Commencal T.E.M.P.O. LTD review

Commencal’s 125mm-travel T.E.M.P.O. 29in-wheeled trail bike is designed to tackle everything from punchy climbs to long days in the saddle and technical descents.

Although its frame is built from aluminium, the LTD model reviewed here is fitted with lightweight, high-spec components, helping keep the size-large bike's weight down to 14kg.

Headlining its spec is a 140mm-travel Fox 34 Factory fork and Float DPS Factory shock, SRAM’s X0 Eagle mechanical drivetrain and carbon fibre DT Swiss XMC 1501 wheels.

With the T.E.M.P.O. retailing for €5,166.66, the direct-to-consumer brand offers impressive value.

Its got a 65.5-degree head angle, 76.6-degree seat tube angle, plus a 470mm reach on the large and 440mm chainstays, cementing its intentions neatly in the trail bikes category.

On the trails, the it's an absolute riot, riding best when you’re pushing up to and beyond your limits, both up and downhill.

There’s plenty of get up and go to match lung-busting ascending efforts; efficiency-focused geometry and bob-free suspension culminate in high-speed races to the trailhead.

Switch direction to work with gravity and a few choice pumps, pops and pedals get you up to warp speed without breaking a sweat.

Its suspension thrives when it’s worked into the terrain, boosted by balanced geometry and a coherent spec, all combining to lift the T.E.M.P.O. beyond its travel figure.

It has a real quiver-killer vibe, almost replicating the speed of a cross-country bike and the capabilities of a burly trail bike descender.

Commencal T.E.M.P.O. LTD frame and suspension

Its sleek-looking, thin straight-tubed frame is made using 6066 triple-butted aluminium; the top tube and seatstays form one sleek line from the head tube to the rear axle.

Cables are routed internally via the headset, and along with a water bottle mount on the down tube, there’s an accessory mount on the underside of the top tube.

Chain-slap and down-tube protection features, as does SRAM’s Universal Derailleur Hanger.

Suspension

Dual co-rotating links attach the swingarm and main frame, creating a floating pivot point with 125mm of rear-wheel travel.

According to Linkage Design, the suspension has plenty of initial anti-squat and limited pedal-induced bob, before tailing off from 75mm into its travel to bottom-out.

Likewise, its leverage rate is progressive until 105mm into its travel, but then becomes regressive (gets easier to compress) until bottom-out. This should make it most compatible with air-sprung shocks.

Commencal T.E.M.P.O. LTD geometry

If its looks and travel figures aren’t enough to cement its trail bike credentials, its geometry will.

Each bike in the four-size range (small to extra-large) boasts a 65.5-degree head angle and 76.6-degree seat tube angle.

The large and extra-large bikes get longer 440mm chainstays, while the small and medium have 435mm stays.

Reach figures range from 430mm to 490mm, with the large bike’s 470mm figure nothing out of the ordinary.

It runs on 29in wheels front and rear, with no option to install mixed-sized hoops.

Commencal T.E.M.P.O. LTD specifications

Fox’s 34 Factory fork, with the ultra-adjustable GRIP2 damper, sits up front, sporting a less common, longer 51mm offset, which can have an effect on steering.

Longer offsets generally speed up steering response, while shorter ones will slow it down.

The fork is matched with a 40mm Renthal Apex stem and 800mm-wide Fatbar handlebar.

Out back, it has Fox’s Float DPS Factory shock with external low-speed rebound and compression adjustment, and threshold pedal platform functionality.

SRAM’s mechanical X0 and XX1 Eagle drivetrain is paired with Truvativ Descendant carbon cranks and a 32t chainring.

Shimano’s two-piston XT brakes clamp Ice Tech rotors (203mm front, 180mm rear), with the rear caliper sporting cooling finned pads.

DT Swiss’ high-end XMC 1501 carbon fibre wheels are wrapped in Maxxis tyres.

A 2.4in-wide Minion DHR II 3C MaxxGrip tyre is chosen up front and a 2.4in Dissector 3C MaxxTerra sits out back.

Fox’s 200mm-travel Transfer Factory dropper post – that’s actuated by a Shimano remote – is joined by a Fizik Terra Alpaca X5 saddle.

Without pedals, the large T.E.M.P.O. LTD weighs a respectable 14kg.

Commencal T.E.M.P.O. LTD ride impressions

I tested the Commencal T.E.M.P.O. LTD in Scotland’s Tweed Valley, host to some of the UK’s best and most varied mountain biking.

From the famous runs of Glentress trail centre to the Golfie’s off-piste enduro tracks, I tackled my well-trodden test loops to put it through its paces.

Trail conditions ranged from freeze-dried dust and bogging mud through to hero dirt and soft loam.

Setup

Setting up the suspension was relatively straightforward. For my 74kg weight, I initially inflated the fork’s spring to 85psi – just over the recommended amount – but ended up adding 9psi during testing. I left the single volume-reducer spacer installed.

I kept the high-speed compression damping, and low- and high-speed rebound adjustments fully open, but added five clicks of low-speed compression damping to increase front-end support in high-load situations.

At the rear, I increased pressure from my initial setting (195psi) to 218psi and left the green 0.4in cubed volume-reducer spacer installed. All the rear shock’s damper adjustments were left fully open.

I inflated the tyres to my preferred pressures: 25-27psi up front and 27-31psi at the back, depending on trail conditions.

Commencal T.E.M.P.O. LTD climbing performance

Working against gravity, the T.E.M.P.O. has a high-paced attitude, defying its descent-inspired geometry and chunky rubber’s intentions.

The twin-link suspension barely dips in and out of its travel as you pedal, resisting bob as its anti-squat figure suggests it should.

Akin to most full-suspension bikes, pedalling elliptically causes bob, especially when you’re standing. However, smooth and proficient strokes maintain composure.

Although it doesn’t quite share the same ferocious pace the best downcountry bikes bring to the trails, lower your shoulders to the bar and dig deep and it returns rewarding forward surges, speeding up ascending.

Like other lightweight trail bikes, then, its efficiency encourages you to dig deeper and harder, eking out every watt of power from your legs.

But there’s a calmer side to the T.E.M.P.O.

Relaxing into its steep seat tube angle and generous stack fosters a more upright, sedate pace.

Your weight is focused comfortably through your sit bones and saddle rather than the palms of your hands, broadening its performance from speedy racer to all-day mile-muncher.

Placing your hips directly above the bottom bracket mimics the feel of enduro bikes and improves efficiency and comfort.

Combined with its relatively long rear-centre, it’s easy to keep the front wheel in check on steep inclines; steering control and rear-wheel traction are well balanced.

Despite the rear end’s taut feel, it’s surprisingly supple. Although it doesn’t neutralise the trail’s bumps, it does a great job of taking the sting out, improving grip and comfort.

Fox’s GRIP2-damped 34 is another strong performer here, offering a supple off-the-top feel.

Commencal T.E.M.P.O. LTD descending performance

Its 470mm reach, 440mm chainstays and 633mm stack combine with Goldilocks-like cohesiveness, creating a balanced hands-to-feet relationship.

Without a front or rear bias, the T.E.M.P.O.’s descending demeanour is calm, composed and impressively competent.

Your weight is distributed evenly between its contact points and wheels; picking lines, changing direction or shifting traction between doesn’t require overt, destabilising movements.

The huge amount of stability is easily and quickly tapped into, needing little rider intervention.

The front’s height increases how much it can be weighted before upsetting balance, aiding control on near-vertical trails.

In this respect, it’s very natural and confidence-inspiring to ride. You’ll be tempted to take the T.E.M.P.O. beyond archetypal trail-bike terrain, tackling gnarlier runs, and it’ll thrive when you do.

This self-assured descending prowess is boosted by its suspension.

The rear end’s supportiveness helps maintain its dynamic geometry. It doesn’t dip easily into its travel reserves, instead remaining steadfast and solid when worked hard into the terrain, fostering an unwavering and predictable feel.

Creating speed by pumping the terrain is addictive and easy.

Pushing it into the ground gives an immediate and direct flow of forward momentum, instantly gratifying rider effort with proportional results.

There’s pop aplenty, too, another trait of its suspension design. Loading it into a take-off creates a corresponding bounce skywards; this can be used to clock up air miles or spring across the trail from one line to the next.

Despite the kinematics’ progression end-stroke tail-off, there’s ample bottom-out resistance.

Soft-touch full-travel moments are welcome and give the 125mm travel figure a plusher than expected feel. The rear shock’s air spring does a lot of the hard work here, however.

Of course, there are limits. Plough into terrain better suited to downhill bikes and you’ll be reminded quickly of the T.E.M.P.O.’s performance ceiling.

Although harsh vibrations and stinging square-edge hits are dulled confidently, it’s best ridden proactively.

Pushing, popping and working the trail’s contours elicits delightful results; it’s not a plough bike and doesn’t ride well when used as a blunt instrument.

Fox’s 34 feels supple, smooth and agile. It retains plenty of chassis stiffness and control for great steering accuracy and composure, even when speed lifts or technicality increases.

Matched well to the rear end’s feel, the fork’s air spring and damper work together, providing plenty of mid-stroke support and tuneable bottom-out resistance.

Despite the weedy EXO-casing tyres limiting how hard you can push through banked turns before they scream for mercy, the MaxxGrip front and MaxxTerra rear compounds are enduro-worthy.

But testament to their suitability for this type of bike, I didn’t suffer a single puncture during the test period. Plus their stickier compounds helped reduce the slightly pingy feel typical of the EXO casing.

While mismatched on a trail bike at first look, the T.E.M.P.O.’s performance potential is befitting of tacky front and rear rubber. I was grateful for the extra grip when the Commencal egged me on to ride trails usually reserved for bikes with 50mm more travel.

Commencal T.E.M.P.O. LTD bottom line

The T.E.M.P.O.’s silhouette, geometry, suspension and spec all scream speed – at the upper echelons of what a trail bike should be capable of is where it rides best.

This breadth of performance spans both the ups and downs; it nearly replicates the speeds of outright XC bikes when you’re climbing – or encourages you to push as if you’re riding one. However, it also descends like a longer-travel, heavier-hitting trail/all-mountain rig, even when the terrain goes from mild to wild.

It can be ridden slowly and sedately, but twist the dial to nine tenths and it truly shines.

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