Searching for the Limit on the Transition Scout - Video

Oct 31, 2017 at 9:42
by Transition Bikes  
Searching for the Limit / Transition Scout

by TransitionBikeCompany
Views: 62,335    Faves: 387    Comments: 35


Kelend gets out for a rip on the new 2018 SBG Scout and tries to find the limit of what the bike can handle.

Rider: Kelend Hawks
Video: Skye Schillhammer
Song: Builders and the Butchers - Barcelona

Author Info:
TransitionBikeCompany avatar

Member since Feb 17, 2009
138 articles
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131 Comments
  • 140 9
 "..it's a do-it-all bike..."

[walks it up the trail]
  • 13 1
 What is this, a cross bike?
  • 13 2
 Ha, good one!

In my mind that is the main reason to go with 130 out back vs 150+... a bike that climbs great, and is fun everywhere, not just the downs.

Riding 130 back / 150 front on a Knolly Endo and I will say with the right tires it is the most versatile, most fun bike, I've ever owned. This is were it's at for AM/trail riding.

For those of us with longer levers, I can help but wonder if the Smuggler could do the same?
  • 5 2
 @MikerJ: I've overshot the piss out of way more tables than I care to admit and my Smuggler remains unfazed. Its reputation for not having a harsh bottom out is legit. I can't speak to how well it gobbles up chunk, as I just don't plow through terrain like that with confidence, but I've accidentally hucked it to flat enough to know the frame is most definitely not the weak link. Still can't believe how fast and capable this thing is... DH rig is now up for sale.
  • 5 0
 @MikerJ: I’m also riding the 27.5 Endo and I agree with you. It’s pretty damn versitile!
  • 3 0
 @kingsx: Hell yes my Smuggler owns. Still want to get a Sentinel for those long downhills. Wonder if it will be the perfect two bike quiver or if I will sell the Smuggler.
  • 1 3
 Wouldn't loading up a 150-160-mm shock with volume spacers achieve the same thing as riding a 130mm travel bike? ....and if you have the option can also ramp up the HSC
  • 2 0
 @whatyousaid: nope. Not the same thing. Making the air spring ramp too fast to limit travel messes with your rebound.
  • 1 0
 @beerandbikes:

Awesome I just got a smuggler today

I got a tr11 for when I wanna get stupid
  • 59 1
 That drop was insane!
  • 11 1
 HUGE
  • 13 1
 and he died at 1.30, he could not have saved that one !!
  • 22 2
 @Lagr1980: Kelefari definitely rode it out!
  • 1 0
 @TransitionBikeCompany: Kelefarian always rides it out! Solid vid guys!
  • 44 5
 Despite having cracked two chainstays on my Scout there is no other bike I'd rather ride. After a couple weeks riding on the Scout I sold my other bikes including my 160 travel Santa Cruz and haven't missed any of them! Thank you Transition for making the bestest, most funnest, bad assest, ripperestist bike I've owned over many, many years and many, many rides. Now I gotta get my pennies together and get the new updated Scout to join my original.
  • 23 1
 I have the same thought process with beer, but the second is never as good as the first.
  • 14 0
 @BenPea: I am a big fan of the 3rd one.
  • 15 1
 My 2018 scout showed up in the mail today!! Talk about marketing that gets rid of any buyers remorse...
  • 1 0
 @GlassGuy comming from a 2014 Process 153, I'm thinking of getting either the 2018 Patrol or Scout...Do you think the scout is a less capable bike on the downs than the 2014 Process 153? I think that maybe the 2018 Patrol is a bit to "enduro" for my current trails...?
  • 4 1
 Sure he wasn’t riding a Patrol?

Trailbike madness!
  • 2 0
 @SK250: I've got a 2017 Scout definitely feels like it has way more travel than it does, it's happy riding pretty serious terrain. Haven't tried a 153 to compare
  • 4 0
 Agreed, this bike rips. I sometimes doubted my purchase thinking I needed more travel but after a full day demo on a Pivot Mach 6 carbon - it doesn't compare to how capable the Scout is. As an added bonus, I have NOT had any durability issues. I entered only one Enduro race this year though.
  • 3 1
 @SK250: I haven't ridden the Process, looks nice but I have my own bias against Kona. Without knowing your riding style or trails it's my opinion that most people will be perfectly happy with the Scout. I'm 6'4, 210 and throw my bike around/get rowdy(hence snapped chainstays) and it has never felt like I need more bike. I did set my fork at 150 to raise the BB and the extra cushion up front
  • 1 0
 @WasatchEnduro: hahahaha. But I remember this dude destroying a trail on a Covert years ago... I knew that bike was too much bike for me at the moment and got a bandit.... fun bike... but always had the bug of a bigger bike because of that covert video..
  • 1 0
 @shsfreeride: What's the weight of it out of the box and what build did you get???
  • 1 0
 @GlassGuy: i see, im also 6'4 roughly 190 lbs. Either being Patrol or Scout, i think Large would be the best size? The geo numbers on the scout are pretty much enduro like, the only number that isn't "enduroish" is the rear travel at 130mm, but other than that the bike looks sick!

