Commencal Meta SX V5 Review // The Speed Demon

[@finroddd]

This is the first proper review of the SX - I do not count the one from Pinkbike, it was kinda dull. Thank you!

[@finroddd]

and the bike is amazing!

[@southpawlibranine3511]

You dont count it cause it highlighted the bikes weak points? So youre trying to justify your purchase

[@finroddd]

@@southpawlibranine3511 maybe you are right, I just like Commencal bikes.😄

[@cheddy_chedderson_cheddouard]

@@southpawlibranine3511 When I saw their meta sx v4 review after riding one I was never be able to trust their reviews.

[@johnnnewmex]

They have gone downhill the past few years. I miss the old bike magazine reviews.

[@edmanouche]

Damn, I believe you're the best KZbin mtb reviewer. At least to me 😂. Love the way you share your impressions. V5 or SX... still a headache...😅

[@MTBJonnie]

lol thanks man. I was drowsy on cold meds and kinda repeated myself but I’m glad the impression came across for ya.

[@MTBJonnie]

For what it's worth I miss the SX already. It's left me very curious for just how fast we can push the speed envelope on stuff.

[@craigcormany7357]

Great review Jon, love seeing the clips of our trails on all of these Rad bikes.

[@MTBJonnie]

Thanks for the line, Craig! We should get out and ride here soon.

[@andyboy198577777]

Great review man! Good job. Can’t wait to see more! Take care my friend!

[@handpanler]

Great review! I just picked up a V5 frame, waiting for avalanche suspension and new wheelset to finish the build. That said, I think the v5 will be in it's best form when WRP makes their mullet link for it. A more approachable SX with the poppiness of the V5 sounds ideal in my head.

[@MTBJonnie]

That sounds like it will be an awesome build! FWIW I don’t think this one needs to be mullet. Very responsive and great in corners as a full 29.

[@handpanler]

@@MTBJonnie awesome! Can't wait to get it done! (I'm gonna keep my mullet wheelset though just in case wrp makes a link)

[@TryRebooting]

Great review and great sends on White Ranch, man that was sick.

[@MTBJonnie]

Thanks!

[@lostman65]

jon, thanks for the great review. i already have the sx v4 (it was on sale) and was wondering if the v5 had anything i was missing out on. i love this bike. not the best daily driver. i took it to sedona last week, the meta killed everything!

[@simonfpv5280]

Hey, have you already ridden the V5? Right now I have to decide which one I take

[@edarnold99017]

Nice footage, fast riding!!!

[@LukaszKubica]

Thanks @Jon Mottern for this review. I had a very hard time deciding on the SX and thanks to this review I pulled the trigger. This is exactly 100% the bike I wanted. I have built it from frame with Kitsuma AIR and thanks to more overall damping this bike is a rocketship, it is very supportive and playful. I was running full 29er enduro before and this is much more agile on slower speeds and still super stable at high speeds. And is climbs great, but 27.5 wheel is a limiting factor here, so nothing to complain, if you want a mullet you need to take this into account.

[@ryanbaumgardner-zi1ke]

Killer job on this detailed review! I have been riding the Meta v5 SX for the last few months and have struggled a little to get it balanced on more slower tech runs. What rear sag did you run on this bike?

[@MTBJonnie]

Dude agreed. I just don’t think that’s where it shines. I think I settled just a hair above 30%.

[@LukaszKubica]

I seems to have a very high BB? Numbers say +7 (sic!) BB drop (so anti-drop really). Can this be true? If yes, maybe that's the problem, high BB means the bike is not easy to balance and when you go slow you might be too high in the travel?

[@JameyBridges-k6j]

Love this review, thank you!

[@Tequila628]

Great review as always, I'm still deciding between V5, V5 sx, propain tyee and raaw madonna v3. Kinda giving you ideas for the next reviews :P Although Madonna V3s are gonna be available in 3 months - and that's only for Europe. Also, that's a beautiful Lexus, Jon.

[@MTBJonnie]

RAAW will not send me a bike early unfortunately. I even tried to just buy a frame for review but they said they won’t even have them. Working on snagging a new Jeffsy.

