Transition DirtBag
Love mine, got it second hand and have built it up with parts off my voltage which I cracked, weighs in at 22kg (49Ibs) with a 66 dhx 5.0 air and 729s. saint/x9 groupset. weighs alot but you don't notice it in the air. first ride out I hit a big jump I'd wanted to do but never had the confidence to try with the voltage! Buy one!
The DirtBag is built for the classic freerider that must be able to handle any stunt, jump or drop in front of them as well as pedal to the top. If you are looking for a great all around freeride bike that is plush for the rough stuff but still quick and maneuverable on skinnies, jumps and singletrack, the DirtBag won’t disappoint. The DirtBag is our sentimental favorite bike that is constantly winning over riders for its versatility and burliness. FRAME FEATURES: 170mm (6.7") Rear Wheel Travel Fox DHX 5.0 Coil 7.875" x 2.25" or DHX 5.0 Air 7.875" x 2.25" 6061 Heat Treated Aluminum Sizes: Small (16"), Medium (17"), Large (18") Current Production Run Colors: Brown, Black, Raw Last Production Run Colors: Transparent Electric Blue, Mustard Yellow, White Frame Weight: 8.3 lbs (without rear shock) Complete Bike Weight Range: 38-43 lbs (Depending on Rear Shock and Fork) 1.5" headtube Custom CNC rocker arms Compatible with up to 8" dual crown forks Accepts up to 8" Rear Disc Brake Rotors Easily fits up to 3.0" rear tire Works with Front Derailleur or Chain Guide 1 year defect warranty, Lifetime crash replacement BUILD SPECS: Shock Specs: 7.875 eye-to-eye x 2.25" stroke, Upper Pin 46mm x 8mm, Lower Pin 22.2mm x 8mm Front Derailleur: 34.9mm Clamp, Top-pull, (Bottom Swing Shimano or High Mount SRAM) Bottom Bracket: Euro 73mm shell x 51mm chainline Headset: 1.5" Seatpost: 30.0mm Seat Clamp: 34.9mm Rear Dropout Spacing: 135mm x 10mm (nutted axle & QR compatible) Disc Brake Mount: International Standard Chain Guide Mounting: Standard ISCG Various build kits available. Pricing for FR Single Ring spec with Fox DHX 5.0 coil and Rock Shox Totem coil 1.5.
I am a happy owner of one of the best freeride bikes in history. Really strong materials, great for jumping, goes down the trail with tremendous speed, and very important for my style of rider somewhere in between all mountain, freeride and downhill it is very good in pedaling. Any Transition frame is great for what it has been build. 4 thumbs up 
I have the first generation Dirtbag with the bare aluminum Dangerboy rocker-arms. The bike is a beast... definitely a bit heavier than the newer versions, but still a great bike. I built mine up on the cheap with a Rockshox Domain up front, and it's definitely oriented more towards freeride than DH, but I do a bit of both on mine. The only thing I disagree with in the description - though I'm not sure how the new ones do - is that I wouldn't really want to pedal mine to the top of any hill, haha. Pedaling efficiency isn't really part of its repertoire, but it will take a hit, that's for sure.
I've got the medium frame with a Marz 66RC3 1.5 fork,Fox DHX 5.0 Coil,TBC
Revolution 32 wheels w/ Maxxis Minions,Hayes Stroker Ace brakes & a killer Blue Candy-over-Raw Aluminum paint job. This is my Dad's bike of choice for downhill as he doesn't really kill it anymore. A bit heavy for riding in the woods,
but can be ridden for a few hours without burning yourself out.
Revolution 32 wheels w/ Maxxis Minions,Hayes Stroker Ace brakes & a killer Blue Candy-over-Raw Aluminum paint job. This is my Dad's bike of choice for downhill as he doesn't really kill it anymore. A bit heavy for riding in the woods,
but can be ridden for a few hours without burning yourself out.
These bikes are the shit. I have an older one and i still love it. Build like a tank, but handles much better haha. if you want a bike that can handle nearly everything that you can throw at it, then buy this and not something that is twice the price. best bike for the money.
