Transition Releases New Alloy Patrol with Mixed Wheels & 160mm Travel
An aluminum Patrol has returned to Transition's lineup, and this time it's sporting a mixed-wheel configuration and slacker geometry than ever before. There's still 160mm of travel, or you can run a longer stroke shock to bump that up to 170mm.
While the overall look falls in line with what we've come to expect from Transition, it's the geometry numbers that are worth a closer examination. Let's start with the head angle – it now measures 63.5-degrees in the high setting. That's right, you can slacken things by an additional half degree via the flip chip at the lower shock mount.
While the overall look falls in line with what we've come to expect from Transition, it's the geometry numbers that are worth a closer examination. Let's start with the head angle – it now measures 63.5-degrees in the high setting. That's right, you can slacken things by an additional half degree via the flip chip at the lower shock mount.
Transition Patrol Details
• Wheel size: 29" front / 27.5" rear
• Travel: 160 (r) / 160mm (f)
Frame material: 6061 aluminum
• 63.5 or 63-degree head angle
• 12 x 148mm rear spacing
• Sizes: S, M, L, XL
• Color: blueberry, raw
• Price: $3,699 - $5,399; $2,299 frame only
• transitionbikes.com
• Wheel size: 29" front / 27.5" rear
• Travel: 160 (r) / 160mm (f)
Frame material: 6061 aluminum
• 63.5 or 63-degree head angle
• 12 x 148mm rear spacing
• Sizes: S, M, L, XL
• Color: blueberry, raw
• Price: $3,699 - $5,399; $2,299 frame only
• transitionbikes.com
The reach numbers haven't changed all the much from the previous carbon Patrol, but the seat tube angles have gotten steeper, and there are now different chainstay lengths for different sizes. In the low setting, the small and medium frames have 436mm chainstays, and the large and XL frames have 442mm chainstays. The bottom bracket is on the lower side of the spectrum, which is why 165mm cranks are spec'd on all models.
Moving on to the suspension, it's still the familiar Horst Link layout, with 24% progression that should allow it to work well with air or coil shocks. Transition recommends running between 27-33% sag, a fairly wide range that allows riders to choose whether they want a firmer, more supportive feel, or one that's more active and plush.
As for the details of the frame itself, it has pretty much everything you'd hope to find on a modern mountain bike. There's a threaded bottom bracket, room for a water bottle inside the front triangle, internal routing for the dropper and derailleur, and external for the rear brake. There's also a SRAM Universal Derailleur Hanger, two bolts for mountain an accessory holder under the top tube, and molded chainstay, seatstay, and downtube protection.
The frame and shock only are priced at $2,299 USD. Complete bikes start at $3,699 for the Deore model, followed by the GX version for $4,799, and the XT complete at $5,399. All models have a OneUp dropper post, and a OneUp bashguard.
I was able to get in a few rides on the Patrol earlier this year, and on another soon-to-be-announced model from Transition - stay tuned for a video and those ride impressions later this week.
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Tried a few mullets and haven’t enjoyed them and defo don’t want to go down the 29er route
Not so keen on the 29er length chain stays. Love a more snappy back end on a mullet / 27.5
I love a mullet and will be going back to one next season, but they work much better when built from a 27.5 frame with more adjustable geometry.
It’s a joke - its all people ask on the transition forums.... “can i put a 140mm fork or my Spur?”
Seriously though: amazing price and spec on the builds. $5400 for all XT and Fox Factory suspension? That's like, shockingly reasonable. Kuddos Transition.
My heart was racing in the hope that the next word in that headline would be ".....Spur". Oh well, maybe one day.
I *thought* I had the perfect quiver, a Spur and a Patrol, until our local DH spot closed its lifts for good. The Patrol is now relegated to travel riding. Part of me wants to consolidate into something like a Scout or Spitfire
An alloy Spur would not allow for flex stays I wouldn't think!
That is always true: that you can run a little more or less sag to change the feel... Has it not yet become common enough knowledge that the recommended sag is just a starting point? Is it really not commonly known enough that they have to explicitly call out that it has a range? That's a sad sign.
@gunnyhoney: 510 reach on the xl is a pretty decent reach. Especially when it is still a 77° seat tube angle.
@melonhead1145: no alloy version.
