Roc D'Azur 2012: Commencal

Oct 13, 2012
by Matt Wragg  
Commencal had their entire, very yellow, 2013 range on show here at Roc D'Azur, we took a closer look.

Commencal 2013 range
Commencal 2013
  Pride of place in the range is the 160mm Meta SX. Commencal were one of the first brands to really support enduro and with this bike they are one of only two companies we can think of who offer a race-ready enduro bike. At European enduro races the spec among the top guys is pretty consistent: 1 x 10, chainguide with bash, big fork, wide bar, dropper post and tough tyres. A few people get close to this spec, but the component that is most often missing is the 1 x 10, maybe they are worried it will put people off, but for enduro racing most people then have to make this change after market. It's good to see Commencal leading the way on this and we'd like to see more companies follow suit. We also like the neat, neoprene shock protector they are speccing with these bikes, it's a nice, thoughtful touch that should help the shocks perform for longer.

Commencal 2013 range
Commencal 2013
  Their Supreme DH downhill bike barely needs any introduction. It's race-proven at the World Cup and is now very, very yellow.

Commencal 2013 range
Commencal 2013
  The Meta SX has a 29"-wheeled cousin, the Meta AM 29. Their marketing manager, Marie, used one of these to dominate the women's field in the enduro here at Roc D'Azur. One of the most impressive things about all these bikes is the though that has gone into the cable routing - it goes in at the headtube, is neatly routed at the BB and then goes back into the frame. Although most of the dropper post routing is internal, they have decided not to go for the full Reverb Stealth option, as they felt it limited people too much in buying aftermarket posts.

Commencal 2013
Commencal 2013
  Commencal haven't forgotten ladies either and are offering this women-specific version of the Meta AM. The geometry is tweaked, there's a proper saddle and not a hint of pink in sight.

Commencal 2013
Commencal 2013
  Commencal first revealed the Supreme DH's little brother, the FR earlier this year and we're glad to see the dull, light-brown colour on the pre-production bikes has been ditched in favour of the neon yellow.

Commencal 2013
Commencal 2013
  Their Absolut Al hardtail looks as good as ever. Again, the cable routing on this bike is lovely, recessed into the lower side of the top-tube to keep it well out of the way.

Commencal 2013
Commencal 2013
  The Commencal Supreme 24 has been carried over from the previous style of Supreme and it's still as capable bike for young rippers as it ever was. There's a Marzocchi Roco shock behind that linkage, an e13 chainguide and strong brakes. It makes it the chances of a child overtaking you in the bike park ever more likely...

Commencal 2013
Commencal 2013
  For even younger rippers there is the Ramones 20, which is strong enough for a journalist old enough to know better to scoot across the show on...

www.commencal.com

Posted In:
Racing and Events Commencal


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75 Comments
  • 82 0
 Commencal bikes are just so clean looking!
  • 11 0
 YESSSS!!!!
  • 24 1
 Word... THe SX and th Supreme FR/DH are some fo the sexiest bikes on the market IMO...
  • 7 0
 you won't go wrong with neon colors these days.
  • 11 0
 Takes me bck to the te 80's early 90's... If Hammer pants come back I'm runnin for the hills...
  • 7 0
 No Medic, you should pedal for the hills.
  • 1 0
 IT'S SO f*ckING BRIGHT. OMFG. MY EYES!!!!! THE COLORS!!!!! AHHHH!!!!



I love it Big Grin
  • 4 0
 Such clean lines. You can tell a lot of thought went into the cable routing. The 160mm Meta SX is pure sex. 100% business.
  • 1 0
 No absolut SX this year then? I love mine, and would probably get a chubby if they made it in that yellow.
  • 1 0
 @Fix-The-Spade: Yes, how silly of me Wink hahahahahahahaha

