Okay. The snow started melting (end of ski season) and it was time to take my brand new Smuggler to Moab. This bike is amazing. I went from being completely stoked on my Santa Cruz Bronson to loving the longer top tube/overall geometry of the Smuggler. I've got long arms and torso and the bike fits me great. I was worried the 29'er tires would make turning and agility slower/more awkward...no way. This bike corners like a dream and is so easy to roll up step-ups I had problems getting over before and rolling down steeper angles that I was not as confident on. I do plenty of pedaling uphill and it's smooth and maneuverable on climbs. Stoked.
Just picked this up on Friday.It rips and I love it already. Changed out bar/stem last night and looking for a new set of tires. TA 29 in a size Large. Will pick up a dropper and new brakes once winter is over!
Just picked this up on Friday.It rips and I love it already. Changed out bar/stem last night and looking for a new set of tires. TA 29 in a size Large. Will pick up a dropper and new brakes once winter is over!
cool ... did you end up going with wider bar and shorter stem?
Just picked this up on Friday. It rips and I love it already. Changed out bar/stem last night and looking for a new set of tires. TA 29 in a size Large. Will pick up a dropper and new brakes once winter is over!
cool ... did you end up going with wider bar and shorter stem?
Thanks! I went with a RF Aeffect Stem 50mm and RF Bar 785mm. Same size bar, shorter stem but it matches with black/black color combo.
Hey everyone! This is my first post on pinkbike, I've been riding for about a year and a half now and am hoping to upgrade bikes sometime soon. I'll be buying a transition because I can get a great deal on one through a friend, and am struggling with which one will be best for me. My options are Smuggler, Scout, and Sentinel. Here are my thoughts on each bike:
Smuggler: Seems like a good all-around trail bike, I know someone that owns and loves his, but not sure it's quite enough bike for me as I like to ride some more gnary trails and go to the bike park every now and then.
Scout: This bike seems like it has the ideal travel/geo for me, however I really think I would like 29" wheels; I live in northern CO and there's just so many damn rocks out here lol. Will I miss the roll-over of a 29er or will I notice that much of a difference? I'm currently on a 26" bike from 2010 so either size will be better than what I have now, but I have ridden a friend's 29er multiple times and really fell in love with how easily it went over rocks & roots.
Sentinel: Really thought I would be buying this bike when I saw the specs but after hearing reviews I'm not so sure. It just seems more DH oriented than I think I would like. My immediately local trails are techy, somewhat tight, and more XC oriented than not. That being said, I do a lot of riding on steeper terrain as well, just not as often since I have to drive at least 45 minutes to get to those trails. Will this bike be tolerable to pedal on tight and techy trails when I don't have time drive to the steeper stuff?
If the scout were a 29er, I would be buying that without a doubt, but since TR doesn't make that bike I feel I'm stuck in between compromises.
The Smuggler is pretty close to a 29er Scout. At least in the way it rides. Put a 150 fork on it. I am in love with my 2017 Smuggler. But I wouldn't take it to the park..........my park is Whistler. No idea what yours is like.
The Sentinel is a great bike. So fun. Climbs great for what it is. Impossible to tell you how it would be on your trails. On the North Shore of Vancouver it will be a killer bike.
I had a smuggler and it was killer. It was an all day trail bike but seriously bombed the downhills. Whistler is my closest park too and there's no way I would take it there.
A bit of snow today. Changed bars and stem to a RF 50mm stem and 35mmx780mm bar along with a Thomson post! Just need brakes pads, and a set of tires! Only have front brake right now.
Frame: Large TransAm 29er Fork/Headset: RockShox Revelation/ Cane Creek Crankset/Bottom Bracket: Shimano XT Pedals: Crank Bros Candy 3 Drivetrain/Cog/Chainring/Chain: SRAM XO1 10-42 Derailleurs/Shifters: SRAM XO1 Handlebars/Stem: Race Face Aeffect R 35x780 20mm Rise/ Race Face Aeffect 50mm Saddle/Seatpost: Forte Carbon/Thomson Elite 30.9x367 Brakes: Avid Juicy 7 Levers// Ultimate F/R Calipers// Shimano 180F/160R Front Wheel/Hub/Tire: Stans ZTR Flow/Revolver/Maxxis Ardent 2.4 Rear Wheel/Hub/Tire: Stans Arch EX/Stans/Kenda Nevegal 2.2 Accessories: ODI Elite Pro Lock-On Grips/Mucky Nutz Face Fender
I had a smuggler and it was killer. It was an all day trail bike but seriously bombed the downhills. Whistler is my closest park too and there's no way I would take it there.
Yeah it's probably not best suited for that. Though I have hit some pretty big park features and lines with my Scout...