[Closed] Mini review - Transition Smuggler

Its a beautiful looking bike. When I was deciding between the scout and patrol I did have thoughts about this and running 27.5+.

Transition have created a fantastic range of bikes that as you say are "destined for greatness".

My scout had no problems handling the terrain on the last few pmba enduros, can't say the same about its rider 🙂

My XL came in at 31.5 lbs if I recall correctly. Think someone on mtbr weighed the XL frame in at 7lb 12ozs so it isn't light, but then it is very big! Transition dropping lots of hints about carbon option in the future in a recent Pinkbike Q&A 🙂

Mine has been fantastic over the last few months since building it up. Not sure of the weight but it doesnt seem to slow me down. Next years colour will be fantastic, shame I didnt wait a year. No carbon for smuggler from what I hear.There is going to be carbon in the range but think more enduro.

Personally I dont think carbon versions of the current range will be worth the additional cost for the average UK rider (unless doing full on enduro or competing). But Im sure there will be some wanting to go carbon, just like the previous covert buyers.

All up though the smuggler is VERY good. At least on a par with the Spec Camber EVO.

Nice colour...

I just couldn't justify the eye-watering price of a carbon frame such as a Tallboy LT or The Following, attractive as those frames are. Bigjim - I'm thinking mine is probably around that sort of weight too - not too surprising, as its a big frame (in XL)

Just waiting on some LB carbon rims to arrive then building them up, as I'm currently borrowing the wheels off my FF29. The Arch EX/Pro2 are fine, but its a PITA having to change out the axle adapters when swapping between bikes.

The pedalling position feels quite strange at first, especially with such a slack headangle and sitting low as it does. The crazy thing is I'm beating my old PBs up climbs I was doing on my FF29, which I think is a pretty rapid bike. I am having to force the gears a little though, as running 1x10 with 30-36 as my lowest gear is in effect a longer gear than I was running on the Mega. Can't wait for 11speed XT to arrive!

This looks great - thanks for the review.

Waiting on a 2016 Scout here. 🙂

They do make a good lookign frame, Transition. The simplicity - one colour, one logo - does help a lot

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Slightly better pic here - prize if you can spot the car park 😉

Good looking bike.

I've just been riding a mid-travel 29er round the NW Highlands and loving it.

Did bring my freemince bike out for Fort Bill though!

Thanks for the review so far - I'm looking at an additional bike to sit alongside my Yeti ArcC and this is ticking a lot of boxes for me. You've really helped me place it at the top of the current list as I want a 29er that is fun to ride, but I don't want masses of travel. Only issue for me is on the weight as I do love a nice light bike!

The exact frame I'm considering!

OP: Where are you based?

I would love to sling a leg over an XL one....

(Currently riding an XL 2Souls Quarterhorse that I'm going to put up FS soon)

I'm in Monifieth, Angus BTW.

Long shot, but I'm in Dalbeattie from tomorrow until Sunday riding the trails around the area.

Adp79, why are you selling the quarter horse? Just fancy a change or is it not what you'd hoped? Had my eye on one for a bit, and also quite taken with this smuggler. Nice to see some good looking XL bikes!

Interesting review. Thanks.

Have they announced new colours then?

I'm amazed that the smuggler climbs faster than the FF29. I had an FF29 for a while. Too twitchy on the downs for a mincer like me, but boy did it climb well. Even allowing for a bit of new bike enthusiasm it's impressive that you are matching your times on FF29 going up. I guess they dis a good job with that suspension.

Alan - based in Aberdeenshire, so not too far away from you I guess. Welcome to sling a leg over sometime. Drop me a mail.

I've heard that the 2016 colour is going to be orange, the same as the Patrol, I think.

I was expecting it to be about the same as the Mega going down, but marginally slower climbing than the FF29. Comparing previous PBs though, on sustained climbs around here (Bennachie/Maidens Causeway and Gordon Way), I'm going from 18-20 mins, to doing the climbs in around 15 mins. Descents-wise: previous PB (riding the Mega) on Rocky Horror Show off Mither Tap was 4:30, which dropped to 4:05, then 3:50 on this thing.

NB. I hope that doesn't come across as willy-waving, more to give you an idea of the increase in speed I'm seeing.

