I've been riding this bike for the past 2 months now, coming off a 27.5 last gen canyon spectral. The ride quality is exactly as you say. It's insane how this bike just feels flawless. Such a quality feel to the ride. Like a very well trained and calm hunting dog that's much more clever than it's supposed to be for some reason. Just making quick work of every single thing it might, could or flat out shouldn't be able to ride. It wasn't until the last few rides however that I'm starting to adapt to the style of riding it requires to really get playful. Jumping was surprisingly great from the get go but it felt so composed in corners I really had to relearn to flick, roost and style my way through windy trails. It wants to be handled with confidence and determination and feels extremely accurate when you do, and best of all; the sheer POWER it translates onto the trails just feels insane! This bike is like I'm riding a different breed. I feel like there's even more to tap into on this bike and I can't wait to explore it.
Hey, are you still riding the Sentinel? I'm currently on a 27.5 Rocky Mountain Altitude and am looking at the Sentinel for my next bike. Curious to know which build you went with and if you found it took awhile to adjust to 29" wheels.
@@joseph-the-seventh I am still on it! I went with the GX carbon build but have by now changed the suspension, brakes and some other components. Mostly because I just like to test stuff. It didn't take me long to adapt to the bigger wheels at all when it comes to comfortably charging trails but I'm 6'2 and that might make it easier. Like I originally said though, it did take me a while longer to figure out how to ride it playfully. It isn't as flickable as a typical 27.5 unless the speeds are much higher, then it starts feeling like how a 27.5 feels at medium speeds which is awesome
@@Coerced Nice! I've narrowed down my bike selection to a Sentinel or a Santa Cruz Bronson MX which has the mixed wheel setup. I'm also 6'2 so would probably be fine on 29" wheels, though I'm also thinking mixed wheels could be a fun setup. Hard to go with a bad bike these days!
@@joseph-the-seventh never rode a SC but got some time on a buddy's latest generation Patrol which is a mullet. It's a very similar bike but it doesn't really add much for me tbh. It hops a bit faster but doesn't corner like a 27. In fact, it just felt like my bike but rather unsettled. Thinking about it, I actually think I felt the downsides of both wheelsizes rather than the best of both worlds. It's like the back end wants to tip but the front is slowing it down, and the front end wants to charge but the rear is rattling. I don't feel like it does much for people our size but I might just be missing the charms. I'm just one guy. Good luck with your decision!
I got the 2022 sentinel nx alloy build. I probably watched this video 15 times the night before i picked it up while i waited for the bike shop to open. So happy with it
You nailed it with the qualities of this bike. Got lucky recently and found a Sentinel at a local shop and I've been loving it. Was originally looking at Ripmos (but wanted something more capable going down), and then Stumpy Evos (but gave up after having an order in for 8 months) . The Sentinel has been awesome climbing/descending my local trails, and was a blast at the bike park last week. Like you mentioned I love how quiet the bike is. Might sound lame, but it's one of my favorites qualities of the bike. It just feels so smooth, composed, and quiet while also being fun and playful. Stoked I ended up on a Sentinel because Transition created an all around killer! Also I may be biased but this bike looks amazing! I've never got so many looks and compliments on a bike before, but the bike just draws attention.
I love my Sentinel v2. Got the Carbon XO1 build in June. I mainly ride at the park with my Transition TR11, but the Sentinel has got me excited to ride local trails more now. Couple tweaks I’ve made are to switch out the OneUp Carbon bar with 20 mm rise for the ANVL Mandrel 30 mm rise mainly for the up sweep and back sweep that feels perfect (same bar on the TR11). And I’m going to switch out the 40mm stem for a 50mm to also align the cockpit with the TR11. Sentinel does everything and you can really tune it specifically for the types of trails you’re riding. Great review!
Great reviews you made from all 4 bikes, my 2 cent's go for the ripmo, I'm a 2021 Hightower owner but that ripmo its just one step ahead everything else in the same range. Keep the great work.👍
@@bikersedge that's right, I've tried the ripmo after bought my Hightower, still no regrets, love my bike, but for me the ripmo ist just refined, I'm pretty happy with my bike and even if wanted to buy the ripmo is means a lot of time waiting. Thanks for the answer, and keep with great content you have been doing. 👍
Just love your reviews! As for chain stay length, I ride a 2019 SC Chameleon 29er and for the first year I rode it with the adjustable dropouts slammed for the shortest length (cause that's what all the cool kids do) and I always felt there was something missing, and then I decided to spin a few wrenches and back them out 10mm to the longest setting and holy cow... what a difference! So much more fun at speed and I guess it just fits what I expect a bike to feel like. Shorter is not always better.
The Sentinel is so surprising. It's long and slack but still fun, poppy and jumps well. I haven't ridden the V2 Ripmo but felt our NX Sentinel climbed a little easier than the Rimpo AF and that could be just a weight difference. Great comparisons and video!
@@mrvwbug4423 The DW link really is magic on the climbs. Our RAF was 36lbs but didn't feel cumbersome. I would love to try out the V2 Ripmo. Ibis and Transition really know how to make amazing bikes.
I finally placed a order for a sentinel with my thinking being; can’t afford a yeti, ripmo wasn’t quite hard charging enough, and the Hightower just felt like a step down from the sentinel. Great reviews.
This bike is in a league of its own. It's honestly hard to trust in all of its talents for me because I keep being sceptical about it really being this good at everything haha. You've got an amazing bike coming your way! Great choice.
@@crispy2255 I don't know where you are, but call and check with your local Transition dealers often (if you have any). There are still dealers getting in orders they placed last year of bikes that either aren't claimed or the buyers backed out. I was lucky enough to find one an hour away from me 2 months ago. Good luck, it's an amazing bike and will be worth the wait!
