right part of the swing?
  • 12 1
 Am I the only one who noticed the filed down part of the frame under the spring? Interested in knowing if the spring won't fit otherwise.
  • 2 1
 I wonder about that too...!
  • 1 0
 I noticed another V4 at Whistler, the linkage was rubbing, still looked pre-production. Kind of a bummer, I'd still love to ride the bike, looks like it has a lot of potential.
  • 11 0
 So he's 172 with XL frame + 10mm reach ?
  • 8 2
 L’écrivain avait fait une erreur. Il fait 1m82. Wink
Après les commencals dont assez court donc...
  • 17 2
 Commencal's XL is other brands M. They got this sizing thing completely wrong.
  • 4 0
 It's interesting that their enduro bike is actually sized decently. Seeing as the dh v4 came afterward you'd think they would have figured it out by now.
  • 1 0
 @Arnoodles: yeah...but not their so called enduro hardtail. the sizes here run one size small. I had a large and it felt like a dinky little thing. got the XL and it was waaaaay better.
  • 4 1
 Hopefully next year they make them way longer
  • 9 0
 @PaulAston I'm intrigued by your comment about the grips. I also love these grips. Are they finally going to make a decent end cap?
  • 8 2
 Just curious for those who may know and can inform me. What is the benefit of the chain going like that?
  • 9 5
 Cost more for a chain!?!
  • 21 1
 it reduces chain-growth induced pedal feedback when the rear sus compresses.
  • 3 1
 The chain would have a large amount of growth due to having the swing arm mounted so high up, and by having a regular chain line it wouldn't allow the chain to clear between the chainstays without having to redesign the frame a different way.
  • 5 1
 It prevents chain growth acting on the rear suspension. By running the chain over an idler pulley which is in line with the swing arm pivot the chain in theory stays pretty much the same length as the bike goes through its travel. This will also stop pedalling forces interfering too. Been used for years on the old sunn bikes and nico's v process too. Many others too,oh and it works.
  • 5 35
flag fecalmaster (Jun 19, 2016 at 3:50) (Below Threshold)
 That linkage gave me violent diarrhea, the taxi cab paint job gave me herpes and the chain routing gave me hemaroids but besides that looks like a solid build.
  • 23 2
 @fecalmaster: you sir sound like a roadie.
  • 3 29
flag fecalmaster (Jun 19, 2016 at 6:35) (Below Threshold)
 You sir have sloppy, horrific, and noobish instincts. I say sir good day sir kiss my grits sir.
  • 9 2
 Anyone else know where to get the longlivechainsaw stickers
  • 1 0
 I've also been looking...I guess the best idea is just make your own text...even without adesive side...!
  • 8 5
 Great bike, would love to have one, but they are not for tall people as evidenced here. At 172cm (5'6") he runs an XL with 10mm reach adjust headset... I am 6'5", go figure...
  • 7 1
 My bad, Fran is 182cm.
  • 2 1
 OK, thanks, but then still, at 182cm (6'0").
  • 8 0
 Santa Cruz for you my friend.
  • 9 1
 Canyon Sender for you my friend.
  • 3 0
 Get yourself a Pole bike and you'll be sorted. Everything else aside from a geometron is tiny.
  • 1 0
 The solid strike is also long
  • 4 0
 @zede: a Solid strike size XL has a reach of 453mm with a wheelbase of 1270mm. That is the same reach as most brands L but the long wheelbase is acheived by a 62º headangle and 448mm chainstays. So though it is long in the wheelbase it does NOT feel long when you are on it.
A geometron size longest has a reach of 520mm and a wheelbase of 1313mm with a 63.5º headangle. So it feels long in the wheelbase AND when you are on it.
A Pole EVO176 DH bike takes things further with 510mm reach, 1350mm wheelbase and 62º headangle.
Other longish bikes are:
- Santacruz v10 XXL 1280mm wheelbase, 470mm reach, 63.5º
- Pivot DH 62.5º, 1291mm wheelbase, 482mm reach
- Canyon Sender 63º 1297mm wheelbase, 480mm reach.
  • 2 0
 @SintraFreeride: You hit the nail on the head. The only other brand I would add to that list would be Guerrilla Gravity, who will do custom geometry that might be comparable to the Pole and Geometron but with 195-205mm travel.
  • 1 0
 The Kona Operator 27.5 is also huge in XL, but they stopped producing it last year for some reason, although I am pretty sure they will add a new one to the line at some point (this year?).
  • 2 0
 The sizing is quite interesting, since Commencal suggests a XL frame for people >6,2 (188cm) but it has a really short reach. Would love to test one out
  • 2 1
 Do test one. My commencal is "short" by today's / my mates standards, but is way more fun and manouverable than the new stuff. Plus it's not that often you're doing in excess of 40mph to require that extra stability...
  • 4 0
 Quite clean bike, for now... Eh eh
  • 3 1
 The commies rock! The sizing is certainly on the small size. the bike eat it all for dinner. the attention to detail on the little stuff is pretty good to.
  • 1 0
 I looks like they've had to shave off some meat, in the shock bottom bracket area, for spring clearance? Sick looking bike, thoughtup
  • 2 0
 my OCD tells me those stanchions need to be evened out in the crowns.
  • 1 0
 Thank you! First thing I saw in the pictures and it's driving me nuts- can't be good for the front axle interface running like that, not to mention stiction in the forks as they compress at a slight angle. Or maybe it's the new standard: one fork tube 3mm longer
  • 2 0
 @skidrumr: It won't cause the stankshuns to compress at an angle, stiction or any axle issues... it might limit the travel since the damper side is lower than the spring side. Just needs to be corrected before it slips again and causes an issue.
  • 1 0
 YOUR SO RIGHT DOGGY
  • 1 0
 @screwballscrambell:WORDS DUDEBROBRA I KNOW THANKS BIGUPS PROPASAURUS REX ME UP WITH THE GREEN ARROW MAD REPS IN DA PINKBIKE HIZZOUSE 4SHO MY NIZZLE BIZZLE FIZZLE
  • 2 0
 Love that yellow frame color. Amazing bike!!
  • 1 0
 Did anyone notice the cut bashguard? Clever!!!
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