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Transition Sentinel v 3.0 Thread

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asollie

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2XL Geometron G1, 3XL NM Hummingbird, 2XL Canyon Grail, 64cm Surly Disc Trucker
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735 Posts
Discussion starter · #1 · (Edited)
The new Sentinel v3 is officially out.

Image

  • Wheel Size Options
    29" Wheels SM-XXL and mixed wheel compatible, dual 27.5 on XS.
  • 160mm travel front, 150mm travel rear
    The perfect amount of travel for going up and down mountains. Option to run 160mm rear travel with longer stroke shock.
  • B.O.O.M. BOX
    In frame storage with supplied frame storage bags on carbon models.
  • 64 degree headtube angle
    Send-it-all with confidence and traction.
  • Size specific Chainstays
    As the frame sizes grow, so do the chainstays to keep rider weight balanced on the bike.
  • Increased Size Range (XS-XXL)
    The Sentinel is offered from XS-XXL.
  • Main Pivot Mud Guard
    A pre-installed guard protects the main pivot area, improving the bearing life.
  • Carbon and Aluminum frame options
  • Available in 3 colors
    Choose from Deep Purple, Graphite Grey, and Glacier White.
  • New Cable routing ports
    Ports on the side of the headtube support different cable configurations for electronic or cable shifting while remaining simple for maintenance.
  • Refined Kinematics
    The progressive leverage curve creates a lively nature that leaves plenty of room for big hits while keeping it light on its feet to remain nimble and quick everywhere else.

​
​
XS
27.5"​
SM
29"/MX​
MD
29"/MX​
LG
29"/MX​
XL
29"/MX​
XXL
29"/MX
Image
A. REACH
415​
430 / 426​
455 / 451​
480 / 476​
505 / 501​
530 / 526​
​
Image
B. STACK
592​
615 / 618​
621 / 624​
633 / 636​
642 / 646​
651 / 655​
Image
C. CARBON EFFECTIVE TT LENGTH
527​
549​
577​
605​
632​
660​
Image
ALLOY EFFECTIVE TT LENGTH
534​
557​
586​
614​
642​
670​
Image
D. SEAT TUBE LENGTH
360​
360​
390​
430​
460​
490​
Image
E. CARBON EFFECTIVE ST ANGLE
79.8°​
79.3° / 78.9°​
78.7° / 78.3°​
78.3° / 77.9°​
77.9° / 77.5°​
77.6° / 77.2°​
Image
ALLOY EFFECTIVE ST ANGLE
79.2°​
78.7° / 78.2°​
77.9° / 77.5°​
77.3° / 76.9°​
76.8° / 76.4°​
76.5° / 76.2°​
Image
SADDLE HEIGHT FOR EFFECTIVE ST ANGLE
560​
600​
660​
720​
780​
820​
Image
CARBON SEAT TUBE OFFSET AT BB
69​
69​
69​
69​
69​
69​
Image
ALLOY SEAT TUBE OFFSET AT BB
87​
87​
87​
87​
87​
87​
Image
F. HEAD TUBE LENGTH
100​
100​
110​
120​
130​
140​
Image
G. HEAD TUBE ANGLE
64°​
64° / 63.6°​
64° / 63.6°​
64° / 63.6°​
64° / 63.6°​
64° / 63.6°​
Image
H. CARBON CHAINSTAY LENGTH
436​
442 / 440​
442 / 440​
446 / 444​
446 / 444​
446 / 444​
Image
ALLOY CHAINSTAY LENGTH
434​
442​
442​
446​
446​
446​
Image
I. CARBON WHEELBASE
1173​
1208​
1237​
1273​
1302​
1332​
Image
ALLOY WHEELBASE
1171​
1208​
1237​
1271​
1300​
1330​
Image
J. BOTTOM BRACKET DROP
15​
25 / 11​
25 / 11​
25 / 11​
25 / 11​
25 / 11​
Image
K. ESTIMATED BB HEIGHT
340​
350 / 344​
350 / 344​
350 / 344​
350 / 344​
350 / 344​

Details here: Transition Bikes
 
#3 ·
Interesting they went steeper with longer chainstays and nice to see both, as the prior version was to me too slack (threw an angleset in to steepen it up 1 degree and help it turn at low speeds). Hopefully they are using paint that is a bit more durable. I have to comment on Transition’s customer service. My friend broke his V2 alloy and had a replacement in 10 days (including the 4th of July in the middle). Transition responded quickly and was incredibly pleasant.
 