@@vonrunner unfortunately the dealers around me have to wait for a few months before placing another round of orders so I’ll be waiting but it’ll be worth it!
Thanks for this comparison series!! Started mtbing June 2020 on a specialized hardtail and maxed out every bit of that bike…been looking for the next whip for…a while. Living in Denver my evening rides are front range climb/descends and then weekend alpine and occasional trip to Moab. Need a full sus bike that’s competent climber and a dream machine on downhill flow and chunk. Thanks to this review I just ordered the new Sentinel Alloy NX. It was between that, the SC Hightower, and Commencal Meta, but this pushed me over the top. Many thanks. Ready to rip!
I've had my Sentinel going on 2 seasons now and I did make a few tweaks. Running a Wolf Tooth Geoshift +1 degree headset and MegNeg on the rear, trying out a super deluxe coil soon. I found that I don't understeer in corners with a steeper ha and I don't have to be over the front and as aggressive all the time. Plus mine is still slacker than the Ripmo so I wasn't worried about making it too steep. I'll do a review of it soon.
Still curious about steepening the HTA but I'm still adapting to the slack angle now. Giving it time before I change anything. How much do you notice the heightened BB?
Great review. It would be great if you could compare it to the Marin Alpine Trail since it has the same travel and geo is very close although 0.1-degree slacker HT angle on the Marin, so it would become the slackest bike you've ever ridden. I'm currently considering these two since the Alpine Trail 7 and the Sentinel NX Alloy are similarly priced in my country, and both are described as all-day all-mountain bikes with a fun/lively character and very capable of rough stuff. The chainstay is 10mm shorter on the Alpine Trail, so I'm wondering how it would compare since it's supposed to have very snappy cornering, but this Sentinel is reviewed as cornering very well too.
I'm still new to MTB and I ride a lot of trails similar to this, it's downhill, fast, and has a few tiny jumps and corners and berms. Mainly riding this with friends. I'm not for top speed, but tackling those hard terrains. but I'm trying to get more into Enduro/downhill riding so I'm not sure if this is what I should get, or go with a more Enduro specific, something with more suspension
Fantastic! Love this bike. Also, what awesome trails. I am seriously considering moving to Utah. Going to St George next week again to look for a home. Also considering more north where it is not so hot.
@@bikersedge ,....Well coming from North Phoenix, I don't think the heat will be a problem. But, I would like to have a little cooler climate than Phoenix. Trying to ride here in the summer is pretty rough. There is literally no shade anywhere. Do you think northern Utah is worth moving to for the mountain biking? I am assuming that there is more of a year around riding season in St. George? Albeit pretty hot in the summer months. One other thing is, I think there are less hikers on the trails in Utah? In Arizona, the biking trails are filled with hikers and they hate bikers.
@@Flacojandro ,....My wife and I have been there about 5 times now trying to find something. It is pretty difficult, everything is way overpriced. If you like beer, have you been to Zion brewing in downtown St. George? It is a great little place. I will keep[ my eye open for you. ;-)
Really appreciate your reviews. I live in the NW and have been waiting for a Transition Sentinel GX to come in for months. Just happened to stop by one of my local bike shops last week and they had just received a shipment of Specialized Stumpjumper EVO's. The geometry seems very similar to the Sentinel. Was wondering if you've ridden one and what your opinion is?
I just looked through the top 50 ews riders. No sentinel. Who’s on one? I’m not saying you can’t race enduro on it. But I stand by it not being an enduro bike. It’s an all mountain bike.
@@bikersedge Alex McAndrew and John Richardson, pretty sure the latter has had some pretty solid finishes. Anyway, its just semantics but I get it, its not a single crown dh bike which is what most people refer to as "enduro" now a days
Pretty sure at least John raced the Spire in the most recent round. Agreed, that it's probably just semantics at this point. And as always it's tough to put bikes into nice, neat little categories. I mean look at the Ibis team racing the Ripmo in the EWS. It's also a case of "the archer not the arrow"
@@bikersedge Oh really? I thought I saw a bike check with him on the Sentinel but I could be wrong. I think we're just on two sides of the same coin, all mountain bike that descends well and enduro bike that climbs well are the same thing I guess lol
Hey man, good to hear that so do you think this bike is an all rounder? I'm this much to pull the trigger on the Sentinel. Btw! is going to be my 1st full squish.
Awesome review! Did you have the chance to ride the Spire yet? Talking about enduro territory... would be interesting to see how it compares to the Sentinel!!
About to pull the trigger on an all mountain type bike. It’s looking like the Sentinel or a canyon Spectral. First, are the two bikes comparable, and second: it looks like you had a few close scrapes in this ride. Hitting trees, almost missing corners…is it because of the speed or because it’s not quite as agile for a tighter encroached trail like this? Don’t get me wrong, you’re an amazing rider. Thanks!
Those trails are overgrown and high speed. Getting too close to trees is a common occurrence. Can’t say much about the Canyon. It’s not a brand I’m familiar with or have ever ridden. We don’t carry them at the shop.
@@bikersedge brilliant thank you ! do you know what exact the model is? theres lots of blackburn ones out there and its limited space so dont want order the wrong one
After watching you ride and your video and comments I don’t see how any of the other bikes in this test can’t check all the boxes like this Transition.
