Test: Two years after the presentation of the Transition TR11 V2, the North Americans have given their downhiller a juicy update. In cooperation with the FMD Racing team around Thanee and Kaos Seagrave, the geometry was fine-tuned, the frame was converted to the latest standards and on top of that, two classy new colors are available on the TR11 V2. We are looking forward to the offseason and put the downhill bike through its paces, especially in the "Local Woods".
For 25 years, Transition has focused primarily on the fun and passion for cycling. Their wide range includes seven different bikes in 18 model variants, ranging from Dirt jump bike, about trail bullets, to the gravity weapons, namely the Patrol and the completely relaunched Transition TR11 V2. Among other things, the North Americans also rely on the shredders of tomorrow and have ripcord brought an absolutely well thought-out fully for children onto the market. If you want to find out more about the range or Transition in general, I'll guide you here to her extensive YouTube channel, which I think offers a great mix of wild bike action, lots of humor and great stories.
What to expect from the Transition TR 11
From a mullet bike with 29 inches on the front wheel and 27,5 inches on the rear, to a complete twenty-nine tire, a lot has been tried out on the Transition TR11 in the last two years. Above all, the Gravity siblings Kaos and Thanee Seagrave gave a lot of input here, as they push the bikes to their limits week after week at the World Cup on the toughest downhill trails in the world. Of course, the TR11 was not only trimmed for the fastest lap time, but also included the opinions of freeride riders, for whom the fun factor of the bike is paramount.
In the end, Transition – like its predecessor the TR500 – stayed true to the 650b tires and bucked the trend towards 29-inch tires on downhill bikes. As with the first edition of the TR11, only carbon frames are available instead of aluminum, which should generate even more rigidity. There was also no change in the spring travel of 200mm, but the V2 variant switched to a metric damper installation dimension. With this update, Transition wants to get even more out of the in-house GiddyUp rear suspension system. Also, some geometry changes should increase the performance of the transition again - but more on that later.
Specs of the TR11
The TR11 is available in two build options: the more affordable GX Build and the highly equipped X01 Build, each offered in "Black Chrome" and "Primer Blue." The latter, priced at €7.899, boasts top-of-the-line components including Fox Factory suspension, Code RSC brakes, and an X01 drivetrain. The tested "GX Build" is just as well-designed as the X01, but with a suggested retail price of €5.699, it's slightly less expensive and not quite as high-end.
Instead of the Fox 40, the " GX Build " features a RockShox Boxxer Select fork, which is based on the Boxxer Ultimate platform, and instead of the Fox DHX2, it uses a RockShox Super Deluxe Coil shock. The more affordable version uses the Code R instead of the Code RSC, and the X01 drivetrain is replaced by a combination of a SRAM Descendant crankset and a GX derailleur . All bikes and framesets come with a Zero Stack headset with 0mm, -5mm, and +5mm offset cups. This allows for perfect reach adjustment to suit individual rider preferences.
| Frame | TR11 Carbon 200mm Rear/200mm Front |
| Fork | RockShox Boxxer Select RC 200 |
| Suspension shocks | RockShox Super Deluxe Coil Ultimate DH(SM - 400lb / MD - 450lb / LG - 500lb / XL - 550lb) |
| Wheels | Stans Flow S1 w/Novatech D951SB/DH82SB hubs |
| Tire VR | Maxxis Minion DHF 3C DH (27.5 x 2.5) |
| Tire HR | Maxxis Minion DHRII 3C DH (27.5x2.4) |
| Derailleur | SRAM GX DH |
| Shifter | SRAM GX DH |
| Crank | SRAM Descendent DH DUB |
| Front derailleur | |
| Brake | SRAM code R |
| Brake discs | SRAM centerline (200mm) |
| Seatpost | JD SP66 |
| Saddle | ANVL Forge Chrome |
| Stem | Race Face Chester DM |
| Handlebar | Race Face Chester 35 |
In addition to the complete bikes, a frame set is also available, which is also available in both colors. Including the Fox DHX 2, it weighs 4,0 kilos and costs 3.699 euros.
The geometry of the Transition TR11 V2 in detail
Some changes in the geometry data immediately catch the eye. On the one hand, the new, metric damper length of 250x75mm, which should harmonize even better with the kinematics of the patented GiddyUp rear triangle system, and on the other hand, the extension of the reach to 465mm in size L. In order to keep the balance, the chainstays have also grown by 5mm and that Bottom bracket comes 6mm higher. With these changes to the geometry, the rider is placed even more centrally on the bike. which also increases traction on the front wheel.
Geometry data at a glance
| S | M | L | XL | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Reach | 415 | 440 | 465 | 490 |
| Stack (Height) | 602 | 610 | 610 | 619 |
| seat tube length | 420 | 420 | 420 | 420 |
| Effective seat tube angle | 76,0 | 76,0 | 76,0 | 76,0 |
| Effective seat tube angle | 110 | 120 | 120 | 130 |
| Head Tube Angle | 63,0 | 63,0 | 63,0 | 63,0 |
| Chain stay length | 440 | 440 | 440 | 440 |
| Wheelbase | 1217 | 1247 | 1272 | 1301 |
| standover height | 685 | 685 | 685 | 685 |
| Fork offset / offset | 52 | 52 | 52 | 52 |
field test
At the end of the bike park season, I had the pleasure of testing the Transition TR11 V2 for three weekends. Of course, I took the opportunity to test the TR11's bike park abilities in the local bike parks at Geißkopf and Spicak (CZ). Especially in the Czech bike park, not far from the border near Bayerisch Eisenstein, the Transition and I felt right at home.
After some fooling around in the parking lot of the Bikepark Spicak, it was time to get started: on routes such as “Black Friday” or the “Struggle”, which also serves as a descent in the European Downhill Cup and is therefore the perfect test route, the TR11 V2 was put to the test felt. The name of the route says it all and here you will find everything from large stepdowns, to stone and root fields, to deep heels.
In this environment, the TR11 was able to convince me from the very first descent after the fine-tuning on the Boxxer Select and the Super Deluxe was done after a few runs. The suspension is super sensitive and sensitive, especially at the rear, with enough progression in the last third of the suspension travel. Thanks to the long wheelbase, the TR 11 V2 runs extremely smoothly on fast downhill tracks. Thanks to the very solid chassis and the balanced geometry, rocky areas and rough passages are just as smooth to ride as flowy sections, where feedback from the ground plays just as important a role.
It was super easy to handle on the jumps on the freeride routes and conveyed a lot of confidence in the air right from the start. At 1,80m, I was quite centrally integrated into the bike and only noticed the long wheelbase negatively in a few situations. Only when the trails got very narrow and blocked did the length of the bike limit a bit, but with a little instinct and an active, aggressive riding style I had a lot of fun here too. Otherwise, the bike looks extremely lively and playful, regardless of whether it's gimmicks off the trail or simply banging away at full throttle and with plenty of reserves - the Transition invites you to go to the limit.
At the end of the test we went to the Bikepark Proeller and to some other freeride spots in the Bavarian Forest. Perfect for putting the Transition TR11's suitability for freeriding to the test. In steep sections it knew how to convince and the changes to the geometry seemed very well thought out to me. For my personal taste, the cockpit could have been a little higher and the chainstays could have been a little longer.
The TR11 was very easy to handle at all times and I quickly learned to appreciate the equipment on offer. From the Boxxer Select to the Code R to the Stans wheels, I had no wishes here. In terms of stability, apart from a dent in the front wheel, there were no defects or the like. The externally routed cables are a matter of taste, but together with the One Up chain guide, they ensure a fairly quiet bike.
