For a small channel your reviews are honest, good and interesting, shame with alot of bigger more influential channels is that they all just pushing marketing for their sponsors
Coming from a 2015 giant trance advanced I thought it was time to upgrade and so after much tedious and xtentioius research Iarrived to this two bikes the ST megatower and TS and well... i picked up the TS. This thing is an ALL AROUND BIKE. FLATS, ROCKY, DOWNHILL, SWITCHBACKS, GOING UP , No matter. This machine will go thru anything... plus super super fast bike. great video btw. It did really help me make a good decision.
I don't know how, but while I was watching I could FEEL how smooth that bike was through the chatter on Cindy. That is definitely one area my current bike struggles in, fast repeat hits. Also, I had never really considered the heat tube angle and how it affects overall reach. Thanks for the tip!
I just got a used 2019 Transition patrol and put a Marzocchi bomber CR coil on it. An absolute dream of a bike to ride! super playful yet still stable and controllable on the steeps. loves to be ridden hard, and really benefits from being ridden well.
Not a Sentinel, but I absolutely LOVE my 2020 alloy GX Patrol! I'm 5'11" and about 180lb~ (on my good days lol) but I went with a medium and it's so playful. Upped it to a 500lb spring. I don't see myself getting anything other than Transition for a long time.
Everyone that I know with a Transition Bike loves their Whip! Personally I think I would feel more comfortable on a 27.5 version of this bike. #1 The wheel base would be shorter. #2 I think it would make tight switch backs more manageable. #3 With really slack HTA and long forks it may feel less like a chopper bike feel as a 27.5. Just my thoughts
I like your note about the geometry being someone misleading based solely on reach, however I want to applaud Transition for keeping riders of all sizes in mind by spec'ing S to XXL. When everyone wants longer and slacker, tall guys like me have a better chance of finding a bike we FIT on. Ibis Ripmo? 500mm reach max. Just not long enough when you're 2m tall. This will be my first bike purchase without demoing first. With demo tours closed, and local shops not carrying XXL builds, I have to order direct, cross my fingers, and pray it'll be the upgrade I'm hoping for from my 2018 Pivot Switchblade. Maybe I just gave into the hype, but Transition has a reputation of being for riders, by riders so I have to trust the experts...
Super helpful! Much appreciated. I’ve been in between the Cruz Bronson and this and the Bronson just feels not as playful and more stuck to the ground. I’m going with the Sentinel.
Rad bike - I think this will be my next bike. I want something that stays fun when I am just ripping down some blue trails but is capable enough to handle black trails at speed.
My 2018 TR Patrol has a shit ton of paint chips. I wrapped it in 3M tape but where it was not protected it's chipped. Paint sucks but the ride is amazing!!
Really enjoyed your review. I just bought a 2020 sentinel and can’t wait to ride. Unfortunately I bought it then had to leave for work, haha. Haven’t even dialled the suspension in yet. I found the loam gold colour to be way nicer in person. Thanks for the review.
Great video and insight on the bike! I'm so damn torn between this bike and the Ripmo V2. Both seem to get a lot of praise and unfortunately are impossible to find in my area.
I have not ridden this one, but the V1 Sentinel....pedaled absolutely nothing like the Ripmo. The difference was HUGE. Maybe they've changed things, but it would have to be DRAMATIC for it to pedal anywhere near the Ripmo. I rode them back to back at Outerbike, and it wasn't even close. I wanted a bike to pedal trail, but also able to hit just about anything. You won't hit it as fast on the RIpmo....but it's not a no-go on the gnar. BUT....no comparison in terms of stability through really nasty gnar or big hits though. The Sentinel is far more of a planted bike. Pedaling...Ripmo. Shredding gnar....Sentinel.
@@willbros1499 Nice, really appreciate the feedback! I've heard/read in multiple reviews that the V2 Sentinel is a better climber than the original which is nice to hear (they say from the updated rear suspension and lighter frame). The V2 Ripmo updates made it marginally better/more stable in the rough it seems. Ahh just wish demoing these was a possibility for me right now! First world problems I guess...
You can always add bottle cage that straps on via rubber band or get thos edouble bottle cages, and you can even have two on the handlebar. So you can still have two bottle son the top tube. But I have a 3L Hydrapak bladder great for warm summer days, long rides.
It’s a gorgeous bike, but I wish they made an aluminium version too, like they did with the previous generation... If they don’t, I’ll probably go with the new commercial meta tr which has both similar looks and geo, is alloy only and costs just 60% of the Sentinel (at least here in Australia) - I’m saying this as an owner of the 2018 Transition Scout...
I used to ride the og transition sentinel before I got my current patrol and I cannot tell you how much I wanna try the v2 sentinel because it has everything I would've done to the v1 and I wish I waited a bit longer to get a new bike so I could get one of these
I’m on a medium V1 sentinel and love it... the only thing that scares me about the V2 is those longer chainstays.. did you notice that on the trail with manuals, etc?
