After two years of development, Transition has completely revamped it’s range of bikes designed for going up and down mountains. These bikes will utilize their new GiddyUp suspension platform, while still retaining the great handling characteristics that fans of the brand will remember.
On the longer travel end of the spectrum is the Patrol, which rolls on 27.5″ wheels, and will have 155mm of travel, a 65 degree headtube angle, and a short 430mm chainstay. The frame only version option retails for $1,999 with a Monarch Plus RC3, but well spec’d completes start at $3,499. A carbon version is also in development, but will not be available until Spring 2015.
#26AintDead and to prove it, Transition is releasing the Suppressor. This is the little wheeled brother of the Patrol, and they share similar geometries. This model will only be available as a frame only.
The Scout is the spiritual successor of the legendary BottleRocket, except this time the freeride legend sports 125mm of rear travel and 27.5″ wheels. Up front, the bike is spec’d with a 140mm travel fork for a 67 degree headtube angle. Compared to the longer travel Patrol and Suppressor, the rear end has been shortened 5mm to 425mm.
The frame only price with a Monarch is $1,799, while completes will start at $3,299 and top out at $4,899 for a SRAM X1/X01 drivetrain, and debonair rear shock.
The Smuggler is Transition’s take on the new wave of short travel 29ers with aggressive geometries. It has a 67.5 headtube angle, super short 435 chainstay, and 115mm of rear suspension is paired with a 130mm fork. Pricing for frames and completes is the same as the Scout.
I had the opportunity to ride a pre-production test mule last month and it was an absolute blast. You can read my first impressions here.
For the jr groms, Transition’s new Ripcord is designed to be a scaled down version of an adult trail bike. It has a super low standover, 100 mm of front and rear travel, 24″ wheels, a 67 degree head angle, and dirt jump worthy 381 mm chaintsays. The bikes will only be available as completes but price has yet TBD.
In case Day-Glo isn’t your thing, the TransAm will also be available in Dark Metallic (aka Black)
The TransAM is a versatile little hardtail that has been available as a 26″ and 29″ model in the past, but they’ve ditched the little wheels in favor of this new 27.5″ model. This version has ultra short 418mm chainstays and has been updated with a new axle system (FAST or Freedom Axle System Technology), which allows the bike to be setup as a single speed.
The frameset costs $599, while a complete build featuring a Pike, 1×10 SLX drivetrain, and Deore Brakes, will retail for a reasonable $2,299.
The TR500 is the new downhill/park bike from Transition, which combines the best of both the TR450 and TR250 into one. The bike can be setup as either a 26″ or 27.5″ model, or run in either 180mm or 200mm travel modes. Like the outgoing TR mdoels, the chainstay, head angle, and BB are all adjustable. Frame only price is $2,599, and completes start at $5,299.
Also on display were a couple of new products from Anvil, which included a Ti spindle option for the Tilt pedal. This hop up helps bring weight down to 335g, but will set you back $259.99
The Forge is an incredibly comfortable saddle and we’ve put lots of miles on our Ti railed version. This new carbon railed version brings the weight down to 158g and will retail for $179.99.