Cheers!
  • 3 0
 @SK250: Nope. I made the change from a Process to a Scout and have rideen North Shore blue, black and Squamish and Whistler Blue and Black with NO problems at all. I run a Pike (4 tokens) up front and DB Dual in the rear.
  • 1 0
 What's the warrantys like?
  • 10 0
 @SK250: 6'4"? Definitely an XL
  • 8 0
 @SK250: I rode the 2018 Scout down the Whole Enchilada a few weeks ago. The last time I rode Burro Pass I was on a 2015 Yeti SB6. I felt the Scout handle the rough better than the 6 and I hit 34 mph on Kokopelli and sent it hot into a harsh rock garden. On top of all that, it handled all of the switchbacks amazingly. I'm super good at drinking marketing Kool-Aid, but regardless, the Scout is hands down the most capable 5 inch bike out there and more capable than many 6 inch bikes.
  • 1 1
 @Nobble: I'd go with the XXL at 6'4"
  • 2 0
 @aaronmecham:

A-ron -> I’m thinking the new Smuggler is just as good/capable for those with an itch for wagon wheels. A better bike for Enchilada-style chunk? I need to get on both. The Scout looks like it could convert me back to smaller wheelz tho.
  • 1 0
 @SK250: You've already gotten a bunch of advice but I'll throw in my 2 cents since I just went from a Process to a Patrol. The current Scout is closer to the Process 134 so if there's a reason you went for the 153 in the first place than you may like the Patrol more.
  • 2 0
 @SK250: The giddy up design is made to bottom out very lightly. they feel like they have a lot more travel than they actually have. Scout will probably feel about the same if not more of a bike than the proccess. And youre not gonna want a Large. definetely XL. at 6 foot I outgrew my Large Patrol, and now I own an XL Patrol currently at 6' 2.5".
  • 1 0
 I have a bike with 150 up front and 135 in back, but I can make custom links to get anywhere from 0 to 175mm of travel.
  • 1 0
 @SK250: XL for sure. I'm 6'3" and thought the same but was talked out of it by multiple sources. So happy I went XL with my Scout. Demoed a 2017 Patrol Large and it was too small.
  • 2 0
 @AlexS1: Once looking out a dune the shop guy replies to my question
- what if it cracks riding?
- riding what?
- dh?
His clever answer was: this is an enduro bike, if you ride it in a dh trail you void warranty.
Claps claps. Next time your bike cracks, tell the guy you were riding UPhill
  • 1 0
 @Lagr1980: Looooove my Covert. It's old but it's a work horse still. I'm not a big dude so I don't think I put a lot of strain on the bike but it's so much fun!
  • 2 0
 @oronaut: I'm 6'4, 33 inseam. I'm riding a L with a dropper with lay back and a 70mm stem. Fits me perfect for a trail bike that I can toss around, but I've always liked smaller frames for that reason
  • 1 0
 @SK250: check transitions website again. At 6'4/193cm you would be in the Extra large frame.

www.transitionbikes.com/Sizing.cfm

Cheers.
  • 1 0
 @SeaSwab: I got a medium Sscout XO build, with Time XC4 pedals 32.1lbs, given my Park scale is accurate.
  • 32 1
 This edit turned me into a potato
  • 33 0
 Couch or baked?
  • 82 0
 @slumgullion: Yes
  • 30 1
 Hey, a sub-$3k bike that rips. I wonder if I should get this or a Patrol 672.
  • 3 7
flag jurassicrider (Oct 31, 2017 at 11:14) (Below Threshold)
 Dude...what?
  • 16 0
 @jurassicrider: 2018 Scout is $2999USD direct from Transition.
  • 3 0
 hmm....
  • 4 6
 @PHeller: Yes but the scout seems to be much more interesting in terms of geometry than the patrol 672 (considering the recent middling review of the patrol 672)
  • 37 2
 @jurassicrider: it's 2017 and sarcasm detection capabilities still appear to be absent from the DNA of many humans.
  • 1 3
 Get this or the surprisingly affordable Suppressor 666.
  • 1 5
flag jurassicrider (Oct 31, 2017 at 12:35) (Below Threshold)
 @BenPea: Yeah, I wasn't sure PHeller understood my first comment. Nevermind...
  • 4 0
 @jurassicrider: err...
  • 3 0
 Ah I get it. As in "dude...what? There is no debate, get the Transition." Got ya.
  • 1 0
 I will give you that one. Scout all the way
  • 12 0
 I have always had this terrible disease, where i can't own a bike for more than a season, and then I fall in love with someone new. However since i got myself a Scout in 2016, i simply can't find a bike i would rather ride! Thank you @TransitionBikeCompany, for curing this very expensive situation!