Discussion starter · #4 ·
I don't want to sound like a broken record, but as an XXL rider, I'm really disappointed in the lip service to "size specific chainstays". From Small to XXL, there is a 4mm change in one jump. To me, that screams "ticking the box" rather than a considered engineering choice.
 
#8 · (Edited)
Contrarian take - In frame storage is a big minus. I'm ready for this trend to end.
  • The covers of these storage boxes often rattle on downhills.
  • The contents often rattle too.
  • The amount of storage is quite small in practice.
  • Getting the tools out to make a trail side repair or adjustment is laborious and fiddly.
  • Accommodating the hole requires an increase in frame weight and stiffness, not to mention requiring a larger downtube than is otherwise necessary.
Nice to see the slightly steeper head tube. I still wish Transition would consider glossier paint and more stack.
 
#9 ·
Dabs For Everyone said:
Contrarian take - In frame storage is a big minus. I'm ready for this trend to end.
Click to expand...
Couldn't agree more. Just from a pure aesthetics/vanity standpoint, the addition of the internal storage throws off that very slim, angular downtube profile (and definitely contributes to the conspiracy theory about brands attempting to conflate e~bike motors with meat-bike downtubes!). Every bike I've owned with in-frame storage has ended up with mold growing in the compartment, too -- either from lack of weather-proofing or from my own laziness of not drying the compartment out after a wet ride. Give me a sealed downtube any day and I'll happily carry a lightweight hip pack or vest.

Pretty thrilled about the $6kish, Shimano XT/Rockshox Ultimate-level spec on the v3 Sentinel -- I have to applaud that choice. Still a pricey option, but it's about the only trail/all-mountain bike on the market these days that I'd buy as a complete. The wheels leave a bit to be desired -- 370 hubs are better than they used to be, but you'd think Transition would up-spec to something like a 350 EXP or Raceface Vault, ideally -- but any reprieve from the tyranny of GX Transmission is laudable.
 
#11 ·
Dabs For Everyone said:
Contrarian take - In frame storage is a big minus. I'm ready for this trend to end.
  • The covers of these storage boxes often rattle on downhills.
  • The contents often rattle too.
  • The amount of storage is quite small in practice.
  • Getting the tools out to make a trail side repair or adjustment is laborious and fiddly.
  • Accommodating the hole requires an increase in frame weight and stiffness, not to mention requiring a larger downtube than is otherwise necessary.
Nice to see the slightly steeper head tube. I still wish Transition would consider glossier paint and more stack.
Click to expand...
Bonus: seems max rear tire width is around 2.4" (actual, not whatever's printed on the sidewall).
 
#12 ·
FWIW, the max rear tire width on the Smuggler is 2.4" and over two years of ownership I've had constant struggle with tire rub on both stays running 2.4" tires from Kenda and Michelin. It got to the point that I actually cut some custom stainless steel plates and mounted them at the wear points with 3M tape to protect the frame.
 
