[Blatant]

I’ll have a more nuanced view in a bit. I can tell you immediately I like the Sentinel more than those. I’m on an XL sentinel, had an XL Spire and both StEvos were S5.

The Spire was just too much bike for my needs. Too big, too mushy, too much travel. The StEvo doesn’t pedal all that well and I personally found it to be slow. The Sentinel ticks a lot of boxes for me. It really fits well. I mean really. And it turns well. It’s not particularly plush, but I’m still tuning. It is fast.

 

[Nat]

I’ll have a more nuanced view in a bit. I can tell you immediately I like the Sentinel more than those. I’m on an XL sentinel, had an XL Spire and both StEvos were S5.

The Spire was just too much bike for my needs. Too big, too mushy, too much travel. The StEvo doesn’t pedal all that well and I personally found it to be slow. The Sentinel ticks a lot of boxes for me. It really fits well. I mean really. And it turns well. It’s not particularly plush, but I’m still tuning. It is fast.

Nice!

 

[TLN]

I’ll have a more nuanced view in a bit. I can tell you immediately I like the Sentinel more than those. I’m on an XL sentinel, had an XL Spire and both StEvos were S5.

The Spire was just too much bike for my needs. Too big, too mushy, too much travel. The StEvo doesn’t pedal all that well and I personally found it to be slow. The Sentinel ticks a lot of boxes for me. It really fits well. I mean really. And it turns well. It’s not particularly plush, but I’m still tuning. It is fast.

I was choosing between multiple bikes and ended up with Sentinel (XL as well). Still being build, but based on your description, that's exactly what I wanted.

 

[applnt]

One thing I’m liking more and more is the versatility of the sentinel. You can go from 140mm and an air shock all the way to 165mm and a coil with a cascade link.

I’ve been running mine at 150r/160f with coil springs at both ends for the 18 months I’ve owned it so far and it’s been excellent for everything I’ve done in the UK. I'm off to the alps in the summer and with a cascade link, a new rear spring and a fork travel adjust I’ve got a 165r/170f bike to take with me that’s not too far from a spire.

 

[clubby]

The Sentinel ticks a lot of boxes for me. It really fits well. I mean really. And it turns well. It’s not particularly plush, but I’m still tuning. It is fast.

Totally agree. I can't believe how agile it is for such a long bike that's still stable at speed. Personally, i bought mine because I like a bike that responds rather than one the you just hold on to. It does technical climbing well and is confidence inspiring in the steep with the front wheel so far out in front of you. It's just not the armchair ride people expect from the travel and geometry. As long as you buy it with this in mind, you'll be very happy. For UK trail riding it got even better when I swapped the stock (alloy gx build) wheels out for a pair of Reserve wheels and lighter tyres. 1.25kg lost.

 

[socalrider77]

Yeah I’ve realized that as I did more research. I wanted the sentinel to be a short travel spire and it’s not. I’m down to a Stumpjumper evo and a Rocky Mountain altitude (two different bikes but they’d both work for me).
thanks For confirming that though. Definitely helps me cross off the sentinel for sure.

If the sentinel isn’t a mini spire, the stumpjumper evo won’t be either.

However, I think the sentinel is a good mini spire


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[megablue]

If the sentinel isn’t a mini spire, the stumpjumper evo won’t be either.

However, I think the sentinel is a good mini spire


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

I know the stumpy wouldn’t, I wasn’t saying that was exactly what I wanted. I was saying if I got the sentinel I would want it to be a mini spire. However, the spire felt like a couch which was nice, but everyone that I talk to makes it sound like the sentinel has a pretty different feel to it. More like a long legged trail bike

 

[socalrider77]

I know the stumpy wouldn’t, I wasn’t saying that was exactly what I wanted. I was saying if I got the sentinel I would want it to be a mini spire. However, the spire felt like a couch which was nice, but everyone that I talk to makes it sound like the sentinel has a pretty different feel to it. More like a long legged trail bike

I feel like the Sentinel is versatile enough to make it whatever you want. I use mine for everything from steep aggressive stuff and enduro races to more xc type stuff and it does it all well. Maybe a spire would be a couch, but the sentinel works well for everything I do


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[cogswell23]

IME not really. I love mine, but it’s a long travel trail bike rather than a short travel enduro bike. It’s feels lively and poppy rather than a plough. Rewards an active riding style rather than sit back and hold on. Look back through this thread at the number of people adding Cascade links and coil shock trying to turn it into what they think I should be rather than what it is.