I seem to be going up hills fast on my Smuggler but pretty sure it's because I've had to mtfu to get up some of them on 1x10. I'm used to a lighter bike, am now used to the weight of this one but would still welcome a lighter carbon version for sure. Tallboy LTc geo isn't comparable and the Following for me just isn't an option living in Scotland and I think it's just a bit ugly.

New colours are rumoured on mtbr, from memory orange and black, but could be totally wrong!

It's a very good looking bike for an XL 29er, no farm gate effect.

Looks like a Pyga, and very similar intent / geometry I reckon

Jim - have you found any issues with it overall though? I've only ridden it for the last few weeks, so very much getting used to it.

One thing I did think could have been better is the area directly behind the lower shock mount, which acts as a collecting bowl for mud. That could maybe be improved upon.

I was also thinking about a Kona Process 111, but the aesthetics of this won me over.

Are there any rubber grommets where the cable goes into the top tube? I'm wondering hgow it will cope with months of rain and bein hosed down. Will it fill with water?

Orange though? They know my weak point 🙂

Thanks for the nice write up. Also considering one of these but had pretty much written it off as it only has 115mm of rear travel, especially as it needs 33% sag. Was ideally looking for around 130mm so currently looking at the Trek Remedy or the Spesh Stumpjumper.

Do you do much jumping on it? i'd like it to handle 3-4 feet drops but i'm not sure the 77mm of travel (after the sag point) would handle this well.

Looks like a Pyga, and very similar intent / geometry I reckon

Basically MOAR ENDURO.

Looks a good bike, trying to find reasons not to buy one (even though the main reason is I have no money).

Wonder if pedals in edinburgh still have that medium demo one available

Paul - comparing to my Mega (150mm travel - 26" bike), this feels about the same, if not slightly more travel. Not done any big jumps on it yet (too much of a mincer), but hitting the final jump at speed on Stage 4 at Glenlivet felt quite big, then riding the WC track at Fort Bill on Sunday, riding down the wall, then the final jumps to the finish are around 3 ft maybe with fairly flat landings. It felt really nice on those - didn't blow through the travel, just nicely controlled with the o-ring resting about 1-2mm from the end of the shock.

As for the short CS, I had assumed I'd need a new chain, switching over from a Large Mega to this, but it's fine.

Pyga head angle would be pretty similar with a 140mm fork on it - think 69 degree is with 120 mm

Probably right. The full bike comes with a 130 Pike, so I guess I've slackened it slightly, as well as raised the BB (by a mm or two). I thought I'd try it at 140, see how it rolls before dropping it down any.

Thanks Gavin. In fairness, I probably need a test ride. I'm coming from a 26in Commencal Meta SL with 120mm at the rear and 150 up front. I want a little more travel but not much really.

If & when they make a carbon version of this, I may struggle not to buy one.

Will it fill with water

No, there is a cable exit point right at the bottom of the downtube

Jim - have you found any issues with it overall though?

The only problem I've had since April is whilst there is loads of lateral tyre clearance, some very tall tyres like my WTB Vigilante rub the seatstay bridge, it's a known issue and one they are going to address in the future. Most tyres are OK though.

One thing I did think could have been better is the area directly behind the lower shock mount, which acts as a collecting bowl for mud. That could maybe be improved upon.

it's fine, coming from a Yeti the mud clearance is fantastic to me anyway.

Wonder if pedals in edinburgh still have that medium demo one available

Not sure, pretty sure they had at least one frame in the shop last week though.

Mine in its natural habitat:

[img] [/img]

Pyga head angle would be pretty similar with a 140mm fork on it - think 69 degree is with 120 mm

So basically the Smuggler is slacker, longer and lower. So only similar in travel length and wheelsize.

Not knocking the Pyga I hear good things, but they seem quite different bikes when you look at the angles on each.

@Gavinb
I'd missed this thread until your comment in the Following thread.

Very nice bike and good owners perspective review/viewpoint.

Cheers Jim - that sounds great. I'm running a 2.25 Ardent on the back at the moment, and likely to stick with that or a 2.3 Schwalbe HD, but good to know.

Roverpig - I've just checked, and apart from the exit for the cables, there is also a BB drain hole.

