Rémi Thirion's Commencal Supreme DH V4 - Fort William DH World Cup 2016

Jun 4, 2016 at 15:49
by Olly Forster  
Launched at the start of last season and then subsequently launched into everything else at warp speed by their factory race team, Commencal's Supreme DH V4 is a serious piece of kit. But a bike is little more than the sum of its parts without a pilot and the man responsible for steering this matte black beast also happens to be one of the wildest on the circuit; Rémi Thirion. We caught up with Rémi's mechanic, Damien Bideau, to find out more...


R my Thirion bike check - Fort William 2016


The anodised matte black finish saves weight over paint (this bike weighs 16.5kg / 36.4lb) and the yellow details and accents make these team machines pop, especially when Rémi and the team are wearing their neon yellow Fox race kit. At 174cm tall, Rémi rides a stock medium frame with a Ride Alpha reach adjust headset pushing the reach numbers from 392mm to 402mm.


R my Thirion bike check - Fort William 2016
Reach adjust headsets are a great way to fine tune 'reach, especially when riders are between frame sizes.


Damien was tight-lipped about what lay within Rémi's RockShox Boxxers forks and Vivid coil shock past that he runs 95 PSI in the forks and a 300 lb spring in the rear. At an estimated guess, he's more thank likely to be running a custom Charger damper with a unique shim stack configuration and a similar custom one-of-a-kind set up in the Vivid.


R my Thirion bike check - Fort William 2016
Commencal's HPP Contact System utilises a high pivot point, an idler and a low slung linkage.

R my Thirion bike check - Fort William 2016
The 267mm RockShox Vivid coil sits pretty low in the frame...
R my Thirion bike check - Fort William 2016
and is surrounded by 'moto foam' to help prevent mud build up.


At the heart of the Supreme DH V4 is Commencal's HPP (High Principal Pivot) Contact System. Essentially a single pivot design, it utilises a high main pivot with a linkage that's located low on the frame and an idler pulley which is mounted inline with the pivot to prevent unwanted amounts of chain growth. If you want to know more about the HPP design and the Supreme DH V4's development, we covered it here last year. Back to Rémi's bike...


R my Thirion bike check - Fort William 2016
Up front, Remi runs a 45mm Renthal Integra stem with a 0-degree rise and 770mm wide alloy FatBars with a 30mm rise.


Rémi runs a SRAM Guide Ultimate brake lever mated with an Avid Code calliper - a popular combo found on quite a few pro riders bikes right now. Damien said that Rémi prefers the feel of the Guide lever.


R my Thirion bike check - Fort William 2016
Remi is certainly bucking the 'flat brake lever' trend.
R my Thirion bike check - Fort William 2016
Renthal's 'ultra-tacky' compound lock-on grips are another popular item for the pros.


The Supreme DH V4 offers a huge variety of geometry adjustment, including chain stay length. Rémi regularly changes his between +5 and +10mm depending on the course and how he feels, opting for an extra 10mm for the Fort.


R my Thirion bike check - Fort William 2016
Adjustable chain stays help tailor the bike to individual race tracks.


Damien adjusts spoke tensions between front and rear wheels to change the ride feel. Here, he opted for a slightly stiffer build on the rear to help handle the abuse of Aonach Mor's unforgiving boulder. It's crucial to reach a suitable balance between too much flex and too much stiffness, especially when you're hitting this kind of terrain and at the speed these guys are travelling. Damien also told us that Rémi was running 1.9 Bar/ 27 PSI in the front tyre and 2.1 Bar/ 30 PSI in the rear tyre.


R my Thirion bike check - Fort William 2016
When you know you're a pro rider!
R my Thirion bike check - Fort William 2016
Spank hubs, rims, CN Spokes and custom rubber all round.

R my Thirion bike check - Fort William 2016
A popular choice amongst the World Cup elites, Remi runs HT's X2 clipless pedals.


