Transition Blindside 2010 - first looks

Aug 3, 2010
by Lee Lau  
Described by Transition as a "big all-mountain bike", the new Blindside is a 7.6lbs frame (taking a pound off the weight of the older frame); and designed around 170mm/190mm travel. Although more pedal friendly it is clearly designed to be able to take big hits. The 2010 Blindside is a refined, well-thought-out bike & will probably go a long way to expanding Transition's fan-base beyond its traditional Pacific NW following.

More details inside,
photo
The Blindside in the TBC warehouse waiting patiently to be let out to play

-Introduction-

The purpose of this article will be to overview objective features of Transition's new Blindside. There are no ride impression details as yet. A test bike will be shortly made available and ride impressions, photos and videos will be forthcoming in September. I plan to ride this bike in Whistler, Galbraith, North Vancouver, Squamish, Silver Star, drag it into the alpine and where-ever else I happen to go over the next few months.


photo
38.5lbs as built with 180mm coil front and rear travel

photo
The allen bolted chip on the rear shock lets you adjust travel from 6.5 to 7.5"

Geometry Highlights (more here)

- 65 deg HA/72.5 deg STA

- In the medium size -> 1168mm wheelbase/436mm (46"/14.2") chainstay length

- 14.2" BB

photo
A familiar face graces the straight seat-tube; tall leggy riders who need to raise and drop the seatpost a lot will rejoice

photo
Enough clearance for a 2.8" tire

-Frame highlights-

- At 7.6lbs this is not an overly heavy frame! For context, a 180mm coil front/rear build with downhill tires builds to 38.5lbs. That's a bike you can lug around uphill without too much issue.

- Geometry stays the same as the 2009 Blindside

- Welding is much cleaner with smooth surfaces on the welds

- New hydroformed tubes (toptube and downtube) - increases strength while decreasing weight

- Tapered internally welded headtube

- Using a removable "chip", rear travel is adjustable from 6.5" to 7.5"

- While designed for 180mm travel front forks, the Blindside is compatible with 200mm and 160mm/170mm front forks.

- Maximum rear tire clearance of 2.8

- Completely straight seat tube. Can accommodate long seat posts yet drop the seat all the way down too.

photo
Gratuitous head-tube shot showing the beautiful lines of the hydroformed head-tube/down-tube junction

photo
ISCG05 chainguide tabs and a 73mm x 51mm BB shell for chainline that can accommodate an optional front derailleur and double ring setup

-Useful links-

Specifications and detailed geometry numbers for the Blindside from the TBC website.

photo
Beautifully thought out cable-routing brought to you by Sam (check out the chainstay routed cable). Only one option for rear ends now - the common 135x10mm standard

photo
More clean cable routing via top of down-tube


Video of Kevin Menard going over the Blindside-
Interview with Kevin Menard - 2010 Transition Blindside - part 1

by leelau
Views: 7,797    Faves: 10    Comments: 5



Interview with Kevin Menard - 2010 Transition Blindside - part 1:

- Introduction - new tubeset results in a frame weighing one pound less than older Blindsides

- Big All-Mountain concept (0:27)

- Tapered head-tube (1:18 )

- Head-set choices (internal or external; possibility of zero-stack or recessed cups) (1:30)


Interview with Kevin Menard - 2010 Transition Blindside - part 2

by leelau
Views: 4,175    Faves: 8    Comments: 1


Interview with Kevin Menard - 2010 Transition Blindside - part 2:

- Headtube/downtube hydroforming and internal welding

- New rocker and adjustable travel chip (0:37)

- Refined tubing/smooth surfaces (1:03)

- Cable routing (1:35)

- Straight seat-tube (2:08 )


And just because this video is sick and because I won't be able to ever flow a trail quite like this here's a repeat of last year's Blindside in action:

Transition Blindside Video

by TransitionBikeCompany
Views: 140,426    Faves: 712    Comments: 152


-Lee Lau

Posted In:
Reviews and Tech First Looks Transition


Author Info:
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Member since Oct 18, 2009
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103 Comments
  • 21 0
 This looks amazing to me and although it seems quite niche now in the overall line-up its the sort of bike I would love.
Although I'm not really sure why it's called " big all-mountain " I would call that amount of travel and the ability to go up hills every so often " freeride ".
Does anyone else feel like " freeride " has become a dirty word in the last few years associated with mindless hucking and the Kona Stinky.
Hardly any companies these days produce a dedicated freeride bike and it seems like that term has been avoided again here.
Freeride to me means exactly that - it goes all over the mountain like any mountain bike should but is for hitting the bigger stuff rather than more aimed at climbing as well.
To me this looks like a fantastic freeride bike.
  • 2 1
 LONG LIVE FREERIDE!!!!!!!!!
  • 4 0
 im really bummed to see the Blindside scaled down. I thought it was the prefect bike for big freeride bike that could easily go ride downhill competitvly. i wish they would maybe just gave the old bike a bit of a face lift and some lipo and kept the cool new stuff as well like the cable routing. however the new build is nice too. hope to see transition bring another big hit freeride bike to the mix.
  • 3 0
 This may seem like a weird comment but I would love to see a very opinionated review. I thought the recent review you did of the Rocky was too factual and didn't have enough personal touches. I have read a lot of your online trail reports and have pretty much enjoyed and used all of them...they seem to indicate that you have spent a lot of time doing the riding that this bike seems to be designed for so I am really looking forward to the follow up. Thanks!
  • 3 0
 I'll try real hard! Transition's going to let me have this one to play on for a while so it will probably go to places that bikes shouldn't go.
  • 3 0
 one thank you for editing out as much babble as possible two all mountain really a 35-38lbs all mountain bike surely thats not going to help sales freeride bike that looks like it will run well as a DH bike yes but not feeling the AM angle third great looking bike i want one with 40's Big Grin
  • 1 0
 hey - no problem. I tried to not just regurgitate what was on the website (because I figured all of you could read that yourself) and just add value or highlight nice touches that a casual reader might miss from just browsing the online information
  • 1 0
 The killer photo's added a nice touch. Thanks!
  • 4 0
 now they have a complete line up. casue with the tr450, the blindslide got left out for big travel, now its back and better then ever! love the fox!
  • 2 0
 I wish they kept it 8" and 12x135 rear end. I currently got a BS that will be due for replacing soon. The TR450 is overkill for how I ride, and this is maybe not enough??? Not sure...
  • 1 0
 In my opinion this bike should have 12x135 dropouts. its meant to go everywhere, but if it's going to be ridden of big drops and what not, the 12mm axle would be a nice feature for added rigidty/safety. but i doubt people will be disappointed with the 10x135 axle option anyways.
  • 5 1
 Bikes are like GF's- everyone is looking for that "special" one, but they're all fun to ride!!
  • 1 0
 Sick Sick Sick, loved that trail and whoever built it! Crazy good trail looked like a TON of fun to ride, with a bunch of Gnar thrown in for good measure. That is exactly what we build you guys just have bigger and steeper mountains. Great job guys keeping it real, if your ever in CT in New England look us up and we will show you our goods similar but shorter and smaller, but still good and fun as hell.
  • 1 0
 CT. Seriously? Where at. I'm from CT but ran as far away as I could when I turned 18. Tried a freeriding area in Milford last time I was home, but it was very weak. My brother is still suffering in CT finishing school, so I would love to know where he can go ride until he gets to leave. You guys need to move, everywhere I've lived or been to is better than CT...If you are going to live on the East Coast, at least move to VT, NH, or ME.
  • 1 0
 Look at the picture for the new cable routing through the chainstay. The housing is being cut by the machined out slot in the dropout piece. I have seen the same thing happening on the V5 Doubles...
  • 1 0
 Crayz - that's my picture. That's actually a small rounded slot in the frame so the cable will sit there. Not the housing getting cut.
  • 3 0
 On the transition website it says the new blindside will have 170-190mm rear travel not 160-180
  • 2 0
 Thx for the catch Komodo. I'll correct that/
  • 2 0
 I am loving mine! Rides like a cross between the bottlerocket and old style blindside. Jumps like the BR, takes big hits like the BS.
  • 1 0
 Would you prefer this over a bottlerocket? I have a rocket frame either already at the dealer and built up, or still on it's way to be built up.. This just got me thinking.
  • 1 0
 What kind of stuff do you mostly ride and how do you ride it?
  • 1 0
 Well, I've been going to Silver Star lately, I like big air, I focus on being smooth. My regular ride is a yz250 and when I'm not on that it's a Specialized p3. The geo of the p3 and rocket are nearly the same, slacker head angle on the rocket. I feel a little cramped, at first, on the rocket, but can work around it after awhile.
  • 1 0
 For bike park stuff and bigger hits I really like the BS. The BR is great for smoother tracks that are just jumpy. I feel like the new BS jumps like the BR, but has a little more to take away the rough stuff plus the slacker headtube is great for higher speed
  • 1 0
 Still not a fan of tapered headtubes on bikes like this. I understand it's application on lighter use bikes (all-mtn to trail) Why not a full 1.5? It just opens up more options and the weight is negligible...
  • 1 0
 Tapered steer tube is lighter and stiffer overall (compare a 1.5 and a tapered TALAS for instance.....more material where it's needed, not uniformly throughout).
  • 1 0
 I get that. But, lets say you want to modify the geometry of the bike. The new adjustable headsets out there won't work with this headtube. Since the bearing sits right in the frame, you can't install a cup on top without adding stack. I just think a bike of this category should be full-1.5.
  • 4 1
 HUGE improvement! It now looks like a modern bike.
  • 3 1
 what happened to the blindside being a downhill. they have the covert dont they?
  • 4 0
 This is more aggressive than the covert I believe
  • 5 0
 tr450 for that
  • 2 0
 the covery is like all mountain I think they should have left the blindside at 8 inch the bottle rocket alredy is their do it all bike
  • 1 0
 bottle rocket is only 140mm travel though :/
I think this works well
  • 3 0
 The Covert is a 6" light all-mountain bike. Think 30 lbs build.

