2018 META POWER RACE 650B+ FOX or 2019 Meta Power Race

[dervdoctor]

Hi,
I'm unsure if the 2019 Race is more suitable than the ex demo 2018 Fox race they have currently. Commencal said the sprung rear shock is better for riders over 100kg. I'm 105 kg. What do you think? also the rear mech is different?

 

[dirt huffer]

I would tend to agree with them that coil shocks will handle the weight and hard impacts better over time. Coil shocks tend to have better small bump sensitivity as well.

For the price difference, i think you could go with either option... If you decide the '18 air shock isn't working out, you can buy a replacement coil shock and have spent about what you would have for the '19. And if you sell the air shock, than you've come out a head.

Also have you looked at the '18 Essential? It's spec'd similarly to the '19 Race... but has a regular cassette so replacement is cheaper than SRAM EX1 - the EX1 is a spendy cassette to replace and jump between gears is greater, although they're designed to last longer.

If you order the sprung shock, have them match the spring to your weight when you order

 

[dervdoctor]

I ordered a ex demo fox race this morning

 

[Kiwi73]

How do you guys go with the thought of ordering online and not been able to demo/try the bike first?
Does Commencal have a return policy if you aren't satisfied with the product.?

 

[dervdoctor]

How do you guys go with the thought of ordering online and not been able to demo/try the bike first?
Does Commencal have a return policy if you aren't satisfied with the product.?

They do offer returns, i was a little unsure. But they have a good reputation and the spec is extremely good for the price. Emails have been responsed to very quickly. And the reviews are very good.

 

[Tamas]

How do you guys go with the thought of ordering online and not been able to demo/try the bike first?
Does Commencal have a return policy if you aren't satisfied with the product.?

Depending where you live, demoing a bike can be limited. I would have to travel 200km and I would still be limited to bikes that they have not what I like.
Ordering online is not for everybody for a couple of different reasons but if you know exactly what you want and you don’t have to run to the LBS with everything then it might be a good choice. You can get much more for your money.
Do your research on the bike, on the brand’s customer service, ask questions and decide... they all have return policies so it’s not that scary.
I had three bikes from Canyon in the past and I have the Meta for a year now. Personally, I wouldn’t hesitate to order again from either and if I was on the market for a new ebike today I would still buy the Meta. I don’t think you could find anybody who’s not satisfied with it...

 

[Kangr]

A good place for demoing many ebike is the Leasure Lakes demo days at Cannock Chase.
There tends to be loads of brands there most have ebikes you can take for a spin on the demo loop (Which is the section of the dog from tackaroo to birches valley).

It is 23rd-24th March 2019. there is usually a cost of less than £20 which a good percentage goes to charity. This enables you to demo as many bikes as you like throught the day. At the last demo day specialised, haibike, cube, orange, cannondale were there with ebikes, there were probably more but thats all I can remember off the top of my head.

an interesting point is that Haibike have said that they will have there new flyon with the TQ motor doing the demo events before its launch, so I am expecting this to be there to.

 

[dervdoctor]

Depending where you live, demoing a bike can be limited. I would have to travel 200km and I would still be limited to bikes that they have not what I like.
Ordering online is not for everybody for a couple of different reasons but if you know exactly what you want and you don’t have to run to the LBS with everything then it might be a good choice. You can get much more for your money.
Do your research on the bike, on the brand’s customer service, ask questions and decide... they all have return policies so it’s not that scary.
I had three bikes from Canyon in the past and I have the Meta for a year now. Personally, I wouldn’t hesitate to order again from either and if I was on the market for a new ebike today I would still buy the Meta. I don’t think you could find anybody who’s not satisfied with it...

They told me the size is fine for me and we are sure you will love the bike

 

[dirt huffer]

I had a two friends who've rode Levo's and several Meta Powers and told me how much better the Meta Power was. I knew the geometry would work well for me (reach, top tube). Plus the price and specs were hard to beat. Also Shimano's reputation for quality set me at ease. They typically don't release a product unless it's been exhaustively tested. Unlike other brands that rush things to market.

 

[dervdoctor]

Looking forward to getting mine

 

[spacemonkey]

Have my 2019 meta power race for a month now...very pleased with it. Came from a Levo. Much more bang for your bucks

Only thing negative is that you cannot fit a 29 wheel. So I’m going to take out my fox 36 29er fork from my normal enduro bike and give it a try how it feels with 29 up front and 27.5 in the back

 

[Tamas]

Have my 2019 meta power race for a month now...very pleased with it. Came from a Levo. Much more bang for your bucks

Only thing negative is that you cannot fit a 29 wheel. So I’m going to take out my fox 36 29er fork from my normal enduro bike and give it a try how it feels with 29 up front and 27.5 in the back

How is that negative when they have Meta 29 too and you could get that one? ?

 

[spacemonkey]

I wanted the extra travel of the 27. I just think a 29 wheel up front will make it even more capable. Little slacker and more rollover.

And probably less adapting time when switching between my bikes

 

[Tamas]

Raising the front significantly can mess up the balance of the bike but of course, if you have the parts try it you cannot lose.
I put a 170mm air spring shaft in mine and it affected the climbing negatively even with lowering the stem. I’ll probably put the 160 back as I don’t need the longer travel I just wanted to get the new 2019 debonair spring and at the time the 170 was in stock where I ordered from. Now I got the 160 too so I will see.

But I like the idea of the 29 (2,4-2,6) front 27,5 (2,6-2,8) rear...

 

[Albez]

Depending where you live, demoing a bike can be limited. I would have to travel 200km and I would still be limited to bikes that they have not what I like.
Ordering online is not for everybody for a couple of different reasons but if you know exactly what you want and you don’t have to run to the LBS with everything then it might be a good choice. You can get much more for your money.
Do your research on the bike, on the brand’s customer service, ask questions and decide... they all have return policies so it’s not that scary.
I had three bikes from Canyon in the past and I have the Meta for a year now. Personally, I wouldn’t hesitate to order again from either and if I was on the market for a new ebike today I would still buy the Meta. I don’t think you could find anybody who’s not satisfied with it...

Hey Tamas, what made you swap from a Canyon to Commencal?

 

[Tamas]

Hey Tamas, what made you swap from a Canyon to Commencal?

My Canyon bikes were not ebikes, I had two Strive (still have one) and a Nerve 29.
When Commencal announced the Meta Power in summer 2017 it was love at first sight... and Canyon came out with the Spectral ON after I already had the Meta. I would still pick the Commencal from the two I just like the Meta's look a little bit more.