#LongLiveChainsaw

R my Thirion bike check - Fort William 2016
R my Thirion bike check - Fort William 2016



MENTIONS: @COMMENCALbicycles / @hutchinsontires / @renthalcycling / @SramMedia / @lunatyk



Author Info:
ollyforster avatar

Member since Jun 8, 2005
78 articles

101 Comments
  • 88 6
 Anyone know if those Stevie fork decals are available? Would be so nice to have rock those in honour of the Chainsaw
  • 25 239
flag stofan (Jun 5, 2016 at 3:32) (Below Threshold)
 yeaaaah now, everyone please add the decals with some symbol of steve on your things.... stupid, sorry...
  • 44 7
 @stofan: @stofan please stfu
  • 42 6
 @stofan: You're an a**hole
  • 36 3
 @stofan: yer an ass, stay off PB if you wish to make jackass comments like that.
  • 25 5
 @stofan: ever seen the texas chainsaw massacre dude? ??
Well welcome to the Canadian chainsaw massacre! NOW FUK OFF
  • 18 108
flag stofan (Jun 5, 2016 at 4:54) (Below Threshold)
 @Trendkill: no, on the world is dying a lot of people... we will using their symbols on our things? death people are the brands, labels, advertisment ?????. Yes show empathy for the family is a nice, but I think, that now it is to much guys...."OOH i saw nice sticker with steve, yeeeey commmon i need it".... sorry i can say that this is stupid again...
  • 11 106
flag stofan (Jun 5, 2016 at 4:59) (Below Threshold)
 @slowrider73: ok, in the europe we have memories, and in the canada you have cult of stickers, ok now i am understood...
  • 35 6
 @stofan: pb staff delete this mutha fuker!
  • 12 88
flag stofan (Jun 5, 2016 at 5:12) (Below Threshold)
 @slowrider73: dont cry fuker Wink i am sorry that my point of view is different from you...
  • 27 5
 @stofan: Do you feel better when you use your words to offend people? Do you feel full?
You can think whatetever you want to think and say it without being offensive. That is what Europe is about. Peace.
  • 14 7
 @stofan: your point of view is different from everyone else here. Notice the props dumb arse!
  • 18 7
 @juanzo: spoken like a gentleman. Thankyou!
  • 17 2
 @stofan: okay dude that was uncalled first of all, second of all it's disrespectful. People have different ways of showing respect and care, especially in this case those stickers could be only a part of the handful of ways other users and people who didn't know Stevie or any of his family personally to show respect and feel connected. The little things sometimes go the farthest in these situations. Don't be a dick about it.
  • 7 16
flag galb29 (Jun 5, 2016 at 13:55) (Below Threshold)
 @stofan: there is this thing called "culture" and every country has different ones and when you're trying to imply that one is superior than the other, well by any means you are just like Hitler. And you know what happened to him I suppose.
  • 8 4
 @galb29: Using Hitler as a reference here may well be the most disrespectful among all that ping-pong game of stupid replies. Your time would be better spent listening to a proper history class than commenting on forums.
  • 2 12
flag galb29 (Jun 5, 2016 at 20:58) (Below Threshold)
 @fredhay: do you even understand what i was saying? Or you just focused on the word Hitler? To whom was I disrespectful, to stofan? Is the sole mention of the word Hitler offensive to you? Any criminal no matter how vile are still called by their names, unless he is voldemort of course. You have that high brow Quebec spunk do you, you think english speaking canadians are inferior. But you do make good bagels.
  • 5 3
 @galb29: And how would you know exactly? You might want to make a trip up here to get your facts straight before talking about things you know nothing about.
  • 3 0
 @LoretteRider: Because I'm from Ontario and it's like an inside joke. Chill bro.
  • 4 0
 Please people, this is not what this thread was about. It was about paying respect to a guy, then ignore the disrespect. I think it is great that the riders on the WC were given the opportunity to express it. Even though I'm still sad Stevie is gone (yeah shed a few tears watching the replay of that run at Fort William) I personally don't have any desire to have that sticker. Yet at the same time I absolutely understand and respect many others would love to honour Stevie this way. A tattoo, a shirt, a fork decal, whatever is true to who you are and how you feel.

If it is this important to people then it would be amazing if SRAM would make these available. Best would be to just ask SRAM about this. I actually half expect they are already working on that and are sorting the ways to make the proceeds go to his fund. In a positive sense, it is not "if", it is "when". Smile .
  • 3 5
 @galb29: Funny comment from someone from the "Freedom" country. The one country I believe to be inhabited by the largest number of people who feel superior to the rest of the world... Not that I'm implying this goed for you personally, just a general remark.