#14 ·
Dabs For Everyone said:
Contrarian take - In frame storage is a big minus. I'm ready for this trend to end.
  • The covers of these storage boxes often rattle on downhills.
  • The contents often rattle too.
  • The amount of storage is quite small in practice.
  • Getting the tools out to make a trail side repair or adjustment is laborious and fiddly.
  • Accommodating the hole requires an increase in frame weight and stiffness, not to mention requiring a larger downtube than is otherwise necessary.
Nice to see the slightly steeper head tube. I still wish Transition would consider glossier paint and more stack.
Click to expand...
Contrarian reply to your contrarian's take:
  • The covers of these storage boxes often rattle on downhills - I've never heard any of the Specialized covers rattle, and I've owned quite a few (by way of a demo fleet)
  • The contents often rattle too - only if you're not smart enough to stuff them in there tightly.
  • The amount of storage is quite small in practice - but it's better than nothing, and storing extra water and a light jacket is awfully nice to have.
  • Getting the tools out to make a trail side repair or adjustment is laborious and fiddly- who says you have to keep tools in there? Use the multi-tool that's on your bottle cage.
  • Accommodating the hole requires an increase in frame weight and stiffness, not to mention requiring a larger downtube than is otherwise necessary - no argument there.
Oh, and the purple Sentinel frame color is dead sexy, I was upset when they discontinued the Smuggler with the same color!
 
#15 ·
My experience with the rattling is with the Santa Cruz implementation of the idea. I haven’t tried the SWAT box. My attitude is that if you still need to carry a hip bag anyway for your tools etc, the tradeoffs in the frame construction (and potential rattles in the SC case) don’t seen worth it to me. But that’s just me.

I do like the way some brands like Forbidden have implemented frame storage - top tube bottle bosses for a Wolf Tooth bag or other similar solution of the rider’s choice, plus a small cavity underneath the downtube that is really only for storing a spare tube. But I do also own a frame with a Glovebox - I’m just not thrilled with this becoming a mandatory feature.
 
#16 ·
smmokan said:
Oh, and the purple Sentinel frame color is dead sexy, I was upset when they discontinued the Smuggler with the same color!
Click to expand...
The purple Sentinel looks awesome -- I mean, Darrin Seeds has been crushing it with the different shades of purple recently: boysenberry Spire, really deep violet on the Spur and that almost magenta Smuggler!
 
#17 ·
Dabs For Everyone said:
My experience with the rattling is with the Santa Cruz implementation of the idea. I haven’t tried the SWAT box. My attitude is that if you still need to carry a hip bag anyway for your tools etc, the tradeoffs in the frame construction (and potential rattles in the SC case) don’t seen worth it to me. But that’s just me.

I do like the way some brands like Forbidden have implemented frame storage - top tube bottle bosses for a Wolf Tooth bag or other similar solution of the rider’s choice, plus a small cavity underneath the downtube that is really only for storing a spare tube. But I do also own a frame with a Glovebox - I’m just not thrilled with this becoming a mandatory feature.
Click to expand...
My glovebox never rattled. you might want to talk to SC about it.
Also idk how much stuff youre carrying in a hip pack but i fit an absurd (to me) amount of things in my glovebox. two different tools, tube, co2, patch kit and plug kit, an airtag, an emergency glow stick, zip ties, a masterlink, about ten packs of welch’s gummies, sometimes a light jacket, and a couple granola bars.
 
#18 ·
Dabs For Everyone said:
My experience with the rattling is with the Santa Cruz implementation of the idea. I haven’t tried the SWAT box. My attitude is that if you still need to carry a hip bag anyway for your tools etc, the tradeoffs in the frame construction (and potential rattles in the SC case) don’t seen worth it to me. But that’s just me.

I do like the way some brands like Forbidden have implemented frame storage - top tube bottle bosses for a Wolf Tooth bag or other similar solution of the rider’s choice, plus a small cavity underneath the downtube that is really only for storing a spare tube. But I do also own a frame with a Glovebox - I’m just not thrilled with this becoming a mandatory feature.
Click to expand...
My megatower v2 glovebox and my wife Juliana have been nothing but silent. Never had any rattling out of mine even when running the added weight of a full bottle on the door. Now the cables in my rear triangle rattle like all hell. Took me changing my brakes out to realize the dealer never installed the foam sleeves over the cables in the rear.
 
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