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Transition Sentinel v 2.0 Thread

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#861 ·
Fleijah said:
Just pulled the trigger and ordered the new RS ultimate coil. The addition of the HBO + externally adjustable HSC convinced me.
Now I usually really like progressive suspension so I'm debating whether a CC link will be worth it.

For reference; coil riders at around 190lbs or 86kg without kit -
1) What springs do you ride at what sag?
2) Have you ridden the bike with vs without the CC link?

I ordered the 450-500 sprindex coil but won't be able to try it until 2 days before a 20 day downhill trip as I'm currently out of country. Just hoping to gauge what I'll need to stock up on to make the trip as good as possible without being able to testride much.
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I'm 91kg/200lb kitted with a kitsuma coil 205x65(I know 62.5 is the max but I'm running 65 no issues on a large alloy frame).

450-550lb Cane creek progressive coil with 1.5 turn of preload = 28-29% sag.
500-610lb cane creek progressive spring with 0 preload = 25-26% sag.

Measurement seems to be alot different than
gubbinalia. Been using the 450 more, does bottom out abit but the initial and mid support is alot better( this is with fully open lsc and hsc). The ohlins spring calculator was pretty spot on compared to others. Been contemplating on the CC link but can't justify paying about 600aud for that one piece.

Will be interested on your experience with the new rs coil. Mate got it for his specialzed enduro and the HBO did nothing.
 
#862 ·
davidt93 said:
I'm 91kg/200lb kitted with a kitsuma coil 205x65(I know 62.5 is the max but I'm running 65 no issues on a large alloy frame).

450-550lb Cane creek progressive coil with 1.5 turn of preload = 28-29% sag.
500-610lb cane creek progressive spring with 0 preload = 25-26% sag.

Measurement seems to be alot different than
gubbinalia. Been using the 450 more, does bottom out abit but the initial and mid support is alot better( this is with fully open lsc and hsc). The ohlins spring calculator was pretty spot on compared to others. Been contemplating on the CC link but can't justify paying about 600aud for that one piece.

Will be interested on your experience with the new rs coil. Mate got it for his specialzed enduro and the HBO did nothing.
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Thanks for sharing. If the shock gets delivered in time to install it on my next trip in August, I'll report back how it rides. Looks like it might be too late and I'll cancel the order then though. We'll see
 
#863 · (Edited)
kamper11 said:
anyone previously own a Ripmo AF or V2? Curious if you switched... local shop has some coming this month... Im highly tempted to make the move, but won't get a chance to demo. Candidly - trails aren't crazy steep but lets call them more janky ish w a fair bit of rocks, some roots etc.. Ripmo is a really good bike, but I feel like the DW just doesn't do as well DH as Up. Thanks in advance!
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I bought a carbon Ripmo recently, just was available at the shop and I wanted to waste some money apparently. I had an alloy Sentinel v2 for a couple months. Honestly you're splitting hairs with comparing the models. Different character but neither "better." I like my alloy Spire better than either of them. I'd take my Spire as a one-bike option before the Ripmo or Sentinel. But the Sentinel is probably slightly more playful than the Ripmo. The Sentinel felt like a small flickable frame that was fun to pop around. But the Ripmo, while still fairly playful, has a bit more business attitude and actually rides more like an enduro bike. The Sentinel, to me, was pure trail/AM bike...just with a slacker geo. You can get a Ripmo AF frame now for $1650, Sentinel alloy $2100....big difference if price matters.
Oh and as far as DH, I'd put the Ripmo above the Sentinel. Mainly because the Ripmo is a lot more forgiving/predictable in my opinion. I agree that I generally like horst suspension better for descending but the Sentinel is not really an eat it all up kind of design, imo. Transition has a very unique design philosophy that's hard to compare to more mainstream bikes.
 