I don’t think people who run CC links and/or coils are turning it into something it’s not. I think it’s a supremely versatile and supremely capable bike that excels in a number of different configurations. I also think the idea that long travel enduro bikes are ridden by “hanging on” as opposed to using an “active” riding style is so reductive as to be outright silly. And, I think the distinction between “long legged trail bike” and “mini enduro” bike is so subjective as to be totally meaningless.

 

[clubby]

I don’t think people who run CC links and/or coils are turning it into something it’s not. I think it’s a supremely versatile and supremely capable bike that excels in a number of different configurations. I also think the idea that long travel enduro bikes are ridden by “hanging on” as opposed to using an “active” riding style is so reductive as to be outright silly. And, I think the distinction between “long legged trail bike” and “mini enduro” bike is so subjective as to be totally meaningless.

Maybe I phrased it badly but my point was, that from the numbers and how the bike looks, my friends expect it to be a mini DH bike and it’s not. You’re right, it’s far more versatile and that’s why I chose it and we all love it. Compared to bikes I’ve owned in the past it has a character more like a 5010 with more travel, rather than a Nomad with less travel. I agree this is subjective but was relevant to the post I was responding to.

As for my point about the suspension mods, lots of posts comment how it changed the bike. This may make it better for what some people ride, but I can’t help think that if you need to spend another 800 on mods, you might have been better with a different bike in the first place. Don’t mean to sound judgemental and if it works for you then great.

 

[cykelk]

As for my point about the suspension mods, lots of posts comment how it changed the bike. This may make it better for what some people ride, but I can’t help think that if you need to spend another 800 on mods, you might have been better with a different bike in the first place. Don’t mean to sound judgemental and if it works for you then great.

Suspension has been, for me, the best place to spend money on every bike I’ve owned.

 

[Nat]

Who the heck doesn't like mods???

 

[greenblur]

I’ll have a more nuanced view in a bit. I can tell you immediately I like the Sentinel more than those. I’m on an XL sentinel, had an XL Spire and both StEvos were S5.

The Spire was just too much bike for my needs. Too big, too mushy, too much travel. The StEvo doesn’t pedal all that well and I personally found it to be slow. The Sentinel ticks a lot of boxes for me. It really fits well. I mean really. And it turns well. It’s not particularly plush, but I’m still tuning. It is fast.

Sentinel, Spire or Titan for bike bike duty?

Love my Prime, a bigger travel one would be sick. But Transitions have the upper hand on seatpost insertion and slackness.

 

[Blatant]

Brutal Phoenix ride this morning. If you’re familiar with South Mountain, up Ranger across National to the east, down Geronimo, then back to car. The complete first ascent is 1.5 miles and 819 vertical feet of nasty technical climbing.

View of the towers atop SoMo. I hadn’t yet lost my will to live.

So, some annoyances I’d like to get input on.

Slipping seatpost. I know it’s been addressed, but searching within threads is now impossible. There seems to be a height that the post wants to be. Sadly, it’s about 15mm too low. I’ve pulled the post, cleaned, applied carbon paste and have moved the torque on the clamp up to 9nm (max is 7). What’s the fix?

Persistent rattling through chunky riding. I disassembled, cleaned/greased/locktited all pivots and torqued to spec. The entire front of the bike has been disassembled, headset greased, lowers service on the Lyrik. I assume this is cable rattle where they exit the ports. Fixes?

Thanks.

 

[bullit43]

Brutal Phoenix ride this morning. If you’re familiar with South Mountain, up Ranger across National to the east, down Geronimo, then back to car. The complete first ascent is 1.5 miles and 819 vertical feet of nasty technical climbing.

View attachment 2023977

View of the towers atop SoMo. I hadn’t yet lost my will to live.

View attachment 2023978

So, some annoyances I’d like to get input on.

Slipping seatpost. I know it’s been addressed, but searching within threads is now impossible. There seems to be a height that the post wants to be. Sadly, it’s about 15mm too low. I’ve pulled the post, cleaned, applied carbon paste and have moved the torque on the clamp up to 9nm (max is 7). What’s the fix?

