Adaptable for All Terrain: Transition Sentinel Review | 2025 Pinkbike Field Test

[@badagaioo]

One thing I've learned from watching these reviews featuring Dario is, the more blasé he gets, the more the vocal fry increases, which basically means, the better the bike (or any other product for that matter) is. Congratulations, Transition, that's a 10 out of 10. Giddy up!

[@tinshield]

Vocal fry is a Pink Bike requirement. Dario is a star in that regard.

[@slvnst]

"Research indicates that vocal fry significantly impacts how people perceive the speaker, especially among young adult women. Listeners generally prefer a normal vocal register over vocal fry, associating the latter with lower trustworthiness and competence."

[@GaedeRafael]

This vocal fry is annoying since day 1

[@SpencerAstraPOV]

It sounds like I should be getting a Sentinel to review soon(ish) I'm excited go throw a leg over this thing!

[@JasonChambersPhoto]

Looking forward to that one Spencer! 😉

[@Hardcaslte]

These group reviews really show how many options we have. You have 8 different brands and still there's Pivot, Scott, Mondraker, YT, Cannondale, Giant, Trek, GT, Fezzari, Scor. I'm probably still missing some brands. Adding more: Propain, Whyte, Yeti, Evil, Orbea

[@TeddyParker]

"Some" lol Also Fezzari is now Ari and their employees will assure you that the rebrand is indeed a great decision. But they will act like average customers when doing so.

[@shengao231]

Met Dario irl in Poland during the DH world cup.. he sounds so much more.. normal. Put him behind the camera and all of a sudden its Stephen-fing Vocal Fry..

[@brianmagee5847]

I love the format and feel like you are knocking it out with great tests and thoughtful reviews. One test you all might consider is an all day loop test where you design a 1 hour trail loop and you all ride the bikes back to back to back and rank them. It would be a suffer fest, but would also similate that all day epic ride that for me makes or breaks a trail bike. If i hate a bike at hour 6 of a ride, I won't keep it around for long...

[@307.William]

Transitions are louder often. I always pull cables and put jagwire cable foam on them then their silent

[@TeddyParker]

Sounds like it accidentally fell into 'so good that its just ok' territory. Maybe some of the most nitpicky cons on the field test so far but the script reads out like its 'a lot to think about' when it sounds like talking points were just needed because the highs maybe weren't that high, even though the lows weren't that low. Congrats Transition, you win okayest bike on test by being generally too good at just riding out the box. 🥳

[@TheJollyElf]

As some one who loves the v2 Curious to hear how it compares - I know at least a few of the testers spent some time on that bike as well. Thx!

[@badagaioo]

Just search for awesome mtb over here on yt and you will find not only a more comprehensive review of the v3 but also a back to back comparison with double the trail bikes featured here.

[@dhrracer]

It is interesting that it is also available in aluminum, but the alloy version has different dimensions and geo.

[@rottieshepcalibre9156]

I can’t help but smile every time I see and hear Henry. He have a good soul 😇

[@cryx4]

weird episode. "i felt like i was moving around a lot but also in the middle of the bike"?

[@TeddyParker]

When they get pointlessly nitpicky and start contradicting themselves... That's how you know the bike is good. Because they know they can't just go "the bike is very good, review done". I think the Sentinel wins the 'this is a mountain bike' award of the test. Nothing special to figure out.

[@cryx4]

@ reminds me of the stumpy Evo alloy review

[@LEGENDofBEANY]

‘The bike is, I dunno, meant for something, but I don’t really know what it is, it’s not confused’ 🤔 🧐 what?! 🤣

[@jokermtb]

@@LEGENDofBEANYedibles kicking in……😅

[@LEGENDofBEANY]

@@jokermtb 🤣🤣🤣

[@ish474]

I like this years format. Now someone find out if I can put that Genie shock on my 2019 Stumpy

[@cryx4]

The genie is tuned pretty specifically for the stumpy 15's linkage. Might want to consider the float x?

[@Intentsrig]

Does it not have internal cable routing guides? Or does it still rattle even with those?

[@williampickering8484]

By comparing, as I look for a new bike my sb150 is not an enduro machine it is a trail bike. Marketing is hard to keep up with.

