Commencal Meta V5 makes its way from the labs to local trails
After four years in prototype the new enduro rig is ready for wide release
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Commencal
After four long years in development, Commencal is making its Meta V5 available to everyone. The long road from concept to customers included 28 different prototype frames and at least 15 enduro races.
Like all the Metas before it, the V5 builds off Commencal’s extensive experience in racing and tradition of building aluminum bikes. Most recently, France’s Alex Rudeau is building that racing tradition with a string of podiums on the Meta V5 at the Enduro World Cup as part of the Commencal Enduro Project team.
2023 Commencal Meta V5
Commencal is rarely a company to follow trends with its race bikes. The Meta V5 is no different. While many brands are pushing longer travel and mixed-wheel set-ups for their enduro race bikes (Commencal already has one of those, and it is very fast), the V5 takes a different tact. The Andorran brand sets its new race whip up with dual 29″ wheels and a more restrained 160mm/150mm travel (front/rear).
Using its Virtual Contact System (VCS) suspension design, Commencal chases a balance of planted and playful, aiming to make the Meta V5 stable at speed and still light enough on its tires that you can pick and choose lines through tech. Variable chain stay lengths (435mm for sizes S/M and 440mm for L/XL) keep rider weight balanced throughout the size range. A flip chip allows riders to further tailor the Meta V5 to their riding style or the course profile of their next race.
The alloy frame fits a front triangle, it’s designed around Fidlock’s direct mount bottle, with additional mounts under the top tube for a tool carrier. The Meta V5 is, of course, SRAM Transmission compatible with a UDH derailleur hangar. Commencal gives riders the choice between traditional downtube cable routing and the newer headset routing design, with both options offering fully guided port-to-port internal routing.
Commencal Meta V5 in Canada
Four models of the new Meta V5 will be available in Canada. The Essential ($5,000), Race ($6,600) and metallic green Öhlins edition ($7,500) are available for pre-order and expected to arrive in September 2023. The top-end Meta V5 Signature ($7,900) follows in January 2024. The Race and Öhlins models come with coil shocks while the Essential and Signature ship with air shocks. All four are available through Commencal Canada, shipped or pick-up in the brand’s Squamish location.