And yes, I'm talking from experience.

On topic (as far as that goed for this conversation): however unlucky the refference to our German gigantic non friend, I do get your point. I for one feel that your comparison stretches the limits of reasonable and thus is offensive.
But hey, why not sleep on it for a night, have a beer, apologise, have the apologies accepted and continue being the great culture that we all share?
  • 1 1
 I wasn't planning to comment on that bit but I don't want to see it escalate either. That's not what this is about. I suppose the perspective on the second world war (and on fork decals apparently) is different across the pont and you seem to fail to see each others' perspective on that. Except for a few weirdo's, by most in Europe Hitler is regarded the epitome of evil and cruelty. Of course mad stuff has happened since elsewhere (and shockingly near, like Yugoslavia fairly recently, mental stuff in the middle east and Africa pretty much right now) but that one single person still exemplifies evil and cruelty to many people here. So to compare any person to him is considered a very grave accusation and obviously unfair if you can't really back it up properly. Yes even if you're referring to only a small element of what he's done (like feeling superior in whatever way), it is still too heavy.

Let's just accept that worldwide communication can be tricky even if we speak/write in the same language. What is very important to the one might seem pointless to the other, what is still a heavy subject for the other may just be mere history for the one.
  • 1 1
 @stofan: I know, i'm an a**hole but man - you are wayyyyy lower than that...
  • 1 0
 @Chemicalus: It is an analogy where stofan exhibits the same narrow ideology based on his limited exposure to the world. That statement meant to defend the Stevie Smith tribute and respect different cultures around the globe. It was not intended for everybody, as you can verify it was a reply to stofan. Bottomline (for stofan), we respect other people so that we in return get respected.
  • 1 0
 I'm done explaining. Peace out. Ride in peace Stevie, you are missed.
  • 1 0
 @vinay: I was about to write a comment just like this
  • 30 1
 Commencal really must know something others don't, this is the shortest WC DH bike by a country mile.