#864 ·
foggnm said:
I bought a carbon Ripmo recently, just was available at the shop and I wanted to waste some money apparently. I had an alloy Sentinel v2 for a couple months. Honestly you're splitting hairs with comparing the models. Different character but neither "better." I like my alloy Spire better than either of them. I'd take my Spire as a one-bike option before the Ripmo or Sentinel. But the Sentinel is probably slightly more playful than the Ripmo. The Sentinel felt like a small flickable frame that was fun to pop around. But the Ripmo, while still fairly playful, has a bit more business attitude and actually rides more like an enduro bike. The Sentinel, to me, was pure trail/AM bike...just with a slacker geo. You can get a Ripmo AF frame now for $1650, Sentinel alloy $2100....big difference if price matters.
Oh and as far as DH, I'd put the Ripmo above the Sentinel. Mainly because the Ripmo is a lot more forgiving/predictable in my opinion. I agree that I generally like horst suspension better for descending but the Sentinel is not really an eat it all up kind of design, imo. Transition has a very unique design philosophy that's hard to compare to more mainstream bikes.
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Lol, the Ripmo has a steeper head angle and it is a better descender? I call BS, I had a Ripmo af and a sentinel, not even in the same class. They are both all mountian bikes, the Ripmo leans toward xc, the sentinel leans toward enduro. The Ripmo weighs more as it’s a double triangle bike. You want a great heavy xc climber bike , get the Ripmo. You want a lighter resending monster that can climb, go sentinel.
 
#865 ·
MUSTCLIME said:
Lol, the Ripmo has a steeper head angle and it is a better descender? I call BS, I had a Ripmo af and a sentinel, not even in the same class. They are both all mountian bikes, the Ripmo leans toward xc, the sentinel leans toward enduro. The Ripmo weighs more as it’s a double triangle bike. You want a great heavy xc climber bike , get the Ripmo. You want a lighter resending monster that can climb, go sentinel.
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I hope Robin Wallner doesn't realize someone gave him an xc bike. Or maybe that's why he retired?
 
#866 · (Edited)
I haven't ridden the Sentinel yet but lots of other 4 bar bikes and they're pretty active compared to the DW link. That combined with the geo difference, My guess is the Ripmo would need an angleset and coil shock in the rear (to make it more active), to match the downhill ability of the Sentinel. In stock form with an air shock, Ripmo is just a little more of a long legged trail bike/Enduro light than a full enduro bike.

Other options on the Ripmo would be a 170 fork and Cascade Link for even more downhill ability. Of course the Sentinel can also take a 170 fork, Cascade Link and coil so lots of options on these two bikes.

There's also people on mtbr long shocking the Ripmo AFs to, I believe 168 and 172 travel, depending on stock or Cascade link.
 
#867 ·
Not sure how long shocking would work in the Ripmo. I had issues with small rocks getting caught between the links and the seat seat tube. The links get really close to the seat tube when the suspension is compressed. Also I’d you add a longer shock, you push the links way down…… this is important, the DW link needs the have the sag set very carefully to the right level, to much sag, peddle loads compress the suspension, to
Little sag, the bike”inch worms”. IMO, you over shock a Ripmo, you would have to run way more sag on the bike or the bike would climb like crap. The links HAVE to be at the right angles when you are seated and spinning or the bike is a turd.
 
#868 ·
MUSTCLIME said:
Not sure how long shocking would work in the Ripmo. I had issues with small rocks getting caught between the links and the seat seat tube. The links get really close to the seat tube when the suspension is compressed. Also I’d you add a longer shock, you push the links way down…… this is important, the DW link needs the have the sag set very carefully to the right level, to much sag, peddle loads compress the suspension, to
Little sag, the bike”inch worms”. IMO, you over shock a Ripmo, you would have to run way more sag on the bike or the bike would climb like crap. The links HAVE to be at the right angles when you are seated and spinning or the bike is a turd.
Click to expand...
I don’t have experience myself but some others do in the long shock thread on here as well as the Loam Ranger on YouTube. Seems to work better on the alloy frames as they have more clearance.

Personally I won’t be doing it. Maybe a Cascade Link, coil or 170 air shaft some day but pretty content for now with my Topaz and Lyrik at stock travel.
 