[@mike-b4h4d]

Transition knows what they are doing. BB heights are too low on a lot of bikes. I find the best setup is a mid high bb and a high bar or stack rise. 165 cranks are smart. I don’t like to pick lines based on pedal strikes.

[@tinshield]

Exactly 👍

[@akosyjonathan]

It is possible to make it 170f 160r?

[@cryx4]

Wouldn't mess with the rear travel unless you're super confident but you could definitely chuck a 170mm fork on there. Would slacken head tube angle out and raise the BB a tad.

[@GF-cb8rr]

Could have lowered the BB and reduced the HTA by going mullet. Seems like they would have preferred it in mullet and a shame they didn't test it as such.

[@akosyjonathan]

How tall is the rider who test the bike. Thanks

[@ML-wl9rz]

I ride a large relay that has the same chain stay lengths as the v3 sentinel . I also ride a patrol and a sentinel v2. I love my relay but it took me a minute to get used the longer back end. I found that I keep trying to shorten the cockpit to move me back a touch more. The opposite is the case on my v2 sentinel. I felt the sweet spot in balance was small and I found my self adjusting my weight to the back because I felt timid on the front. I put a 51 offset fork on it at its perfect. Still playful but less twitchy. I find I prefer the shorter chain stays for playfulness. The longer on the relay is perfect for what that bike is meant for...pointing it down. Id like to see transition start putting a chainstay flip chip for these longer back ends.Would make more sense if you're going to mullet it as well. My guess is that the longer back end and steeper HA makes for all the movement in the cock pit giving a smaller balanced sweet spot. Id love to try one but I love my V2! They make great bikes. I'm sure this one is a blast as well.

[@jokermtb]

I’m also on an alloy Relay, and my biggest surprise was how well it wheelies. Once it’s up, it stays up, all day. My Michigan trails are twisty, w small punchy hills, and it’s very light on its toes for wiggly riding. And I really love FSR bikes and how predictable they ride

[@MrDino27]

I have a 2023 Norco sight sm .430 chain stay .im right in the center.

[@jaysmowamay6783]

I love my v2

[@francisdee9955]

Next one🥳

[@5dayMovingAverage]

Ive noticed that pinkbike stop supporting Park Tool?

[@colinwatt00]

@Pinkbike - I believe something missing from the conversation is Transition’s rebranding of the Scout and moving it into the ‘kids’ category which left a gap in the lineup between the Smuggler and Sentinel. Given the Scout has/had a 64˚ head angle, I feel like this supports my theory. Or maybe I’m reading into the tea leaves a bit too closely.

[@v0mdragon]

Scout always had/has 27.5" wheels so considered a different lineup than Smuggler/Sentinel w/ 29"

[@brunohd4254]

You know what avoids rattling cables? AXS dropper and drivetrain, and done you have a quiet bike

[@philippk9954]

chainslap would beg you pardon and oh snap, you forgot to charge your battery right before your bike trip. too bad bro.

[@brunohd4254]

What chain slap, have first gen AXS and new T-Type on full suspension enduro, short travel, gravel, and fat bike and nothing, super quiet rigs. And the old age I can't charge a battery or forgot excuse...it takes less than 10 to 15 minutes to get enough to ride for 2 to 3 hours and under 1hr for a full charge. DO you have a phone, do you forget to charge that? App tells you when it's low, get a spare and never had any issues. But hey if you like all the cable crap all over your bike then go for it

[@benjy288]

I don't know where this extra weight is coming from on these new bikes, this has the same travel as my old full carbon 2017 trek slash 9.8, but its a full 1kg heavier! and why does the presenter pretend that weight is not a big deal?

[@TeddyParker]

frame storage, outright longer bikes, bigger cassette ultimately (with that dinner plate), tires that dont suck, heavier carbon to avoid a frame failure recall. lots of things.

[@benjy288]

@@TeddyParker Frame storage is essentially just a hole in the frame with a plastic cover, a medium sentinal is a claimed 14.9kg without pedals, where my large slash was only 12mm shorter in wheelbase, the cassette is only 75g heavier than my old slash, and the tyres are about 400g heavier, so about 500g in tyres and cassette, that leaves about half a kg extra just in frame weight!

