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First Look: The new Transition Patrol with new GiddyUp Link

12.09.2014
by

Transition are well known for their hardcore, rider developed bikes, with the emphasis always firmly on fun, shredding and performance. For 2015 they have revised their entire lineup, the popular Covert is gone and has been replaced with the Scout, Patrol, and Smuggler. We took the big hitting Patrol out for a quick tear around in the Nevada Desert to see how it performed.

All the bikes now feature a Horst link suspension design that Transition is calling a GiddyUp link, these new kinematics ensure that the bike bobs less on the uphills, and ramps up firmly at the end of its travel to avoid bottoming out. When it comes to geometry, the bikes are designed to be long, low and slack, proper shred machines.

The new Patrol mixes slack geometry with short chainstays (430mm) to inject fun in to the ride. The size large weighed 13.8kg.
The new Patrol mixes slack geometry with short chainstays (430mm) to inject fun in to the ride. The size large weighed 13.8kg.

The Patrol is the model with the longest travel of their new bike range, 160mm in the front and 155mm in the rear, with a 65 degree head angle the bike looks to go head to head with the slackest trail bikes on the market, adding in short 430mm chain-stays to make the ride playful and lively.

These simple cable routing ports are Transition’s own design ensuring neat and rattle free use.
These simple cable routing ports are Transition’s own design ensuring neat and rattle free use.
The new suspension system is supposed to help reduce pedal bob, so Transition have named it Giddy Up.
The new suspension system is supposed to help reduce pedal bob, so Transition have named it Giddy Up.
The head angle is an aggressive 65 degrees.
The head angle is an aggressive 65 degrees.
Transition has engineered the suspension kinematics in order to improve pedaling efficiency, without sacrificing small bump sensitivity, or fun.
Transition has engineered the suspension kinematics in order to improve pedaling efficiency, without sacrificing small bump sensitivity, or fun.
To keep required upkeep to a minimum and stiffness high, they’ve gone with an expanding collet on the main pivot, and clevis pivots on the rocker link.
To keep required upkeep to a minimum and stiffness high, transition have used an expanding collet on the main pivot, and clevis pivots on the rocker link.
The patrol is the big hitting new bike in the lineup.
The patrol is the big hitting new bike in the lineup.
Low long and mean, the Patrol is super fun to ride on the trails. A tapered head tube, internal cable routing, and a Schwalbe Magic Mary / Rock Razor tire combo are a few of the Patrol's highlights
Low long and mean, the Patrol is super fun to ride on the trails. A tapered head tube, internal cable routing, and a Schwalbe Magic Mary / Rock Razor tire combo are a few of the Patrol’s highlights
A wide and short cockpit reinforces the bikes aggressive nature.
A wide and short cockpit reinforces the bikes aggressive nature.
1 x 10 drivetrain and Raceface narrow wide ring.
1 x 11 SRAM X1 drivetrain and Raceface narrow wide ring keep things neat.
Shimano brakes are a reliable and powerful performer.
Shimano brakes are a reliable and powerful performer.
We spent a few hours on board the Patrol and were impressed with its fun factor.
We spent a few hours on board the Patrol and were impressed with its fun factor.

The Patrol has three models. The top end Patrol 1 gets a XX1 drivetrain and XT brakes for $5999, the Patrol 2 comes with X1 and SLX brakes for $4899, and the Patrol 3 runs 1×10 Shimano drivetrain with a 42 tooth upgrade and Deore brakes for $3499.

First Ride Impressions

We managed to get a few hours in the desert on the new Patrol and took it for a shred up on the rocky trails above Boulder City. The geometry feels instantly welcoming and aggressive, the top tube is long and the bike has a low and slack feel. As we climbed up towards the trail head the anti-squat characteristics of the bike were immediately obvious. With the almost inline pivot locations, the bike sinks into the sag point very well, and is very stable with minimal feedback from the pedals.

When it came to pointing the bike downhill, the Patrol instantly came alive. From the very first descent it was obvious that the bike is all about fun, the GiddyUp link is poppy and engaging with loads of feedback from the tyres. With the long and low geometry the Patrol feels really stable over the rocks and at high speed, but the short chain-stays allow the bike to turn in sharply and drive through turns. A few unexpected ‘off piste’ moments showed that the Patrol can eat up super rough terrain easily, and the slack head angle keeps things feeling confident on the steeps. It was too short a test to fully review the bike, but our first impressions are that it is a no holds barred, engaging trail missile.

For more information keep an eye on the Transition webpage

Words: Trev Worsey Photos: Robin Schmitt

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