@Mugen: thanks for that, I was commenting the same time that you were.
I was just curious if anyone knew what a 29" rear wheel would do to the angles.
I tested my YT Capra 29 in mullet mode, and got -0.7 on the head angle and -6mm at the BB. So expect the reverse in your case.
I will add that mulleting my bike with a 27.5 rear wheel did very little to the bike feel or handling. For comparison, I added a -1.5 degree headset (noticeable change), overforked a bunch of my bikes by 20mm (noticeable change) and mulleted a 27.5 bike up front (dramatic change).
So yeah, if it fits go right ahead, but maybe the bike they will announce in a few days will be better suited?
Even the base model at $3700usd is $5300CAD which is almost $1000 more than it should be. I understand the dollar is lower right now, but that is insane. Should be >$4500CAD.
Now they charge £4.5k for a Sentinel with NX and a Lyrik Select.
Congratulations once again @TransitionBikeCompany we are really excited to have them here really soon!
I do like a raw frame though, so might blast it coming winter to keep up with the current tech.
Their bikes are often a little chunky.
That's not outrageous for an aluminum build that's sturdy. My Remedy was 28.8 but that had carbon everything.
Hmmm... might have to consider one of these frames as I can swap wheel set back and forth from my chameleon. hmmmm.
How much does a full build large size weigh?
6mths too late for me this time around
first, where.....ohhhhhh where do you think the increases in raw materials and transport are coming from? I generally am pretty interested in hearing what you think could be the driver here. furthermore, what do you think makes inflation go up or down?????
second, dollars are only created in one place, and they can only be destroyed in one place. The Federal Reserve. when money is printed, THAT is inflation. Inflation is the increase in money supply. Which has 100% happened. What you know as "inflation" is really the effects of inflation. What you think of when dollars are "created and destroyed" in the "market" every day, is just value changing hands. it's not created nor destroyed.
also you are wrong about "real" *inflation* rates. the CPI is up 4% in 2021 alone, and that's a usually rosey indicator. real inflation is passing 6% currently and heading higher. Somewhere around the 8-10% mark, it will increase it's speed due to such simple things as wages needing to come up to attempt to keep up(which is impossible, before you try to make that point), then it spirals.
From superenduro to supertrail... I get it guys you need to sell bikes
Feeling & grip
Confidence inspiring
Roll smother on rough terrain
but hey, I won't deny you your right to tilt at windmills, yelling into the void about how "The Industry" is just out to sell you things no one wants because.......reasons???
for instance, I find a 29" front wheel turns much better than a 27.5 due to increased contact patch. If you are referring to how fast the bike tips in when iniating a turn, thats due solely to geo not tire size.
And, having come from the West Coast of the US,where it's not considered steep until it's impossible to walk up, and now living in the south UK(get out to Wales a bunch), I can without a doubt tell you that you don't know "steep". You do know very tight, rutty riding, but not steep.
in short, 27.5 does still have benefit on the rear of an enduro/DH bike, but as for the front? 29" fam. it's a big net gain in traction and rollover.
It forces you to have either a shorter travel fork & that tall, awkward wheel to try to muscle around all day. Just reading the comments and seeing all the downvotes for wanting to stay with 27.5" shows you just how the "Sheep Mentality" is so pervasive in the world.
People look around, say "what's everyone elese doing?" and they agree with the concensus and then tell you all the reasons you need to agree with them that we need to move on "Because A, B, C reasosns" that something is Moar Better.
I had a short list of frames to upgrade to in the near future when my Process 153 dies and 27.5" Patrol was on that list.
This is the point I've been trying to make that people just don't want to listen too. We are having the 'choice' taken away from us by the industry. I am 5'9" and so a 29er just doesn't suit me at all. The last thing I want is a big wagon wheel up front like you said. When I come to change my bike in the future which is 27.5 I will now struggle to find a bike to fit me and I am sure I am not alone. I cannot believe people don't get that.
Just don't forget how the bike is pushing a front wheel, this minimizes the effect. In the last couple months I've watched a pal teach himself to get his new Tallboy around corners. On his old 5010 (27.5) I never could gap him, now he's gapping me.
It's a dark and devious journey trying to race your buddies on a Tuesday night.
Get better at turning
be that the unrelease bike (which is it not) or a future release.