Bike Check: Amaury Pierron's Prototype Commencal Supreme - Leogang World Cup DH 2021

Jun 10, 2021
by Matt Beer  

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Bike Check
Amaury Pierron's
Commencal Supreme Prototype
Photography by Ross Bell

Commencal has finally let the cat out of the bag to reveal Amaury Pierron's latest prototype Supreme. The ultra-complex looking suspension design has a mountain of hardware to adjust a lot of variables. Commencal engineer, Arthur Quet, explained that the multitude of bolts and unrefined pieces is purely to test theories at this point. We had Dan Roberts dig into the kinematics a little more to help explain what each piece of the puzzle does.

The 2018 World Cup Overall Champion is back on the start list after missing the condensed 2020 season from a horrific crash with a list of injuries, back in August at the French National Championships.

Testing on the latest prototype frame began just a month ago. Amaury said that he felt comfortable quickly with the combination of a new chassis and suspension, but it took some time to get back to race speed.
Stoked assss

Amaury Pierron
Age: 25
Hometown: Auvergne, France
Height: 1.8m / 5'11"
Weight: 81kg / 180 lbs
Instagram:@amaurypierron4

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The geometry is very close to the production Supreme V4, but small changes have been made to compensate for dynamic geometry.


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The one time you want the non-drive side shot. There's also a flip chip hiding in the lower shock mount.

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What's hiding under the fabric this time? Is it simply mud management or is there an interchangeable brace to tune stiffness?

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The vibration dampers are back... and in some new places. You'll spot another one on the top side of the downtube. Is the Axxios system just a placebo effect?

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Fox suspension is a new suspension sponsor on board with the Muc-Off Commencal Team this season. Amaury prefers the feeling of an air shock over a coil, which he sets to 250 PSI with 3 volume spacers. The fork starts with 90 PSI and 2 volume spacers for a neutral bike balance

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Not all Europeans run their levers horizontal. Amaury's mechanic says the steeper lever angle creates a more attacking position. Shimano XT 4-piston brakes are fitted with Galfer pads and rotors - 223mm front and 203mm rear to mirror the mullet.

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More numbers: The 31.8mm diameter bars are 800mm wide, have a 30mm rise, and are perched on a 40mm length stem. There are minimal spacers under the crown for Leogang.

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They look like a regular Magic Marys from the outside, but Schwable's "First Ride" hot patch symbolizes something special in the tires too, in case you didn't read the label.
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Pierron typically starts with 1.75 bar (25 PSI) front / 1.85 bar (27 PSI) rear and doesn't use inserts in the 30mm wide Enve M9 rims.


Posted In:
Reviews and Tech Bike Checks DH Bikes Commencal Commencal Supreme Amaury Pierron


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100 Comments
  • 110 1
 I really need this to get hucked to flat ASAP
  • 80 2
 Quite possibly the most beautiful bike at Leogang this weekend. No doubt it’s going to be as fast as it looks. Well done, Commencal. [insert slow clap]
  • 4 3
 close, hard to beat those mondys
  • 4 0
 I'm partial for the Athertons. But I guess we can't all agree. Allthough the Commencal does not hurt my eyes...
  • 3 2
 Danny Hart's wins easy.
  • 1 4
 colorscheme super boring though
  • 60 1
 Axxios Vibrations dampers… definitely the placebo effect. Never heard as much rubbish in my life.
  • 19 1
 Truly baffling. Any fool with a ten dollar accelerometer could prove it's rubbish, too... And surely if, by some violation of all natural laws, it wasn't rubbish, Axxios would have shown us that graph.
  • 29 1
 @ryetoast: hey, would you turn down sponsorship money for something as worthless as your integrity?
  • 6 19
flag entrecerros (Jun 10, 2021 at 16:01) (Below Threshold)
 You should learn some physics. You need very litte to avoid vibration frequencies to achieve resonance and that is exactly what axxios does.
  • 15 1
 @entrecerros: Thanks for the heads up. Clearly this was missed out on my degree course (Physics and Astronomy). How remiss of the University!
  • 44 0
 "Not all Europeans run their levers horizontal."