However you do have some explanation problems regarding discontinuing the TR500! :'(
  • 1 0
 Haha exactly! I've had my Scout longer now than I've owned any other bike in the past 20 years.
  • 1 0
 @mrtoodles: same with my patrol. Stuck with transition for nearly 2 years. most of the time, its never been longer than 5 to 6 months.
  • 2 1
 Exactly the same experience here. I went through bikes at least 2 a year the last few years then bought a Scout and I’ve no intention of swapping it out for anything but a new Scout. The only thing that I get an itch for is more travel as I like to ride bike parks here in the UK but having seen that drop I think I’m ok with what I’ve got Razz
I like having one mountain bike and this one can do dirt jumps to DH and do it all well. A while back there was this cliche that 5” was all you need in the UK, I feel with the Scout that is absolutely correct.
  • 12 0
 It doesn't appear he found the limits
  • 5 0
 I've got the original '15 Scout but have kind of developed a taste for longer travel bikes. The new Patrol has been on my radar but this edit has me questioning that. Word is the new frames are like a pound heavier though... ugh. Not a weight weenie but the old Scout is already a bit of a pig for 125mm.
  • 4 1
 They look to have dropped all of the carbon models for '18, aside from the DH frame and a couple of hardtails. Metal tubes should provide a good platform for judging consumer acceptance, so if this new Scout hits the right notes we could expect a carbon frame in near future, which could save a pound.
  • 1 1
 When carbon, oh when
  • 2 0
 @twozerosix: carbon SBG bikes are coming, they just launched with aluminum... pretty sure they even said so themselves.
  • 2 0
 Went all in with '18 Patrol XO build. Put on Deity Bladerunners and converted to tubeless, otherwise stock. Bike is just over 33 lbs.
  • 4 0
 @twozerosix: When the did the initial press release, or maybe it was an interview, they mentioned something about "more coming soon". Most likely Carbon versions of at least 2/4 updated models, I would be surprised to see all 4 out of the gate, but who knows? Patience is key, then I get to buy a 2018 Alu from some sucker who wants to update to carbon Smile
  • 2 0
 @RideTahoe707:

Yeah good plan. I'm well up for a smuggler in carbon though. Saving hard for April 2018 hoping they are out by then
  • 2 0
 @bschleenbaker: 33lbs? I have 2017 with XT and Anvl components. It's 30lbs even.
  • 2 0
 The weight on all the new Transition trail bikes is perplexing - the frame only weights (no shock) listed on Fanatik's bike builder are all more than 8 pounds (8.65 for a lg Patrol). For comparison sake, a burly Guerilla Gravity Megatrail without shock is 6.5 pounds, and their DH bike is 7.8. I'm no weight weenie but I have to assume they've glued led weights inside the tubes.
  • 1 0
 I had a Smuggler before the Scout, these bike were already overbuilt IMO... why go that much heavier for the modest travel increase?

I suppose it takes more engineering and sculpting of the tubeset to optimize aluminum strength/weight balance and this is one way to keep cost down even though more raw aluminum is used. Just market it as a burly, anti-weight weenie philosophy.

