Transition Repeater Powertrain Review: Is Sram Powertrain Any Good?

Today, we've got Brock sharing his ride impression aboard the new Transition Repeater Powertrain. The Repeater PT comes with the new Sram Eagle Powertrain drivesystem with a 90Nm motor, 720Wh battery, and Auto Shift. Is it any good? Stick around to find out.
0:00 Intro
2:16 Ride Impressions - Powertrain
5:20 Ride Impressions - Uphill
6:34 Ride Impressions - Downhill
8:17 Who is the Repeater For?

[@erichbachman7363]

Everytime a vid drops, I have to watch! One of my fav bike review channels! ...Don't let that groundless hate get to you, pretty sure that guy has some flaws aswell...

[@bikersedge]

Hey thanks! Brocks got some thick skin. He can handle a couple of internet ding dongs giving him a hard time.

[@ultimatist]

No, I know that guy and he's LITERALLY PERFECT

[@bikersedge]

@@ultimatist except for the weird warts on his nose.

[@AdventuresWithClair]

Love your reviews, only channel I get notifications on.

[@bikersedge]

Hey thanks!

[@briangong007]

Those Fall colors 😍😍😍

[@bikersedge]

Awesome fall this year

[@chrism2983]

I have a first gen Repeater that I’m really happy with but I’m definitely taking the new one for a ride when my shop gets one in !

[@bikersedge]

We have them to try if you're local.

[@ryanweber8150]

Excellent review. Thanks! I´m mulling this or the first repeater. The huge sales going on right now has me leaning for the latter, but the SRAM PT is tempting. Also, it feels a bit sketchy buying the first iteration of something, which has me hesitating on SRAM PT.

[@bikersedge]

Considering this motor and battery are made by brose I don’t think you have too much to worry about. They’ve made a lot of motors at this point.

[@kjaxsn]

can't unhear the valley gurl vibes

[@brighamyates]

Great Job.

[@bikersedge]

Hey thanks! I’ll let Brock know.

[@JoelZieve]

Great review Brock! Ignore those haters - you don't sound anything like a Valley Girl.

[@bikersedge]

I'll let him know!

[@lach_ness]

Do you know if the Repeater PT is compatible with the Sram range extender? I have previously read that it wasn't but havent been able to confirm...

[@bikersedge]

According to our pals at Transition it does not fit.

[@lach_ness]

Fair enough, seems like a bit of a missed opportunity but I guess the frame design / shock layout just isn't compatible with the size of the range extender by the sounds. I know it has the 720Wh battery already but the thought of 970 would be pretty tempting for those big back country missions!

[@ioannisparaskevopoulos1120]

Would a mullet set up make the bike more nimble and maneuverable? Also, any issues with pedal strikes due to low BBH?

[@bikersedge]

I think that you don’t really get the benefits of MX unless the chainstays also get shorter. If you just put a smaller back wheel in there the wheelbase won’t change. And that’s where the maneuverability comes from. You’d notice a couple of things like the wheel spinning up quicker and not buzzing your butt, but I don’t think it would be more nimble.

[@fabsmf8]

Nice review. Would you say this bike feels like a Spire? Im interested in the Relay but this seems pretty capable.

[@bikersedge]

Unfortunately Brock hasn’t ridden a Spire and I haven’t ridden this. Wouldn’t be able to tell you. Our XL Repeater should be here in a few weeks and I can get an answer for you.

[@geo22003]

@@bikersedge i believe the closest thing to Spire is the Relay...

[@bikersedge]

@@geo22003 potentially. The suspension doesn’t feel very similar between those two though.

[@ChefIan73]

Since this motor is made by Brose is it just the same as what they put in the Specialized Turbo Levo just with SRAM software? If so did you notice any difference in performance relative to that bike? Also why after all this time do you think SRAM just bought someone else’s motor and stuck their logo on it?

[@bikersedge]

Those are good questions that I don't have answers to. We don't carry specialized so I haven't ridden the new Levo - not sure how similar it is. And I'm not sure why Sram didn't build their own system. My only comment there is that maybe they wanted to go with a tried and true system instead of starting from scratch and having to work out all the bugs that can come with a new drivesystem.

[@scottpratico1315]

Fall foliage is dope bro. Fer sure fer sure.

[@bikersedge]

No doubt

[@geo22003]

May i suggest to take some time trails (flow, technical etc) to watch the difference of weight vs power . For example Relay vs Repeater and maybe throw a Spire time just for the fun of it 😉

[@bikersedge]

Not a bad idea at all.

[@catonabike2774]

Relay v. Repeater v. Spire is a comparo that I'd also love to see.

[@klassyken]

Which state was the test ride done in? Utah?

[@bikersedge]

Yes.

[@kayakutah]

Several mentions about how the weight of the bike is a factor (+ or -) but no mention of the weight. Can the 2 modes be modified at all?

[@bikersedge]

We rarely bring up specific weight because we rarely review specific builds. This is a full power ebike that’s going to be in the 50-60lb range depending on size and build. Yes you can customize assistance levels and peak power output.

[@kevinmanzo862]

Similar to the gas gas 🤔

[@bikersedge]

Similar but they ride pretty different.

[@solomtb]

Why some companies still make full on ebikes with 150 rear, it does not make any sense, 170/170 is the way

[@bikersedge]

I get that to a degree. Although I do think that you can add about 10-20mm to the actual travel number because e-bikes tend to ride bigger. At some point an ebike can be too cumbersome and difficult to unweight.

[@ultimatist]

@@bikersedge 160-170 progressive coil is the sweet spot for me. What are your thoughts on the need for 27.5 rears on ebikes for guys over 6'? If you're not buzzing your ass, I'm doubting the "smaller feel" is that substantial.

[@turner02]

is this what mountain biking has become? ebikes? really? eff ebikes

[@stevecabrera6718]

You sound just like everyone who was against 29ers and suspension hahah

[@Mockle07]

😢😢😢😢

[@hudsonquay]

I was skeptical initially, but realised it meant I could access terrain I wouldn't otherwise. I also ride my bike way more now, sometimes you just can't be arsed grinding up a mountain. I live next to a 500m hill with loads of trails that doesn't have any uplift. With the e-bike I don't think twice about going up at lunch, I even tow my kid up too!

[@GhulamHussain-uk3im]

The only thing holding me back is the S Mag motor, I'm not convinced the belt is fit for purpose @ 90nm. That said, if you consider the Brose motor roadmap i.e. their development of the Brose Drive 3 system (releases 2024) which ditches the belt and provides 410% assistance plus 814w battery. That's the game changer for me. So I'm holding back until SRAM adopts the new Brose Drive3 system as their new powertrain.

[@robbief1]

Brose not openly talking about how they are addressing the hideous failure rates is really holding me back on this (Or any Brose powered) bike. It's a shame.

[@fleetgt]

450 chainstays. ”Planted" is the new trend. Hopefully someone makes playful e bike again.

[@bikersedge]

On a 29” ebike it’s tough to get the chain stays under 450. The motor takes up a bunch of space. That’s why so many emtbs are mullet.

[@fleetgt]

@@bikersedge the motor that is in front of the bb?

[@bikersedge]

@@fleetgt not really sure what you’re saying here. All the mid drive motors go around the “spindle” with quite a bit of mass behind the BB. Some have rear mounting points that get pretty rearward. Combine that with the linkage, and all the normal bike parts and you end up having to make the chainstays a little longer than a pedal bike. It’s just a matter of space really.