Ehm... Didn't you mean "not all Frenchies"... ?
  • 8 2
 came here to say that LOL
  • 25 1
 Not all frenchies have 3 balls Wink
  • 3 0
 @joaquin21ap: all the fast ones have 3 balls, some even 4....
  • 3 1
 breaking news: And some of them have balls out!
  • 15 0
 Mommmmmm! I figured out what I want for Christmas.
  • 12 0
 The fact that such a good looking bike like this with an alloy frame can and probably will win the world cup makes me think that carbon frames only make sense in XC and roadbikes.
  • 14 0
 galfer rotors and pads work great
  • 34 0
 We agree
  • 4 0
 @galferusa: yall dont happen to make stuff for shimano deore 4 pot brakes, right?
  • 4 1
 @ltharris: Shimano 4-pot pads are compatible with all current Shimano 4-pot brakes.
  • 8 0
 @ltharris: We make them! Even better we have stacks of our Pro compound pads in stock right now for this fitment.
  • 5 0
 @pinkbike should do some sort of brake pad review using some companies that aren’t Shimano or Sram
  • 2 0
 Especially the pro pads, best upgrade you can do for race day.
  • 1 0
 @kilo11: nsmb.com/articles/oem-alternative-brake-pads-one-month-later
  • 2 0
 @galferusa: I love how you even make them for my Magura Louise 2007 brake calipers Smile !
  • 1 0
 @Mcbellamy:

This is great but more than three options would be ideal
  • 13 0
 31.8mm bars?!? Surely he can't win any races with such dated handlebar standard...
  • 11 2
 Xt brakes huh?

It must be interesting racing at that level and having to adapt to different tech year to year. Switching suspension, tires or brakes totally changes how a bike rides. I'm sure the riders have some input on what they want on the bike. But at the end of the day it sure seems like, "Company X is giving us a ton of money so ya better like riding a pogo stick down the hill cuz thats the program your on now."
  • 15 0
 100% sure he can ride the current old Saints, XT, XTR lever/Saint Caliper (like Greg did I believe) etc.
  • 5 0
 I ran the current old Saints the past 3 years, transferred over to the 4 piston XTs 2 months ago. Still plenty capable.... yes the stopping power is 85% of the Saints but they feel more modular. I'm no pro, but XTs aren't a terrible component pick for pointing the bike downhill
  • 1 0
 @ipedalhard: what exactly is the difference between saint and 4piston xt? other than gold fittings lol
  • 1 0
 @DAN-ROCKS: The XT fades quite a bit on a long trip down, I have XT on a hardtail, Saint on my DH and on my Meta I run the XT lever to Saint caliper which is the best option IMO
  • 2 0
 @DAN-ROCKS: The ramp up to wall of stopping power the Saints have. I feel more confident dropping a slab to sharp corner with them. XT's have less power, but I swear have more modulation - great for off camber stuff

@dkendy1: XT does fade more, but nothing terrible. Great for PNW long steeps. I suppose pro level they don't mess with fade tho
  • 14 1
 Curios how much they're being paid to run Axxios- pure snake oil
  • 16 1
 Where can I buy snake oil?
  • 9 0
 im curious where axxios is even getting the money to put riders on payroll. who is purchasing this snake oil? how do they manage to get nino to run it too?
  • 2 0
 @NoriDori: it's the venom that makes you unstoppable; the oil does nothing!
  • 9 0
 Love the writing on the tire...."Dont even look at it" #supersecretprototypetire....
  • 10 2
 Dear PB. Whoever can guess closest too how many bolts on this thing should win a prize. I guess 84.
  • 4 0
 ‘ Fox suspension is a new suspension sponsor on board with the Mud-Off Commencal Team this season.’
Mud-Off haha easy typo/auto correct I suppose
  • 1 0
 Honestly, that’s what muc-off does in the end... get’s the mud off your bike Big Grin
  • 1 0
 @mate1998: dang auto correct. Haha
  • 4 3
 Apparently everyone has forgotten about the Felt Equilink?

