[Closed] New Sentinel Day

Ooh that’s a looker! Still wants sentinel even though it’s probably not the bike I need!

I reckon it's the bike I need about 60% of the time but it's pretty great for the other 40% as well! Brink have a few frames on sale right now...

If it was mine I couldn't resist colour matching the fork decals.

The fork decals are massively f**ed from a few offs but apart from that I kind of like the way the colours go already. What would you have, gold-ish fox logos like this?

Awesome, nice colour!

Tick.

I want to hear all about this. Probably more bike than 8 need, but it's one of the few frames that calls to me right now.

I’m exactly there @onzadog
I just feel I’m a bit between sizes. My head says medium would feel too cramped pedalling and large is the same size as my meta am so although it would fit it wouldn’t tick the I want something shorter boxes!

I love my sentinal - probably more bike than I need, but it climbs as well as a XC bike and goes down hill like a loon. What's not to love?

Tick.

I want to hear all about this. Probably more bike than 8 need, but it’s one of the few frames that calls to me right now.

First impressions are very positive!

I read someone describe how they were overshooting landings their first time on a Sentinel and I definitely had that experience too, it really boosts jumps nicely.

Downhill it is great, that head angle has a noticeable affect on stability and confidence in steep sections. One other fun thing I found out riding back from the trails on the road is that it was extremely easy to track stand with a slack head angle!

I thought I’d be looking to switch to a coil shock and I’m only one ride in but so far I’m really happy with the X2. Not sure if it’s the shock or the suspension design (probably both) but it has a really nice plush feel off the top and then a lot of pop off jumps too. I didn’t miss the Ohlins coil I’ve come from although I will say my first ride was not especially rowdy.

I was pleasantly surprised by climbing and traversing. It’s not an XC whip but I was expecting a lot more compromise here than I found. It was very easy to spin up the hill and perfectly fine zipping along on flatter sections, it probably helps that the build is a little lighter and that I’m on that air shock. I didn’t find myself flicking the X2’s climb lever except to try it out.

The build was almost entirely with parts donated from my Jeffsy, I only needed a new BB, headset (they take the same size but I was running an angle adjust) and a new dropper (because the sentinel can take more drop). I weighed it at 14.8kg (32lbs 9oz) with pedals and a tannus insert in the back.

One thing I’m going to keep an eye on is pedal strikes - I’m running a 175mm crankset and I know they’re specced with 170mm. I’ll see how this goes - The Jeffsy actually has a slightly lower BB on paper so maybe I’m already used to it!

I’m exactly there @onzadog
I just feel I’m a bit between sizes. My head says medium would feel too cramped pedalling and large is the same size as my meta am so although it would fit it wouldn’t tick the I want something shorter boxes!

At 6”1 I was between a L and XL. I went with L because it was more similar in fit to my previous bike and because I wanted to maintain some agility. The ETT did seem a little closer pedalling around the garden but it disappeared as soon as I set out on a ride and I’m happy with the sizing.

Interesting comments on the sizing. At around 5'10", I've always been on that medium/large cusp for everything.

Although I reckon the reach in the medium would be ample, and more than I have now, I was thinking the ett would push me up to the large.

Only a small point, but I think the large us so long, it won't fit 8n a Buxum Bike Box.

Really nice that!

Are you using short offset forks as per Transitions builds? On their website they are quite dismissive of using a 'regular' offset, as its all part of the SBG concept.

Interesting comments on the sizing. At around 5’10”, I’ve always been on that medium/large cusp for everything.

Although I reckon the reach in the medium would be ample, and more than I have now, I was thinking the ett would push me up to the large.

You’re welcome to have a sit on mine if you happen to be anywhere near Maidenhead.

Are you using short offset forks as per Transitions builds? On their website they are quite dismissive of using a ‘regular’ offset, as its all part of the SBG concept.

Yes. Happily my previous bike also used a 44mm offset fork - a part of what pushed me to go ahead was how few new parts I’d need to put it together!

Very nice!

I've got a V1 Sentinel and totally love it - suits my wants/needs/compromises perfectly and couldn't see myself wanting a new bike for a good few years... and then the V2 came out! I thought the V1 was a nice looking bike but the colour and the sharper lines of the V2 are drool worthy, enjoy!

It’s perfect because if you want to justify keeping the V1 then the V2 only has small geometry changes. If you want to justify upgrading then the V2 has big suspension and looks changes!

I love the look of the V2 but I also really like the swoopy lines of the V1 👌

Quick question: assuming you have the rear brake on the right, how are you routing the hose? I have a new hose kit sat here with the idea that I’ll cross it over the downtube and then be able to tie it together with the dropper cable up front. I’m a bit torn though, I think my current routing is cleaner on the downtube but messier in the cockpit and the other way would look weird on the downtube but cleaner in the cockpit.

I’m sure there is a more first world problem than this, I just can’t think of it right now.

Laaaarvely. If I were in the market, I'd definitely be looking at one of these. Well done for getting the correct colour too.

It was a close call on the colour, changed my mind after placing the order and glad I did.