Submitted by
ridin26s
a Weekend Warrior
from Bellingham, WA Date Reviewed: October 9, 2008
Favorite Trail:
SST, Galby
Duration Product Used:
6 months
Price Paid:
$3300.00
Purchased At:
Drop n Zone bikes
Strengths:
All-mountain excellence, can rip uphill, downhill, and on flats too ( although there aren't many of those on Galby). Amazing value.
Weaknesses:
Paint, but who really cares. Suspension can be sluggish. marzocchi 55 tst2 fork.
Similar Products Used:
Specialized Bighit
Bike Setup:
Size large, Fox 36 float R ( originally Marzocchi 55 tst2), Fox DHX, Sram X.9, Hussefelt crank, Transition 32 Revolution wheels, Avid juicy7s. 35 pounds overall.
Bottom Line:
The covert is amazing. I had mine built up using the transition dual-ring build kit, a DHX, and a 6" fork for more downhill capability. Price is perfect for what you get, especially with the premium parts. After months of hammering it, the only drawback was the 55 fork, which seized up about 4 inches through its travel and gave a crappy ride. I took it to Marzocchi Canada and had it fixed but it seized again a couple months later, so I got the 36.
The large bike doesn't give up anything to fit someone taller like me, so that is a plus too. Full seatpost extension lets you put the seat all the way up for ripping up, then put it down for heading downhill. It's low standover height due to it's dropped top tube lets you throw it around. It does not feel 100% stable in the air, but lands well.
The Covert is perfect for my riding style, which is ride fast uphill then bomb back downhill, and is everything that is necessary to ride Galbraith. You could build up lighter for more xc steez but its way more fun with a burlier build. If you are looking for a 5.5" travel bike at an affordable price to ride everything, check out the Covert.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
bitflogger
a Cross Country Rider
from Middleton, WI Date Reviewed: August 28, 2008
Favorite Trail:
BMSP
Duration Product Used:
3 months
Purchased At:
Direct - no dealers
Strengths:
The Transition marketing description about suiting rough stuff, jumps and keeping up with the XC crowd is right on. The Transition crew knows how to ride and this bike knows how to move along handling anything with confidence. The long wheelbase and posture are superb for long and hard rides and big grin turns, and an adjustable fork and platform shock makes it perfect for the tight stuff in a moment. You have to make sure others are out of your way anytime the going gets steep, rough or twisty. This bike came from the 2008 mid-summer batch and does not have any tire clearance problem.
Weaknesses:
The paint is not the best I've seen, but this bike is not for country clubs, or trips to cafes.
Similar Products Used:
My wife and I share this and a previous generation Enduro. I tested many bikes $2000-5000 and this needs to be in your sights if you're looking at bikes like a Heckler, LT2 or want something between the trail and longer travel AM bikes from the major players.
Bike Setup:
Hand built White Industries MI6 laces to DT 5.1 D, 2009 TALAS 32 and RP23, Transition build kit items, but drive train upgraded to X-0 and 11-34 cassette. The bike weighs 28.9 to 30.5 pounds depending upon setup where pedals and tires are the big factors.
Bottom Line:
This is the one bike if you want to ride about anything with confidence and not break the bank with boutique stuff or break stuff riding challenging trails. The low frame, stiffness and geometry make you laugh at debates over suspension design. Suspension and materials theorists/debaters and weight weenies need not apply. This bike is for railing the single track, low level flight, big grins, epic rides and riding like there's no tomorrow.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
reelinfeele
a Weekend Warrior
from orlando Date Reviewed: July 5, 2008
Favorite Trail:
nyl's trail
Duration Product Used:
3 months
Price Paid:
$1000.00
Purchased At:
Kyle's bike shop
Strengths:
Finish, quality if welds
Weaknesses:
Paint is more of a light coating than a painting. comes off very easily at cable rub areas, which is hard to avoid because of the room and routing.