Never ridden a Commencal that I didn't like though, or that wasn't fast, so maybe they really do?
  • 4 4
 See what you mean , xl reach is only 425mm ! , that's proper more like a medium in most brands .... It's a bike for people with short people
  • 6 0
 Well front center is short, but rear center grows quite much because of the wheel path, so not so super short bike.
  • 3 2
 It´s true. The enduro Commencal it´s short too,it´s like my bike, and old Jekyll "26. It seems like they build short bikes and they are ok for the people I know. I always ride "26 and when I ride 27,5 bike it´s like a truck ,but that Commenal bike just feels like "26 when you make the first stroke pedal. It´s the only "27.5 I ride without making any changes to my style,only feels more smooth on the trails and get speed quick. I test other bikes 27.5 like scoot 150 mm trail machine,SC Bronson,SC Nomad and those bikes feels like big wheels,you cannot ride those bikes like "26.
  • 2 1
 @JesusJohn: Don't agree with you, It is just another point of view of making bike. Go in a big bike park in europe and you will lot of commencal bikes. And their owners are not especially short
  • 10 0
 @MisterJones: They read Dirt...and DirtMag tell's you you need to buy an XL if you are 5.8
  • 1 0
 @Stylexxx: Yeah and never been on a real Commencal xD
  • 7 3
 LOL at all the 5' 8" keyboard bro's who think they need 480mm of reach to ride their locals trails, while Remi shreds WC DH tracks with 3" shorter reach.
  • 3 0
 @homerjm: I feel this way too about my Meta AM V4, thing feels so good. I will say I don't think it's too short. It has 425mm reach I think and I'm 5'10'' and it feels great. I think the V3 may have been a bit shorter.
  • 4 0
 Maybe if everyone rode a bike with reach that was appropriate to their size, vs. believing all of this high-tech marketing, there would be less people clogging up every corner because they don't know how to weight their front wheel.
  • 1 0
 Maybe its a French thing (is Andorra french? I'm a product of the US government school system, so forgive my ignorance)? My buddies Lappierre is the smallest size large I've ever ridden as well.
  • 2 1
 @hamncheez: It's a "principality" like Monaco. Maybe it's an european thing, Canyon, Cube are also "small" but for me it's the same for specialized so ....
  • 17 0
 27.5 PSI, i see what you did there
  • 14 0
 That can't be good, it's not metric
  • 3 0
 Already afraid to ask what 30,4 means?
  • 3 0
 @karoliusz: seat tube dumb ass ! Hehe
  • 15 0
 "Reach adjustments are a great way to fine tune reach". Understatement of the century there.
  • 1 0
 I see only a head angle very closed...
  • 1 0
 So which brands are making these available to public?
  • 5 0
 Looks sweet but i don´t understand where he saves about 2kg compared to my Size L V4. I mean okay the Size makes a difference and the Boxxer is lighter than a Fox 40, also the Sram Parts are not as heavy as my Saint/Zee parts but where the hell did i put that weight on Big Grin
  • 1 0
 Things can quickly add up. Saint and Zee are really not lightweight group sets. He is also running it tubeless, not sure about you, and maybe even a special aluminium frame like back in Andorra.
  • 1 0
 Wheels make a difference. Hubs too surprisingly. Like Blablab said. Things add up a lot. Also some tires can be different materials and weigh completely different even if they are the same tread pattern and size.
  • 1 0
 @chillrider199: yeah didn´t think of that.. even if it´s only 50g there, and 100g here it adds up to a pretty big number.. maybe next year i will buy the Fox Float X2, a new Seatpost and a lighter Crankset this will drop the weight to about 17,xxKg which will be more than okay for me.
  • 2 0
 @FreeRider2111: Be carefull with rear suspension. Even though the Float X2 is air sprung, it seems like it would be lighter, It has more metal material and parts to it than the coil sprung shock. The biggest thing to worry about is rotational weight. So like wheels, hubs, cranks. Those parts can easily be heavy most of the time. And most people when they think of saving weight they get carbon bars or seat post. When they should get lighter wheels sets and cranks. Why? Because the more rotational wight you have the slower the wheel moves, accelerates, and holds speed. (Also tires play into this. But I dont count tires as much because of different weights and harder materials for types of riding.But it does help.)
  • 1 0
 @chillrider199: Unsprung mass is probably more important on downhill bikes. Also, heavier wheels are better at keeping their velocity, it just takes more energy to accelerate.
  • 2 0
 @chillrider199: i understand your point but lighter wheels don´t make sense for me and my riding style because if i go trough at least 2 Rim´s a Year i rather don´t care about saving 400g instead of spending the money on new rims.. The Float X2 is definitly lighter than my RC4 and still lighter than an X2 Coil with SLS Spring and it performs so well. New Seatpost and Crank because the ones i use now are a few years old and especially the crank is beaten up so why no upgrade when i have to change it anyways^^ but thank you for your ideas Smile
  • 1 0
 @FreeRider2111: I guess I shouldve figured with your name. Lighter wheels are definitely for a racers worry. If youre free riding and hucking shit. Id go with more durable parts definitely. Enve (although they are so expensive.) their warrenty is if you break the wheels, they will send you new ones without questions as long as you send them your broken ones. Which is neat. Also Blablup I feel like the frames and components being already heavy keep volicity. But overall with speed lighter wheels are usually always better.
  • 7 0
 Porn. Absolute porn.
  • 6 1
 Brace yourselves high pivot confusion
  • 5 1
 @mattwragg this bike has an idler pulley how do you explain that? It should be totally inefficient ; )
  • 3 1
 You've obviously never ridden a bike with an idler pulley then.....
  • 3 0
 @oldmanDan: @oldmanDan: I think you missed the point, maybe you didn't read the comment of an article some time ago, saying idler pulleys are inneficient so no winning machine have them.
  • 5 1
 Lets not forget that every bike with a derailleur already has two of them Big Grin
  • 2 0
 Yeah it was that article about five question I want answered or some thing like that @oldmanDan
  • 1 0
 @stefanfresh: I have a k9ine with an idler.
It is THE most efficient pedalling bike I have ridden.
And I've ridden a lot.
Show me this article...
  • 1 0
 @stefanfresh: this article? www.pinkbike.com/news/6-questions-i-want-answered-opinion-2016.html
Nothing on idlers in here, just other inefficient stuff.....
  • 2 0
 @kanioni: in the lower pressure part of the drivetrain. The debate is putting anything between the power source (front chainring) and power reception (cassette cog)
  • 1 0
 @oldmanDan: it´s in the comments, im not saying they are inefficient or inefficient
  • 3 0
 @stefanfresh: Matt was quoting Matti Lehikoinen. I'm not sure whether he's right or not. I do recall Danny Hart did sweep the BDS back when he was riding a Balfa. Obviously it is about the rider as well, but at least it didn't hold him back. Matti Lehikionen did win on a gearbox bike a few times (though everyone remembers Sam Hill placing third that day...). I don't know about the Trek Session 10 (which did have an idler), hasn't anyone won on one of those?