Bought the bike after riding an Orange Patriot for a year and didn't really want to change, bought it on a whim and I've ended up selling the Orange and love the Dirtbag. Very similar geometery to a Kona Stinky but rides loads and doesn't suffer from pedal bob half as much. Hard as nails and takes a lot of stick that you thought only the big 10" travel bikes can do.... get your pennies saved and get one. Dirty Dan on his Dirtbag! YES AYE!
Review for an older dirtbag frame with a fairly heavy build. (although my no means a cheap build! MRP bones, hope M4s, alexrims supra Ds on axiom hubs, super T pros, romic shock, E-13 etc...)
When I first got the bike I liked it but recently I've begun to notice it's flaws... It's not a "do-it-all" bike at all. It's a "trying to be everything and failing to be anything" bike. I pretty much have to pedal like shit to make it go anywhere on DH because its weight and sloppy suspension slow it down so much on anything rough. On jumps, it's too heavy to clear anything without ridiculus effort and once again, it's sloppy suspenion and weight stop it keeping speed, forcing me to pedal constantly.
"pedal to the top?" - you must be joking, mine won't even take a front mech.
Bottom line - my norco shore was 10 times better even though the frame snapped!
It was about 10 pounds lighter, had space for a front mech, used the superier horst link suspenion system, and had nearly half an inch more travel.
Perhaps by losing some weight my dirtbag may feel better... I will edit this review after fitting air-sprung 55s, xc cranks, a boxguide/roller set-up and new pedals. It might just let the frame show what it has to offer as a "do-it-all" machine.
When I first got the bike I liked it but recently I've begun to notice it's flaws... It's not a "do-it-all" bike at all. It's a "trying to be everything and failing to be anything" bike. I pretty much have to pedal like shit to make it go anywhere on DH because its weight and sloppy suspension slow it down so much on anything rough. On jumps, it's too heavy to clear anything without ridiculus effort and once again, it's sloppy suspenion and weight stop it keeping speed, forcing me to pedal constantly.
"pedal to the top?" - you must be joking, mine won't even take a front mech.
Bottom line - my norco shore was 10 times better even though the frame snapped!
It was about 10 pounds lighter, had space for a front mech, used the superier horst link suspenion system, and had nearly half an inch more travel.
Perhaps by losing some weight my dirtbag may feel better... I will edit this review after fitting air-sprung 55s, xc cranks, a boxguide/roller set-up and new pedals. It might just let the frame show what it has to offer as a "do-it-all" machine.
I purchased the frame w/Fox DHX 5.0. I've also swapped out all of the pivot bearings with Endro's and the suspension is smooth.
It's purpose built and can take the abuse. The frame is not the lightest thing in the world but when you're descending down the mountain it feels very nimble and predictable.
It's purpose built and can take the abuse. The frame is not the lightest thing in the world but when you're descending down the mountain it feels very nimble and predictable.
It is a bit on the heavy side, but besides that it's amazing! I've raced and won Junior X races and Sport races on it for the past season and a half and it's still running strong. Mine has a Totem and Saint build, with Transition wheelset. It works excellently on everything, fromhuge drops in Virgin, to the pedally race course of Fontana! It's an amazing bike.
I've been riding this bike hard for about 3 seasons now, and it's just getting better and better. I don't know if there's a better ride for the money. I ride DH at Whistler on this bike, and then take it to dirt jumps and ride skinnies on it no problem. The customer service at Transition is amazing as well. They actually were out of the frame color I wanted, so I ordered my second choice. They went out of their way and tracked down the frame in the color I wanted, but didn't tell me until it showed up in mail as a surprise.
This bike is great for freeriding and downhill but it pedals very nicely as well. I love this bike it is burly as hell and can take some big hits but i have no problem taking it on long trail rides.
I love my dirtbag but the only thing i dont like about it is that its a little too heavy to pedal (mine weighs in at 43 lbs), and that it doesn't have enough travel.
this bike will take any abuse you can throw at it. Its not light and when you ride it you know that it will last longer than you.
