Transition TransAM First Impressions

Write-up of my early impressions of the new Transition TransAM all-mountain chromoly hardtail, including a video of the TransAM in action on some trails that are prime for the bike.Background
I've been a fan of Transition for a while now. It started a few years back when a friend brought some of their literature back from Interbike and said the Tranny boys would hook us up even though our shop wasn't a dealer at the time. Since I was pretty new to the freeride scene and I still did a lot of uphill pedaling, the Preston FR seemed like the bike for me. I still think that burnt-orange Preston was one of the best bikes I've ever ridden. I've since owned a Bottlerocket and another Preston and spent some time on the Double and TOP. There's a Blindside sneaking around in the back of my mind...

A recent move from the mountains of Utah to the drab desert of Arizona landed me 45 minutes from the best freeride or DH riding in the Phoenix area, but about five minutes from the San Tan Mountains. The San Tan Mountains (more like hills to anyone who's been to real mountains) have a nice little network of smooth, wide, rolling singletrack; the kind that never really involves enough gravity or gnarly terrain to make use of a big bike.

Motivation
It didn't take many days out there on the Bottlerocket before I started hankering for something light and simple that I could ride there on the days that I couldn't get to the really good stuff. (I seem to need at least some time on a two wheels everyday, if even for a few minutes. Keeps me sane.)

When Transition released the TransAM, a frame meant to "bring back the basics of what true all mountain trail riding is all about," I knew it was the perfect bike for my situation. Having spent a bunch of time on singlespeed DJ bikes, one of my favorite features of the TransAM was the horizontal dropouts with custom adapters for running gears. I wanted this thing as simple as possible, and since I was on a tight budget, I would be building the TransAM with the parts from my current DJ bike. (I'm really missing a little DJ bike, but it just wasn't getting enough use here in AZ).


The Build
My build is a little different from most. The frame is built for a 140mm fork, and Transition has tried up to 160, but I'm one of the first to try it with a 100mm Argyle. Given the terrain I'm riding, I haven't wished for a bigger fork yet, although I'm guessing that it would be nice on rougher trails. The whole thing is a bit of a tank right now since I had to part it out with full-on freeride stuff, but it's still so much lighter than anything I'm used to that I don't mind.

Specs
Large, orange TransAM frame
Rockshox Argyle fork
Revolution 32 wheels
Gravity Maximus crank
DMR singlespeed converter 16/32 ratio
Transition integrated headset
Gravity Gap 50mm stem
Truvativ Hussefelt bar
Rogue lock-ons
Truvativ seatpost
Transition saddle
Hayes 9 brakes
Eastern sealed pedals
Maxxis minion tires

Options
One of the cool things about the frame is how versatile it is. Besides the drivetrain options, you can really effect the geometry and handling by messing with fork travel and stem length. My ideal build would probably involve a Pike, Transition AM wheels, and some lighter pedals, bars, and stem.

The Ride
I LOVE the singlespeed. I love how quiet and simple it is, and how it forces me to ride fast uphill and sort of chill downhill. I forgot what it feels like to be able to sit down and pedal. Not just pedal, but pedal efficiently. To climb hills like a mountain goat and to feel every little part of the terrain. Riding the TransAM has noticeably improved my ability to pump freeride trails and pick lines on DH runs. I realized how much speed and energy I was wasting by letting my suspension do all the work. The bottom line for me is that this bike is simple and fun.

I haven't tried jumping it yet. With my fork, the head angle is pretty steep. I think I have enough standover, but the frame, a large, is noticeably long. Geometry wise, it feels kind of like a hardtail Preston FR. I can still drop the seat nice and far for long downhills and use just the right amount of seatpost on the climbs.

Concerns
I haven't tried the custom dropouts. I've put them on and they seem pretty slick. Some don't like the integrated headset. It's been fine so far, and I like the short stack height and the fact that I don't need an installation tool. The frame is missing CG tabs (which don't really belong on this bike, IMO), and there were a couple little cosmetic blemishes on my frame.

Bottom Line
I usually scoff when people talk about "soul" and all that kind of stuff, but this bike has really reminded me of the basic pleasures of riding. There's more to it than going fast and going big. Given the right terrain, this is a super fun, simple, and unique frame that provides a great ride. Don't believe me? Watch the vid...



A word about Transition.
There are lots of opinions about Transition. I think a lot of people are just bugged by trendy stuff. But the bottom line is, the guys are just amazing at being on the forefront of mountain biking. Their ability to foresee the needs of riders is impressive. They're not perfect. They forgot to send pedals with one of my bikes, and everyone knows the paint jobs aren't the most amazing. But they're blowing up for a reason. They make cool stuff. Good stuff. And you feel like you're buying from a friend. I support them because they support me. I'm not the greatest rider, but I'm out there riding and spreading the word, and so they put me on their grassroots team and hooked me up. Thanks Transition!