$10,000 Australian Dollars for a GX build. A real disappointment as it was my top pick for a new bike. I ended up going with a Norco Sight C2. Similar in a lot of ways. But, this Sentinel, what a good looking bike.
B Franco taxes, trade agreements, and exchange rates are part to blame. Demand also isn't high here for real top end bikes, so suppliers can just get away with charging more. We do get some good prices on some brands (merida, norco, giant), but smaller boutique companies are very expensive.
Man...that review sounds almost impossible based on comparing the V1's of both bikes. They had to have to have made major changes to that bike to make it pedal anywhere near the Ripmo, or to make it feel as lively and poppy. The Sentinel was such a slug compared to the Ripmo, that I stopped to make sure I didn't have a flat tire just a minute or two into the ride. I would be curious to see what your thoughts would be if you rode them back to back, because that just doesn't seem possible...at all, based on personal experience.
Hi MTB Savant, just wondering how do you compare this bike vs megatower? I’m coming from transition patrol and I would like to explore 29ers right now. Please let me know. Ps. Awesome channel btw! I like your insights and bike reviews.
I’m looking for a bike that is good uphill, light, nice and playful but will smash enduro races. This bike looks like it ticks the boxes but do you think this would be a good idea?
Transitions descend and jump really well but I’ve tested out the Scout and Sentinel last year and the climbing is just awful. The suspension bobs very noticeably even with the shocks’ pedaling platform switched on and I prefer Horst link bikes, but the Transition didn’t offer much high to mid support. Yes the sag was set correctly and no I’m not that heavy. Maybe the 2020 models are different...
Haven't ridden previous ones but the new models are lighter and have a lot more anti-squat. I'd say it climbs better than my Mega. Take that for what it's worth.
I'd say it was suspension setup or you pedal like a hack. I have a 2018 Scout and it climbs great - better than my previous DW link bike. The only time I've ever considered even touching the pedal platform switch was on long fire road grinds.
I don't know if you can control what types of ads appear on your videos, but having an ad which is 4:20 long on a 6 minute video is ridiculous. I usually like to support content creators by watching the ads but I had to skip this time.
helpful reivew. I am 187 height with long arm and not sure XL or L. I have been riding a 2018 specialized enduro Xl and reach is 489. it doesn’t feel big. sentinel L is 476 and 501 on XL. Could you give me an advice? Thanks.
@@mtbsavant5414 I do agree with you, just hard to decide if I wanna go classy all-rounder, or "Crushing beer can on forehead" full-sender, lol. It can be anything here in Toowoomba (Australia).
Ripmo still climbs better than the Sentinel but for everything else I'd pick the transition. I'd be shocked if the V3 ripmo doesn't have the geo numbers as this sentinel. Hence the Ripmo from the future :)
The GX build is running Stans Flow EX which were appropriate for the use case and pricepoint. I ran a much a stiffer Crank Brothers alloy wheel set for my ride in Santa Cruz and preferred a more compliant wheel for this bike. The suspension is taught and sporty and an uber stiff carbon wheel might transmit more feedback than some would like.
2 Questions mtb Savant for you ! You rode a medium How tall are you ? I'm 6' & 6'1 I'm thinking about getting a size Large ! But if your about the same Height maybe a medium might just be good for me ! It's a good point that you made ? Regarding reach etc. & Secondly Have you ridden the Forbidden Druid ' that's the other bike I'm looking at buying ! Great vid as usual ' love what you are doing on the channel ! Very refreshing ! 👍👌
To touch some more on the paint job. I have a 2020 V1 Sentinel and the paint is absolutely horrible granted it is aluminum but the paint just chips very very easily so I’ve had the bike for two months and I can already see the raw coat
The sb150 feels like a race car with big sticky tires on the street begging to go fast. Not playful at low speeds BUT is insanely fun when things get sketchy!
Hi! I am watching Your productions for a while, I have sizing issue with this bike. I am 6,2 (187 cm) and right in the middle L vs XL. I ride Slash XL and it;s geo is quite oldfashion compaare to these day bikes but eaventhou numbers in Transition XL (reach over 500) I think I would chose XL. What can You sugest?
is it strictly the hub that produces the loud noise you hear when not pedaling or does it have to also do with the cassette? I would like a louder hub noise and am not sure where to start with that
It is the hub. Industry Nine and Chris King hubs are known for their loud 'buzz'. Though that is an expensive way to get a loud hub. You could start by messing with a lighter grease in your hub to make it louder. Might get you there.
Its funny, I was looking st swapping my Sb5.5 for a sentinel, but I read they climb really poorly in comparison to a switch infinity bike. How would you compare this to your old yeti?
The camera doesn't capture this color well. It's more of a flat, dark mustard/sand color. Everyone who commented on the bike on the trail mentioned it looked much better in person.
Hi, I get my Sentinel in about 2 Weeks. I am 177cm tall and went for an M Frame - how tall are you? I am still a bit nervous if M was the right choice :) Hope you can help...