This thing is BEEF. But not too heavy. well built, quality frame. The frame cam with a fox DHX 4.0 which is quite adjustable
Transition DirtBag
(MSRP $3551)
—
The DirtBag is built for the classic freerider that must be able to handle any stunt, jump or drop in front of them as well as pedal to the top. If you are looking for a great all around freeride bike that is plush for the rough stuff but still quick and maneuverable on skinnies, jumps and singletrack, the DirtBag won’t disappoint. The DirtBag is our sentimental favorite bike that is constantly winning over riders for its versatility and burliness.
FRAME FEATURES:
170mm (6.7") Rear Wheel Travel
Fox DHX 5.0 Coil 7.875" x 2.25" or DHX 5.0 Air 7.875" x 2.25"
6061 Heat Treated Aluminum
Sizes: Small (16"), Medium (17"), Large (18")
Current Production Run Colors: Brown, Black, Raw
Last Production Run Colors: Transparent Electric Blue, Mustard Yellow, White
Frame Weight: 8.3 lbs (without rear shock)
Complete Bike Weight Range: 38-43 lbs (Depending on Rear Shock and Fork)
1.5" headtube
Custom CNC rocker arms
Compatible with up to 8" dual crown forks
Accepts up to 8" Rear Disc Brake Rotors
Easily fits up to 3.0" rear tire
Works with Front Derailleur or Chain Guide
1 year defect warranty, Lifetime crash replacement
BUILD SPECS:
Shock Specs: 7.875 eye-to-eye x 2.25" stroke, Upper Pin 46mm x 8mm, Lower Pin 22.2mm x 8mm
Front Derailleur: 34.9mm Clamp, Top-pull, (Bottom Swing Shimano or High Mount SRAM)
Bottom Bracket: Euro 73mm shell x 51mm chainline
Headset: 1.5"
Seatpost: 30.0mm
Seat Clamp: 34.9mm
Rear Dropout Spacing: 135mm x 10mm (nutted axle & QR compatible)
Disc Brake Mount: International Standard
Chain Guide Mounting: Standard ISCG
Various build kits available. Pricing for FR Single Ring spec with Fox DHX 5.0 coil and Rock Shox Totem coil 1.5.
Specifications Compare to other DH Bikes
| Price | $3,551 | |
|---|---|---|
| Travel | 170mm (6.7") | |
| Rear Shock | Fox DHX 5.0 Coil or DHX 5.0 Air | |
| Fork | RockShox Tomem Coil 1.5 | |
| Headset | FSA Orbit Xtreme Pro or Z1.5R | |
| Cassette | SRAM PG980 11 - 32 | |
| Crankarms | Truvativ Hussefelt 170mm | |
| Chainguide | TBC Single Ring Guide | |
| Bottom Bracket | Truvativ GigaPipe Team | |
| Pedals | TBC Stepdown | |
| Chain | KMC Z9000 | |
| Rear Derailleur | SRAM X9 | |
| Shifter Pods | SRAM X9 | |
| Handlebar | Truvativ Hussefelt 30mm rise | |
| Stem | Truvativ Holzfeller 40mm | |
| Grips | ODI Cross Trainer X Lock-on | |
| Brakes | Avid Juicy 7 | |
| Wheelset | TBC Revolution 32 | |
| Tires | Maxxis Minion DH 2.5 60a | |
| Seat | TBC Park n Ride FR | |
| Seatpost | Truvati XR Dual clamp |
Personally, I believe it is the best bike I have ridden. The suspension is extremely predictable and handles great through the roughest terrain(east coast usa). I personally think the dirtbag, despite mine being a little of 46lbs is the most maneuveralble bike I have ever ridden. (over the blindside, bottlerocket, ecd, booter, fury). It also jumps extremely well with hardly any effort.
That being said, this is NOT a climbing bike. It does however excel in anything downhill with great agility. Anyone who wants a second bike to go along with their race bike, or even just a smaller travel dh bike, this is a great one to choose.
Transition Dirtbag frame, 2009 Rockshox totem solo air, DHX5.0 coil, Revolution 36 wheels, X-9 drivetrain.