[URL= http://i1245.photobucket.com/albums/gg594/Headangle/5cc36071-10eb-4d14-87bb-2771177aaef1_zpsxuhflyxl.jp g" target="_blank">http://i1245.photobucket.com/albums/gg594/Headangle/5cc36071-10eb-4d14-87bb-2771177aaef1_zpsxuhflyxl.jp g"/> [/IMG][/URL]

Thanks. So it fills up, but it drains out again 🙂

Seriously, I can't really see a problem there. My Five has a hole on the inside of the swingarm and water comes out when I hang it back up after a wet ride or a wash. Never been a problem though.

A proper threaded BB shell too. Well done Transition.

Yup, the threaded BB was another reason why I really liked the look of this. Keeps the options wide open for cranks and nice and easy to replace/service.

[b]GavinB:[/b]

Thanks, I will be in touch.

Do you ever ride Pitfichie? - Could maybe meet there sometime?

[b]TomB:[/b]

I'm having back trouble & really don't want to shelf MTB all together, so I want to try another full sus.

Bloody awesome bike. Nice choice. I reckon they could take 1lb out of that frame and it would still feel bomb-proof, though.

Alan - yes, it's just nearby, so ride there every few weeks. Drop me a line when you think you'll be in the area.

Bigjim!

Post that Lomond picture on our FB so we can share it, it's ace!

We have one more Smuggler frame available for this year, medium Teal. As above, they are great bikes. I am PB'ing left right and centre 😉

We don't run a Smuggler demo at the moment but are for next year. In store Smuggler, Patrol AND Scout demo bikes for 2016.

If are after our last Smuggler get in touch. Lots of pictures on our facebook:

[url=

Bike Care Facebook[/url]

So when will the 2016 frames start shipping the 🙂

We don't know. Given they have mostly sold out world over they will be keen to get them back out ASAP, so I would take a guess at some point between September and November with all the production time + shipping.

We have one more Smuggler frame available for this year, medium Teal.

Hmmmm buy the last one or wait and see what new colours they bring out.....

Bungalistic - call us for a chat. Some things just can't be said in public 😀

Bigjim, why isn't the Following an option for Scotland?

Bigjim, why isn't the Following an option for Scotland?

Just my opinion, based on most rides being muddy for maybe 3/4 of the year, some horrifically so, to me there just looks to be too many areas that would hold and fill with mud, and general faff around the swingarm and shock linkage, and an awful lot of bushes or pivot bearings to replace.

In the pic below, those gaps between the seat tube and large flat panels of the swingarm are just going to fill up, and forward of the seat tube just seems a bit of a bucket for mud in which the shock and linkages sit. Also I'm not sure you could design in more pivot points if you tried.

Anyway I don't want this thread to diverge into another Following thread, there are enough of those already, so lets stop there. Also I am not a bike journalist, nor a rad top level endooro rider, so my comments are moot 😉

[img] [/img]

[img] [/img]

We don't know

Hmmmm. Perhaps optimistically, Hong Kong distributor is saying end August. That may simply be a lie.

🙂

Has anybody used a 2.3 Maxxis in the back of one of these? No rubbing?

End of August + 5-6 weeks on a boat lands in the UK sometime between September-November?

2.3 Maxxis will be fine I think. It's only really tall tyres that have an issue, so the 2.3 Vigilante scuffs (only just, I ran a worn one off my old Phantom for a month) now using a 2.4 Trailboss with plenty of room.

Thanks, Bigjim. That makes sense now you've explained it!

I don't want this thread to diverge into another Following thread

Quite right! This is a Transition love-in 😀

I've not found mud to be a big issue up here though, although if I was still living in the Peak I might be a little bit nervous running a The Following (that sounds silly, doesn't it) through the gloop.

an awful lot of bushes or pivot bearings to replace.

Ah I see, that's not so bad then. I would worry about small stones and mud grinding away between the carbon faces on the swingarm and seat tube though.

Also I am not a bike journalist, nor a rad top level endooro rider, so my comments are moot

Hear hear! 😉

Looks rather nice I must say. Considered the Smuggler for a while, it looks like it should be a great bike to ride. Had a chat at Hopton on Monday with a guy riding a Scout, he was very complimentary about it.

FWIW my Following has already had an outing in some pretty horrific mud with 2.3" tyres still fitted, and the outcome wasn't as bad as I/you/the Internet may have feared! That said, I ride a HT on my local trails for 4-6 months of the year anyway, as there's no benefit to a full Sus round here when it's muddy.