@NR8productions: I was pretty ummed to see it wasn't in hte line-up either. "little" short-travel fullys with short back-ends are SO much fun. I still have my old 1st Gen Norco 4x4 and if it weren't the heaviest thing on earth I'd never retire it. But that Meta SX also is "CALLING ME" aye.... I think with a Monarch PLus or even a coil shock in there and a 36-180 up front that thing wuld be a full mountain KILLER. Not to mention how falt out SEXXY the Supreme FR is... I am f*ckin LOVING Commencal's line-up these days.
  • 13 1
 I understand that for enduro racing, it's "one ring to rule them all". But in my experience, for some sustained singletrack climbs, and even some steep logging roads (ie a big climb to get to a big descent), I have had to go into the granny (climbing is also one of my strengths). So 32-36 (and 42 with XX!) gives you some low ranges, but you would still be doing a lot of pushing around here, whatever, I can have the trails to myself. I wouldn't buy a bike that came with a single ring...Neg props coming from those who don't ride the real mountains in AB/BC!
  • 3 0
 yup, I was hating on the slayer having a front derailleur but it comes in handy when your riding up seymour/fromme
  • 10 6
 What's a front derailleur? Oh, wait I remember having one of those in the 90's. If your going slow enough for a granny gear, you can walk your bike just as fast.
  • 5 0
 Except you can't walk as fast. I've climbed a hill in the 22-34 and have had to wait a while at the top for people who walked. and 32-11 is pretty easy to spin out on the descent. I totally understand that if your area has low graded climbs and slower descents that a single ring would suffice.
  • 1 0
 Well said racerfacer. AB/BC rider here and I actually want to ride my bike up the climbs and like RF climbing is my forte. I do make it a rule to avoid my 24/36 but theres a few places its necessary. That said I'm pretty sure I'll be trying XX1 next season.

tetonlarry, sorry but even spinning my 24/36 is faster and less energy consuming than anybody walking.
  • 4 3
 I find it funny when people I'm with spin all the way to the top of a 30 minute climb only to have me walk up 30 seconds behind them with a bike that will be much more fun on the way down.
  • 1 0
 if you're having to go into the 32/whatever your biggest cog in the back is you are better off walking but for riders who can ride the 32/13 to the top on just about everything and be able to dump cogs and not shift another chainring in a hurry is a nice thing to have for little weight penalty
  • 15 1
 Is it weird that I want all of those?
  • 11 2
 I want the mini dh bike!
  • 10 1
 "one of only two companies we can think of who offer a race-ready endure bike"

Wait. WHAT? Nice article and all, but that's bull to make Commencal look better in this article.
First of all, it depends on what type of bike you're looking for to race endure events and secondly where you're going to race. Right now, endure race organizers are trying to find out what sticks and what doesn't. Races (that don't just happen in france/alp d' Huez as many people seem to believe) come in various sizes and shapes. And so does the bikes that you race the events with.

To name a few, as I consider, race ready enduro bikes:
Specialized Stumpy EVO/Enduro, Merida One-Sixty, Santa Cruz Nomad /Nomad Carbon, Trek Slash/whatnot, et.c. et.c.

Enduro racing is awesome, and I really like the look of Commencals new bikes, but they aren't the "one of only two" companies to make kick ass endure bikes.
  • 1 0
 Yeah, I thought it was odd they made the '1 of 2' claim. The Trek Slash and Specialized Enduro s-Works would definitely qualify as 'enduro' bikes as much as the Meta SX. The Whyte 146X also comes with a 1x10 set up, and would be much, much faster than any of the other bikes menioned on certain terrain. As rayy says, you can't lump 'enduro' bikes in together that easily.
  • 8 1
 Love the little shock fender!
  • 4 3
 I wish the 24" was closer to 1000 USD than 2000. My son would love that bike and rip up the trails on it, but I can't justify the price when he will only be riding 24 for one more season. There is a niche for young rippers thats not being filled in the FS trail bike category. But that 24" is definitely a step in the right direction, If it was available 2 years ago my son would've had one. He rides a budget hard tail instead.
  • 3 0
 and I can't justify the price to have one as a pit bike. Frown
  • 2 0
 Kudos to them for making a decent 24". Specialized has stopped making theirs as have Norco. Only Kona and Commencal are making a full suspension 24" currently, as far as I know.
  • 1 0
 Scott made one called spark jr 24" the last few years. They even have one with high end spec but weighs 28lbs, and 60/80mm travel with no dampingand v brakes. I let my son choose his mtb and he went with scott voltage jr24" which is a hard tail, v brakes, coil fork with no damping, and awful seat for trail riding. nice frame though, shifts well, and we upgraded seat, pedals, bars and grips. His bike can hang though, I would say it's trail worthy. We've ridden gooseberry, slick rock, and many of the local trails here in northern Ut with no issues. I would love to find a 100-120mm travel FS with disk brakes and damping for trail riding for a grand or less. I think all mtb parents would want to get something like that for their kids. you could hand em down as they grow.
  • 1 0
 Nice looking bikes this year commencal but do they all have to be yellow neon every model? If i lived in france would grab one of those supreme 7" jumpoffs cheap. Here in us getting banged out on the price so we stick with giant or specialized.
  • 3 0
 i was pretty dissapointed when they said that that blue one was a ladies bike it looks sick!
  • 3 0
 It doesn't say Girly on it - you can still use it ;-)
  • 1 0
 planning to order the 2012 am3.
any good? have been on it for 2 weeks now!
2200$ in chainreactioncycle.
another thing that's holding me back is the stupid rainy season in vancity.
  • 1 0
 One thing they didn't show is their meta 4x . It hasn't been released and their not planning on releasing it again but I've got pics directly from them , I'll post soon if anyone wants them
  • 1 0
 The Absolute looks amazing!

