TESTED
actually still 15mm shorter than my new XC
bike. But unless you’re on a bike that’s come
out in the past couple of years, it is still likely
a longer reach than you might expect. With the
Smuggler built up with a Marzocchi Bomber
Z2 with a 44mm offset, I got pretty close to the
43mm that Transition design the bike around.
Transition say the Smuggler is their do-
it-all bike, and I was impressed by how well
this thing got me to the trails on the mix of
multi-use trails and back roads I use to get to
proper singletrack. This isn’t a bike to judge
on it’s climbing or sedate trail prowess, but
the benefit of riding a bike that is so well-
mannered for riding like this means you know
you have a bike that’s going to be easy to get
along with for big days on the bike.
Living near Brisbane, I don’t have descents
longer than about 6 minutes that are really
close by. And most are barely half of that. This
means that when you’re on a trail heading
down, you tend to have a dig. The Smuggler
really responds to being ridden hard, both
from pedal input and also working the bike.
From loading the front tyre into corners, to
driving through with your feet to push out, the
Smuggler urges you on. I’m not one to launch
off things willy nilly, but anytime I did find the
best line choice was up and over or off, theSmuggler was super composed.
The build you see pictured and listed here
was a fun way to start, but just before printing
we set the Smuggler up with a Shimano Deore
XT M8100 12-speed group set (see below),
and some NoTubes Arch Mk3 rims laced to
Deore XT hubs as well. The build started with
my own XC wheels, and while they have a nice
29mm internal rim, they’re not super stiff and
with the 2.35” tyre (the max rated size for the
Transition Smuggler) there was a little bit of
scuffing and buzzing on the inside of the swing
arm. Hopefully a stiffer wheel, and a slightly
narrower internal width, keeps this at bay.OUR TAKE
My journey with the Transition Smuggler
has just begun, and with a new group set
just fitted it’s time to take it a little further
afield. I’m really impressed by the composed
ride when just chilling on the trail, but in all
honesty the Smuggler just wants to snap into
action most of the time. It does spring forward
under a short pedal stroke, and easily switches
direction on the trail. I think it’s going to be a
whole lot of fun over the coming months, so
follow along our social and web feeds to see
what parts are hanging off the bike, and how
it’s going.RRP: $4779.00
WEIGHT: 12.02KG (AS TESTED)
AVAILABLE SIZES: S, M, L, XL
FRAME MATERIAL: Carbon
FORK: Marzocchi Z2 140mm
SHOCK: Fox DPS Performance EliteSHIFTERS: Microshift Advent 9sp
DERAILLEUR: Microshift Advent 9sp
CRANK: Shimano SLX 175mm, 34t
Praxis c/ring
BOTTOM BRACKET: Shimano
MT800, threaded
CHAIN: Shimano HG-CN701
CASSETTE: Microshift Advent 11-42HUBS: DT Swiss 350, 28h c/lock
SPOKES: DT Revolution
RIMS: EIE Carbon A29C29D25S 28h
TYRES: Maxxis Rekon 2.4”, Ikon
2.35”BRAKES: TRP Slate T4, 180/180mm
STEM: RaceFace Turbine R 35mm
clamp
HANDLEBARS: RaceFace Next
35mm, 10mm rise
SEATPOST: Fox Transfer factory,
150mm drop.
SADDLE: PROTRANSITION
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