www.wigglestatic.com/product-media/102451382/Felt-Virtue-Nine-20-Suspension-Frame-2014-Full-Sus-Mountain-Bike-Frames-1011-Black-2014.jpg?w=430&h=430&a=7
  • 1 0
 The difference being the placement of the rear-most pivot. Very similar 6-bar design though.
  • 1 0
 @mammal: Felt did some Equilink bikes with the pivot on the seatstays, some on the chainstays, and some with flex-stays. feltbicycles.com/collections/2019-bikes/products/compulsion-1-enduro-mountain-bike
www.vitalmtb.com/product/guide/Bikes,3/Felt/Virtue-FRD,20103
  • 3 1
 @bcmanucd: The new Commencal is a Felt Equilink, minus the bushings. I promise.
  • 1 0
 @TEAM-ROBOT: you were only sponsored by them how would you know lol
  • 4 0
 Prototype Enve dh rims with m930 decals, as lower profile and external nipples, come on Pinkbike
  • 3 0
 "Amaury's mechanic says the steeper lever angle creates a more attacking position."

I always felt that attack was what was lacking in Amaury's riding...
  • 4 0
 oh lala
  • 3 0
 is this Commencal's first virtual pivot design?
  • 1 5
flag insertfunusername (Jun 10, 2021 at 13:11) (Below Threshold)
 This looks like a FSR bike with the lower pivot point moving slightly depending on how deep in the travel you are. FSR bikes of course do have a virtual pivot point, but I know that in bike world VPP means short link suspension... which this is not.
  • 1 0
 EDIT: the first Clash was an ABP
  • 1 0
 @insertfunusername: for sure. I was trying to keep it general. Not sure what to call the dogbone linky thing in terms of the short vs long link. I've always wondered why Kona and Commencal didn't go FSR when Spesh's patent ran out. This bike looks cool but also heavy.
  • 4 1
 @conv3rt: this bike likely has kinematics similar to the Atherton bikes...perhaps anyway. It is an FSR bike at heart, not a short link bike at all.

I like FSR bikes but have never had a problem with a linkage driven single pivot, like a Kona or Evil. I don't really get along with short link bikes, they are fun and fast when set up perfect, but I always feel like they are a bit vague. It always seems like an FSR or a linkage driven single pivot just feels right to me.
  • 1 2
 Not a VPP
  • 3 0
 That is one beauty of a prototype.
  • 2 0
 If a 4 bar suspension is good and a 6 bar better wouldn't a 10 bar be perfect
  • 1 0
 I really am wondering what is under that cover on the seatstay bridge.... They took the lid off the funky 6 Bar, what are they hiding under there?
  • 2 0
 Looks like a frickin s#$$_+@!!!!! Brahhhh aghhhh wtf somebody say it!!!!!!!!
  • 3 0
 Woah...
  • 1 0
 Whats up w/that adjustable strut that is connecting the lower CS to the yoke?
  • 1 0
 NM - I see the suspension discussion in the other article...
  • 2 0
 I didn't know felt started making dh bikes?
  • 5 2
 Axxios system. lol.
  • 3 0
 CommenFelt
  • 2 0
 Love that finish on the aluminum!!!!!
  • 1 0
 Is this like the 3rd article on this bike in about a week?..... is commencal a pb sponsor? lol
  • 1 0
 The (slightly) ugly duckling has turned into a graceful swan. Kudos to Commencal.
  • 1 0
 interesting idler pulley orientation
  • 2 0
 Loving the moto foam Big Grin .
  • 2 1
 Sleek, XT stoppers for the win..
  • 1 1
 Interchangeable stiffness member between seat stays sounds like a really cool idea!
  • 1 0
 That Chris King Mango *Chef's Kiss
  • 2 0
 Hawt.
  • 2 0
 Needs moar links!!!
  • 1 1
 Looks like there's a crack on the inside of the non-drive side seat stay at the front of the weld
  • 1 0
 I do not need a downhill bike but by God do I want this.
  • 1 0
 its interesting he prefer air suspension
  • 1 0
 Looks like there’s room for a water bottle!
  • 1 0
 Is it a mullet?
  • 1 0
 Yes, it's a mullet.
  • 1 2
 Looks like they add to various different designs, to make a better one!
But do you really need that many pivot points?
  • 1 0
 No, most people do not need nearly that many pivot points.
  • 1 0
 Boioioioinnnggg!
  • 1 0
 Equilnk?
  • 1 0
 #justanothersession
  • 1 1
 It's a Trek
  • 1 2
 #freethewelds
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