[@Tequila628]

Gotcha, I dislike YT but your reviews are not the ones to miss @@MTBJonnie

[@SidiNic]

Ah men, you just listed my next bike list aswell. Although i would buy the Madonna v2.2, they have an insane deal on it

[@Tequila628]

cheers, mate! 🍺@@SidiNic do you know if you can make a mullet out of 2.2?

[@SidiNic]

@@Tequila628 No. But you can make a mullet of the V3. So maybe they will come with an after market kit for the v2 2 aswell, who knows...

[@alanmasferrer]

Brilliant review Jon, as usual. Just wondering what you see on the V5 Ohlins edition that you don't have on your Nomad? more all-rounder skills? and which one do you think is better just for gnarly and steep technical trails, the v5, the sx v5 or the Nomad? Thanks!

[@MTBJonnie]

Thanks for the line! I may have misspoke a little. I was trying to say which of the three new Commencal bikes I would choose if I had to. It is really tough though they all bring a lot to the table right now. The longer that SX has been out of my garage the more I long for it though. Just so fast. As a rider I feel I go back and forth between wanting playful bikes and just super fast bikes and seldom are they one bike.

[@mrvwbug4423]

Nice seeing reviews on the trails I actually ride. Regarding the Ohlins build, I've heard the Ohlins fork is a bit stiffer in terms of damping than the Zeb and 38, much more of a race fork. IMHO I'd keep the Zeb up front and put a RS Super Deluxe coil or Vivid out back. The sizing is odd, I would want the reach of the large but the wheelbase of the medium, not sure how much the mullet setup deals with that insane 1280 wheelbase on a size L. For comparison a size 3 Ibis HD6 has 480 reach but only 1256 wheelbase.

[@Dysoqld]

Great review and format and nice rig mate. looking at a 250 series? Keep it up

[@MTBJonnie]

Thanks! Yeah I’m number 10 on the list for a 250 at my local dealer but I’m not sold yet. This 4.6 is both slow and bad on gas but is sooo smooth and will never die. Not convinced the new ones are built to last.

[@Dysoqld]

@@MTBJonnie just be thankful you’re not in Australia. We are only getting the 2.8 diesel

[@GOONRID3RFRANKLIN]

Great review man

[@MTBJonnie]

Hey thanks!

[@cheddy_chedderson_cheddouard]

I'm right there with you on the frame size. 6'1 3/4 to be exact always in between L and XL. Doi you think the L could be a bit easier on the climb and slow tech.

[@MTBJonnie]

I think you could honestly get along really well with either. This bike is so stable I doubt “downsizing” would hinder any high speed ability.

[@RydingCow]

man awesum review. no cracking sound. your pretty well informed. maybe you can help me out I'm looking for a new bike. thoughts are this model. or the capra core 4 2024. can you help me out to the to compere this 2 against eachother. would be great to here from you. I do ride a lot of pedalling up hills to get down again

[@simonfpv5280]

Hey, still deciding? I heard from a lot of people that the Capra does not ride that well and that the quality of the frame would not be that nice

[@norbertbaltyn3689]

Nice review! Which bike is faster and nimble in tight corners in your opinion? V5 or V5 SX?

[@MTBJonnie]

V5 I’d have to say. Very light on its feet.

[@HowToRideMTB]

bro... that's awesome~!

[@aleskelnar1355]

Very nice review, you have mentioned - 6.1 (185cm? ..) and you went for XL. Will you stick to this decesion? I am 6.2, and Commencal told me to go for L, I am not sure. I am not thinking about Meta, I go for Supreme, but sizing is the same ... so I would just take it as an advice. With your sizing, you went higher ... thx for your opinion.

[@MTBJonnie]

I definitely wouldn’t go L for me personally. I have really long legs and the seat height ends up acting all funny with the relationship to the handlebars when I size down.

[@aleskelnar1355]

@@MTBJonniecool, thx. I am 187cm, inseam 91cm -> you are little bit shorter and you have no problem with reach - I mean lower back pain :)? I think, and you confirm me that, that Commencal has the size table one size smaller, then for example SC and what I actaully think is OK… And I was not sure, if I go for reach 488 or 508 on Supreme V5 (L vs XL). So thank you for your review and for your answer, helped me a lot :).

