Home > Bike Types > Mountain Bike

Commencal Meta V5 gets All-New Suspension as Trail or Mullet SX, but what about Enduro?

2023 Commencal Meta v5 all-new aluminum alloy trail & enduro all-mountain bikes, Team enduro racing
8 Comments
Support us! Bikerumor may earn a small commission from affiliate links in this article. Learn More

The long-running aluminum Commencal Meta trail to all-mountain to enduro bike platform gets that major v5 suspension overhaul we knew was coming already last summer. Now available in both a standard 29er enduro spec (no-longer AM) or a mixed wheel size SX supercross mullet version, this next generation of Meta adopts an all-new short link 4-bar virtual pivot suspension design to race even faster and more controlled than ever. And in a bit of a surprise move, the enduro version actually gets less travel than before, while the mullet bike goes even longer…

Commencal Meta v5 all-new alloy trail/enduro mountain bikes

Last summer we got a solid sneak peek at the 5th-generation Commencal Meta being raced at EWS Tweed Valley. There we got the general low-down on the new suspension design, but the “Virtual Contact System” (VCS) details were still under wraps, as was the bike’s actual travel. And it seems that tease might suggest that there’s more to come than just the two versions of the new Meta Commencal has already shared…

OK, so what’s new?

2023 Commencal Meta v5 all-new aluminum alloy trail & enduro all-mountain bikes, frame detail
all images c. Commencal

The standout new feature of the 5th generation Metas is their new 4-bar VCS suspension design with a 1-piece rear triangle connected to the front triangle with two short linkages, better optimized for “real life riding situations”.

2023 Commencal Meta v5 all-new aluminum alloy trail & enduro all-mountain bikes, TR suspension exploded view

The design uniquely places its relatively horizontal short lower link forward of the main lower pivot on the middle of the seattube (hidden behind the mini chain guide). And then an almost vertical upper link that connects a pivot in front of the middle of the seattube with the pivot at the uppermost point of the rear triangle.

2023 Commencal Meta v5 all-new aluminum alloy trail & enduro all-mountain bikes, SX linkage detail
Meta SX V5 linkage detail

It looks like a virtual pivot point that would start just in front of the top of the chainring at the start of the bike’s travel, then virtually move the pivot backward as the suspension compresses. (Watch how the suspension moves in animations here.)

2023 Commencal Meta v5 all-new aluminum alloy trail & enduro all-mountain bikes, riding

Commencal explains the new 3-phase virtual pivot kinematics saying, “The bike is reactive at the start of the suspension travel to promote grip and to cope better with ever-changing terrain. Once at sag the bike offers control. It handles easily and pedals efficiently in technical areas so the rider can focus solely on sticking to the line. Dynamic and lively, it allows the rider the ability to constantly play with the terrain to gain speed and flow. At the end of the stroke, the bike absorbs big shocks and remains comfortable through impacts.”

Tech details

2023 Commencal Meta v5 all-new aluminum alloy trail & enduro all-mountain bikes, made-in Taiwan

As in the previous generation, both Meta v5 & Meta SX v5 are built from triple-butted 6061 & 6066 aluminum in Taiwan for strength and durability. Claimed weight for a raw Meta v5 frame without shock or accessories is 3.25kg / 7.16lb, or for the Meta SX v5 3.3kg / 7.27lb.

Commencal now says they’ve put the new Metas through the extra-tough EFBE Tri-Test at its highest level 5 DH/Gravity/eMTB, so the new bike is certified to the highest independent strength & reliability classification in mountain biking.

They also both get size-proportional chainstays – with S & M bikes featuring shorter stays (435mm on the Meta, 442mm on the SX) and L & XL frames going longer (440mm on the Meta, 447mm on the SX).

2023 Commencal Meta v5 all-new aluminum alloy trail & enduro all-mountain bikes, amngeld rear

The new bikes feature a ZS56 integrated headset for tapered forks, either traditional semi-internal cable routing of fully hidden routing through the headset, 34.9mm seatpost, PressFit BB92 bottom bracket, ISCG05 tabs, Boost 12mm Maxle rear axle, SRAM UDH / T-Type Transmission derailleur mount, post mount 200mm brakes (max 223mm rotor), plus integrated molded downtube/chainstay/seatstay/shuttle pad protectors, bottle cage/Fidlock & tool bag mounts, and max 64mm/2.5″ tire clearance

Meta v5 vs. Meta SX v5, but what about the Meta EN v5?

2023 Commencal Meta v5 all-new aluminum alloy trail & enduro all-mountain bikes, TR
2023 Commencal Meta V5 frame

Now, Commencal has officially launched two versions of the new Meta… that look virtually identical until we dive into the details.

The Meta v5 is a 29er only with 150mm of rear wheel travel paired to 160mm forks, but the ability to adapt its geometry about a degree and a half with a flip chip at the lower eyelet of its 210x55mm stroke rear shock.

2023 Commencal Meta v5 all-new aluminum alloy trail & enduro all-mountain bikes, SX mullet geometry

Commencal says this is their ideal vision of what a mountain bike should is, describing the 150mm bike as, “Sometimes a race bike, sometimes a trail bike, the META V5 is synonymous with versatility and ease, without neglecting performance.” Although, they are officially just calling it ‘Meta’, some of Commencal’s file names suggest they refer to this setup internally as the ‘Meta TR’.

2023 Commencal Meta v5 all-new aluminum alloy trail & enduro all-mountain bikes, SX frame
2023 Commencal Meta SX V5 frame

They’ve also added a Meta SX v5 with a 29″ front / 27.5″ rear wheel build that gets longer travel – 165mm rear via a 230x65mm rear shock & 170mm forks – and more relaxed geometry with both a slacker headtube and slacker seattube, plus longer chainstays.