Great review as always- thanks for what you folks post. Between the Hightower and Sentinel- which bike do you think fits the 40 year old dad… haha. I use to manage a shop and was strong rider- now I’m a dad who o my talks about his glory days. But I’ll be honest I feel like a bit of a poser riding such a slack bike. Granted - I like to get rowdy. But most of the riding I’m doing is NC mountains with my son who is 12, and quickly starting to outride his dad. I’m demoing a the Sentinel this weekend. Wonder what your take is between the two. Thanks for any feedback - cheers
I’m a dad too and I can’t get enough of the sentinel at the moment. It suits my riding style really well. From what I understand, NC trails can be a little tighter than our trails out here in Utah. A hightower might be a bit easier to maneuver in that case. Honestly think you’d be stoked on either one.
@@bikersedge thanks for the quick reply. That checks with what I’ve been thinking. If your crew ever find themselves out this way- let me know. Happy to show y’all around! Cheers
@@dustinbjohnson Ha! We don't carry Specialized at the bike shop. I was in desperate need of some tires and had these laying around. They're not bad tires.
i bought one and hated it ? have no idea why maybe to long or stiff i have no idea i tried all sort of things but could not sort it, now have a intense primer mullet and loving it
I wish I got this bike or the spur instead of my YT Izzo ..I waited 6 months for my bike....the frame cracked and now its been 3 months and still waiting for the replacement frameto come in! :(
@@bikersedge I'm so booking a trip to the USA for riding in those amazing silver birch trees - the contrast with the greens and the dirt is amazing. I'll make sure I come say hi :D \m/
I leave out a lot of geometry and specs because it’s easy to look up and I’m trying to keep these videos as short as possible. All the offsets on these bikes are “short,”
I can tell a bit of a difference for sure going back and forth between the two. I think it may have been overhyped when it first came out though. When I go back to a bike with a longer offset, it's not the end of the world for me.
@@bikersedge I ride a tallboy iii as a 24.5 lb marathon xc build with a 68 degree head tube. It takes less attention to weight the front to go fast through turns… much easier to go fast with the 42. I was curious if the offset had as much impact on those slacker bikes you’re testing. Sounds like maybe not.
I'm 6'2 on an XL. At 6' I'd no doubt get the L. It's made for your body height. This bike is plenty stable as is - L will do everything for you. XL will be a fast-and-open-track specialist.
Could anyone give me their opinions on which bike would b best to buy out of a trek remedy 8 or this transition sentinel? I've got a choice out of both these bikes at a very good price. Any help would b great, thanx
I steer clear of size advice over the internet. It’s a crapshoot without seeing someone on the bike. We are dropping a video soon that will help people know what to expect with a bigger frame vs smaller frame.
@@bikersedge that false from u guys i dont know y u guys pushing yeti as all mountain bike .Are they sending u free stuff ? I am not saying it’s down county bike it good trail bike it doesn’t matter what company clams mostly are not true.so people buy stuff on ur reviews so i will say be honest like my self i bought Occam when u reviewed it . If its really all mountain bike make a whole separate video n show y its all mountain with less suspension.
I'm not trying to push it as something it's not. I honestly believe it's an all-mountain bike. It's far more capable on the DH than the trail bikes. I've ridden one of the nastiest double black diamond trails in the state on a standard SB130. I wouldn't be stoked to ride that same trail on a Tallboy, Ripley or Spur. I feel like the SB130 video I just published, goes to show it's an AM bike and not a trail bike. you don'r have to believe it, but I doubt you've ridden all these bikes back to back to actually know for yourself.
Words to use if you're a mtn bike reviewer: corners, active, slack, downhill, suspension, smooth, sick, stable, geometry, long, bike, fast, sluggish, poppy, wallow, pedal bob, monster truck, east/west cost, enduro, quiet, woo!, engaging, flowy....in no particular order. 😉
I feel like I defended my position very well. It doesn’t belong with the enduro bikes. Ride one back to back with the all mountain bikes and then the enduro bikes. You’ll see.
@@bikersedge I totally agree. I have had a Sentinel V2 since May 2020. Initially I thought it would be an enduro sled, but instead found it to be an amazing all arounder. I ride it everywhere! Xc trails, flow trails, bike parks, shuttle mountains, it is the do it all - all mountain bike. I eventually upped the fork to 170 and put the cascade link on to make it a bit more enduro feeling, but it hasn’t lost much of its all mountain roots. Such a versatile bike.
@scott Finally! Someone who doesn't think I'm crazy for calling it an AM bike. Most people who have ridden one end up feeling the same it seems. Way more versatile than it looks on paper.
@@bikersedge Hey, first off just wanted to say that I'm a big big fan of your videos. Love the production quality, the interesting dialog, and the great bikes reviewed. You're doing it right. I just wanted to leave a comment to say that sometimes bike reviews can get a tad bit confusing. It seems like a vast majority of reviews use the words "slightly" or "a little bit" to differentiate bikes and on the same token categorize bikes that may seem similar differently. An example of this is when you say that the Sentinel is a "little bit" up the burly scale over the Spur, but then say that the Sentinel is an all mountain bike but not an enduro bike. But I bet if the sentinel just had 10mm more travel ( "slightly" more rear travel) to 160 it would classify as an enduro bike thru and thru - nearly same specs, actually more aggressive than something like a megatower. I own both a Spur and Sentinel, and can definitely that they are worlds apart. I think what I'm getting at is that maybe when reviews use words like "slightly " or a "little bit" it may confuse some people, because to me those words means a "very small" or "negligible" difference. Anyways, keep doing what you're doing. Just wanted to throw that out there.
@@CCWclassic Thanks for the kind words! That's some really good feedback too. Not sure I've said the Sentinel is only a "little bit burlier" than a Spur. I've owned both and the Sentinel is way burlier than the Spur. Compared to the other bikes in this test, though, it is a "little bit" burlier. Hopefully that clears things up.
