Issue #036, Review - December 21, 2018

Transition Sentinel Review

On paper, the Transition Sentinel is very similar to the competition in terms of travel and weight. In practice, however, the other bikes were not able to keep up – at least on steep descents.

For an overview of the test fleet head to the group test: The best trail bike you can buy

**Transition** Sentinel | 160/140 mm (f/r) | 13.92 kg | € 6,399

“Are you sure the Sentinel is the right bike for this test?” We had to ask Transition this question when they said they’d send us the Sentinel for the group test. They were sure! With 160 mm of travel at the front, 140 mm at the rear and its long and slack “Speed Balanced Geometry”, it resembles an enduro bike. The geometry consists of a long front triangle with a slack head angle, shortened fork offset and short chainstays, intended to give the bike optimum handling both at high speed and in technical terrain. When it comes to the spec, the American brand relies on proven technology. The FOX Performance Elite suspension, as well as the SRAM X01 drivetrain and the Stan’s Flow MK III wheels, leave nothing to be desired. The package is rounded off with a short 40 mm ANVL stem that clamps to an 800 mm wide ANVL carbon bar.

Where other bikes reach their limits, the Sentinel only just gets going.

The Transition Sentinel in detail

Fork FOX 36 Grip 2 Performance Elite 160 mm
Schock FOX DPX2 Performance Elite 140 mm
Brakes SRAM CODE RSC 180/180 mm
Drivetrain SRAM XO1 Eagle
Seatpost RockShox Reverb Stealth 170 mm
Stem ANVL Swage 40 mm
Handlebar ANVL Mandrel Alloy 800 mm
Wheelset Stan’s Flow MK3 Team
Tires MAXXIS Minion DHF/DHR II
Weight 13.92 kg
Price € 6,399

**Very pretty**
The finish and the flowing lines of the Transition Sentinel are beautiful.

**Top performance**
The FOX 36 Performance Elite convinces with excellent riding characteristics. Transition uses a model with a shortened offset, which makes the bike easier to handle despite the slack head angle.

**Roomy**
The 170 mm RockShox Reverb dropper seatpost gives you plenty of room to move on the bike. The only thing better than a long dropper seatpost is an even longer one – provided your legs are long enough.

**Practical**
Transition routes the brake line on the outside of the frame. This makes replacing the brakes for a service a lot easier, as the brake hoses can stay attached to the calliper and the brake lever.

Geometry of the Transition Sentinel

Size	S	M	L	XL
Seat tube	360 mm	400 mm	440 mm	490 mm
Top tube	568 mm	593 mm	622 mm	650 mm
Head tube	100 mm	100 mm	110 mm	120 mm
Head angle	64°	64°	64°	64°
Seat angle	77.5°	77.5°	77.5°	77.5°
Chainstay	435 mm	435 mm	435 mm	435 mm
BB Drop	30 mm	30 mm	30 mm	30 mm
Wheelbase	1193 mm	1218 mm	1247 mm	1277 mm
Reach	425 mm	450 mm	475 mm	500 mm
Stack	617 mm	617 mm	626 mm	635 mm

**Helmet** Specialized Ambush
**Glasses** Smith Barra | **Backpack** EVOC STAGE 12 l | **Jersey** 100% Celium Jersey | **Short** 100% Celium Short | **Shoes** Specialized 2FO Flat

The Transition Sentinel on the trail

After only a few meters of climbing onboard the Transition Sentinel, it becomes clear that the bike is a little slower than the rest of the test field. Although it climbs well, it doesn’t seem as lively as its competitors. The seating position is central, the suspension is efficient and yet the bike appears minimally slower overall. It doesn’t exactly motivate you to sprint, but it will get you the trail-head comfortably and consistently. In tight technical sections, the front wheel tends to want to topple over, mainly due to the slack head angle.
The slight sluggishness of the bike is felt on the trail too. The Transition only really comes to life when you get into very fast descents. The bike performs excellently on steep tracks: it feels very balanced and instils you with confidence to charge on like never before. Its suspension easily absorbs rock gardens, roots, and ruts while offering sufficient support. However, when you’re riding on flatter more flowing trails, the Sentinel quickly becomes bored and you’ll feel it in the handling. In these situations, it requires an active riding style and a lot of input from the rider to get around corners. You’ll also have to work a bit to get it off the ground. In tight sections, the Sentinal requires you to use your weight to muscle it around turns.

**Tuning tip:** larger brake rotors at the front

Conclusion

On demanding trails, the Transition Sentinel leaves its competition in a cloud of dust. For those who really like it hard and have a strong urge to go as fast as possible, this is the bike. Considering how well it descends, this bike is not bad at climbing either. However, if you value balanced, playful handling, it’s better to look elsewhere – the Transition Smuggler could be an exciting alternative.