Persistent rattling through chunky riding. I disassembled, cleaned/greased/locktited all pivots and torqued to spec. The entire front of the bike has been disassembled, headset greased, lowers service on the Lyrik. I assume this is cable rattle where they exit the ports. Fixes?

Thanks.

Have you tried another shock? the noise might be the knocking sound from you SD that it’s known for

 

[Didzy2009]

Brutal Phoenix ride this morning. If you’re familiar with South Mountain, up Ranger across National to the east, down Geronimo, then back to car. The complete first ascent is 1.5 miles and 819 vertical feet of nasty technical climbing.

View attachment 2023977

View of the towers atop SoMo. I hadn’t yet lost my will to live.

View attachment 2023978

So, some annoyances I’d like to get input on.

Slipping seatpost. I know it’s been addressed, but searching within threads is now impossible. There seems to be a height that the post wants to be. Sadly, it’s about 15mm too low. I’ve pulled the post, cleaned, applied carbon paste and have moved the torque on the clamp up to 9nm (max is 7). What’s the fix?

Persistent rattling through chunky riding. I disassembled, cleaned/greased/locktited all pivots and torqued to spec. The entire front of the bike has been disassembled, headset greased, lowers service on the Lyrik. I assume this is cable rattle where they exit the ports. Fixes?

Thanks.

seatpost slipping is annoying AF mine did it after I snapped the bolt on the stock one, replaced with a hope (garbage) slipped every ride, and then bought a Thomson one which is supposed to be the holy grail, and that slipped also

I had a crack in the front triangle and got it replaced and since I’ve had this new triangle it’s not slipped once with the stock clamp about a month and a half on

as for rattle could be dropper post, one ups are renowned for rattling, check the bolt under where the air valve is is tight with some needle nose pliers, if that’s loose they rattle like mad, also check the dropper post cable has some foam over it as it goes down the seat tube that stops the outer hitting the frame causing a constant rattle, and also if you’ve checked all bolts etc and greased every thing try another shock as recommended above, shocks can make some horrid noises when they go wrong

I’m chasing a loud crack type noise on mine at the moment, I have a feeling it’s the shock to, but I’ll take the linkages apart and give everything a good clean/grease/torque

keep us posted it could be a few things as mentioned above, failing that check brake pads aren’t rattling is if it’s a obvious rattle if it’s more of a dull thud/hollow rattle through the frame id say it’s likely shock/dropper/dropper cable

the exit ports although aren’t mega tight do not rattle, I have not heard a beep off them so I really can’t see it being them tbh

 

[Blatant]

The seatpost is incredibly annoying. I’m particular about saddle height and it self-adjusted three times on today’s ride.

I get that noises are hard to diagnose, even in person. I did put cable foam on the seatpost cable when I had it out. The noise is a bit of a rattle/slapping sound. The brakes are Magura, so it’s not the pads. I suppose it could be the shock; I obviously don’t have a spare lying around. I’ll probably try some electrical tape on the cables at the ports to see.

 

[Didzy2009]

Yeah sadly on my previous triangle I did not find a solution, like you it would go down so far then seemed happy, which was no use for my pedal height , drop transition a message I have heard they will warranty them if it continues with no fix

ah right if you’ve tried the foam thing, and the post seems solid then I’m not sure given you’ve tried and disassembled the front end, shock would be worth a check if you can source one

some times I have the sentinel absolutely deadly silent, then randomly it starts making a racket out of no where, either rattles or hollow knocks, but then a strip down or change of dropper cable foam etc usually gets It back silent again, but this loud cracking noise I’ve got just now is quite alarming so I’ll be trying to track that down next annoyingly

 

[Nat]

It’s definitely not chainslap?

 

[cogswell23]

I under-torque my seatpost clamp. I don’t think I do more than 5.5 nm on my original stock collar. Going up to 9, yeesh—I’d worry about dropper function or even cracking the seat tube. We’ve got to find you a solution!

Search function, as you noted, sucks on MTBR. I have a memory of someone in this thread saying that the WolfTooth clamp in a 36.4 works great on the Sentinel. If we take that sizing advice at face value—and frankly, I’d feel a little nervous about it—their clamp design with the threaded barrel is great for evenly distributing torque. Designs where the clamp material itself is threaded create more of a single pressure point that doesn’t provide circumferential torque as evenly. If you can get confirmation that the 36.4 is compatible, I think that would be worth trying.