Been riding one for 2 months. Thought so too at first until lately I've finally started to adapt. As said in the video: really lean the bike into the corners rather than steering and it's as nimble as any bike with a bit of speed with much more composure. Only when really moving slowly do I ever feel like it's any more work than a 65 HTA bike to move around tight 'n windy trails.
@@Nate_K111 that analogy doesn't work due to the fact that you can actually get sick from raw chicken and it isn't good for you. A super slack bike like this won't hurt you, it's just different than what your currently riding. It's basically like saying, I love cooked fish but I hate sushi because it's raw and I've never tried it
I've been riding this bike for the past 2 months now, coming off a 27.5 last gen canyon spectral. The ride quality is exactly as you say. It's insane how this bike just feels flawless. Such a quality feel to the ride. Like a very well trained and calm hunting dog that's much more clever than it's supposed to be for some reason. Just making quick work of every single thing it might, could or flat out shouldn't be able to ride.
It wasn't until the last few rides however that I'm starting to adapt to the style of riding it requires to really get playful. Jumping was surprisingly great from the get go but it felt so composed in corners I really had to relearn to flick, roost and style my way through windy trails. It wants to be handled with confidence and determination and feels extremely accurate when you do, and best of all; the sheer POWER it translates onto the trails just feels insane!
This bike is like I'm riding a different breed. I feel like there's even more to tap into on this bike and I can't wait to explore it.
Do you still have it?
Hey, are you still riding the Sentinel? I'm currently on a 27.5 Rocky Mountain Altitude and am looking at the Sentinel for my next bike. Curious to know which build you went with and if you found it took awhile to adjust to 29" wheels.
@@joseph-the-seventh I am still on it! I went with the GX carbon build but have by now changed the suspension, brakes and some other components. Mostly because I just like to test stuff.
It didn't take me long to adapt to the bigger wheels at all when it comes to comfortably charging trails but I'm 6'2 and that might make it easier. Like I originally said though, it did take me a while longer to figure out how to ride it playfully. It isn't as flickable as a typical 27.5 unless the speeds are much higher, then it starts feeling like how a 27.5 feels at medium speeds which is awesome
@@Coerced Nice! I've narrowed down my bike selection to a Sentinel or a Santa Cruz Bronson MX which has the mixed wheel setup. I'm also 6'2 so would probably be fine on 29" wheels, though I'm also thinking mixed wheels could be a fun setup. Hard to go with a bad bike these days!
@@joseph-the-seventh never rode a SC but got some time on a buddy's latest generation Patrol which is a mullet. It's a very similar bike but it doesn't really add much for me tbh. It hops a bit faster but doesn't corner like a 27. In fact, it just felt like my bike but rather unsettled. Thinking about it, I actually think I felt the downsides of both wheelsizes rather than the best of both worlds. It's like the back end wants to tip but the front is slowing it down, and the front end wants to charge but the rear is rattling.
I don't feel like it does much for people our size but I might just be missing the charms. I'm just one guy.
Good luck with your decision!
Thank you so much for your videos. Insanely informative, and gets to the point!
Glad you liked it!
One of the best reviews I’ve seen on this bike. Great comparisons.
Wow, thanks!
Great video! Love Transition!
So good!
I got the 2022 sentinel nx alloy build. I probably watched this video 15 times the night before i picked it up while i waited for the bike shop to open. So happy with it
4 reviews have been great. Looking forward to round table .
Thanks for the kind words! Stay tuned.
Excellent review!
Hey thanks!
You nailed it with the qualities of this bike. Got lucky recently and found a Sentinel at a local shop and I've been loving it. Was originally looking at Ripmos (but wanted something more capable going down), and then Stumpy Evos (but gave up after having an order in for 8 months) . The Sentinel has been awesome climbing/descending my local trails, and was a blast at the bike park last week. Like you mentioned I love how quiet the bike is. Might sound lame, but it's one of my favorites qualities of the bike. It just feels so smooth, composed, and quiet while also being fun and playful. Stoked I ended up on a Sentinel because Transition created an all around killer!
Also I may be biased but this bike looks amazing! I've never got so many looks and compliments on a bike before, but the bike just draws attention.
Stoked! It’s pretty amazing.
I love my Sentinel v2. Got the Carbon XO1 build in June. I mainly ride at the park with my Transition TR11, but the Sentinel has got me excited to ride local trails more now. Couple tweaks I’ve made are to switch out the OneUp Carbon bar with 20 mm rise for the ANVL Mandrel 30 mm rise mainly for the up sweep and back sweep that feels perfect (same bar on the TR11). And I’m going to switch out the 40mm stem for a 50mm to also align the cockpit with the TR11. Sentinel does everything and you can really tune it specifically for the types of trails you’re riding. Great review!
You look plenty fast on that Transition!! 🤩 Cool bike.
GoPro effect. It’s all lies.
Great video for an awesome bike 👍....
Hey thanks!
Great reviews you made from all 4 bikes, my 2 cent's go for the ripmo, I'm a 2021 Hightower owner but that ripmo its just one step ahead everything else in the same range. Keep the great work.👍
I think they're all strong options depending on your preferences and style.
@@bikersedge that's right, I've tried the ripmo after bought my Hightower, still no regrets, love my bike, but for me the ripmo ist just refined, I'm pretty happy with my bike and even if wanted to buy the ripmo is means a lot of time waiting.
Thanks for the answer, and keep with great content you have been doing. 👍
@@helderlopes3863 try switchblade too!
Just love your reviews! As for chain stay length, I ride a 2019 SC Chameleon 29er and for the first year I rode it with the adjustable dropouts slammed for the shortest length (cause that's what all the cool kids do) and I always felt there was something missing, and then I decided to spin a few wrenches and back them out 10mm to the longest setting and holy cow... what a difference! So much more fun at speed and I guess it just fits what I expect a bike to feel like. Shorter is not always better.