The Blindside is a 7" build. Think mid to high 30s build.

The TR450 is the dedicated DH bike. There is also plans for another bike to fill the small gap between the TR450 and the Blindside ---- more to come on that. I've said too much already - the guys in the black hats are on me
  • 4 0
 The blindside is perfect for big mountain now. For us taller riders the bottle rocket is way to small to be pedaling around for any longer than 30min. A shorter rider, maybe someone around 5"6 might get away with it but us taller riders I'm 6"2 get lots of neck and back pain riding something so short with such little standover. Great bike don't get me wrong I love the bottle rocket just not good on longer 2 or more hours Big Mountain Rides.

I love the new changes guys! Lookin good and clean, keep up the good work.
  • 2 0
 leelau - tell me, why do they need something to fill the 20mm travel gap lol imo, i dont see the need or point!
  • 1 0
 they should raise the bottlerocket to 160mm
  • 1 0
 So no more bottlerocket?
  • 1 0
 the bottlerocket isnt going anywhere, and i think its good at the travel it is, that way the hardcore bikes kinda go up in 40mm travel increments!
  • 2 0
 Its a sick bike, only thing i don't like is its tall top tube. But thats mostly just due to the shock placement anyway
  • 1 0
 also the one that they were showing was a size medium so that made it look bigger aswell
  • 3 1
 the Double an now the Blindside,When When When is the Bottle Rocket gonna get these upgrades???
  • 1 0
 Am I the only one who thinks its a bit late to introduce a NEW 2010 product? Its August already companies are debuting their 2011 product already.
  • 1 0
 Transition doesn't necessarily do model years per se. They just release updates as they see fit.
  • 1 0
 Why say its a 2010 then? why not just call it a 2011 since they prob wont hit the market until then?
  • 1 0
 yuroshek - that's actually a good point. I should probably have called it a 2010/2011 bike because (as Oregon pointed out); Transition doesn't typically follow model years. Kevin indicated that consumers seem to want to hear the model year of the bike so they are rethinking and might start using model years.
  • 1 0
 Do you think this new, scaled down version of the bike will be able to handle the last landing (with the props) in the movie ?
  • 4 1
 very nice!
  • 3 11
flag dbox123 (Aug 3, 2010 at 12:25) (Below Threshold)
 vp free anyone??? wish I hadn't sold mine...
  • 3 2
 i got one for sale
  • 3 10
flag gurdip (Aug 3, 2010 at 13:03) (Below Threshold)
 buy my blindside 2009
  • 18 2
 am i the only one who thinks this bike seems a bit plain?
i can't deny it is a very nice bike but just nothing special
  • 9 8
 Does it have to be special?
If it does what it's meant for isn't that than not good enough?

