Bike: 2015 Transition Patrol 2
MSRP: $4899
Size Tested: Medium
Bike Weight (as tested): 30.5 lbs
Geometry: (Here)
Complete Build: (Here)
Build Overview:
- Drivetrain: SRAM X1
- Brakes: Shimano SLX
- Fork: RockShox Pike
- Shock: Monarch Plus RC3 Debonair
Wheels: 27.5″
Travel: 155 mm (rear); 160mm (front)
Reviewer Info: 5’9”, 155 lbs.
Test Location: Boulder City, Nevada
Caveat
Interbike’s outdoor demo is located at Bootleg Canyon in Boulder City, Nevada. It’s a fantastic network of trails, and it’s a great escape from that wretched hive of filth and villainy that is Las Vegas.
The trails we spent most of our time on were relatively fast, with a fair amount of sand and some pretty rocky sections.
Having said that…
Riding bikes at a demo is always kind of tricky. For starters, we’re unable to get as much time on each bike as we like–our test durations are measured in minutes and hours, not our preferred time frame of weeks and months. One good ride can tell you a lot about how a bike handles, but it certainly doesn’t allow for the customary, in-depth, Blister analysis.
Demo days also don’t generally permit the time needed to get each bike dialed to our liking. A quick suspension setup and fiddling with the bike’s ergonomics gets it most of the way there, but it takes days to really get everything running just right. Furthermore, differences like tire selection and tire pressure can have a huge effect on how a bike rides, and we generally don’t have the chance to get to tinker with those variables too much.
So while we believe it’s important to be upfront about the limitations of reviewing bikes in such settings, there is also merit in riding a slew of bikes, back to back, on the same trail. Subtle differences that might not become apparent if our test rides happen weeks or months apart are able to come to light, and each bike’s attributes may be more easily identified.
With all that in mind, let’s take a look at the Transition Patrol 2.
Intro
Transition has a good reputation as a rider-owned company that makes solid, reasonably priced bikes that can take some abuse. They don’t make the flashiest, lightest bikes out there, but when I think of Transition, I think of bikes that are designed to be super fun and hold up well.
In years past, most bikes in Transition’s trail bike lineup have been built around a linkage-driven, single-pivot design. The upside to this is that Transition avoids dealing with expensive patents (which can make for expensive bikes), and it means those bikes typically descend really well (though they leave something to be desired on climbs).
For 2015, Transition is rolling out a new line of bikes built around a Horst link rear end mated to a rocker arm that Transition is calling their “GiddyUp” link. The basic linkage layout bears some similarities to bikes like the Norco Range and Specialized Enduro, and Transition’s timing in bringing these bikes to market appears to correlate with the expiration of Specialized’s patent on the Horst / FSR link. (The fact that the Horst link patent is no longer in effect may also explain why we’re starting to see European brands like LaPierre make a push into North America.)
Transition’s precise pivot locations are a bit different than most of the other Horst-link bikes out there, however. Most notably, the Patrol’s bottom bracket, rear pivot, and rear axle are all very close to being in-line. So don’t assume that just because the Patrol is a Horst-link bike, it’ll ride just like those other frames.
The Build
The Patrol has an aluminum frame that comes in three different build configurations. I rode the mid-level Patrol 2, which comes with a nice mix of parts that perform well without jacking the price of the bike way up.
The Patrol 2 is set up with a SRAM X1 drivetrain that functioned flawlessly in my short test, along with some SLX brakes that I think are some of the best stoppers on the market. Suspension was handled by a RockShox Pike up front, and a Monarch RC3 in back. Internal cable routing and a stealth reverb kept everything tidy and clean.
Geometry & Fit
Consistent with today’s trends, the Patrol 2 has a longer front end and a relatively short rear end. The reach on the Medium Patrol 2 I rode is 432 mm (17”), which is fairly long, though not quite as long as some super-stretched out bikes like the Kona Process. The Patrol’s chainstays come in at 430 mm (16.93”), which is pretty short, especially for a bike with 27.5” wheels.
Despite the long-ish reach, the effective top tube on the Patrol is still a fairly modest 583 mm (22.95”), due in part to the relatively steep 75.4° seat tube angle. This layout is somewhat similar to the geometry numbers used by Rocky Mountain, which I’ve found work well for steep climbs, allowing you to keep your weight forward over the front wheel while seated. But, at the same time, the longer reach means the bike doesn’t feel cramped when you’re standing up, bombing down some steep tech.
Transition has also embraced the ongoing trend of slackening head tube angles; the Patrol’s head angle comes in at 65°.