Agreed! I rode XL so I usually prefer a little longer chainstay. Fees more balanced on a bigger bike.
Cant wait, my XT build should arrive this week!
You’re going to love it!
How you liking it now?
Thanks this was very helpful. I have an Ibis Ripley which climbs like a rocket. This sounds like a complimentary downhill shredder.
Downhill shredder is an apt description.
The Sentinel is so surprising. It's long and slack but still fun, poppy and jumps well. I haven't ridden the V2 Ripmo but felt our NX Sentinel climbed a little easier than the Rimpo AF and that could be just a weight difference. Great comparisons and video!
You and BE have the best reviews. Love both.
That is definitely the weight, the RAF is anything but light, but pedals just as well as the V2
@@carymcreynolds7503 you should check out freehub magazines UA-cam channel his review of the sentinel really shows it’s ability
@@carymcreynolds7503 Thanks Cary, appreciate your support. Working to get on BE's level.....I got a long way to go lol.
@@mrvwbug4423 The DW link really is magic on the climbs. Our RAF was 36lbs but didn't feel cumbersome. I would love to try out the V2 Ripmo. Ibis and Transition really know how to make amazing bikes.
Hope to see a Transition-Scout review soon.
I finally placed a order for a sentinel with my thinking being; can’t afford a yeti, ripmo wasn’t quite hard charging enough, and the Hightower just felt like a step down from the sentinel. Great reviews.
Sentinel is amazing. You’ll love it.
This bike is in a league of its own. It's honestly hard to trust in all of its talents for me because I keep being sceptical about it really being this good at everything haha. You've got an amazing bike coming your way! Great choice.
@@Coerced yeah I’m super excited for it, except for the expected arrival date in February :(
@@crispy2255 I don't know where you are, but call and check with your local Transition dealers often (if you have any). There are still dealers getting in orders they placed last year of bikes that either aren't claimed or the buyers backed out. I was lucky enough to find one an hour away from me 2 months ago. Good luck, it's an amazing bike and will be worth the wait!
@@vonrunner unfortunately the dealers around me have to wait for a few months before placing another round of orders so I’ll be waiting but it’ll be worth it!
Thanks for this comparison series!! Started mtbing June 2020 on a specialized hardtail and maxed out every bit of that bike…been looking for the next whip for…a while. Living in Denver my evening rides are front range climb/descends and then weekend alpine and occasional trip to Moab. Need a full sus bike that’s competent climber and a dream machine on downhill flow and chunk. Thanks to this review I just ordered the new Sentinel Alloy NX. It was between that, the SC Hightower, and Commencal Meta, but this pushed me over the top. Many thanks. Ready to rip!
The sentinel is so rad. You’re going to love it.
I want to ride that fast! Time to get a Sentinel.
I wouldn’t stand a chance against you.
One area where this bike comes out on top is looks - by far the best looking bike out of all of them.
You're not wrong. It's the fighter jet of MTB.
I've had my Sentinel going on 2 seasons now and I did make a few tweaks. Running a Wolf Tooth Geoshift +1 degree headset and MegNeg on the rear, trying out a super deluxe coil soon. I found that I don't understeer in corners with a steeper ha and I don't have to be over the front and as aggressive all the time. Plus mine is still slacker than the Ripmo so I wasn't worried about making it too steep. I'll do a review of it soon.
Still curious about steepening the HTA but I'm still adapting to the slack angle now. Giving it time before I change anything. How much do you notice the heightened BB?
Hands down you just looks faster on this bike. Almost like it gave you the confidence to let off the brakes and open it up! I like!
Oh yeah. It’s fast. Like danger zone fast.
Great review. It would be great if you could compare it to the Marin Alpine Trail since it has the same travel and geo is very close although 0.1-degree slacker HT angle on the Marin, so it would become the slackest bike you've ever ridden. I'm currently considering these two since the Alpine Trail 7 and the Sentinel NX Alloy are similarly priced in my country, and both are described as all-day all-mountain bikes with a fun/lively character and very capable of rough stuff. The chainstay is 10mm shorter on the Alpine Trail, so I'm wondering how it would compare since it's supposed to have very snappy cornering, but this Sentinel is reviewed as cornering very well too.
We don’t carry Marin at the shop so I won’t be able to compare it.
Definitely my favorite out of all the four bikes. I am kinda biased cuz I own a patrol
It’s one of my favorites too!
I'm still new to MTB and I ride a lot of trails similar to this, it's downhill, fast, and has a few tiny jumps and corners and berms. Mainly riding this with friends. I'm not for top speed, but tackling those hard terrains. but I'm trying to get more into Enduro/downhill riding so I'm not sure if this is what I should get, or go with a more Enduro specific, something with more suspension
Fantastic! Love this bike. Also, what awesome trails. I am seriously considering moving to Utah. Going to St George next week again to look for a home. Also considering more north where it is not so hot.
Utah has some pretty amazing trails. St. George has some of my favorite winter rides.
Ha! We're heading to St. George this weekend to check out neighborhoods and properties. Summer visit to experience the heat
Enjoy the heat! Don’t melt!
@@bikersedge ,....Well coming from North Phoenix, I don't think the heat will be a problem. But, I would like to have a little cooler climate than Phoenix. Trying to ride here in the summer is pretty rough. There is literally no shade anywhere.
Do you think northern Utah is worth moving to for the mountain biking? I am assuming that there is more of a year around riding season in St. George? Albeit pretty hot in the summer months.
One other thing is, I think there are less hikers on the trails in Utah? In Arizona, the biking trails are filled with hikers and they hate bikers.
