Transition has slowly introduced carbon versions of its mountain bikes. The latest model to have a carbon counterpart is company’s very-popular 29er trail bike, the Smuggler.
- Transition Scout Carbon frameset long-term review
- Transition adds two carbon models to its hardtail line
Transition Smuggler Carbon highlights
- Full carbon frame
- 140mm front travel / 120mm rear travel
- Threaded bottom bracket
- Claimed frame weight of 6.5lb/2.95kg (w/shock and hardware)
- Frame pricing at $2,999
- Complete bikes start at $4,999
- Available this spring
The same Smuggler
The move to carbon adds about $1,000 to the bottom line, but it also sheds weight. Transition’s claimed frame weight of 6.5lb / 2.95kg for the Smuggler Carbon puts it 2.3lbs / 1.04kg lighter than its alloy sibling.
While the frame material has changed, the new Smuggler Carbon doesn’t stray far from the recipe that has made this bike a favorite with many mountain bikers.
The angles are the same as those found on the latest alloy Smuggler, introduced last August. It uses Transition’s new ‘Speed Balance Geometry’ philosophy, which entails longer front centers, slacker head tube angles and suspension forks with shorter offsets.
Rather than use the 51mm offset forks that are common on many 29ers, the Smuggler is designed to best handle shorter offset forks — 42mm in the case of Fox and 44mm in the case of RockShox.
Learn more about offset here: Pushing the limits of fork offset
The goal of these geometry and trail tweaks is to improve high-speed stability while giving these longer, slacker bikes the ability to climb effectively and navigate tight turns at slow speeds.
Other frame features include revised internal cable routing for a rattle-free ride, enough room in the mainframe for a water bottle, Boost axle spacing, metric shock sizing, long-lasting Enduro Max bearings at the pivots and last but not least a threaded 73mm bottom bracket shell.
Smuggler Carbon pricing and availability
Transition will offer the Smuggler Carbon as a frame with shock and in two build kits. It will be available this spring.
- Smuggler frame w/shock: $2,999
- SRAM GX build kit: $4,999
- SRAM XO1 Eagle build kit: $5,999
(UK and Australian pricing has yet to be confirmed)
Visit www.transitionbikes.com for more information.
Unable to load Media