Anyway, as much as I respect Matti Lehikoinen, I don't believe he is right there. There may be downsides but there sure are advantages as well. It just takes a rider to match it. Maybe if Danny Hart would get on that Commencal, he might suddenly win WC DH races Wink .
  • 1 0
 @vinay: I guess ur rught, Im just trying to stirr the comment section ; ) but yeah, ive never ridden one, would like to know how it rides.
  • 4 0
 Why did he remove the pins of his HT Pedals?
  • 3 0
 Maybe to make clipping in while riding easier
  • 2 0
 I'm interested in this too, if you look at any of his previous bike checks he always removes the pins. Did Remi make any comment about this @mattwragg?
  • 2 0
 300lbs rear spring, is Remi pretty light weight ?? i thought the trend was for super firm suspension.
  • 3 0
 long shock means lighter spring. Same with the tues..
  • 1 0
 i ride a 350lbs spring in my Fox RC4 and it´s quite firm but fells great to me. My weight is about 75Kg.
  • 4 0
 That bike is sex
  • 2 1
 What is the deal with that chain set up? Why is there not more talk about that? Is that old news? Is it running a pulley through the linkage?
  • 2 0
 Its to help reduce "chain growth" aka: the amount the chain is stretched and moved around from suspension travel. Smile
  • 4 0
 High pivot point means alot more rearward travel than other "normal" designs. The idler prevents the chain from snapping as the bike moves through its travel as well as equating to 0 pedal kickback.
  • 4 1
 as you obviously skipped the words and just looked at the pictures,,, here's the explanation of the chain set-up, nice and easy for you Wink

www.pinkbike.com/news/commencals-prototype-dh-bike-lourdes-world-cup.html
  • 2 0
 Remember Brooklyn machine works?? Brrrap
  • 3 0
 @ad15: Thanks, I got a little excited there, my bad
  • 1 0
 @NiloB: i did exactly the same thing Smile
  • 3 0
 The idler is not exactly inline with main pivot.
  • 1 0
 To give a small amount of pedal feedback. If it were in line with the pivot, there would be none at all. Changing the size of the pulley has an effect too.
  • 1 0
 Man this bike is really odd. The chain guide thing they have going on has always perplexed me. Never rode one, but I'm just saying... It looks strange to me.
  • 1 0
 any body else wonder why he is using code calipers instead of the guide version?
  • 2 0
 power
  • 2 1
 Brannigans XL looks proportionally sexier
  • 2 1
 Where's the rider and bike pics from the top of the chairlift?
  • 1 0
 Guide ultimate levers with code calipers, interesting!
  • 3 0
 Comes stock on the Demo 8s as well... Pretty sweet setup
  • 5 4
 He moved from Formulas, control over braking power must be astonishing to him.
  • 3 1
 @WAKIdesigns: Btw he don't need brakes
  • 4 0
 Now accessible without purchasing two sets of brakes; Sram Guide RE brakes
  • 1 0
 Looks so much better in size L and yellow. Nevertheless a very nice bike!
  • 1 0
 that sus layout makes my brain hurt
  • 3 2
 This is a fantastic Commencal ad.
  • 1 0
 That chain routing is boss
  • 1 1
 I taught he ride with Fox`s fork already?
  • 1 0
 No BOS suspension?
  • 1 0
 #hot
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