And I have to say it's one of the beautiefullest big suspensions bikes on the market now. But that's just my opinion.
  • 1 0
 looks clean
  • 1 1
 It's just a bike overview. Definitely Trans has provided a set of bikes for everything now, the double for DJ, covert, for freeriding they now have 5.5inch bottle rocked, *new 6.5/7.5inch blindside, and now they have the race spec'd TR450. The travel adjust is nice, it'd be the perfect bike for me with the trails I ride.
  • 1 0
 2011 maybe....
  • 4 0
 i for one like how its plain, it doesnt need to be special, it gets shit done and looks awesome o, and lovin the offspring songs in the last video...
  • 3 0
 Anyone no how this bike fits kind of all mountain singletrack trails? I already have a Dh bike but need one for those flowy trails we have (kind of like a-line) and my home trails that are mostly singletracks and you have to pedal up too. Should I buy this bike? I think it looks very nice and clean lines!
  • 6 2
 i disagree with u "iambike4lyf"...for me this bike is very special..exactly because transition is one of the only brands thats not following this hydroforming trend..i hate all this hydroforming sh*t...it looked cool at the beginning..but now everyone got soooo stuck with all this hydroforming that i just cant look at these new-age bikes anymore..thats why this (and any transition as a metter of fact) is special..because its sticking to the good old good looking bike..classic..love it
  • 5 0
 LOL, did you read this stuff? "- New hydroformed tubes (toptube and downtube) - increases strength while decreasing weight" Hydroforming doesn't necessarily have anything to do with styling. Blame the frame designers for making everything swoopy lately, not hydroforming.
  • 1 0
 i like it, went to my local shop and to be suprised the have the same one but in blue and black, looks and feels like a dream !
  • 1 0
 You didn't read the article did you pperini? Looks like you can hate this too since they used hydroforming on this bike.
  • 1 0
 maxeponken - I think this bike will be good for trails where there's long climbs (either hike-a-bike or just grind it out best as you can) then long burly descents. I don't think this bike will be good for up and down trails (Covert might be better for that). It's just a function of the climbing angles. But that's just opinion till I get saddle time,
  • 1 0
 maxeponken - Unless you have some really big stuff to throw at your bike on the way down, I'd second leelau and say the Covert's more appropriate for your needs.
  • 1 0
 Thanks, The covert looked nice to! But not as nice as this.. But the covert doen't seem like a good "A-line" bike? We have many trails that are machine built like A-line and that's the main priority..
  • 1 0
 Good filming and editing on the video, shame about the song though.
  • 1 0
 great riding, sketch little last bit.. tup
  • 2 2
 my friends i know that hydroforming is technology and its light an stiff and blablabla...and yes i did read the article...but what i meant is that the bike doesnt look* like these hydroformed bikes..thats all..
  • 1 0
 Looks like an ace bike. The 180mm Fox is a nice touch, as is that nifty paint job.
  • 1 1
 I think the painit job makes it really, would look wuite right without that "tail" in black paint coming from the link on the top tube!

I love it though, really fancy some 180 talas
  • 4 0
 Thats how the blindside always should have been
  • 1 0
 Geo doesn't make sense to me, 65HA and a 14.2" bb height on a "Big" All-Mountain bike..
  • 1 0
 i'll assume the chainastay length is 16.2, not 14.2 sweet write up i love transition bikes
  • 1 0
 Assume they're 17.2"! Wink
  • 1 0
 argh another typo - thx for catching that.
  • 2 0
 I don't think transition could make a bad bike if they wanted to.
  • 1 0
 "big All-mountain" = Classic freeride NWD Fat tire Fury style?
  • 1 0
 Think about a bike you can cart into the alpine then rail sweet alpine downhills - say 4000 foot descents. I'll get working on some pictures
  • 1 0
 I second that comment. Ride to the top (albeit slowly) and then you can rip on the way down. Yeah... I guess that is classic "freeride" but it goes beyond that to just straight up trail riding on a big bike.
  • 1 0
 sorry but there aint nothin special about that bike. its average. good but
  • 1 0
 What took them so long to make it?
  • 2 0
 I love mine!
  • 1 0
 the paint reminds me of an MSC
  • 1 0
 Now that would be a kick ass freerider.
  • 2 1
 It's a little plain for my tastes. Looks like a long travel Jamis Dakar.
  • 1 0
 And still the top tube is too high for me to like it.
  • 1 1
 Im going to say it now... By By Bottle rocket. 4 in double and a 6.5 blindside = no need for the BR
  • 1 1
 Oh man, nice bike! We're gonna have to get some of these for camp next year! Ken
  • 1 0
 why must you advertise your camp in every bike review news story?
  • 2 0
 I'm not actually. I get lots of people who know we are sponsored by Transition and other companies and send us emails all the time asking if we are going to have this bike or that bike. So I am putting that there for our campers so they don't have to send an email asking if we are going to have that bike. On some, like the Intense, Man I just want to ride one like everyone else. I am up front about who I am on Pinkbike,(I'm not talking about you or anyone in particular) instead of hiding behind a psuedonym so pinkbike users know I am speaking as a camp. I think that's fair instead of having a user ID that could be anyone and then spouting off about camp, that is definitely not cool.
Ken
  • 1 0
 conshow3, I was going to say, because it's an awesome camp from the photo's I've seen. Plus, it's a bicycle business and this is a bicycle website, a quite popular one I might add. So, a simple comment like that will increase exposure and raise profits. Simple and friendly business, calm down.
  • 1 0
 That is true, but I did say just because I really like the bike. No ulterior motive. Ken
  • 1 0
 covert is for me but this will work 2.... love the transition bike......
  • 1 0
 just another single pivot bike.
  • 2 0
 socom
  • 1 0
 This bike looks like an longer travel version of Jamis' Parker SS bike!
  • 1 0
 Soooooooooo Nice!
  • 1 0
 sick! such a nice bike
  • 1 0
 I want one
  • 2 1
 so dope!
  • 1 2
 i'm with killacali, looks clean, purposeful. and it'll look bling when i throw a load of purple and gold ano all over it lol
  • 1 0
 yes please!!
  • 1 0
 my next bike Big Grin
  • 1 0
 is that a flip chip?







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