2021 Commencal META POWER EP8 – new motor, bigger battery and revised geometry
The Commencal META POWER has long been among the favourites of our editorial team and it secured itself the coveted Best Buy in our big E-MOUNTAINBIKE group test of 25 bikes. Commencal have updated the bike for the new season, equipping it with Shimano’s new EP8 motor, revised geometry and a bigger battery. We’ve got all the details.
New motor, new battery, same weight distribution
The ‘Power’ addition in their models’ names has long been Commencal’s designation for all of their electronically assisted bikes and Shimano have always been their go-to supplier for the electronic components. So, with the introduction of the new, lighter, more powerful Shimano EP8 motor, the Andorran brand have also revised their eMTB lineup. To find out more about the motor, we’ve written a dedicated article with all the details, including a first ride review and a comparison with the other options available on the market.
Besides the new 85 Nm motor, Commencal also opted to use Shimano’s bigger 630 Wh battery for their latest eMTBs. It’s obviously bigger in size too, which technically leads to a higher centre of gravity on the bike. However, thanks to the more compact motor, Commencal were able to place the battery lower in the frame and claim to have kept the weight distribution the same as before. The charging port has also been moved down, placed on top of the motor where it should be easy to reach.
Shimano’s EP8 motor doesn’t only allow you to customise its tuning to personal preference, you can also save two individual motor profiles. Commencal have preconfigured one of the profiles to be energy-saving while providing maximum grip on technical terrain. The other profile is extra powerful to make easy work of even the toughest climbs, making Trail mode very powerful and direct. Of course, these profiles can be changed by the rider to suit their preferences.
At first glance, the display and remote look unchanged. However, Shimano have made quite a few improvements. The remote has been made more ergonomic and the display features all the connectivity options to link up with the apps from Shimano as well as third party devices. The cable of the display and remote are routed through the specially designed Ride Alpha handlebar, making for a clean look and keeping everything nicely protected.
META POWER SX and META POWER 29 – Two wheel sizes for two types of riding
Commencal offer the new META POWER with either 27.5″ or 29″ wheels. The META POWER SX model with the smaller wheels and 165 mm rear travel is aimed at riders who like hitting big jumps and blasting down shaped bike park trails. The META POWER 29 on the other hand, is destined for those who like challenging themselves on more technical terrain. It offers 160 mm rear travel.
Improvements in the frame’s details for improved performance
Besides the integration of the new motor, Commencal have revised the frame of the two META POWER models. The META POWER has gotten a completely new, stiffer top tube and slightly updated geometry. The seat tube angle has been steepened by 1°, bringing it to 78°, and the 63.5° head tube angle of the META POWER 29 is 1.5° degrees slacker than before. The META POWER SX has 63° head tube angle. Both models now also come with shorter offset forks. The cable routing has been redesigned too, allowing you to access the cables from underneath the down tube. New rubber plugs promise to keep the inside of the frame free of water and mud. The speed sensor has been integrated into the brake rotor – nice.
The geometry of the META POWER 29 in detail
Size | S | M | L | XL |
---|---|---|---|---|
Seat tube | 415 mm | 440 mm | 465 mm | 495 mm |
Top tube | 567 mm | 587 mm | 614 mm | 649 mm |
Head tube | 120 mm | 120 mm | 125 mm | 130 mm |
Head angle | 63.5° | 63.5° | 63.5° | 63.5° |
Seat angle | 77.8° | 78° | 78° | 78° |
Chainstay | 453 mm | 453 mm | 453 mm | 453 mm |
BB Drop | 20 mm | 20 mm | 20 mm | 20 mm |
Wheelbase | 1239 mm | 1259 mm | 1286 mm | 1313 mm |
Reach | 430 mm | 450 mm | 475 mm | 500 mm |
Stack | 616 mm | 616 mm | 620 mm | 625 mm |
The geometry of the META POWER SX in detail
Size | S | M | L | XL |
---|---|---|---|---|
Seat tube | 415 mm | 440 mm | 465 mm | 495 mm |
Top tube | 567 mm | 587 mm | 614 mm | 649 mm |
Head tube | 120 mm | 125 mm | 130 mm | 135 mm |
Head angle | 63° | 63° | 63° | 63° |
Seat angle | 78° | 78° | 78° | 78° |
Chainstay | 445 mm | 445 mm | 445 mm | 445 mm |
BB Drop | 0 mm | 0 mm | 0 mm | 0 mm |
Wheelbase | 1238 mm | 1260 mm | 1287 mm | 1315 mm |
Reach | 440 mm | 460 mm | 485 mm | 510 mm |
Stack | 609 mm | 614 mm | 618 mm | 623 mm |
Burly forks, sturdy wheels and robust tires
The components of an eMTB are exposed to extreme forces. For the optimal performance and to guarantee long-lasting fun, Commencal rely on forks with 38 mm stanchions across the range. Depending on the model, you either get a FOX 38 or RockShox ZEB. Besides that, the bikes also feature extra sturdy wheels with more durable rims, thicker spokes and reliable DT Swiss hubs. Often, the tires are the first to go, but the robust Schwalbe Super Gravity casing should minimise the risk of punctures.
Prices and availability of the new Commencal META POWER 29 and META POWER SX
For the prices of Commencal’s new bikes, we recommend taking a look at their website. Unfortunately, the prices weren’t yet available at the time of writing this. The availability of the new META POWER 29 and META POWER SX models depends first and foremost on the availability of the new Shimano EP8 motor. Shimano are currently experiencing delays, making it difficult for us to predict when we can see these bikes become available.
Our first impression of the new EP8 equipped Commencal META POWER
The Commencal META POWER 29 has made a positive impression on us several times before, and we think the updates have only made it better. The motor feels more natural, the battery capacity is bigger, and the revised geometry will have it climbing even more confidently. We’re very excited and hope to swing our legs over the bike very soon.
For more information, visit the Commencal website.
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Words: Photos: Commencal