@@Flacojandro ,....My wife and I have been there about 5 times now trying to find something. It is pretty difficult, everything is way overpriced. If you like beer, have you been to Zion brewing in downtown St. George? It is a great little place.
I will keep[ my eye open for you. ;-)
Really appreciate your reviews. I live in the NW and have been waiting for a Transition Sentinel GX to come in for months. Just happened to stop by one of my local bike shops last week and they had just received a shipment of Specialized Stumpjumper EVO's. The geometry seems very similar to the Sentinel. Was wondering if you've ridden one and what your opinion is?
Glad you like them. We don’t carry specialized so I wouldn’t be able to get one for a review.
"Not a full blown enduro bike" is raced at the professional level on the EWS by multiple riders haha
Yeah this channel kind of underestimates bikes, they’ve done so a few times.
I just looked through the top 50 ews riders. No sentinel. Who’s on one?
I’m not saying you can’t race enduro on it. But I stand by it not being an enduro bike. It’s an all mountain bike.
@@bikersedge Alex McAndrew and John Richardson, pretty sure the latter has had some pretty solid finishes. Anyway, its just semantics but I get it, its not a single crown dh bike which is what most people refer to as "enduro" now a days
Pretty sure at least John raced the Spire in the most recent round. Agreed, that it's probably just semantics at this point. And as always it's tough to put bikes into nice, neat little categories. I mean look at the Ibis team racing the Ripmo in the EWS. It's also a case of "the archer not the arrow"
@@bikersedge Oh really? I thought I saw a bike check with him on the Sentinel but I could be wrong. I think we're just on two sides of the same coin, all mountain bike that descends well and enduro bike that climbs well are the same thing I guess lol
Dude , where are this sick trails you are riding in this review ?? woow
Park city for this video. So good.
Have you ridden a stumjumper evo? Looks like itd fit right in this test, how does it compare if so?
We don’t carry Specialized. Won’t be able to include it in the test.
I love passing people on the climbs on my Sentinel. Amazing traction makes techy climbs a delight.
Hey man, good to hear that so do you think this bike is an all rounder? I'm this much to pull the trigger on the Sentinel. Btw! is going to be my 1st full squish.
@@jitodiaz Did you get it what do you think
@@LastAphelionhey man, nah! I bought an Orbea Occam H20LT. 150mm front and rear....very happy with my new rig. Cheers!
Awesome review! Did you have the chance to ride the Spire yet? Talking about enduro territory... would be interesting to see how it compares to the Sentinel!!
Just bought a Spire. When it shows up I’ll be making a video for sure.
Has it shown up yet?
@@jorcor78 no. Most likely February
Great review! What kind of frame bag is that shown in the intro?
Blackburn Grid!
How did the Zeb feel replacing the Lyrik. I am planning to do the same. Also what is the travel on the Zeb on the Sentinel. Thank You!
I kept the travel at 160 but I feel like the Zeb makes a big difference. The Sentinel deserves a Zeb.
What is the gear pouch / strap kit you have on the top tube of the sentinel? I have been looking for one that fits there.
It’s a wolf tooth components B-rad bracket with a Blackburn saddle bad strapped in there.
@@bikersedge thank you!
What is that bike bag that is strapped to the frame?? It looks super cool and I wanna get one
It’s a Blackburn saddle bag held on with the wolf tooth b rad bracket.
I agree. My Sentinel my most favorite bike of all time. It is just so good. Do you think the Zeb is a worthy upgrade?
100% put a Zeb on your sentinel. It matches the Sentinel's capability really well.
Just change the air spring on the Lyrik to 170. Way cheaper than buying a new fork.
@@minds4game I kept my Zeb at the same travel (160mm). Adding 10mm of front travel isn't the same as buying a bigger, stiffer fork.
@@bikersedge ah good to know. I got the GX build so it was a cheaper option for me. Maybe down the road I'll upgrade to a ZEB.
@@minds4game GX is where it's at! Best value build IMO. The Zeb is an amazing compliment to the Sentinel if you can swing it down the road.
If you used the climb switch on the shock would that make a good difference in its efficiency climbing? Thx.
Yeah. The climb switch always makes a bike more efficient but it comes at the expense of travel and control.
@@bikersedge Agreed. But at least it's there for those long gravel roads and smooth trail climbs. thx.
About to pull the trigger on an all mountain type bike. It’s looking like the Sentinel or a canyon Spectral. First, are the two bikes comparable, and second: it looks like you had a few close scrapes in this ride. Hitting trees, almost missing corners…is it because of the speed or because it’s not quite as agile for a tighter encroached trail like this? Don’t get me wrong, you’re an amazing rider. Thanks!
Those trails are overgrown and high speed. Getting too close to trees is a common occurrence.
Can’t say much about the Canyon. It’s not a brand I’m familiar with or have ever ridden. We don’t carry them at the shop.
what make is the little bag thats strapped onto your (im assuming) wolftooth brad strap?? have you got a innertube in there?
yeah it's a B Rad strap with a blackburn saddle bag. There's a tube, plug kit, CO2 and tool in there.
@@bikersedge brilliant thank you ! do you know what exact the model is? theres lots of blackburn ones out there and its limited space so dont want order the wrong one
How much sag did you run on the sentinel? Do you think it'd feel much different with the Fox X2?
I don't think it's really going to feel much different with a similar application air shock. I ran 30% sag.
Where are you riding? Those trails look awesome.
Park City!
Have you had experience on the new stumpjumper evo? Wondering how the sentinel compares…
We don’t carry specialized. Won’t be able to do a showdown.
Are you guys going to review the transition spire ?
Sure thing. I just bought one for myself. When it comes in I’ll be filming it for sure.
So live on the east coast with tight technical trails. Did you experience pedal strikes?
Not really. Then again, I don't really have many issues with those on any bike. I'll tag a pedal on some of the techy stuff from time to time is all.
After watching you ride and your video and comments I don’t see how any of the other bikes in this test can’t check all the boxes like this Transition.
The others each have their strengths, but I'm beyond stoked this one lives in my garage.
what does the bell on the left do? for road use? or do you need the bell in the mountains?
Lots of multi direction trails in our area. I ding it around blind corners or when I come up on hikers. Nicer than head on collisions or yelling.
@@bikersedge Agree! I use one here on the CO Front Range and get very appreciative "thanks" from other trail users.
What bike are you riding now Connor? I've been looking at this one. I'm currently on an RM Altitude.
The Stout carbon frame mutes a lot of trail chatter.
When are you going to do a review on the spire?
As soon as I can get one. Looks like February.
Great review as always- thanks for what you folks post. Between the Hightower and Sentinel- which bike do you think fits the 40 year old dad… haha. I use to manage a shop and was strong rider- now I’m a dad who o my talks about his glory days. But I’ll be honest I feel like a bit of a poser riding such a slack bike. Granted - I like to get rowdy. But most of the riding I’m doing is NC mountains with my son who is 12, and quickly starting to outride his dad. I’m demoing a the Sentinel this weekend. Wonder what your take is between the two. Thanks for any feedback - cheers
I’m a dad too and I can’t get enough of the sentinel at the moment. It suits my riding style really well. From what I understand, NC trails can be a little tighter than our trails out here in Utah. A hightower might be a bit easier to maneuver in that case. Honestly think you’d be stoked on either one.
@@bikersedge thanks for the quick reply. That checks with what I’ve been thinking. If your crew ever find themselves out this way- let me know. Happy to show y’all around! Cheers
I’ve been wanting to ride Pisgah! Look rad out there.
@@bikersedge COME ON! Beer and tacos on me
Don't tempt me with a good time.
What you think of those new specialized tires on that bike?
No comment.
@@bikersedge that's a bummer. Isn't this a review page?
@@dustinbjohnson Ha! We don't carry Specialized at the bike shop. I was in desperate need of some tires and had these laying around. They're not bad tires.
i bought one and hated it ? have no idea why maybe to long or stiff i have no idea i tried all sort of things but could not sort it, now have a intense primer mullet and loving it
Man. Different strokes for different folks I guess. I love mine!
Can someone tell me what frame pouch is that at 47 secs?
Blackburn grid held on with a wolftooth b rad bracket.
I wish I got this bike or the spur instead of my YT Izzo ..I waited 6 months for my bike....the frame cracked and now its been 3 months and still waiting for the replacement frameto come in! :(
The Spur is SOOOO much fun. I own one.
Ouch. That’s a mega bummer.
What tool kit bag it that under the top tube?
Blackburn grid held on with a wolftooth b rad bracket.
@@bikersedge TY
Is this ride in Park City? can you share what trails youre riding?
Yeah. Black Forest and Mojave
How does this thing compare to sb150?
Similar. It's been to long since I've ridden an SB150 to make a fair assessment.
How tall are you? I am exactly in between sizes L and XL 188 cm
I’m 6’2” (188)
Where was this filmed? trails looked amazing.
Park City Ut
@@bikersedge I'm so booking a trip to the USA for riding in those amazing silver birch trees - the contrast with the greens and the dirt is amazing. I'll make sure I come say hi :D \m/
@@bikersedge awesome videos btw - great reviews.
@@chrismakin1482 If you make it out this way, hit us up! The riding is pretty awesome.
What’s the name of this trail?
It’s on a whole bunch of trails in park city.
Might be helpful to share the fork offsets on these test bikes.
I leave out a lot of geometry and specs because it’s easy to look up and I’m trying to keep these videos as short as possible. All the offsets on these bikes are “short,”
@@bikersedge makes sense. I recently changed from 51mm to 42mm fork offset and as you know, it may as well be a completely different bike.
I can tell a bit of a difference for sure going back and forth between the two. I think it may have been overhyped when it first came out though. When I go back to a bike with a longer offset, it's not the end of the world for me.
@@bikersedge I ride a tallboy iii as a 24.5 lb marathon xc build with a 68 degree head tube. It takes less attention to weight the front to go fast through turns… much easier to go fast with the 42. I was curious if the offset had as much impact on those slacker bikes you’re testing. Sounds like maybe not.
Transition is putting any Santa Cruz bike to shame with their specs and pricing.
L or XL for 6’?
I am 6'3 on the XXL it's all inseam dependent. I like the Long Reach
Tough call. Your best bet is is to try them both in person.
I'm 6'2 on an XL. At 6' I'd no doubt get the L. It's made for your body height. This bike is plenty stable as is - L will do everything for you. XL will be a fast-and-open-track specialist.
I'm 6' on a L. Bike fits great.
You're riding a XL... How tall are you?
6’2”
@@bikersedge Thanks for the answear. I'm 6'5" and will go for the XXL. :)
Could anyone give me their opinions on which bike would b best to buy out of a trek remedy 8 or this transition sentinel? I've got a choice out of both these bikes at a very good price. Any help would b great, thanx
Sentinel. All day.
I think this bike must compare with sb150 make more sense for me
I spent most of the video explaining why it’s fits better with these bikes than the enduro bikes.
Curious how this bike compares to the Stumpy EVO…
We don't carry Specialized. Won't be able to make that happen.
@@bikersedge gotcha, thought that may have been the case. Great videos tho!
Hey thanks for the kind words!
Did I miss the size and your height?
Size XL. I’m 6’2”
@@bikersedge at 6’1 I’m right in between and haven’t been able to sit on one let alone ride one. Any input?
