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The Commencal Uptown MaxMax 29 Is A Simple, Affordable City Bike Built Like A Mountain Bike

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Commencal-angle

BMX style, affordable, and with 29×2.2″ slick tires, the Commencal Uptown MaxMax is made for the city. There are other Uptown models, but the MaxMax features a single speed, chromoly frame and simple graphics to make it a sleuthy bike for attacking the streets.

Commencal is a full line bike brand out of Andorra, known mostly to Americans as a mountain bike brand due to their racing team. Now, with an office in California, Commencal is branching out to selling bikes in the USA, and we will start to see a lot more of their wide range of models.

Click more to see the full line of features you can get on the MaxMax for just $469.

Uptown-MaxMax-geometry

Normally, affordable bikes like this are not available in more than one or two sizes, but Commencal gives the Uptown line a full range of 4 mountain sizes. And the geometry is modern and well laid out, meaning that the MaxMax could also double as a budget single speed mountain bike by just swapping in a set of knobbies. The 69.5 head tube angle is pretty much on par with trends for hardtail 29ers, and the 480mm fork length means you can also pop in a 100mm travel suspension fork without messing up the geometry.

The coolest feature for the $469 price though is the internal cable routing for the rear brake through the top tube. Say what you will about the maintenance and installation of internally routed cables, its a pretty cool feature to have on a budget minded bike like this.

SPECS –

  • FRAME / Uptown Crmo 29’’ VB, internal cable routing, fenders ready
  • FORK / Uptown Crmo 29’’ VB, fenders ready
  • HEADSET / 1’’1/8 integrated, campy style, sealed bearings
  • STEM / COMMENCAL, BMX style, 50mm, Ø22,2mm, 0° angle
  • BAR / COMMENCAL Crmo, 2’’ rise, Ø22,2mm, 640mm
  • GRIPS / COMMENCAL, Ø32mm, SOFT COMPOUND
  • BRAKES / V-brake linear spring
  • BOTTOM BRACKET / BB 68MM, cartridge bearing
  • CRANKS / Forged 36T, double plastic chainguard 170mm on S, 175mm on M/L/XL
  • CHAIN / YABAN singlespeed
  • CASSETTE / 17t freewheel
  • RIMS / 29’’ 36H double wall, 24,5mm, pin joint
  • HUBS / 36H, loose ball, Nutted
  • SPOKES-NIPPLES / Spoke Steel 1,8mm black – Nipple brass 12mm black
  • TIRES / FREEDOM Slick 29×2.2
  • SEATPOST / Alloy no offset Ø27,2mm, 350mm
  • SADDLE / COMMENCAL URBAN, steel black rails, soft pading
  • ACCESSORIES / Low Profile flat pedals
  • COLOR / Matt Black, Matt White, Matt Titanium Grey
  • BIKE WEIGHT(kg/lbs) / 12,8 kg / 28,22 lbs

MaxMax-colors

www.commencalusa.com

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14 Comments
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kj
kj
9 years ago

I really like that, but it looks like no rear disc possible?

slyfink
slyfink
9 years ago

that is a bike I would buy if I could put a rack and fenders on it. A City bike has to be practical too…

Frank
Frank
9 years ago

“Sleuthy”? I think you mean “stealthy”. I’m not sure what this bike has got to do with a group of bears.

Gunnstein
Gunnstein
9 years ago

@Frank In my dictionary, a sleuth is a detective or a bloodhound. Still not sure how that applies to the bike.

@slyfink With you. A “clean” fenderless look is not very clean after a ride through the rain on dirty streets, nor are your trousers. And I don’t like riding with backpacks, too sweaty. They do say it is fenders ready though.

Rack and fenders (unless you live in a desert) is a minimum requirement for such a bike. Secondary, IGH or singlespeed, and dynamo lighting, and disk or drum brakes. These things increase weight and cost of course. The MaxMax is cheap and pretty light.

On the plus side, 29×2.2 sounds great for a rigid city bike. Not too many of those around. All I know are Ghost Bikes Panamao (2.0), Tout Terrain Amber Road, Maxx Crossmaxx, and this one.

Gunnstein
Gunnstein
9 years ago

I don’t get riser bars. I’d rather have a flat bar with a riser stem, for a cleaner look and better mounting options. Presumably lighter too.

MiguelC
MiguelC
9 years ago

Ditch the v-brakes and all the cables, use SRAM Automatix hub with coaster brake and it would be a lot more appealing.

Joe P
Joe P
9 years ago

Actually @Gunnstein I would be tempted to put some drop bars on there. And go with an IGH.

mudrock
mudrock
9 years ago

The rear drops are drilled for fenders but other attachment points are lacking. The top tube is too long for drop bars. But looks sweet for a knockabout bike.

ruben
ruben
9 years ago

It looks like fun, but ditch the free-wheel, stick on a fixed sprocket and you are sorted !

Henrik
Henrik
9 years ago

Don’t get me wrong, I am a fan of Commencal, but why would I snag one of these when Bikes Direct has the same thing for about a hundy cheaper? Theirs even have disc!

Brent
Brent
9 years ago

Hey All-City, maybe there is a market for another run of JYD

kj
kj
9 years ago

@Henrik: The bikes direct one is aluminum, which may or may not make a diff to some people (it would me).

Gunnstein
Gunnstein
9 years ago

@kj, @Henrik: Do you have a link? I’d prefer alu to steel.

Gunnstein
Gunnstein
9 years ago

After a trip down memory lane to the web design of the 90’s, I found this:
http://www.bikesdirect.com/products/gravity/g29ss.htm
Seriously cheap, but no fender mounts it seems.

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