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2020 Transition Sentinel sizing

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2020 Transition Sentinel sizing
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flag Travis1010
Posted: Jun 3, 2020 at 15:01 Quote
I’m looking at ordering a transition sentinel from my local dealer and not sure if I should wait for an Xl or go with xxl which they have in stock. I’m 6 4” with a 6 7.5” wingspan. Not sure if that 520mm reach is gonna be too much. I ride a xl spartan with 485mm I think and does feel a tad small. No one near me has one to demo.
flag agbiker
Posted: Jun 3, 2020 at 21:14 Quote
I'm 6'3" (6'7" wingspan) on a 2019 XL Smuggler (500mm reach) and personally wouldn't want it any longer. Based on Transitions site, your height is dead nuts middle for the XL. I've ridden an XL Sentinel and it's a big bike. Super fun, but big and I think the extra 20mm on the reach would be too much for me.
flag supercollider
O+
Posted: Jun 4, 2020 at 0:26 Quote
5'10" on a large Sentinel V2. Feels good.
flag zoro
O+
Posted: Jun 4, 2020 at 20:22 Quote
Coincidentally I’m 6’ 4”, have a 6’ 5” wingspan and am also coming from an XL Devinci Spartan XP 2015 year. Demoed theV2 Sentinel today in an XXL. LBS didn’t have XL available. Must say, XXL is a BIG bike. However did not feel bad or awkward, to the contrary - it felt great. I gave it a half hour workout climbing a crazy steep paved road, rode down a set of 10 stairs a couple of times, did a few small drops, wheelies, and anything else I could roll over. Tried hard to find something I didn’t like about the bike and could not find anything. Even stopped by a buddy’s house that lives by the LBS. He shorter and took it for a spin, and is on a 26” Pivot today, so obviously a complete mismatch for him. He said size of the bike (front triangle) looked huge, but didn’t look overly huge for me. I’m in same boat as you, really wish I could try and XL to compare. But there are none available. Person at LBS said I straddled the line between XL and XXL, could go either way. He did say they’ve got shorter people than me buying the XXL, and not because that’s all they have left, but rather because that’s the size they desire. This info prob not that helpful, but thought I’d let you know I was in same boat. I think I’m going to go for the XXL. Just hope it’s not too gargantuan feeling out on the tight single track. With the slack head angle, there is a lot of bike out in front of you. But the seat goes so low that you don’t really have to get way behind it on descents, you can stay nicely centred over the bike. Climbing was great as well...but coming from a 5yr old Spartan, which is small as you say, anything would feel like a climbing champ.
flag Travis1010
Posted: Jun 5, 2020 at 11:59 Quote
zoro wrote:
Coincidentally I’m 6’ 4”, have a 6’ 5” wingspan and am also coming from an XL Devinci Spartan XP 2015 year. Demoed theV2 Sentinel today in an XXL. LBS didn’t have XL available. Must say, XXL is a BIG bike. However did not feel bad or awkward, to the contrary - it felt great. I gave it a half hour workout climbing a crazy steep paved road, rode down a set of 10 stairs a couple of times, did a few small drops, wheelies, and anything else I could roll over. Tried hard to find something I didn’t like about the bike and could not find anything. Even stopped by a buddy’s house that lives by the LBS. He shorter and took it for a spin, and is on a 26” Pivot today, so obviously a complete mismatch for him. He said size of the bike (front triangle) looked huge, but didn’t look overly huge for me. I’m in same boat as you, really wish I could try and XL to compare. But there are none available. Person at LBS said I straddled the line between XL and XXL, could go either way. He did say they’ve got shorter people than me buying the XXL, and not because that’s all they have left, but rather because that’s the size they desire. This info prob not that helpful, but thought I’d let you know I was in same boat. I think I’m going to go for the XXL. Just hope it’s not too gargantuan feeling out on the tight single track. With the slack head angle, there is a lot of bike out in front of you. But the seat goes so low that you don’t really have to get way behind it on descents, you can stay nicely centred over the bike. Climbing was great as well...but coming from a 5yr old Spartan, which is small as you say, anything would feel like a climbing champ.

I just ordered the xxl cause it’s all they had so we will see! I know it’s a big bike but I do a lot of steep rocky descents and not slot of technical climbing so I think I’ll be fine. I’ll post it when it comes in
flag Rmeagher
O+
Posted: Jun 17, 2020 at 22:37 Quote
I’m 6’3” and ride an XL transition Smuggler. The reach has felt long and I raised my stem to sit a bit higher and back on the saddle. This being a trail bike it has a steeper head tube angle so I wanted to adjust the feel so it’s a bit better on the downhill for where i live.

