[horriefic]

I am thinking of buying a TransAM frame (and possibly single speeding it). I am not able to test out the bike, so wanted to find out from those who ride the TransAM on whether it's easy to do wheelies, manuals and J-hops on the TransAM. Is it easy to pop up the front wheel?

I understand that how easy it is to bring up the front wheel also has to do with other stuff like stem length, stem height etc. But just want to know whether its easy to bring the front wheel up assuming everything else is equal.

Also, do you feel that 68.5% head angle is sufficient for steep downhills? I currently ride a Banshee Spitfire and that has a 66% head angle and it feels great on steep downhills. How does the TransAM feel to you on steep downhills? Too XC ish? Or great for the downhills?

Thanks.

 

[cbgoring]

I've run my TransAM a number of different ways - gears, no gears, different forks, different stems....I am not very good at any of the things you mention above, but I think the front end comes up fine. I have no problem hopping over obstacles and such. As far as doing steep downhills - At one point I had a Fox Talas36 and 50mm stem on mine. At 160mm it did just fine with any steep stuff I was doing. I went back to a float 32 because I found that for the trails I ride 90% of the time and the amount of climbing I have to do a 140mm fork with a lock out suited me better. But once in awhile I do miss the slacker HA and extra travel the 36 had to offer. It sounds like that's how you would want your TransAM built - short stem, big fork. I guess it depends on what you are riding most of the time. Overall - fantastic bike. Highly recommend it. Great company and customer service to boot. Can't go wrong with a Transition.

 

[scrublover]

Running mine with a 150mm Revelation fork. No trouble getting the front end up; running a very low bar and slightly negative rise stem with no spacers underneath as well. 70mmm stem. Perfect - lets me weight the front enough for climbing or whatever, but it's still easy to toss the bike around underneath me.

I don't think the head angle is a hindrance at all. Run a Lyrik or 36 if you want a touch more slackness. I've taken it down some short but stupid steep rolls without any trouble.

My other bike is a Spitfire with a Lyrik up front - the TransAM is a very good bike to have paired with the Spitty. some days it's a really tough choice on which to ride!

 

[Lowball]

I've run my TransAM a number of different ways - gears, no gears, different forks, different stems....I am not very good at any of the things you mention above, but I think the front end comes up fine. I have no problem hopping over obstacles and such. As far as doing steep downhills - At one point I had a Fox Talas36 and 50mm stem on mine. At 160mm it did just fine with any steep stuff I was doing. I went back to a float 32 because I found that for the trails I ride 90% of the time and the amount of climbing I have to do a 140mm fork with a lock out suited me better. But once in awhile I do miss the slacker HA and extra travel the 36 had to offer. It sounds like that's how you would want your TransAM built - short stem, big fork. I guess it depends on what you are riding most of the time. Overall - fantastic bike. Highly recommend it. Great company and customer service to boot. Can't go wrong with a Transition.

I concur :thumbsup: