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Tell me about the sentinel. I'm thinking of the NX spec one.
I tend to do alot of miles on one bike with a good chunk of road riding in between the bits, part of the loop i do is a DH track.
How do you think the sentinel would fit the bill? Currently i have the boardman FS pro which struggles a bit on the very steep stuff (climbing or descending as it happens)
I have a nukeproof scout which works very well but some of my route really demands for a full sus
The Sonder Ti looks pretty smart!
Sentinel is a good bike, couple of little niggles, but no deal breakers - I had one & would happy have another with a bit of set up.
The NX build (assuming NX Eagle) is going to be one big, fat heffer though.
its 1 x11
i guess there would be better cassette i can swap it with? (the cassette is the only heavy bit right?)
I assume its a shimano fitment cassette?
Wouldn't worry about it, you arn't going to turn a Sentinel into a sub 30lb bike anyway.
In the tradition of recommending what you have, Giant Trance 29er. Had mine since the end of October - not as slack or as long travel as a Sentinel but it certainly punches above its weight. Can't recommend it highly enough so far
As received mine weighed 28.1lbs without pedals, it's now 31lbs dead because I hate punctures and have fitted cushcore and a DD HRII on the back and a Conti Der Baron Projekt on the front.
how heavy is it from the factory (the sentinel, not the trance 😉 )
Review on Pinkbike says 32lbs for a large - https://www.pinkbike.com/news/transition-sentinel-review-2017.html
smuggler.
32lbs doesn't sound bad for a large? Thats with tubes right?
The smuggler has a 66 degree head angle?
Didn't say if it was tubeless or not, but it was a better spec build than the NX one I think. Smuggler is a capable bike too and it's pretty slack for a short travel 29er. I'd say mine weighs in around 32lbs for an average build (no fancy carbon parts).
32lbs doesn’t sound bad for a large? Thats with tubes right?
That's the XO1 spec build.
Their website suggests just over 15kg plus pedals. So, 34/35lbs in reality.
Mine was just under 33lbs in a higher spec build that the XO1 bike with pedals.
are the tyres DD?
I wouldn't fancy doing many road miles on a sentinel. I've got a bird AM9, which is a similar sort of thing, and while it is fantastic on fast and/or steep tracks, it's a bit much on XC rides, let alone the road.
Standard EXO tyres.
Also wouldn't want to be doing many (any) road miles when I had my Sentinel or it's replacement (Raaw).
I grumble enough about being on the road to get to the woods on my 26lb Fuel EX.
How does the new Cotic Rocketmax compare price-wise?
I'd deffo want to demo one of those if I was buying again now. All the other Cotic FS bikes I've ridden have tended to pedal quite well.
Either that or the Sentinel will be a huge difference to the Boardman FS though!
I tested a sentinel and wasn’t too impressed. I thought it went up hill well but I just didn’t get on with it generally riding it around. It just sort of didn’t make me stokedto be riding.
The rocketmax however was incredible! A lot of bike though for general riding but Cy reckons he rides his everywhere so it’s doable. The FlareMax felt crazy capable but I think you would have to be a bit more accurate with it and not smash through stuff like on the rocketmax. I’m keen to look at the bird am9 and Commencal meta 29
I've got a Flare Max non-Longshot and my mates got a flare Max, again, non-longshot and it compared very favourably to bike at over twice their price...I've done a back to back with an SC Hightower and I'd say my mates Flare Max pipped it. I've not ridden a Sentinel so can't comment on that, but there was something on here a week or so ago on Sentinels and someone was saying there are issues with cable routing and fitting in larger volume tyres so if that is an issue then might not be the bike for you. I like Transitions, I had a Covert 29 for 4 years and it never let me down...a bit heavy and rugged, but bulletproof too.
I think the Flare Max is perfectly capable of 'smashing' through stuff. It's a Cotic and designed to be ridden hard in the Peaks, I don't think Cotic make a 'delicate' bike. My mate is running 140mm forks on his and it sees regular uplift days and alot of abuse, likewise my RocketMax...moreso from our lack of skills rather than our abundance of them so arguably much harder on the bikes compared to a skilled pro who might be going alot faster, but hitting all the right lines, judging all the jumps to perfection and generally doing it properly and with finesse and smoothness rather than our steamroller approach to stuff.
Got a test ride on a Longshot RocketMax coming up so looking forward to that.
Sorry I didn’t mean the flaremax couldn’t smash through stuff, just that it was a bit more light and nimble. I thought it rewarded a good line choice rather than being a bulldozer if you know what I mean. I had a transition patrol on order but am holding off as the rocketmax was so so good I’m tempted by it
how heavy is it from the factory
If you are even thinking this question, you don't want a Sentinel.
When you say DH track, what kind of DH track, and how much of your riding is on DH tracks?
Have a quick look at the new Whyte G170 Crs 29er .. light slack and 29er ? oh and 160mm front and back
I weighed a Sentinel frame in the bike shop, was quite surprised to see it weight ~4.5kg with air shock.
Orange segment - on offer at start fitness atm
Similar to the Transition is an ibis Ripmo if your a small I know a frame is going cheap from 2Pure
I'm getting a new bike after Christmas and my shortlist is the Sentinel, Whyte GS170/150 or Cotic Rocket Max.
The Sentinel was in the lead for a long time but it's slipping down the ranks. I went for a look at the lbs and 2019 seems quite expensive. £3k for the NX/Yari build and that wine colour looks awful, combined with the weight I'm starting to change my mind. The geometry looks spot on though and there are plenty of 2018's out there for £2k which makes it more tempting.
The Whytes look great, a mate and his son have both the 170 and 150 and really rate them. They seem slightly better value and again some good 2018 deals with GX/Rev builds for £2k.
The RocketMax is in the lead at the moment, three of my mates ride them and love them. I'd thought they were pricey but when you compare them to any other new bikes they stack up really well and much easier to spec you're own build as oppose to an off the shelf number.
I'm recovering from a hernia op at the mo but will sort some test rides in the new year.
How slack is slack?
Loads of 150mm 29ers with head angles around 65degrees now.
Worth checking out Marin Alpine Trail, Scott Ransom and Trek Slash too.
It has a 64 degree head angle.
I have a Sentinel and it's an absolute blast to ride.
As everyone else has said it is not a light bike, but it's a long alloy 29er. Nothing about that is light, and if that is something that you worry about, then this isn't a bike for you.
Ive just bought a 2018 Sentinel in NX spec and its an xl.
Comparing to my previous bike which was a large codeine and it does feel slightly heavier but it has some quite beefy tyres and tubes so a good deal of weight could be lost there if that is what you are after.
I was looking at a rocket max and the AM9 both coming out at around £3000.
I paid £1799 for the Sentnel so it was a no brainer really. Not rode it in anger yet as away on a course but first impressions are mightily good !
I recently built a large carbon Sentinel, not a lightweight build, Fox 36s, coil shock, 2.5WT tyres front and back, EX511s, chain/bash device. Comes in at exactly 32 1/2 lbs with pedals and front mudhugger fr.
My old large/27.5 carbon patrol (rip) was around 30lb. The sentinel is faster everywhere.
It’s a 5 mile road ride to my local trails which I have different loops for both my sentinel and my ‘gravel’ bike. Obviously the gravel bike is faster on the road but it doesn’t feel a great deal harder on my sentinel. I’m surprised that a large ali sentinel build (on the PB review) comes in at 32lb going from what I’ve read I’d have thought it would weigh a fair bit more.
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Renton, where are they for £1799, that certainly sweetens things up?
Bluearsedfly that looks lovely.
I bought mine from Pedals in Edinburgh ( https://pedalsbikecare.co.uk/) for slightly less than that. Give them a ring.
when someone says "Slack 29er" Mojo/Nicolai Geometron G13 is the first thing that comes to mind.
Sure tweaks or someone had them for 1900 ish? Bikeactive had some deals on last years frame and fork. Always discount code in their site too. I wanted to like the sentinel but I just couldn’t work out what it was I didn’t like.