I think I could even use a Large but happy with what i’ve got. I would get an XL Sentinel if i was a bit taller too.
flag Travis1010
Posted: Jun 18, 2020 at 11:19 Quote
Just got a proper first ride in on the xxl and although I haven’t ridden an xl I’m super happy with it. Doesn’t feel big at all and actually is more responsive and just all around better than my xl spartan. I think it may be due to my 37” inseam and 6 8” wingspan. Even with the 210mm dropped I still have the tube out a few inches. Absolutely love the bike!
flag DrPete
O+
Posted: Jul 7, 2020 at 14:52 Quote
I’m 6’2” and coming off a large yeti SB130 that I run with a 50mm stem. I kinda think the XL is the way to go for me but the over-500mm reach number is a little disconcerting, though the effective top tube length is only 14mm longer than the Yeti so it’s basically a wash if I go with Transition’s recommended 40mm stem. Appreciate the replies so far and looking forward to more.
flag zoro
O+
Posted: Jul 19, 2020 at 18:20 Quote
Travis1010 wrote:
Just got a proper first ride in on the xxl and although I haven’t ridden an xl I’m super happy with it. Doesn’t feel big at all and actually is more responsive and just all around better than my xl spartan. I think it may be due to my 37” inseam and 6 8” wingspan. Even with the 210mm dropped I still have the tube out a few inches. Absolutely love the bike!

Yeah, I love the XXL as well. It was the perfect size for me. Ran into a guy with an XL and we each rode one another's bike for a few minutes. No regrets in my choice. The bike is awesome, rolls over everything, very confidence-inspiring, and you just feel planted on it. The seat drops really low and you feel nice and centered over the bike. Climbs and descends so well. Am riding stuff I've never rode before (down janky rock rolls, rough chunder at speed, etc). Bike just eats it up.
flag FJDan
O+
Posted: Aug 12, 2020 at 7:30 Quote
I'm 6'4" with a 6'5" wingspan. Just ordered an XL frameset. I'm coming off a YT Jeffsy XL that had 480mm reach which always felt a tad small. I figure the added 21mm reach of the XL sentinel and longer wheelbase will fit me well without being overly long. And I think I might run a 50mm stem.

I was definitely on the fence between sizes, but even though I live in the PNW and ride a lot of fast flow trails, I prefer to have a nimble bike that I can whip around.
flag FJDan
O+
Posted: Aug 12, 2020 at 10:17 Quote
Now I'm second guessing my choice for the XL frame.... someone help me feel good about this choice. Otherwise it's not too late to switch my order to the XXL. Transition estimated these frames won't be ready until November anyways.
flag Travis1010
Posted: Aug 12, 2020 at 19:06 Quote
FJDan wrote:
Now I'm second guessing my choice for the XL frame.... someone help me feel good about this choice. Otherwise it's not too late to switch my order to the XXL. Transition estimated these frames won't be ready until November anyways.

I don’t think you’ll regret the xl. I went with the xxl largely in part that it was in stock and didn’t want to wait months to get an xl. I haven’t had the chance to ride an xl however I feel like it would feel fine. I personally like the feeling of big bikes so if you like a more flickable bike then defintily stick with an xl. One thing to compare is top tube length when comparing your previous bike to the sentinel because of the slack head angle and steeper seat tube it shortens the top tube. Which for me made a lot more comfortable seated pedaling position compared to my spartan. I’m same height sad you but with a bigger wingspan and 36-37” inseam. I feel like I got great on the xxl however I still feel like I wouldn’t want to be shorter.
flag FJDan
O+
Posted: Aug 13, 2020 at 10:39 Quote
Travis1010 wrote:
FJDan wrote:
Now I'm second guessing my choice for the XL frame.... someone help me feel good about this choice. Otherwise it's not too late to switch my order to the XXL. Transition estimated these frames won't be ready until November anyways.

I don’t think you’ll regret the xl. I went with the xxl largely in part that it was in stock and didn’t want to wait months to get an xl. I haven’t had the chance to ride an xl however I feel like it would feel fine. I personally like the feeling of big bikes so if you like a more flickable bike then defintily stick with an xl. One thing to compare is top tube length when comparing your previous bike to the sentinel because of the slack head angle and steeper seat tube it shortens the top tube. Which for me made a lot more comfortable seated pedaling position compared to my spartan. I’m same height sad you but with a bigger wingspan and 36-37” inseam. I feel like I got great on the xxl however I still feel like I wouldn’t want to be shorter.

Thanks for the response! I decided XXL is actually for me. I realized I would be losing top tube length making for a more cramped position while climbing which is something I have long wanted improvement on with past bikes. And this way if I run the 40mm stem that Transition recommends then I will only be effectively adding 10mm to the the total reach I was targeting with the XL anyways.

Looking forward to the new ride and finally having a bike that fits me!
flag KMaier73
O+
Posted: Dec 29, 2020 at 17:48 Quote
DrPete wrote:
I’m 6’2” and coming off a large yeti SB130 that I run with a 50mm stem. I kinda think the XL is the way to go for me but the over-500mm reach number is a little disconcerting, though the effective top tube length is only 14mm longer than the Yeti so it’s basically a wash if I go with Transition’s recommended 40mm stem. Appreciate the replies so far and looking forward to more.

Did you ever pick up a 2020 Sentinel? If so, which size did you go with?
flag DrPete
O+
Posted: Dec 30, 2020 at 6:06 Quote
KMaier73 wrote:
DrPete wrote:
I’m 6’2” and coming off a large yeti SB130 that I run with a 50mm stem. I kinda think the XL is the way to go for me but the over-500mm reach number is a little disconcerting, though the effective top tube length is only 14mm longer than the Yeti so it’s basically a wash if I go with Transition’s recommended 40mm stem. Appreciate the replies so far and looking forward to more.

Did you ever pick up a 2020 Sentinel? If so, which size did you go with?

I ended up on the cross-town rival: an Evil Wreckoning V3. Smile
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