The arrival of the META TR 29 was highly anticipated and rightly so! The combination of large wheels and shorter travel make the META TR 29 a particularly successful bike. It was voted ‘Mountain Bike of the Year’ by MBUK.
TECH
Let's start with the frame. We didn’t want the bike to be as stiff as possible. We were looking for the ideal compromise between accuracy and tolerance. In this case, the stiffness of the frame is specifically accommodating for large wheels. The bike gains in both precision and liveness and the bigger wheels bring the necessary strength and reliability through rough sections of track.
The suspension system uses our Contact System again. A design that allows us to accurately work the behaviour of the suspension. The fixed main pivot point provides real fun and simplicity. The bike is then predictable in all circumstances.
The progressiveness of the frame is designed to provide good tyre-to-ground contact,
a good hold halfway through the travel and a smooth end of travel.
Throughout, the bike remains dynamic when you push with your feet to generate speed.
The position of the main pivot point changes,
with it now positioned lower and further back,
it’s better suited to the chain rings used on a 29.
Its location also diminishes kickback during suspension travel.
The result? A bike that does not tire its rider on long rides and has more grip.
Seat Stay
Increased tube thickness for better control of rear triangle stiffness.
Rocker
Bigger bearings for more stiffness and reliability.
U-Link
Improved junction with the shock for better overall reliability.
29’’ for the META
Not only did we want to change the geometry for our frames,
we also redesigned our flagship platform to enable big wheels.
The structure of the frame has been revised to increase its stiffness due to
the greater constraints brought by these bigger wheels.
This structural modification has also allowed us to fine-tune the geometry.
Let’s just be clear, this increase in stiffness does not work to the detriment of the META’s legendary tolerance.
GEOMETRY
The geometry of the META explains to a large extent, why this bike is so fun to ride. It's a far cry from those clunky 29-inch platforms. In order to have very short chain stays (432 mm), we had to thoroughly rework the composition of the frame.
Thanks to these short chain stays the bike is very agile and effective when corners get tight...
A straighter seat tube angle and a longer reach (than big brother the META AM 29) allows efficient pedalling,
especially on steep climbs,
which is what this bike is really made for.
The 29-inch wheels and 130 mm of travel make the META TR 29 a surprisingly brilliant downhill bike which will reach speeds you never imagined.
The contribution of a 140 / 150 mm fork brings additional confidence.
For us, a TRAIL bike is not a long-travel XC bike,
it's a bike designed to tackle all terrain, even the most technical!
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