That new 29er Commencal you watched Amaury Pierron storm to victory aboard at Fort William, Les Gets & Lenzerheide, is now available to the masses. Yup, you and I can now go out and purchase the very same bike that went fastest at three World Cup races in 2019; the 2020 Commencal Supreme 29 Downhill Bike. Commencal revamped the Supreme, giving both the 27.5″ and 29er versions a suspension kinematic overhaul with a change to the location of the main pivot point to increase the bike’s agility. Let’s take a look at the five build options, including the World’s Edition, every one of which is endowed with SRAM’s Code RSC brakes, with 220mm rotors front and back.
What’s new for 2020?
2020 sees the Commencal Supreme, with its 215mm of rear wheel travel, receive a true makeover. Most noticeable of the changes is the new location of the idler pulley. On the new bike, the idler pulley sits a lot lower down the seat tube, now placing the chain line a good few cm below the seat stay. Commencal say this alteration was put in place to increase the bike’s pedalling efficiency. The seat stay protector has thus moved to the underside of the seat stay, and the chainstay gets some chain slap protection too. In addition, the suspension kinematic gets a complete overhaul, with a change to the main pivot location, said to result in increased agility. Commencal say the 2020 Supreme is stiffer on the whole, resulting in a bike with more precise handling characteristics.
The 2020 Commencal Supreme DH 27 loses the XL and XXL frame size options, with the range now limited to S, M and L. Despite the sizing nomenclature, the change is more akin to losing the original small and medium frame sizes, with the 430mm reach measurement of the 2018 “Large” now seen on the 2020 Small frame. The 2020 Large now stretches out to a respectable 500mm. The chainstay length sits a 430mm, consistent across the size range. The head tube and seat tube angles have both steepened up 0.5 degrees, now sitting at 63.8° and 66.5°, respectively.
Commencal are offering just the one build model of the 27.5″ Supreme DH bike; the Supreme Team. It features a RockShox Super Deluxe DH shock, Boxxer Ultimate fork, SRAM Code RSC brakes with a 220mm rotor front and back, a set of alloy e*thirteen LG1 + DH wheels, and a SRAM GX DH 7 speed drivetrain.
2020 Commencal Supreme DH 29
The 2020 Commencal Supreme 29 has received the very same suspension kinematic overhaul as the DH 27.5, with claims of increased stiffness, more precise handling, improved pedalling efficiency and increased agility. While the wheelbase and reach figures have increased by 10mm and 5mm, respectively, the chainstay of the Supreme DH 29 has actually been shortened to the same 430mm we see on the 27.5″ bike. The head tube angle is ever so slightly steeper at 63.8°, while the seat tube angle is a dramatic 3.5 degrees steeper, now at 65.5°.
Available in sizes M, L and XL, the Supreme DH 29, with its 200mm of rear wheel travel, is also available in no fewer than four build options, including the top-end spec World’s Edition. This no holds barred build features a FOX Factory Float X2 shock, FOX 49 Factory FIT fork with GRIP2 damper, SRAM’s XO1 DH drivetrain, and E13’s Carbon LG1 DH wheelset. No price on this one just yet.
The Commencal Supreme Signature DH 29 model features the same FOX Factory fork as the World’s Edition, but the drivetrain drops down to SRAM’s GX DH, and it loses the carbon wheelset, instead featuring E13’s alloy LG1 + wheels. The 200mm of rear wheel travel is instead serviced by a FOX DHX2 Coil shock.
As with the Commencal Supreme DH 27.5 Team build, the DH 29 Team build features a RockShox Super Deluxe DH shock, Boxxer Ultimate fork, SRAM Code RSC brakes with a 220mm rotor front and back, a set of alloy e*thirteen LG1 + DH wheels, and a SRAM GX DH 7 speed drivetrain.
Last but not least, Commencal are offering an entry level Race Build of the Supreme DH 29 Bike. It has the same SRAM GX 7 speed drivetrain and Code RSC brakes and E13 LG1 + Rims, but the hub comes in the form of the Novatec DH built up to the rims with Sapim Race steel spokes. The rear wheel travel is damped by a RockShox Super Deluxe Coil shock and the fork travel is serviced by a RockShox Boxxer Select fork.
You can also pick up the frame only for both the 27.5″ and 29″ Commencal Supremes. Sadly, no pricing is available from Commencal yet.