Similar Products Used:
none
Bike Setup:
AM2, RP23, Stx/rc, Hope proII ubs, rhyno lites
Bottom Line:
Very nice bike. I would consider myself a clydesdale and bike shows no signs of stress. Once rear shock is set right the propedal feature is only needed for extended steep climbs. I got a great deal on great bike from a small company that might actually care. I called them for some set up info and was treated like one of the crew. I can only afford one bike and this is it.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Bijan Fathy
a Downhiller
from Charleston, WV, USA Date Reviewed: March 4, 2008
Favorite Trail:
Too Many To List
Duration Product Used:
Less than 1 month
Price Paid:
$2800.00
Purchased At:
Green Mountain Sports, Lakewood, CO
Strengths:
Very aggressive "ALL MOUNTAIN" geometry, yet still manages to be a good climber, bombs downhill, bike is very well balanced.
Weaknesses:
You sit a little to far behind the pedals, very similar more aggressive freeride geometries.
Similar Products Used:
None Really
Bike Setup:
Marzocchi ATA 55 Fork,Fox RP23,Scram X9 components
Bottom Line:
If you are looking for a bike that can almost do it all the Covert might be the one. With the Marzocchi ATA 55 on the front this bike really shines, bombs downhill and climbs back up pretty well. I have mine weighing 32 pounds and am quite happy with the set up.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Garrett Hardin
a
from Portland, Oregon USA Date Reviewed: March 3, 2008
Favorite Trail:
Brown's Camp/ Mckenzie river
Duration Product Used:
1 Year
Purchased At:
pro-deal
Strengths:
versatlity. climbing, decsending, Will do pretty much whatever is thrown at it. climbs whatever I can and is a blast to turn down hill. Loves corners and jumping. Predictable handling. durability, will take a beating like all Transitions.
Weaknesses:
Paint quality. could be better
Similar Products Used:
Kona coil-air, Blur LT, Mongoose Teocali Super, Specialized Enduro.
The perfect trail bike!!! At first I had this bike at 28.50lbs, now at 30.0lbs. Once I got everything dailed it was a match made in heaven.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Ryan
a Weekend Warrior
from Gainesville, FL Date Reviewed: January 30, 2008
Duration Product Used:
6 months
Price Paid:
$99999999.00
Purchased At:
Employee Purchase
Strengths:
Great company. It was cheap. Wasn't too heavy, climbed ok for what it is, and descended well.
Weaknesses:
2.35 Nevegal rubbed the seat tube big time, they claimed a 2.4 would clear with no problems. Cable routing could be better, I've got some pretty good cable rub marks. Rear end isn't exactly stiff. Oh yeah and it's cracking.
Similar Products Used:
None, had a Kona Kikapu before this one.
Bike Setup:
Small Covert, 36 TALAS, XTR/XT, Juicy 7s, blah blah
Bottom Line:
It's a pretty good bike don't get me wrong. However, they should have caught the seat tube tire rub issue, no real excuse for that. Mine cracked at the top of the upper shock mount, and I've seen at least one other do the same thing, with a skinny dude riding it no less. So to recap, if you're fat (me) or go big (not me) this isn't the bike for you. That said for the price it isn't a bad bike by any means but it needs a little refinement.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
LP
a Cross Country Rider
from Mililani, HI USA Date Reviewed: November 23, 2007
Duration Product Used:
3 months
Price Paid:
$1200.00
Purchased At:
Bike Werx, Mililani
Strengths:
Very well made, very good suspesion
Weaknesses:
Had issue with deraileur hanger, had to tweak brand new hanger to get good shifting.
Similar Products Used:
S-Works Enduro, Santa Cruz Heckler
Bike Setup:
Fox Talas 32 fork, Sram drivetrain, XT Cranks, Velocity Wheelset, Gravity Dropper seatpost, Hayes HFX Mag brakes.
Bottom Line:
Very Good suspension, good paint, at a resonable price with good customer support. This is a very good all mountain frame that climbs well and downhills even better!
