The COMMENCAL META POWER RIDE is available with either large 29″ or small 27.5″ wheels. We tested the Andorran direct-to-consumer brand’s € 3,999 COMMENCAL META POWER 27 RIDE with 27.5″ wheels: the right choice for maximum fun?
For an overview about the test field click here: The best budget eMTB of 2019 – 8 models head to head
COMMENCAL based the frame of the META POWER on their successful enduro bike META and powered it with a Shimano STEPS E 8000 motor and an external 500 Wh Shimano battery. The aluminium frame of the € 3,999 META POWER 27 RIDE features a sturdy skid plate to protect the motor from rocks and impacts. The motor is combined with Shimano’s high-quality E 8000 colour display and remote – we would have preferred the E 7000 range in this case. The E 8000 remote and the dropper post lever are too close together, making the cockpit seem cluttered. SRAM’s entry-level NX 11-speed drivetrain is responsible for transferring the power of the motor to the rear wheel. Incomprehensibly, COMMENCAL doesn’t spec the one-by shifter, which can extend the service life of the cassette and chain considerably. The SRAM Guide RE brakes are powerful and easy to modulate. Thanks to 200 mm rotors front and rear, the braking power doesn’t fade even on long runs. The voluminous Schwalbe tires (Magic Mary front, Hans Dampf rear) provide plenty of traction and sufficient puncture protection for most riders. If you want to tease the full potential of the META POWER 27 RIDE, you will need to fit a sturdier tire with a robust casing on the rear.
Speed = fun! With the COMMENCAL META POWER 27 RIDE, you can easily push your limits while still maintaining control. Adrenaline rush included!
The COMMENCAL META POWER 27 RIDE in detail
Fork RockShox Yari RC 160 mm
Rear shock RockShox Deluxe RT 150 mm
Motor/Batterie Shimano STEPS E8000 504 Wh
Drivetrain SRAM NX Eagle
Brakes SRAM Guide RE 200/200 mm
Seat post Kind Shock Lev Si 150 mm
Stem RIDE ALPHA Aluminium 50 mm
Handlebar RIDE ALPHA Aluminium 780 mm
Wheels SPANK OOZY 295+/Formula Hubs 27.5″
Tires Schwalbe Magic Mary/Hans Dampf 2.6″
Size | S | M | L | XL |
---|---|---|---|---|
Seat tube | 400 mm | 440 mm | 490 mm | 520 mm |
Top tube | 577 mm | 599 mm | 624 mm | 648 mm |
Head tube | 105 mm | 110 mm | 120 mm | 125 mm |
Head angle | 66° | 66° | 66° | 66° |
Seat angle | 75° | 75° | 75° | 75° |
Chainstay | 444 mm | 444 mm | 444 mm | 444 mm |
BB Höhe | -17 mm | -17 mm | -17 mm | -17 mm |
Wheelbase | 1,180 mm | 1,201 mm | 1,226 mm | 1,251 mm |
Reach | 415 mm | 435 mm | 458 mm | 481 mm |
Stack | 615 mm | 619 mm | 624 mm | 629 mm |
The COMMENCAL META POWER 27 RIDE in review
Despite its bike park image, the COMMENCAL META POWER climbs well. Thanks to its steep seat tube angle the weight distribution is nicely balanced, making it easy to get up steep climbs. The power of the Shimano STEPS E8000 is easy to modulate in trail mode and, together with the active rear linkage and the 2.6″ wide tires, keeps the rear wheel from spinning out. With large obstacles and steps, you’ll have to time your pedalling carefully and pick the right line to prevent your pedals or motor from getting hung up, because of the low bottom bracket.
The COMMENCAL META POWER 27 RIDE will get as rowdy as you want it to on the descents. Thanks to the tall front end and the low bottom bracket, you’ll no longer have worry too much about line choice. Although the META POWER is relatively compact, it doesn’t lack composure and gets more and more into its element as your speed increases. The suspension is less sensitive than on the Canyon, for example, but it offers a lot of feedback from the trail as well as mid-stroke support – catching air made easy. No matter how fast you’re going, the rear end always remains in control and behaves predictably. The Yari on the front almost can’t keep up with the potential of the rear suspension. If you want to go really big, volume spacers will help to increase the progression of the fork. Thanks to the sufficiently weighted front wheel, the grippy tires and the freedom of movement you’re given, The COMMENCAL corners excellently. One unique aspect of the COMMENCAL META POWER 27 RIDE is that it doesn’t overwhelm beginners in terms of body position and riding technique. Yet, more experienced riders won’t be held back by it either, allowing you to go as fast as you dare. A hard-hitting bike for everyone!
The COMMENCAL META POWER 27 RIDE doesn’t make any compromises. It performs excellently both uphill and downhill, showing no weaknesses here.
Conclusion
For us, the META POWER 27 RIDE is the right choice: the agile handling coupled with excellent composure makes it a fun bike for everyone, whether you want to go fast or take it easy. Despite performing excellently on the descents, the META POWER will climb even the most technical trails with ease. On top of that, the COMMENCAL META POWER 27 RIDE is one of only two bikes in the test field priced under € 4,000 – so it deserves the title of Best Value Tip.
Tops
- tons of fun to ride!
- brakes
- excellent climber
Flops
- not specced with a one-by shifter
- fork almost can't keep up – but that's only if we're trying hard to find something to criticise
Riding Characteristics
4Agility
- sluggish
- playful
Stability
- nervous
- stable
Handling
- demanding
- balanced
Riding fun
- boring
- lively
Motor feeling
- digital
- natural
Motor power
- weak
- strong
Value for money
- poor
- top
For more information head to commencal-store.de
The Test field
For an overview about the test field click here: The best budget eMTB of 2019 – 8 models head to head
All bikes in test: Canyon Spectral:ON 7.0 | CONWAY eWME 629 | FLYER Uproc7 4.10 | Haibike XDURO AllMtn 3.0 | MERIDA eONE-SIXTY 800 | RADON SWOOP HYBRID 9.0 | Specialized Turbo Kenevo Comp
"The mountain hut is the destination, not the trails" – rides mainly on gravel paths and flowy singletrack, comfort plays a crucial role.↩
The focus is on riding fun. Riding skills: from beginner to experienced – the range extends from flowy singletracks to demanding technical trails.↩
A rider with very good bike control – rides on demanding and challenging technical trails, uphill as well as downhill.↩
The rating used for riding characteristics refers to the bikes in the group test and the current state of development of eMTBs. The best bikes managed to blend supposedly opposite riding characteristics, feeling both lively and stable at the same time. The handling describes the balance of the bike on downhill sections. The information regarding motor-power refers to the ride-feeling in the overall context of the bike and not exclusively to the motor – that’s why the same motor can present different values.↩
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Words: Photos: Christoph Bayer, Valentin Rühl