Enjoy your new bike! It seems slightly less "Marmite" than mine at least...

Enjoy yours too! Sounds amazing.

Good review Gav and from experience of mine I agree. Had mine about 2 months and I have been surprised at how it climbs and how well it descends for such small travel.
Its my first fs 29er, and bought it after riding my Longitude for a few months and realising that 29er was for me. Never rode my full sus (Mega/Fritzz/Hustler) round our local woods as they always felt like overkill but the Smuggler is all I have ridden since I got it and I think the short travel helps with that.
Built up my Large frame with Pikes, WTB Frequency rims on Hopes, Middleburn cranks, Carbon Renthal bars, SLX Brakes and a non-dropper Thomson post and it is 30lb 7oz according to the Park scales in the LBS, probably lightest FS Ive had.
Best thing about it, its doesn't look like a 29er... mate on a ride says "Cant believe you've gone to 650b, thought you'd be 26 forever"
"Its a 29er"
"Is it??"

Good review this- I was looking for something similar last year, ended up buying a Devinci Atlas Carbon, which gave me a very similar experience as a first full-sus 29er, as a ride which is very capable downhill and in the tight stuff, but really light and efficient for longer rides.

The Devinci has a similar BB height and short rear stays. It has 110mm of rear travel, which has also felt enough in rough terrain. The head angle of the Smuggler is considerably slacker though. I'm running 120mm SIDs on mine, as it is my 'XC' bike, but I could build it with 130-140mm Pikes if i wanted burlier.

As I have a Yeti SB66 as well, I prefer the Devinci as a lighter trail bike, but if I was to have only one bike, the Smuggler would be ideal. Cable routing is much better too, as is the threaded BB...!

Edit- and I've also had the same comments- people thinking it was 650b until I told them!

Good [url= http://www.vitalmtb.com/photos/features/How-To-Get-The-Most-Out-Of-Your-RockShox-Suspension,9020/Slideshow,0/bturman,109 ]Rockshox piece on suspension setup over on Vital[/url]. They used the Smuggler as the test sled for all the journos to test out different settings, then chucked it down various runs at Whistler. Who said 29ers were for XC mincers 😆

Well, I guess the person who was asking if it was ok on 3-4 ft drops should be happy now, seeing as it was used to smash out run after run on Whistler Bike Park. Some good notes there - I've added one extra token already, as I was finding it running through the travel on the fork too easily, even at correct pressure and quite a lot of LSC added. The extra token seems to have worked nicely, so I'm now running just a few clicks of LSC, but it holds up enough under heavy braking and still uses all the travel on the biggest hits.

Not played around with the shock yet though, so may try to get myself a nice evening to work on that.

I don't think there is an answer to questions about riding 3-4 foot drops, BMXers happily land bigger drops than that to concrete all day. I've ridden 2-3 foot max on my Smuggler and it was fine, but I've also ridden them on my hardtail which was also fine, just with more swearing.

Tenacious D

The large sold?

Yes, sorry that was me (funnily enough after CharlieM's comments its replacing a Pyga OneTen).

Hopefully another Smuggler out on Deeside / Ballater / Cairngorm trails this weekend.

HOLY SMUGGLER BATMAN! STOP PRESS!

The medium Smuggler is now reserved BUT -

We have just managed to secure another large Teal. The holy grail, the ever wanted frame, the unobtainium.

Just don't ask who we had to kill to get it.

So then if anyone wants a Large Teal Smuggler we will have one as of tomorrow. And this really is the last one, we mean it this time. Honest. No Really.

[img] [/img]

Just wondering how you guys are getting on with your Smugglers. Has the honeymoon effect worn off yet?

I think the new models were released over the weekend, but there don't seem to be many firm details out there yet. It looks as though they raised the BB by 4mm and increased the rear tyre clearance (by moving the bridge up a bit and dropping the rear travel to 110mm). Most importantly it now comes in safety orange. Not sure if there were any other changes and I doubt that anybody has ridden the new version yet.

Still digging mine!

Liking mine, looks and rides lovely

Thanks. Anything you don't like though? For example, would you prefer to have the option to run a 2x setup for longer days out? Are pedal strikes driving you mad? etc.

Still loving it, ace bike.

Not too sure where this drop to 110 rear travel is coming from, all of the information we have states staying at 115.