I steer clear of size advice over the internet. It’s a crapshoot without seeing someone on the bike. We are dropping a video soon that will help people know what to expect with a bigger frame vs smaller frame.
It’s still not the best way to size someone on a bike. Hopefully it helps people decide though.
I all the bikes u guys test are awesome but still thinks putting yeti in this test is fair yeti is trail bike
False. It’s an all mountain bike. No battle.
@@bikersedge that false from u guys i dont know y u guys pushing yeti as all mountain bike .Are they sending u free stuff ? I am not saying it’s down county bike it good trail bike it doesn’t matter what company clams mostly are not true.so people buy stuff on ur reviews so i will say be honest like my self i bought Occam when u reviewed it . If its really all mountain bike make a whole separate video n show y its all mountain with less suspension.
I'm not trying to push it as something it's not. I honestly believe it's an all-mountain bike. It's far more capable on the DH than the trail bikes. I've ridden one of the nastiest double black diamond trails in the state on a standard SB130. I wouldn't be stoked to ride that same trail on a Tallboy, Ripley or Spur. I feel like the SB130 video I just published, goes to show it's an AM bike and not a trail bike. you don'r have to believe it, but I doubt you've ridden all these bikes back to back to actually know for yourself.
how about a MARIN ALPINE TRAIL to test?
We don’t carry Marin. Won’t be able to make it happen.
@@bikersedge bummer, you guys should carry Marin as they make affordable bikes.
We carry 10+ brands as is. Tough to add brands at this point. Plus we've got a solid lineup with some of the best brands in the business.
Sasquatch at 5:53
Hahah. Never noticed that.
Cool content. :) just the zooming in-out makes me dizzy. 😎
Sorry. It got a little out of hand on this one. I went full UA-cam. Never go full UA-cam.
this or the Spire is a very hard decision
I’m still waiting on a spire to try some back to back riding with my sentinel. I don’t think you can go wrong with either.
Yeah throw a cascade link on the sentinel, maybe even a 170mm air spring and it’s an even closer comparison.
Words to use if you're a mtn bike reviewer: corners, active, slack, downhill, suspension, smooth, sick, stable, geometry, long, bike, fast, sluggish, poppy, wallow, pedal bob, monster truck, east/west cost, enduro, quiet, woo!, engaging, flowy....in no particular order. 😉
If you’d prefer I can use: boingy, round, rolly, bikey, dirt, stick, rock, grabby parts, rubbery parts and sitty bits.
This is gold 😂😂
It’s an enduro bike.
Nah.
I don't think this bike belongs in this group of bikes. It's more in line with a SB150 or Megatower. Of course, it's going to descend the best.
I feel like I defended my position very well. It doesn’t belong with the enduro bikes. Ride one back to back with the all mountain bikes and then the enduro bikes. You’ll see.
@@bikersedge I totally agree. I have had a Sentinel V2 since May 2020. Initially I thought it would be an enduro sled, but instead found it to be an amazing all arounder. I ride it everywhere! Xc trails, flow trails, bike parks, shuttle mountains, it is the do it all - all mountain bike.
I eventually upped the fork to 170 and put the cascade link on to make it a bit more enduro feeling, but it hasn’t lost much of its all mountain roots. Such a versatile bike.
@scott Finally! Someone who doesn't think I'm crazy for calling it an AM bike. Most people who have ridden one end up feeling the same it seems. Way more versatile than it looks on paper.
@@bikersedge Hey, first off just wanted to say that I'm a big big fan of your videos. Love the production quality, the interesting dialog, and the great bikes reviewed. You're doing it right. I just wanted to leave a comment to say that sometimes bike reviews can get a tad bit confusing. It seems like a vast majority of reviews use the words "slightly" or "a little bit" to differentiate bikes and on the same token categorize bikes that may seem similar differently. An example of this is when you say that the Sentinel is a "little bit" up the burly scale over the Spur, but then say that the Sentinel is an all mountain bike but not an enduro bike. But I bet if the sentinel just had 10mm more travel ( "slightly" more rear travel) to 160 it would classify as an enduro bike thru and thru - nearly same specs, actually more aggressive than something like a megatower. I own both a Spur and Sentinel, and can definitely that they are worlds apart. I think what I'm getting at is that maybe when reviews use words like "slightly " or a "little bit" it may confuse some people, because to me those words means a "very small" or "negligible" difference. Anyways, keep doing what you're doing. Just wanted to throw that out there.
@@CCWclassic Thanks for the kind words! That's some really good feedback too.
Not sure I've said the Sentinel is only a "little bit burlier" than a Spur. I've owned both and the Sentinel is way burlier than the Spur. Compared to the other bikes in this test, though, it is a "little bit" burlier. Hopefully that clears things up.
Treading him wontcha cuz
External cables……..WHY!!!!
Only the rear brake is external. Honestly, that's probably the best option. You can remove the rear brake without having to cut the line and bleed it.
too slack
Don't knock it till you try it.
👆🏼 exactly. Only too slack if you haven’t ridden one.
Been riding one for 2 months. Thought so too at first until lately I've finally started to adapt.
As said in the video: really lean the bike into the corners rather than steering and it's as nimble as any bike with a bit of speed with much more composure. Only when really moving slowly do I ever feel like it's any more work than a 65 HTA bike to move around tight 'n windy trails.
@@SpencerBaum Ever eat raw chicken?
@@Nate_K111 that analogy doesn't work due to the fact that you can actually get sick from raw chicken and it isn't good for you. A super slack bike like this won't hurt you, it's just different than what your currently riding. It's basically like saying, I love cooked fish but I hate sushi because it's raw and I've never tried it