2023 Commencal Meta v5 all-new aluminum alloy trail & enduro all-mountain bikes, TR geometry

This one is supposedly built more for bike park and super steep trail riding. Commencal says, “This is a bike for riders looking for an enduro bike that feels as close to a DH bike as possible.

Meta EN V5 Team racing prototypes

2023 Commencal Meta v5 all-new aluminum alloy trail & enduro all-mountain bikes, team EN bike
Commencal Team EN race bike

But the Commencal Enduro team isn’t actually racing either of these Meta v5 variants. They have their own bikes that look to share at least the front triangle of the Meta v5 (and most likely the rear triangle, too.)

But the team bikes now have their own machined upper link that sits further behind that top seatstay pivot, more visible through the upper corner of the 1-piece rear triangle. They are also clearly running the same 65mm stroke Fox Float X2 shock as the SX bikes suggesting the same 165mm rear travel, and are racing the Fox 38 forks that team mechanics told us last summer were sporting 170mm of travel.

2023 Commencal Meta v5 all-new aluminum alloy trail & enduro all-mountain bikes, Team EN prototype

Perhaps, these team enduro race bikes could be a longer travel 29er AM or now even EN version of the v5 Meta, possibly to be released in the near future?

Commencal Meta v5 – Pricing, Options & Availability

2023 Commencal Meta v5 all-new aluminum alloy trail & enduro all-mountain bikes, riding

As of now it’s just the ‘TR’ trail version and the SX mullet supercross versions that are available to buy. But with that are plenty of options. Both the new Meta v5 and Meta SX v5 are available for pre-order as a frame-only starting at $2200 / 2100€ in Commencal’s A La Carte online customizer in Pure White or Glittery Black, with SX frames available first in September, and the new Meta v5 frames following in October 2023.

2023 Commencal Meta v5 all-new aluminum alloy trail & enduro all-mountain bikes, TR
2023 Commencal Meta V5 T-Type

Five complete builds of the trail Commencal Meta v5 are available to preorder now, starting at 3700€ Ride with SRAM NX & more basic RockShox suspension and running up to 6400€ T-Type with GX AXS Transmission & Fox Factory suspension. Real availability varies through the fall until January of next year, but the 4100€ Essential Shimano SLX/Fox Performance & 5500€ Race GX mechanical/RockShox Ultimate builds both ship out in September 2023.

2023 Commencal Meta v5 all-new aluminum alloy trail & enduro all-mountain bikes, SX
2023 Commencal Meta SX V5 Signature

As for the mullet bike, the Commencal Meta SX v5 comes in 3 complete builds – 5500€ Race, 6200€ Signature & 6900€ T-Type – all with similar builds to the trail bike, and delivery dates in October & November 2023.

No word yet on whether the longer travel 29er Meta v5 that the team is racing on the UCI enduro circuit – and down the Mountain of Hell – will come later this year or not.

Commencal.com

Subscribe
Notify of
guest

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

8 Comments
Oldest
Newest Most Voted
Inline Feedbacks
View all comments
JNH
JNH
1 year ago

It pleases me that Commencal released precisely one model with thru-headset cables, then stopped. Other brands should take note, customers do not like something as simple as changing a headset bearing requiring the removal and refitting of the brake line, gear and sometimes dropper cable too. They like the big fat workshop bill even less.

Last edited 1 year ago by JNH
Jay Ess
Jay Ess
1 year ago

Commencal used to be known as a good value, their pricing/spec suddenly got really bad, not sure what happened.

will
will
1 year ago
Reply to  Jay Ess

still not so bad, but yeh they got popular

nooner
nooner
1 year ago

To call this bike a “4 bar” is a misnomer. This Commencal uses a dual link suspension design they call Virtual Contact System. This bike is a twin link, solid rear triangle (SRT) more similar to Ibis, Pivot, than any 4-bar bike. Is every dual link bike a 4-bar now in Cory’s world? In other news, Cory also believes that men can get pregnant. Dear Cory, this is the standard that the bike industry has accepted and adopted as the definition of a “4-bar” bike: https://bikerumor.com/2023-norco-fluid-fs-carbon-130mm-trail-mtb/
Please stop propagating disinformation, this makes Bike Rumor look really bad. Hope this helps.

Patryk
Patryk
1 year ago

Very good article. I do not get it with this lower rear travel for enduro. La Thuile or some other World Cup trails are so hard for sure I want 29 full 160 mm travel or 165. They lost me with this 150 mm and I think there is only one great bike Raaw Madonna when taking price into considaration.

Last edited 1 year ago by Patryk
Jimmyboy401
Jimmyboy401
1 year ago

So, is this a “if you wanted a longer travel meta v5 that’s full 29 hang on a week or 2 as we now something you don’t” article.. cos if it is I’m happy with that!!
really would like a 160/170 meta

professed
professed
1 year ago
Reply to  Jimmyboy401

pop it in low and run a longer stroke shock and longer fork. problem fixed. you can buy frame only so you can fit whatever you like.

stefan
stefan
1 year ago
Reply to  professed

but will it fit with more stroke?

just checked the GMBN Tech Video, and there will be a ne flip chip in future models
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2dMCOH7CRRI&t=670s

hopefully in the near future.

Subscribe Now

Sign up to receive BikeRumor content direct to your inbox.

Subscribe Now

Sign up to receive BikeRumor content direct to your inbox.