 |
META TR 29 SIGNATURE 2021 : |
There were a few changes we made to the META TR 29 that caused a bit of chit-chat when it was released, particularly in relation to the increase in suspension travel. Mike Kazimer details them, "Commencal's Meta TR underwent a significant revision for 2021, emerging with 140 millimeters of travel (up from 130) and more aggressive geometry numbers than ever before. (…) The Meta TR's head angle now sits at 64.5-degrees with a 160mm fork, and the effective seat tube angle measures 78.6-degrees, two degrees steeper than before. The reach has grown significantly as well – a size large now measures 490mm, a 15 millimeter increase over the prior version".
In terms of construction and look, the frame has evolved significantly. He says, "The Meta's 6066 aluminum frame casts a similar shadow to the previous version, but there have been a few nips and tucks to give it a more modern look. The top tube no longer curves upward to meet the seat tube, and that seat tube now has a wider, 34.9mm diameter and shorter overall height to allow for longer travel dropper posts. The seatstays and linkage are still quite wide, but their overall dimension have been reduced slightly to provide more clearance between the frame and rider".
 |
 |
Not only did the META TR 29 pleasantly surprise Mike Kazimer on the way uphill, it was on the descents where it really shone. He says, "If TR no longer stands for trail, Turbo would be a worthy substitute. The Meta TR loves to go fast, no matter if that's on a rough, chunky trail, or something a little smoother, ideally with plenty of berms and big jumps. I wouldn't think twice about taking it to a bike park, doing an enduro race or three, or tossing it into the back of a truck for some rowdy DH shuttle laps – it has an aura of solidity that makes it feel right at home when gravity takes over".
He goes on to discuss the choices of geometry that are directly correlated with the suspension and the intended use of this new META TR 29. For the journalist, these choices are consistent, "It may look like a big beast of a bike on paper, but I found it to be much more maneuverable than those numbers suggest. The Meta's 435mm chainstay length is on the shorter side when paired with the 490mm reach of the size large, which helps make it easy to snap the back end around tight turns, or pop off the lip of bigger jumps. (…) The Meta's 140mm of rear travel helps it stand out from longer travel enduro bikes, in a good way. There's plenty of travel for dealing with chunky sections of trail, but there's a level of support and snappiness that makes it an absolute blast when it's time to get airborne. Don't get me wrong, it's still a big bike, but always felt like it was working with me - I didn't need to fight it to get it to do what I wanted".
 |
 |
To conclude, Mike Kazimer shares a very positive general overview of the META TR 29:
"The new Meta TR is all about more - it has more travel, more aggressive geometry, and it's more capable than ever. Can it still be classified as a trail bike? That all depends on what your ideal trail looks like. It's not the first bike I'd grab for an all-day epic on rolling terrain, but for a big ride that was full of steep rock rolls, jumps, drops, and tricky technical sections? Absolutely - this is one of the most fun bikes that I've ridden this year."
.jpg)
.jpg)
