Sentinel v2

Some initial thoughts

 

I had been anxiously awaiting the release of the 2.0 as an option over the Ripmo AF. Sadly with no AL option I’m out. 4500 for NX with mediocre suspension and no coil options are disappointing. Might still look at OG and the new link option.

 

Big fan out the external rear brake as someone who works on their own bikes and changes parts out more frequently than necessary.

Bearing integration looks to be a little better so they don’t get destroyed multiple times a year? Maybe wishful thinking.

Paint appears to still be sub-par as the pinkbike tester had paint chips already.

More progressive is awesome.

I like the longer chain-stays personally.

I really like the straight lines. Looks awesome. Though the colors (“loam gold”?) aren’t my cup of tea.

Looks like great bike, but if I was to get a new bike right now it would still be an Enduro.

 

I really like the straight lines. Looks awesome. Though the colors ("loam gold"?) aren't my cup of tea.

Funny, I liked the swoopy lines of the previous versions better. Made Transition bikes stand out from the crowd and you could ID one at a glance. But the new lines aren't bad, at all.

As for Loam Gold, the pictures don't do it justice. I had the chance to see one a few weeks ago when the Transition crew was out testing the new mega jump line they build and it's a really, really nice color in person!

 

Good lookin' bike!

Specific to my size, but I wish XL were just a tad longer. I think that because they also make an XXL they didn't push the geometry as far. Wish that reach were like 510, closer to Norco Sight territory.

The "Loam pool," the cavity under the lower shock mount that will fill with water and mud is kind of a bummer. I live in the PNW and so do the Transition guys, so this seems like an oversight.

Given that they kept this bike a bit conservative, and that the "alternative travel" option is shorter not longer, I expect the Patrol to be updated next and to include a 170mm 29er option.

 

So was coil a 18 month marketing trick like plus tires?

 

Liked it so much I just bought a gx alloy in red ......$3650 shipped ftw.....not a fan of sramshox.

 

In order to avoid canibalizing the new Sentinel a potential 29er Patrol should have 180 front - 170 rear travel and 63 head angle. I would love to see such a bike I doubt it will happen.

 

I would think you could just overfork the Sentinel to get a 170/150 bike pretty easy.

 

Niner Rep told me they are bringing back the WFO at 180/170 with the new Fox 38.

 

is it me or is there a trend with a lot of bike companies that cheaper alloy models are getting pushed out of line ups and being replaces by carbon? I wish this will not happen with transition. I think it is happening already though. Personally I hope I am wrong but I think that the previous gen sentinel alloys will be gone within the next year.

 

I've been noticing the lack of alloy options lately too.

 

Even if they did make an alloy sentinel, I don't think transition could come close to touching the value of this bike. Geo is good too.

 

The Privateer is hard to ignore!

 

Agree - really liking the Privateer's geometry and price

 

The Privateer has an 80 degree seat tube angle with ridiculously short top tube numbers. I'm not going to purchase something like that without a test ride.

 

Yea, top tube looks short. I hate climbing with short top tubes.

 

without turning this into a Privateer thread, is it me or the sizing for the 161 all effed up?

the P2 has
reach: 470mm
wheelbase: 1250mm
which puts it in the L/XL Sentinel

but has
Top tube: 581mm
which puts it in Medium

Edit: Just saw that oldhouseman and MUSTCLIME said the same thing

 

Personally I feel like reach is a better gauge of how cramped/stretched out you feel on the bike than top tube length. But yes, that seat tube angle is pretty extreme and would be interesting to see how it rides.

 

Wrong thread

 

The STA on the Privteer could easily be remedied with a set-back post if you weren't comfortable with it, but I agree that it does seem a little odd unless they're counting on people really sizing up.

I was interested to see the pricing on the new frames too, and that there is no alloy option available thus far. Here in NZ Transition are now Yeti/Santa Cruz kinda dollars for the framesets (haven't compared the various builds closely yet), which part of me thinks is fair enough but another part feels like they're pricing themselves out of a good part of their market. I think we could see a resurgence of the alloy bike, with brands like Privateer or Knolly perhaps, when you can buy a well engineered alloy frame for $1kUSD less which performs very similarly and only has a slight weight penalty.

 

The Privateer is for people who would like a bike that rewards those who spend more time out of the saddle. Seated pedaling with a steep STA trains more of the muscles required for out-of-the-saddle pedaling, due to the smaller difference between the two positions.

Seated pedaling/training on bikes with a slacker STA doesn't fully carry over to steep STA bikes. Might need to spend like 200-500 miles on the new bike to get muscles trained up in stamina to feel adapted, and able to fully use cardio training without legs fatiguing first, especially if you're the type that spends 85+% of your time in the saddle.

VitalMTB has a Transition QA thread. https://www.vitalmtb.com/forums/The-Hub,2/FORUM-HOTSEAT-Transition-Bikes-Crew,10878

 

why are we talking about that bike, this is a sentinel thread

 

Lol, to me the thing that "made" the sentinel the bike that it was the alloy frame option. Transition walked away from that....kinda a let down IMO. I think that is why people are talking about other bikes on the thread.

 

My mind is blown with no AL option. With the success of the AF I would have thought it would be a no brainer. I have to assume the profit margin just isn’t there.

 

its not just Transition you are seeing a trend across the whole industry where alloy bikes are getting pushed out by carbon counter parts.

 

Having models in the $3000 price range is important for brands. You need entry level items to pull people into your brand. Ibis finally figured this out with the Ripmo AF. Transition had this.... now they don't.

 

From a business perspective, designing, building, maintaining/supporting two frames for the same size/same bike adds costs. They have to build the jigs, keep spare/warranty parts, warehouse, inventory etc etc.

So in that perspective, it makes sense to go to one or the other.

 

I was eagerly awaiting for a Super Sentinel but unfortunately the new version is far from it. Don't get me wrong it would be a great option for many people but considering that I have the previous version I am not interested at all in "upgrading". Plus it is only carbon.

Transition please offer a Patrol 29 in aluminium with at least 170mm in the rear!

 

Picked up the Sentinel for 5200 bux Gx Alloy, Best deal around for a new bike. Love this bike. Sure it has some issues, but that build kit is hard to beat. Now the new one is about 2600 bux more. It aint gonna be 26 hunny faster, smoother or higher. Sure if money isnt an object buy it. I tried out some bikes beforehand and I honestly felt more at home on the Sentinel! I think Transition Alloy bikes are really nice. Still have a OG Patrol, running strong, well maintained. The fact that Transition builds the bikes to suit riders with quality components and good engineering puts them up near the lead with other companies. I will wait till this New Sentinel comes in alloy and goes on sale. (probaly is going to be a long wait) Till then I will ride the f0ck outta this one!!

 

I currently ride a 2015 Smuggler that I love and a 2017 Patrol that I love except for the smaller wheelsize. Both great all arounders. Looking to combine both into one bike. All the reviews indicate the Sentinel is a great all arounder. For riders with experience on v1, would you agree it makes for a good daily driver/trail bike (does all arounder capture that)? Or, are the reviewers merely helping the company position the Sentinel between their upcoming Super Sentinel/Patrol and downcountry bikes? My local riding is very steep up and down with rocks/roots/chunk. Daily ride is 1500'+ climbing over 8-10 miles or so, but rough trails with some small natural drops and jumps mixed in