[@byronb8711]

Awesome review! Regarding the weight you quoted, is that correct with the stock components? Commencal claims a heavier weight 15.9kg (35.05lbs) on their website for the S size without pedals. One would think the XL size would be even heavier.

[@MTBJonnie]

@@byronb8711 this was weighed at my local bike shop so there’s a chance their scale is off but honestly who knows. I’m going to buy a new scale for future reviews

[@DimitriosKanellopoulos]

I had creaks and with a little linkage check it was fixed. Just saying. Also commencals are big bikes. Size medium is like the transition patrol large.

[@norbertbaltyn3689]

What exactly did you in linkage? How did you eliminate the creaking?

[@DimitriosKanellopoulos]

@@norbertbaltyn3689 he high pivot has 2 bearings and in between an axle or so. Those 2 bearings were overpushed on the axle thus they would not rotate. I pushed them out a little to get free. Then assembled and torqued to specs.

[@mrvwbug4423]

That has always been my take with Commencal sizing as well. Size M meta SX is comparable in size to my size L RM Altitude.

[@norbertbaltyn3689]

@@mrvwbug4423 I have meta sx v4 ( size large) and my brother has altitude (size large). Meta is longer, but i dont feel it. For brother my meta is smaller :D

[@VISIONPROquito]

Great Job!!

[@MTBJonnie]

Thank you sir!

[@mr.godsent6990]

If you like testing your limits you should probably try out something like the canyon strive or the yeti sb 160. These bikes are so trimmed for speed.

[@juanhidalgo7043]

Interesting, how everyone talks about geometry, etc. it is all about the rider and how well the rider can ride the bike (skills). Geometry, rider height, inseam, arms, torso is the first and second is riding stile and of course rider skill level. Don’t get hand up on geometry. Like any rider (racer) get the feel for the bike beneath you.

[@jessevassallo]

What about the V5 race build? It has the Lyrik and the super deluxe coil. I’ve been eyeing that one for a while now.

[@MTBJonnie]

Dude yes. Honestly the race builds across the board with Commencal are absolutely spot on spec wise. If I buy a V5 it’s absolutely the race build.

[@skimandyak]

Fantastic review. Thanks for the detailed info. My bank account thanks you.

[@toHelluRide]

Safe to say you’re a big fan of mullet bikes for the front range? Diggin the reviews.

[@MTBJonnie]

Fair to say for the longer travel stuff. I really didn’t love the 5010 mullet too much.

[@MTBJonnie]

And thank you!

[@mrvwbug4423]

I know with our chunk the usual take is the front range is 29er country and mid travel 29ers are probably the most popular bike around here (mostly Ibis Ripmos, SC Hightowers and Yeti LRs). Only mullet bike I've had a chance to demo on front range trails is an ebike, and for ebike mullet is definitely the way to go.

[@toHelluRide]

@@MTBJonnie Looking forward to more reviews. Is the new HD6 on the list anytime soon?

[@MTBJonnie]

@@toHelluRide I’m definitely trying to get one but no shops have demos and Ibis won’t send me one. It’ll probably have to wait until my LBS can sort me on a demo for a couple of days.

[@ckooi88]

i am thinking to buy either Meta SX V5 , SC Nomad v6 ride hard and love big jumps, love a bike thats active and poppy. which one would you go for? Thanks Jon.

[@MTBJonnie]

The Meta V5 SX is more plow than pop. I’d say go Nomad for your intended use.

[@ckooi88]

appreciate the insights, thanks! @@MTBJonnie

[@e-eruelas4629]

Brother were in Colorado I can find those trails??????

[@gregsurat3734]

Which is the Do-it-all… enduro racing to hitting gnarly terrain to flow - V5 or V5 SX???

[@MTBJonnie]

Definitely the v5. That bike excels in the widest variety of terrain. The SX does have some magic in it that calls to me though. It’s just so damn fast in the tech.

[@BenjaminMcWhorter]

Excellent review

[@santius4469]

good job

[@jaworq]

I can't decide whether I should go for this Commencal or YT Capra Core 4... help! ^^

[@MTBJonnie]

Haven’t ridden the Capra yet sorry!

[@Tequila628]

More reviews, m8?

[@MTBJonnie]

Sorry it's been a very snowy winter here in CO. I'm actively working on reviews for the updated Tallboy, Orbea Wild, Commencal Meta Power SX, and Orbea Rallon. Hope to drop the next one within a week.

[@Tequila628]

@@MTBJonnie I'll watch them all of course, but what I'm really waiting for is some RAAW content if you know what I mean!

[@MTBJonnie]

@@Tequila628 if she can get here without crazy fees I’ll buy her a plane ticket ;)

[@johnnnewmex]

The Nomad frame with coil is about the weight of the Commencal with no shock...so has nothing to do with the frame...just difference in builds. Nomad is pretty much a different ballpark and better bike.

[@olivierbarriault4477]

just to ask i am wondering if the xl bike was like easy to turn or like it was guide cause i dont know if i pick an xl or l

[@Jake-wb8wd]

Just ordered this build because of the TRP brakes. How does it jump?

[@MTBJonnie]

Just speed up the rebound a hair and it gets poppy. The RS stuff is very easy to tune. I wouldn’t say it favors jumping naturally but it can certainly be tuned to jump well. This bikes nature is to go fast.

[@armandosaavedra2392]

Review the meta power sx

[@MTBJonnie]

I’ve got about a week to go then the review will be up.

[@lennytournier3095]

Have you heard any creaking noises related to the frame bearings? (many people complain about this problem)

[@MTBJonnie]

@@lennytournier3095 this wasn’t an issue with any Commencal I’ve ever ridden but I don’t disagree that it did happen to a lot of folks.

[@tegucigalpa2]

I have the V4, but same suspension. I chose a medium for playfulness although I usually ride a large. Same issue with the dropper, too much of the base sticking out. And interestingly, the base keeps sliding down little by little into the frame, no matter how much I tighten it. Dumb question; I thought about changing the dropper for a longer one so I could slide the base all the way down, but I thought it wouldn’t fit. Is there room in the frame for it?

[@MTBJonnie]

Honestly I’m not sure but if I owned the bike I would check my saddle height vs max seatpost insertion etc to figure it out.

[@lincoln_tk3022]

Im 510 with a long torso. Med goes from 5-8 to 5-11. But large is 510 to 6-3. I generally like a larger feeling bike but my old trail bike is alot smaller then this bike. Shoud i run the med or large from your opinion from riding this bike

[@MTBJonnie]

@@lincoln_tk3022 man it’s so hard to answer that question without seeing you on the bike. Bike manufacturers generally suggest short torso folks sizing down and long torso folks sizing up. But that doesn’t always ring true either.

[@ssjj9584]

Is this bike dual crown compatible?

[@JavierGonzaleziii]

Dang, was looking for a playful park bike but seems like this ain’t it 😢

[@helori7731]

I'am on a canyon spectral with 160mm and i want somthing bigger like 170mm I really like the v5 sx but apparently it's a really slow bike uphill do you thniks it will be a good idea?(i am faster than my friend uphill rn) and how is it possible that your size xl bike is lighter than the weight given by commencal for a size s on their weebsite? thanks in advance it s really going to help me🙌

[@MTBJonnie]

I think the spectral is a much better climber but handles chunky downhill terrain with way less composure than this v5 sx. This bike is on the more sluggish side for climbing even amongst enduro bikes. But it’s insanely capable on the descents if you have the terrain to match. Honestly I didn’t find the limits of this bike. It wanted more than I did.

[@helori7731]

​@@MTBJonnie okay so this bike is to big for my level.. so the normal v5 will be a good idea? It has the same travel(160mm)but the commencal is more capable in downhill i think

[@helori7731]

@@MTBJonnie but my friend are slower uphill so with the sx it ll close the gap or I'm going to be far back? Thank you for answering my questions, it’s nice to help me

[@MTBJonnie]

@@helori7731 if they’re already slower than you they will probably still be slower than you on the climb. It’s not going to cost you that much.

[@helori7731]

@@MTBJonnie thanks i'm going to take it so But I'm betwin size M and L (I'am 1m80 5'9 for your language I think ) if I want to improve maneuverability I can take the M

[@ryanwarkentin4706]

Now I’m 8,000 dollars in debut 😅

[@MTBJonnie]

Slow clap ✊