I'm sure the carbon frames will be magnificent... and cost 3299.00
  • 6 0
 Wow that seemed like a huge drop for an Enduro bike. Must have been the camera angle LOL. I've seen Kelend at lots of local PNW races and chatted with him a few times. Good guy, great to see him getting some exposure.
  • 17 0
 Na it’s actually just really big. I’ve looked a few times and decided na, never.
  • 7 1
 Kelend is just really short.
  • 11 2
 Bellingham rocks.
  • 5 0
 It does. I shake my head in happy disbelief every time I find myself riding SST at lunch time or after work.
  • 5 0
 @g-42: Went to Galbraith a month or so for the first time with the wife. SST is a rowdy trail to be sure! Looking forward to a trip next spring to try some of the back side trails.
In the mean time, I'll keep riding Stottlemeier in Kitsap - a mere 10 minutes from my house.
  • 2 0
 @Poulsbojohnny: The neat thing about that trail is that my 12yo can ride it and have fun/find flow, I can have a ball on it (as a sort of intermediate), and I see serious rippers enjoying shredding it, too. When a trail gets props from everyone from relative newbies to pros, you know there's a good thing happening. Galbraith has a bunch of that sort of stuff - seriously Goldilocks territory, not too tame, not too gnarly. It's fun going to build days and listening to the people designing and maintaining stuff explain what they're trying to do with them.
  • 5 1
 What a fun guy ! Having owned the 2016 scout alloy I can say the new improvements SBG is only going to make the bike even more fun ! It really does handle anything and the rear travel feels like more than it is, great value for money FUN bike...
However I did find it a little bit on the small travel side for rowdy trails, it tired me out faster than my mates as they were riding 150-160mm ... so now I own a zeroed taniwha ~ this is amazing !
  • 7 0
 Yo that last drop was maaaad
  • 8 0
 I wanted to see him riding it out though...
  • 3 0
 @PHeller: There isn't really a ride-out. Just a really big gap jump with a sniper landing.
  • 2 0
 @PHeller: The bit of neck-snap they showed looked pretty severe. All I can think about is my entire body breaking in half.
  • 7 0
 All the recent Transition edits have been bangers.
  • 2 0
 I think the Raw and outtake footage at the end would have made a better video for searching for the limits than the edited version with music. It really showed a couple of guys spending the day int he woods literally looking for how far they could push a bike!
  • 4 0
 If you ride like he does a scout is enough , but my hackish riding style requires a tr500 minimum but will settle for a patrol .
  • 4 1
 TBC FTW

Source: I own a TR450 and a BottleRocket. And while the BR is not my trailbike anymore I’m gonna dump my Ibis Mojo HD and snag a 2018 Transition.
  • 4 0
 But what if there are (lots) of rocks on my trails, and real roots? Get the Patrol?
  • 1 0
 Smuggler
  • 2 0
 65 degree HA on a brand's mid travel bike. WTF is going on with bikes these days?
  • 1 0
 You mean "Riders"!
  • 3 0
 Unreal. Proof that I would never push that bike to it's limit.
  • 3 0
 The perspective at 1:21 is amazing, great shredding!
  • 3 0
 (No Transition Scouts were injured in the making of this film)
  • 1 0
 Holy shit SO GOOD. All the things. Riding/trails/drops/forest shots. Yewwwwww!!!!
  • 3 0
 My dream bike
  • 3 1
 And people say short travel 27.5 bikes are dead...
  • 6 0
 At 130/150mm, can we really call this 'short travel'?
Maybe just 'travel'.
  • 2 0
 @twozerosix: How about...Mid travel.
  • 3 0
 This Dude Shreds !
  • 1 0
 So where can I buy a Transition Scout if I live in Atlantic Canada ?.. asking for a friend.. Smile
  • 2 0
 Good ol Crash ripping as usual! With moves like that who needs big bikes.
  • 1 0
 I've never seen that angle on El Diablo in a video before--nice one guys. Kelend is a lunatic in the best way
  • 2 0
 If it ain't broke don't fix it!
vimeo.com/68255224
  • 1 0
 Awesome riding, makes me cringe seeing him ride without full gear doing this shit though.
  • 1 0
 Builders and Butchers! I went on tour with those guys once! Great band, great riding, sweet trails, nice looking bike
  • 2 0
 Biggest drop I've ever seen anybody hit on a trail bike.
  • 1 0
 what trail and where I need it?! Unreal drop
  • 1 0
 I was wondering how it would handle drops. Question answered!
  • 2 1
 Dreams about Scout, sitting it home all lonely while I'm at work>
  • 1 0
 enjoyed every second of that vid!
  • 1 1
 Except that awful music.
  • 1 0
 BTW......F'kn Awesome Riding and Vid!!! Thanks for that!!!!!!
  • 1 0
 2:37 "that squirted right outta there!"

lmao lol
  • 1 0
 This is zikatela in the woods!!!
  • 1 0
 That post riding footage... Big Grin
  • 1 0
 Awesome! Great shred!!
  • 3 3
 A do it all bike! As long as you push it up a hill first
  • 1 0
 Nice video Skye!
  • 1 0
 Hey Tim! Thanks dude, I appreciate that
  • 1 0
 McGazza 2.
  • 1 0
 That was sickkkk
  • 1 0
 That was rad.
  • 1 3
 Patrol, scout, warden and our newest model: THE NANNY
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