[@TeddyParker]

@@benjy288 Riders are riding harder than ever, even in the intermediate/journeyman sectors. And access to bike parks is better. Brands don't want to do recalls or be sued or whatever. It's just heavy carbon lay.

[@benjy288]

@@TeddyParker Maybe, but were 2017 full carbon trek slash's frames failing?

[@TeddyParker]

@@benjy288 i dunno what to tell you. just offering places to look for the weight. i am not a PM for trek in 2017 nor Transition now lol. The modern Treks are about the same weight as the other brands. So they are doing the same heavy carbon ideology. Also how light is your 2017 actually? Because the lightest LT/AM trail bikes right now are like 30lbs as stock builds. Haven't seen a model for enduro-esque riding under 29 in forever. Also a lot of these forks are heavy duty now. The weights for this category right now are like 32.5-37.5 mostly, so probably a 35 average. Again for AM/LT. Some weird designs like Scotts, Bolds, and Spot may get close to 30. And there may be some cheap garbage out there nearing 40. But yeah. 35lbs, whether its heavy carbon or a lighter alloy build.

[@Nicool333]

Am I the only one that prefers 27.5 to 29?

[@BillKnight-tj2rs]

Nope, I’ve been mountain biking for over 20 years and I’m physically incapable of riding a bike with 29” wheels, it just kills the ride

[@crestedbuttetrails3214]

Have a Pivot Shadowcat and absolutely love it uphill and down. 28lbs for 160/140 all day. Bikes have gotten too overbuilt and heavy these days.

[@jarnold1789]

@@BillKnight-tj2rsBit dramatic, eh

[@JustDrinkingCawfee]

Are you guys doing an eMTB field test?

[@lifebehindbarsmtb]

Guess Jeffrey Dahmer glasses are making a comeback

[@jokermtb]

What’s for dinner?

[@crestedbuttetrails3214]

32.3 lbs without pedals is not "pretty light". The industry has lost it with bike weights, especially for women. Unfortunately reviewers have to follow along at risk of not getting bikes to review. Just once, tell me a bike climbs like shit because it's too slack and way too heavy. Thats honest.

[@jarnold1789]

For a 150/160mm bike that’s not bad. It isn’t an xc bike

[@rupps5]

So much vocal fry, I could only watch half the video. Just stop!

[@tinshield]

It’s brutal!

[@bigred805100]

Watching yuppy kids nit pick and talk in circles is exhausting to watch. Im not sure they provided me anything to take away from this.

[@derekbairstow2705]

These guys know their stuff and are great riders but horrible presenters. About as charismatic on screen as a rock. Miss Mike Levy, Christina C should be doing these. Way better on screen.

[@ЕвгенийКраснодар-й9е]

Он в пять раз дороже моего himalo интересно он в 5 раз лучше😂.

[@rebootbfm]

Guyz, make up your mind ! Metric or imperial: you claim travel in metric, milimeters, and weight in imperial, pounds . Is it to hard to claim both ? Get up to ... today ! I bet you cater to a global audience...

[@WesMacaulay]

USA and Canada still use both systems to varying degrees. But it’s still the Americans fault 😜

[@WesMacaulay]

Also this 😂 kzbin.info/www/bejne/gIrUl4l7Ysusoc0

[@rebootbfm]

@WesMacaulay It's not about assigning blame, but about being consistent. Pinkbike, as a media outlet is addressing a global audience and should be more aware of that. As I've said, since travel, reach, chainstay lengths are expressed in metric, how difficult is it to also express the weight in both systems, given the fact that the video graphics showed both systems. Again, consistency & co

[@WesMacaulay]

@@rebootbfmdude did you see the video I linked?

[@rebootbfm]

​@@WesMacaulaydude, where's the link ?

[@bkbroila891]

Personal opinion, i think @transitionbikes dropped the ball by not having a cable actuated GX spec option. Shimano is junk.

[@markusilomaki8922]

Looks like an ebike, does it have a motor?

[@rottieshepcalibre9156]

The large in frame storage makes most modern bikes look ebike

[@jokermtb]

The Relay is the eeb version of