BB 5mm higher (should be good, I am running 140mm forks to do the same thing)
Improved tyre clearance
More progressive shock tune.

Orange.

[url= http://pedalsbikecare.co.uk/2016-transition-bikes-frames-preview/ ]2016 Transition Preview[/url]

Not too sure where this drop to 110 rear travel is coming from, all of the information we have states staying at 115.

Sorry, that was my mistake. There was a thread over on MTBR yesterday saying that it had dropped to 110mm and speculating that this was to accommodate a raising of the bridge (for improved tyre clearance). But I see that there has now been a post from Transition Bikes on that thread confirming that it is staying at 115mm. Not many other details though, which is strange as I thought they were launching the new models at Crankworx last weekend.

Their new website will go live over the next few days with everything except the 'new' bike, which is being shown at Eurobike I think.

Do you do much jumping on it? i'd like it to handle 3-4 feet drops but i'm not sure the 77mm of travel (after the sag point) would handle this well.

It will be fine, how do you think people jump hardtails with zero rear travel?!.....

Lovely bike by the way, I really like the mismatched travel thing that lots of the manufacturers are doing now.
It's like they've finally realised that not everyone wants to wallow around in 160mm of rear travel, it's like pedalling through treacle on most of the ones I've tried recently....if I was buying a trail full-suss at the moment this would be on the shortlist with the Mega-TR, Orange Segment, On-One Codeine etc....fun, burly and aggro up front but taut and efficient out back....like a reverse mullet if you like?!

Smuggler is party up front, business out back.

I do get a lot of pedal strikes but I run big flat pedals on 175 cranks. When funds allow I might get some 170 crunks. The bike I had before also had a low bb so I'm used to it.

i'd like it to handle 3-4 feet drops but i'm not sure the 77mm of travel (after the sag point) would handle this well.

Have a look at the videos on the Transition website. They are riding quite aggressively over some technical terrain and the bikes seem to cope fine. Short of using it regularly for DH I think the bike will be fine with what you throw at it.

What fork travel up front are people running??
I've preordered a 16 frame, thinking of a Pike up front with either 130 or 140 travel. I think the bike comes specced with 130, but I'm tempted to try the Megavalanche next year, so leaning more towards 140. I know the Scout etc might be a better bike for the mega, bla bla, but I think the smuggler would be a better all round weapon for the kind of riding that I do. And that fact that I already have two 29ers 😆 .

Cheers!

Reading around, a lot of people seem to be running a 140mm fork on the Mk1 bike, but the BB has been raised by 5mm on the Mk2, so I think I'd be tempted to stick with the recommended 130mm if it were me.

Right. Didn't think that would make a huge amount of difference? 10mm extra travel is about 3-4 mm extra BB height maybe? Mainly concerned with steering characteristics.

You could be right. I wasn't basing my comment on anything more than the fact that the BB was a bit higher now so I'm not sure I'd want to make it higher still. But it may be just fine.

Steering would be a bit slower (slacker HA), but whether you'd notice probably depends more on how sensitive you are to such things. Are you going for a 51mm offset fork?

Probably no right or wrong.

Are you going for a 51mm offset fork?

Not sure tbh. Ive spent most my time on XC race type bikes (apart from 6 weeks on a DH bike in Whistler), so I imagine non offset might be best for me, apart from 6 weeks on a DH bike in Whistler. Any suggestions there?

I have a 140mm MRP Stage, but it is closer to the length of a 130mm Pike, or I'd have it at 130

Not sure tbh. Ive spent most my time on XC race type bikes (apart from 6 weeks on a DH bike in Whistler), so I imagine non offset might be best for me, apart from 6 weeks on a DH bike in Whistler. Any suggestions there?

Again, I'm not sure there is really a right answer, but the bike was designed around a fork with 51mm offset. If you use a fork with less offset (46mm used to be the standard for 29ers, but 51mm is getting more common) that will slow the steering down too. Using a fork that's 10mm longer than the designers intended may not make much difference. Using a fork with 7mm less offset may not make much difference. Doing both may make a difference, but as I say, it depends how sensitive you are to such things.

I'm running 140mm Pikes, although had forecast that I would fettle them down to 130 as that is what is spec'd on the full builds. 2 months in, and I'm keeping them at 140, as nothing feels compromised and it climbs and descends exactly as I want it to.

Good to hear Gav.