Leaning to that rocketmax more and more
I got it from Tweeks cycles on the black friday sale. Its now back at £2099
I have 2019 genius, 64.5 ha with 160 44mm 36 on and lockout function on the rear which I use all the time. Size XL with 2.5 tires 31lb. Worth a look
TBH if i can get the sentinel for 1799 new then i'll probably have one. Was is 1799 brand new from pedals?
Brand new, but frame only.
Ahh I’ve asked them for a price but I doubt I’ll be overly tempted with just a frame.
I’m thinking YT Capra 29er now but they are out of stock
Jejanes have an XL in blue at £2099
Went to look at that yesterday, that's the only one though. I'm after a large.
Stumpjumper Evo 29er seems to be a bit out there for Specialized with a 63 degree head angle. The raw finish gives that stolen look mind.
I've order a bergamont trailster 10
65deg 160mm 29er
Bike active have a sentinel frame and fox 36 for £1995. 10% discount showing on their website as well. Bit of a bargain I think!
I demoed a Sentinel at FoD a few weeks ago and it blew me away honestly. First 29er I've ridden, I loved how confident it was on the downhills, incredibly stable but fun as hell. Climbing wasn't bad at all thanks to the fairly steep seatpost too. It's kind of opened my eyes to how much more fun I could be having so I think in the spring I'll sell my Jeffsy and go all in with a carbon Sentinel.
Any thoughts on the Kona Process 153 Al/dl 29?
Thanks
Tap up Kimbers of this forum if he doesn't read this, he has one of them IIRC.
Pinkbike did a review the other day.
And have a demo of an Orange Stage 6.
It's a good choice for the long-travel 29er-fancier who likes pedaling.
Not sure how to find Kimbers tbh
I've got a 2019 process 153 29 al which up until black Friday was "my best bike ever". I had the old kona 134 previous to that and kona pretty much rectified the only fault of that model in that it climbed like a sack of spuds, whilst still keeping all the good things and downhill ability. Alas tho intense UK did some crazy deals on their carbine model on black Friday (£1730 foundation build) then upgraded me to the SL frame free of charge .In my opinion the carbine is a better all round bike but definitely has a different character in so much it wants to go fast all the time uphill as well as down ,whereas the process just is just a bit better for pissing around on but slower everywhere according to strava and sounds like i do a similar sort of riding to the OP .finally weight difference between the two was nearly 3lbs with the same build kit
31.4 vs 34.2 .if your a medium cookci I could do you a sweet deal 😉
the only fault of that model in that it climbed like a sack of spuds
Amen to that. The 111 and 153 were the same. Great handling, fun bikes that climbed like shit.
I did prefer the looks of the old ones though.
They moved the pivot way higher on the new Process, so instead of having almost no anti-squat and bobbing like crazy, it has more than most similar bikes and thus stands firm under pedalling. @kimbers should agree!
do CRC still have the 2018 Konas cheap?
my 153 29 is brilliant, & quite sentinally , NX build was very similar spec,
hefty though !but lighter wheels & a drivetrain upgrade have made a big difference
faster up & down than my old 153, I can also just get down steeper techier stuff, even tho Im way out of practice, its a bit like cheating
but yeah chief is right, pedaling is much better than the old one.
It does suffer from the Yari being too firm in the rough for a chunky fellah such as myself & the stock wheels really held it back. For a 29er it loves to get air though, caught myself out at cwmcarn dh , I didnt realise how much theyd built the jumps after the national race until I was way too high for my skill level.
I’m medium.
I’m confused, what bike might you be selling?
My process.pm me your email address if your interested and I'll send you some pics
Yes they are still on offer on crc, even better prices now I should imagine
What year did they sort the climbing?
All the 153 29ers will be cool, we are on about the old shape ones.
Anyone tried one of the new Norco fluid FS 29ers yet. I’m tossing up between one of them and a nx smuggler.
The Norco looks a bit better on paper, but my only worry in the shock orientation? Just a bit worried it might limit upgradeable’ness
The fluid fs1? Looks like a very different type of bike to the sentinel