I have seen the disc mounts in that location on more XC/AM bikes, and it made me think this may not be as strong for DJ, but then again if commencal are doing it i'm sure it will be fine.
  • 1 0
 I hope they're going to do a carbon version of the Meta soon. Although, it will just make my decision harder. A Carbon Covert or a Carbon Meta...
  • 1 0
 I asked a member of staff at Commencal about a carbon AM. His response was 'no way, never, forget it, not going to happen'. Seems odd for them to volentarily give away so much ground to the opposition like that....?
  • 2 0
 My Christmas list just got something with letters 'SX' and something else with the letters 'FR' added to it
  • 4 1
 that dj is sooooo cleann
  • 3 2
 commencal's colors are so pretty and I also like that hydrolines are inside frames
  • 3 1
 can you get these bikes in the US? Ive never seen a dealer anywhere
  • 1 0
 I dont see why not, theyre available in canada
  • 1 0
 Yesturday I tried out a chilean commencal team member's bike. The 2013 model is really buttery, me likes it.
  • 2 1
 those onza canis!

where can you buy those tires with the brown sidewall???
  • 1 0
 The tires were introduced at Euro Bike for the first time this year. The tires, in add to the brown sidewalls, that reminds the first MB years, have also a skinwall protection. Here in italy and on Onza's internet site the tires are, for the moment, unailable. By the way, also Ibex have the brown sidewall.
  • 2 1
 Skin walled tyres ! is it 1995 again ?
  • 3 1
 Yes, they are very very yellow.
  • 1 0
 I liked the 2012 SX with the proper yellow much more than the neon glow yellow.
  • 2 0
 I do miss the blue! but that neon yellow looks really cool!
  • 2 3
 Skin wall tyres! Yuk! I bet someone must have found a lost ancient pallet of tyres from the mid 90s at the back of a warehouse and Commencal picked up the joblot for a steal. Wink
  • 3 0
 Agree with you there. One ride and they'll go from white to poo brown! Mmmmm, just what the ladies all want. Leave the white-walls for the roadies in my opinion.
  • 9 0
 But they are tan brown... not white. We all know how much the female population loves their fake tan lol
  • 1 0
 Is that what they call it Wink haha. Not sure that girls who ride bikes are into either?
  • 2 0
 Haha yeah, I thought that as I was typing but what's the harm in a little sexism now and again Razz
  • 1 0
 i think the skin walls look boss!
  • 2 1
 GT was on to the neon for their 2011 range, it's good to see others like Comical and Yeti eventually catch up.
  • 2 1
 The yellow looks awesome. So much nicer than the grey they had at Crankworx. I love how clean the Commencal's look.
  • 2 1
 That SX looks sweet as! And it wouldn't take much to switch to 2x10 thanx to the direct mount front mech. Smile
  • 1 0
 what about a new 4x bike? Commencal are normally led the pack with their 4x and slopestyle bikes.
  • 2 0
 Meta AM 4X is in the work - we only have it as a frame for now (available January and Complete bikes in April)
  • 1 0
 Thats is good to hear! i have a Meta 4x and its is just brilliant. Will be a tough act to follow! What about a slopestyle bike?
  • 1 0
 My bad, no complete bikes for the 4X
  • 1 0
 Hi

What about a 4x hardtail????????
  • 1 0
 neon yellow is the new pink..?? juuurgh!!
Bikes are really clean and have nice little features like that shock protector .
  • 1 0
 All the money that com saved by using one powder coat color should translate into cheaper prices.
  • 2 1
 all of commencal's bikes are amazing. tup
  • 1 1
 I feel sad with all those new AM frames where there is no way you can put a bottle cage for my water bottle!!!!!!! Frown
  • 1 0
 those bikes look so nice especially in the neon yellow
  • 2 1
 i want the supreme fr even more now they are selling it in that colour!!!!
  • 1 0
 The Supreme FR is beautiful !
  • 2 1
 Nice understated colours i see
  • 1 0
 freaking awesome bikes! very clean
  • 2 3
 why was a chain used on the ramones 20? it has a 1x1 drivetrain could a belt not have been used?
  • 3 0
 Because its a childs bike and no parent wants to have to go looking for a belt, specific belt chainwheel and rear cog when the bike needs repairing instead of a €10 chain! A bit of common sense wouldn't go astray there lad.
  • 1 0
 Definitely nice bikes.
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