The electric mountain bike is as close as it gets to uplift replacements. They take much of the climbing effort out of the equation, allowing riders to carry burlier componentry built for downhill prowess. The Meta Power SX 400 is Commencal's latest winch-and-plummet machine that's built to perform like a downhill bike where it matters while making multiple runs a doddle.

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One key characteristic of all downhill bikes is that they pack tonnes of suspension travel, and although the Meta Power SX 400 doesn't get the full 200mm that we're accustomed to seeing under riders such as Greg Minnaar. Instead, it gets 170mm of squish at both ends that spring its 6066 triple butted, EFBE 5 certified frame. As expected of a bike of this type, it boasts a mixed-wheel setup with a 650b wheel at the rear and a 29-inch hoop up front.

2024 commencal meta sx 400 shock.jpg, by Liam Mercer

Promising all of the grip and 'dynamism shock management' is the VCS or Virtual Contact System - Commencal's suspension kinematic.

Driving the bike is a Bosch Performance Line SX motor that's powered by a 400Wh internal battery. If it's more range you're after, that can be boosted with an optional 250Wh range extender.

There are four sizes available, with reaches measuring from 440mm up to 510. As for the rest of the geometry, a large bike, for example, dons a 77.5-degree effective seat tube angle, a 64-degree head tube angle and a 450mm chainstay. That large framed bike gets a 485mm reach.

2024 commencal meta sx 400 motor.jpg, by Liam Mercer

The new Commencal Meta Power SX 400 is available in two builds, the Signature and Essential. The former is graced with top-end kit including a Fox 38 Factory fork and Float X Factory shock. There's a pair of SRAM Maven Silver brakes and short 155mm cranks also from SRAM. Shifting is also covered by SRAM with the GX T-Type drivetrain and the bike rolls on a pair of DT Swiss HFR1700 rims on 350 hubs. Those tyres are wrapped with a Schwalbe Magic Mary at the front, and a Tacky Chan at the rear.

The Essential build brings the price to a more achievable level and introduces components such as Fox's 38 Performance fork and Float X Performance shock. There's a pair of TRP DH-R Evo brakes and the mechanical SRAM GX Eagle 12-speed drivetrain. Wrapped in the same tyres as the top model is a set of DT Swiss HF1900 rims and 370 hubs.

• www.commencal.com

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