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Keith
a Weekend Warrior
from Independence, MO Date Reviewed: October 17, 2007
Perfect bike for someone who does a little of everything. this bike wont roar up the climbs, but it gets you there without leaving toasted at the top. and it can be ridden all day w/o much noticeable extra effort. The only thing holding me back in any riding style is my lack of skill. other than that this bike will do it all. I think it should technically be in the all mountain forum, but it will take the abuse if you want to throw it off of stuff as well. Ride it where you want. i dont normally do 5 and 5 but this bike does everything i need it to do and was much more affordable than other models i was looking at.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
David
a Cross Country Rider
from Spain Date Reviewed: August 16, 2007
Duration Product Used:
6 months
Price Paid:
$1300.00
Strengths:
Geometry and strenght
Weaknesses:
Rear wheel rubbing seat tube.
Similar Products Used:
Jamis XLT 2.0, stumjumper
Bike Setup:
All mountain SL, Fox DHX 5.0 air
Bottom Line:
This is one of those great bikes which geometry let´s you play with different builds. I find it perfect with a standard 150cm fork (535-540 atc), I run all mountain sl at this lenght, taller forks tend to overload rear side what makes it harder to pedal. I love the rear which is quite sensitive although I´m not really sure about its rigidity. Frame is not specially lightweight but seems to be quite stronger. A very fun bike to ride.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Eric
a Weekend Warrior
from Denver, CO Date Reviewed: August 7, 2007
Duration Product Used:
3 months
Price Paid:
$1200.00
Strengths:
-Paint scheme -Durability -Versatility
Weaknesses:
-Noticed slight tire rub on seat tube with only Nevegal 2.35's -Small amount of rear sag in suspension with 160mm fork, but fine when fork is cranked down to 140 or less
Similar Products Used:
Actually...nothing, the new GT i-drive looks pretty similar but haven't tried it
Bike Setup:
-Fox 36 Talas -DT Swiss 5.1D wheelset w/ 20mm front and 10mm bolt on rear -XT crankset -2.35 Nevegals
Bottom Line:
Overall I love this bike. I have the upgraded DT Swiss 340 hubs to allow a stronger wheel, but does add a small amount of weight due to the thru axels. The frame is a large with the bike spec'd out and it weights somewhere between 32 and 33. This is a great all-mountain bike that can climb and descend. I think a Fox 32 would be great in the front but I love the 36 Talas. Transition is a great company and it's fun to have something no one else has.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Ken Bennett
a Downhiller
from Phoenix, AZ USA Date Reviewed: March 1, 2007
Favorite Trail:
So. Mtn. trails
Duration Product Used:
Less than 1 month
Price Paid:
$900.00
Purchased At:
Rage Cycles (bro deal)
Strengths:
Light but strong, climbs and descends equally well.
Weaknesses:
Nothing yet, had some tire clearance issues until I got the air shock set up properly. If you run a 2.5 DH tire it will rub the seat tube at max. compression. 2.35 is working fine for me, have clearance even with shock bottomed out.
Similar Products Used:
Preston, Bullit, WildHare, etc....
Bike Setup:
Marz. 66SL, Fox DHX5 air, Hayes, Sram, RaceFace, etc...
Bottom Line:
I got this frame to take the place of my heavy FR bike (Stinky Primo) and my lighter but a bit too small trail bike (Preston FR). Normally I would wait until I'd gotten a few months in to check durability but I've beaten my Preston up since 04 and haven't had a single problem with it so I pretty much trust the Transition guys to make a dependable frame. So far this bike is all I could hope for and more. The weight is right where they advertised (7.5 lbs w/air shock) so with my somewhat FR oriented build I have a complete bike weight of 36 lbs. I weigh approx 190 lbs so this isn't really unrealistic, plus the trails here are very rough so stout parts are a must. Climbing is pretty easy on this bike and the air shock definitely helps. You can dial in the propedal right where you like it and power through the rough without bogging down. On the DH side the bike is unreal. I've hit several natural jumps on the trail and the bike just sucks it up and launches you out with no loss of speed. It's not quite as plush as a coil spring setup but it's more efficient. Cornering is very natural, you can drift comfortably or dive in hard like a slalom bike just as well. Hopping up onto obstacles or just jumping is very light feeling. I'm actually able to clear things easier on this than on my FR bike due to this. It also wheelies and manuals very easily, just a fun bike all around. If you're looking for a real All Mtn frame, this may be just what you need.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
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