The Ride
Hopping aboard the Patrol 2, despite it’s completely redesigned frame, I still expected it to ride like the Transitions of yore—a bit sluggish while pedaling, but a ton of fun on the way down. However, while pedaling up a short stretch of road to access the trail system at Bootleg Canyon, it was pretty apparent that this wasn’t the case. Even with the shock’s low-speed compression switch wide open in “descend” mode, I would go so far as to say the Patrol felt spritely while cranking up the hill. (Spritely? Yes.)
The Patrol may not be the most efficient bike out there when it comes to pedaling, but it’s pretty good, and actually feels a bit lighter than it is as a result.
On the trail, the Patrol’s handling is on par with the best in the new class of long, low all-mountain bikes (or what some would call Enduro bikes). It’s a long, slack bike that feels like overkill on flatter terrain, but it doesn’t feel overly cumbersome on a standard, ordinary trail with a “regular” amount of pitch.
At moderate speeds, the suspension on the Patrol wasn’t quite as supple as other bikes. However, this may have been addressed with more riding time and fiddling with the shock.
When the going got rough, the Patrol’s suspension felt great. It handles bigger hits with composure, but it never felt wallowy or unsupportive. Like the Devinci Spartan Carbon SX, the Patrol rewarded an active riding style. It pops nicely and likes to be jumped through rock gardens more than plowed into them.
Bottom Line
Some bikes stand out because they do certain things particularly well, and some stand out because they do some things particularly poorly. The Transition Patrol 2 falls in neither group, making it a good one-bike-quiver.
If you’re looking to win a stage on the Enduro World Series or put in a long day of pedaling with substantial climbs, I’d look elsewhere. But if you want a do it all bike in the ~155mm range with a fun, poppy feel, the Patrol 2 is a solid choice.
I learned nothing from this “review”. Might as well just written “Blister reviews an enduro style mountain bike”.
How’d it corner? Did the frame track well? Was it stiff or not-too-stiff? How did the slightly progressive leverage ratio curve compare to the regressive curve of the Covert?
This sort of review I could have written from the press release….
Hey Dan,
You’ve pretty much nailed the limitations of riding a bike for 1 hour in the kitty litter of Bootleg Canyon. How’d it corner? About like every other long, slack bike when thrown into a pile of gravel. That is to say, skittering around on sand isn’t really the best place to get a feel for a bike’s cornering and stiffness traits. The Patrol wasn’t noticeably flexy, but then again, neither was any other comparable bike I rode at Interbike.
Along the same lines – this is a quick overview based on a brief ride of a new bike. In our more in depth reviews, we might wade into rate curves and that type of thing, but that’s beyond the scope of this little write up.
Hopefully we’ll get more time on the bike in the future, but for the time being, this quick write up is the best we can offer.
To add this bike is certainly just as capable of winning a stage in the EWS as a Jeykll, Nomad, Sanction or similar. Have you raced at that level? DO you even know what you are talking about?
Hey Dan,
Sure, the right rider could certainly win an EWS stage on this bike – Mr. Sternberg is obviously trying to. My point, however, was that the Patrol is a bit more well rounded than some of the bikes, like the Sanction, that come across as very purpose built machines. Am I personally going to fare better on the Sanction vs. the Patrol at an EWS event? I have no idea, other than for the fact that I’m sure I’d get my ass kicked on either bike.
Getting back to my point, if I was buying a dedicated bike with the sole purpose of winning enduro races, the Patrol is not the one I’d pick. But if I wanted a well rounded bike that still would do fine in the occasional race, the Patrol is a solid option, and I think that makes it a much more useful bike for most people.
Consider this my request for an in depth review on the Process 111 vs the Smuggler. :D
Noted. And yes – that’d be a good comparison.
Looking at buy either the patrol or the Spartan this year from Ruckus in bc, I’m an aggressive rider that does like big hits. What would be your choice between the two. Did either feel obviously more well rounded? This is a tough choice for me.
Hey Mike,
Both great bikes, for sure. And take this all with the caveat that 1) I don’t have a ton of time on either bike, and 2) this is splitting hairs a bit – the two bikes are fairly similar. I think the Patrol is probably slightly more well rounded, just because it felt a bit more inclined to go uphill efficiently, but ultimately, I put my money on the Spartan (literally; I have one on order… full review to come). The Spartan felt a bit burlier on the way down – it’s still a pretty playful bike, but it’s got more of the “mini-dh” bike thing going on.
Again, splitting hairs, but I’d say if you’re looking for a bike that’ll get used one day for an 8 hour epic ride, and the next day get flogged on DH trails, the Patrol is the better bet. But if you’re looking for something that’s more focused on all out destruction on the way down, even if it gives up a bit of climbing prowess to get there, go with the Spartan.
Thank you for the info, may just have to pull the trigger on that Spartan.