Transition Relay Review - Vital's SL eMTB Test Sessions
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- Опубліковано 30 кві 2024
- Of all the bikes in this year's Test Sessions, Transition's Relay presented a unique proposition. It might use the same compact yet powerful Fazua Ride 60 motor as the Santa Cruz Heckler SL and Ari Bikes' Nebo Peak, but it's the only bike that encourages riding without assistance if desired. So how does it stack up to the rest of the dedicated e-bikes in the SL category?
Highlights
Carbon frame (alloy models available)
Two travel configurations:
160mm rear wheel travel (air) // 160mm fork (tested)
170mm rear wheel travel (coil) // 170mm fork
Mixed or dual 29-inch wheels
GiddyUp suspension design
60 Nm Fazua Ride 60 motor
430 Wh battery
63.3/64-degree head tube angle
Size-optimized chainstay length
Uninterrupted seat tube enables long droppers
UDH equipped
Sizes: XS-XXL
Verified weight 45 lbs / 20.4 kg (Size XL, no pedals, w/ battery)
Verified weight 40 lbs / 18.1 kg (Size XL, no pedals, w/o battery)
Six build options
MSRP: $6,799 - $12,499 USD ($9,999 as tested, GX AXS Build)
Thanks to these brands for supporting the test!
Tannus Armour Inserts - tannusamerica.com/products/ta...
Feedback Sports - feedbacksports.com
Maxxis Tires - www.maxxis.com/us/tires/bicyc...
Read our SL E-MTB Test Sessions article - www.vitalmtb.com/features/vit...
More mountain bike news and reviews - www.vitalmtb.com
#ebike #emtb - Спорт
1) Relay is heavier than many SL bikes but it's also a bigger bike.... specially with the PNW build, but even without. The two that compare are the Kenevo SL (smaller battery) and the new Moondraker AFAIK. IMO this bike only makes completely sense with the PNW build either way. I suspect its how they tested and built it too, so 170m 38 and 170mm dhx coil shock.
2) Removing the battery isnt just about biking without battery.. you can .. swap the battery with a fresh one and do more laps! that's MUCH more interesting IMO. It takes a lot to do on the other bikes (unscrew things, sometimes modify the frame even), this one is a 20s swap. Shouldn't you be the ones pointing that out? ;)
3) You can't dim the lights. Doesn't bother me, but, yeah.
4) I don't have any rattle from the battery mount/interface, it's the cables and the battery cover. its annoying to fix on an expensive bike, you should not have to - but once you do, no more noise. You'll find everyone says this in forums too...
Why I'm taking the time to write this? There's no equivalent SL bike - I find - and that's probably part of transition's fault - reviewers haven't fully figured it out - such as the fact that you can lap 2h full speed if you want and .. swap battery boom another 2h full speed (or 4h mid speed). I also don't think transition should have offered the non-PNW build . The other SMALLER SL bikes are arguably better in these categories.
Hope this helps someone.
Nice that it comes in xxl too
Having recently ridden the relay at beacon hill in Spokane courtesy of rental from hub I agree with some of the points made but I found this bike amazing and appreciate the fact that you have to work to ride it. I’m old mx desert now Kauai dirt bike rider who also rides mtb. Having been a hater of e-bikes in general because of obvious fitness benefits of peddling an seeing so many fluffy types riding them. Well after having an absolute blast I realized that if I want the kind of power you guys prefer I will just ride my dirt bikes but that’s not the case here because besides the cheesy control switch this Fazua/Porcsche motor inspires confidence along with beautiful matching power not overwhelming power.
I think you guys missed the point of this bike, at least for what I was looking for. As an older rider, I would like a little help getting up some of the long climbs, but didn’t want the bike to do all the work. I actually use this with the motor turned off for the first few climbs and that’s what the battery still installed. As the ride goes on and I start getting a little tired, I then rely on the bike to help me. I think this is a great idea for a bike in between a standard mountain bike and a full power mountain bike.
Nice to see some JMP trails!
And the top of gen ed for the bike b role
I rode this bike in mullet form with the flip chip. It was really fun! Ugly AF with that beer can head tube though. I ended up buying the heckler SL though. Better looking and almost as capable DH. More fun on mellower or jump trails. Also I don’t want to take the batter out to charge it every time. I have a house with outlets on the ground floor. Cool option for people though.
Is the USB port limited to 1 amp? Almost pointless if that's the case
It said somewhere in bike docs its not for charging anything. Only to hook bike to a computer for changes/information.
@@kevinc7632 ahhh, that makes sense. It's a shame more ebikes don't come with the ability to charge a phone. Would be a nice safety backup, especially for lights like the outbound models that support passthrough power.
In terms of circuitry it's pretty simple
@@applicablerobot i end my avg ride with %40 battery so it could have but prob not done to limit failures.
@@kevinc7632 my bet would be cost cutting and the trappings of proprietary systems. Electrically it's just a buck converter and usb-c power delivery chip (same thing that's in modern cars), but that takes testing, qualification, and a bunch of other stuff to be able to sell it