#870 ·
Just wanted to throw my two cents on the Sentinel, specifically the AL, as I now have three people on them, my son a 170 pound Cat 2 DH racer using it as a trail bike, a strong 230 pound rider who is using it from trail to days at Northstar, and a 6'2" rider on a XL using it for a one bike do all and has considerable experience riding and racing downhill, but not super fast. I have spent a fair amount of time on my Son's which is setup with a Fox 36 Factory and Luftkappe, including taking it for a Tahoe trip (had lent my Banshee to a friend, needed to get away and it was just staring at me). I am 50, 205 pounds, technically strong (can comfortably ride pretty much any expert trail at DH parks (Northstar, Mammoth, Snow Summit, Whistler), stay away from pro lines and big jumps), but not an aggressive or very fast rider. Here are my observations:
  • Handling- I was really concerned the bike would feel slow and lethargic with a 63.6 head angle. When we built my son's, we started with angleset to steepen the head angle, then pulled it out. The bike is very stable, but I have no issues with it wandering on climbs (including slow low gear grinding). It is not snappy at low speeds, but far from dead. It requires a bit more body english than my Banshee, but nothing excessive, and is easy to keep the front weighted (still working on fully adapting to riding over the front).
  • Float X Shock- Really not sure what Transition was thinking about when including .7 of volume spacers in the shock from the factory. With the shock setup this way, you end up running a lot of sag (about 32-35) while running into a wall of spring right past sag, so it doesn't use the travel well. Removing the .6 spacer and leaving the .1 while upping the pressure about 20 psi resulted in sag dropping to about 26-28%, but riding much better as it now uses the midstroke, but still ramps up at the end, so no hard bottoming. If you are big hucker, the extra spacers may be needed. The Float X definitely has a digressive tune in it, which leaves it feeling a bit dead, but nothing that can't be solved by having it retuned come service time.
  • Weight- There is no getting about it, the AL frame is a bit porky. It is slightly over 10 pounds with the hardware and shock. By comparison, my Banshee Prime with hardware and the shock (the Prime uses the same tubeset as the Titan) weighs 9 pounds. That said, the frame is solid and also incredibly quiet, it just plows through chunk with a nice solid feel.
Overall, a great bike in my book, made better by the incredible price relative to its competitors. For me I like the geometry a bit better on Banshees (slightly longer chainstays, taller head tube), but that is a preference thing. If I couldn't get the Banshee, I would happily grab a Sentinel.

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#873 ·
RadicalPugilism said:
Can anyone confirm the fit of the EXT Storia on a medium frame with a stock link? I've read that the E-Storia clears nicely, but for the extra money I would probably move over to the Push ElevenSix.
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Can’t help with a medium, but here’s a Storia v3 on an XL. Call EXT, they’ll know if it fits.
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#874 ·
Finally had the chance to ride the float x air shock against my kitsuma coil with progressive spring. 91kg kitted, intermediate rider.

Float X just felt lighter obviously and on the trails was easier to pump through trails. On steep rock gardens, the rear end had plenty of feedback and felt good in general.

Kitsuma coil traction felt better, feedback was less than air though it was alot easier to handle and more plush down the rock gardens.

If I had the chance to test ride a sentinel air and coil prior to purchasing, I would've settled with the air shock. For me, I don't think the coil is $1000aud better then the air.
Also had to buy multiple coils and still haven't found the 'one'.
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#875 ·
davidt93 said:
Finally had the chance to ride the float x air shock against my kitsuma coil with progressive spring. 91kg kitted, intermediate rider.

Float X just felt lighter obviously and on the trails was easier to pump through trails. On steep rock gardens, the rear end had plenty of feedback and felt good in general.

Kitsuma coil traction felt better, feedback was less than air though it was alot easier to handle and more plush down the rock gardens.

If I had the chance to test ride a sentinel air and coil prior to purchasing, I would've settled with the air shock. For me, I don't think the coil is $1000aud better then the air.
Also had to buy multiple coils and still haven't found the 'one'. View attachment 1995376
View attachment 1995377
Click to expand...
You realize that by not preferring the coil, you will now be banned from MTBR. :)
 
#880 ·
Anyone a heavier rider running the cascade link? I’m 250lbs and have been having some trouble with setup with my superdeluxe air. At 30% sag the back end feels too gooey with not enough support, and bobs a decent amount climbing. I bumped up the pressure which put me at about 26-27% sag which feels like it has more support but obviously comes at the expense of some off the top feel, and it still doesn’t seem to have as much support in berms as the stock link with a megneg can installed.

Reached out to a local suspension tuning shop who thinks the cascade link is exacerbating the lack of damping that’s already there for how heavy I am, and recommended going with a custom tune and the stock link. Just curious if anyone else has any thoughts


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