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Transition Covert carbon !!!

Aug 25, 2011
526
0
West Milford, NJ, 'MERICA
Transition has always been my go to company! I have been waiting on them to make something carbon! They make awesome bikes to begin with, and this Covert really stepped up their game.

Chances are a Carbon TR450 is in the works. With so many cycling companies ditching aluminum and switching to carbon, Transition isn't far behind it seems!
 

Da Peach

Outwitted by a rodent
Jul 2, 2002
13,681
4,904
North Van
Yeah, that is one sweet looking bike. I lika de bulack wahn. Internal routing...although probably quite standard these days, looks so sweet on this thing.
 

joeg

I have some obvious biases
Jul 20, 2011
198
137
Santa Cruz CA
Internal routing...although probably quite standard these days
Are people into this? It looks clean in photos but I think about brake bleeds and how to pack my bike for an airplane flight and think is not worth it.

Plus I heard thers a new shift cable standard for my2014. Ha
 

SCARY

Not long enough
Why can't we produce carbon stuff over here?I mean if there was a SOPA of carbon over in N.America everyone could source out of there.I thought the asian countries were becoming less and less cost effective.I must be missing something,if someone could enlighten me.
 

Tetreault

Monkey
Nov 23, 2005
877
0
SoMeWhErE NoWhErE
Why can't we produce carbon stuff over here?
When manufacturing moved over seas, so does further development within that industry. I don't know anyone with the money or experience now that would be willing to invest the time and money to properly create a manufacturing facility here that could compete price wise with asia, even at these prices. Carbon manufacturing here see's more money and investment at the aerospace and defense level that bikes just simply don't make sense for most capable in manufacturing sizable runs of frames
 

joeg

I have some obvious biases
Jul 20, 2011
198
137
Santa Cruz CA
Why can't we produce carbon stuff over here?
carbon bike fabrication is labor intensive. Bikes are low volume and low margin. You wouldn't buy the finished product, even if someone did it - price would be insane. Lets not forget that Sapa quit aluminum frame production, which has much less direct labor hours per frame.
Carbon now is black metal in consumer eyes. Cost takes over the buying decision then.

How do you grade "good" carbon versus cheap shltty carbon? Seriously. How?
 

wiscodh

Monkey
Jun 21, 2007
833
121
303
How do you grade "good" carbon versus cheap shltty carbon? Seriously. How?
material, process, and process variation. This cannot be done at the consumer level tho. Metrology labs, carbon experts, and testing are the only ways. Again, consumers cannot tell the good from bad.
 

sethimus

neu bizutch
Feb 5, 2006
4,881
2,132
not in Whistler anymore :/
Are people into this? It looks clean in photos but I think about brake bleeds and how to pack my bike for an airplane flight and think is not worth it.
take wheels off. take pedals off. loose the bar. put everything in your evoc bike bag. don't think of any cables. travel. arrive. put everything back together. not THAT complicated...
 

joeg

I have some obvious biases
Jul 20, 2011
198
137
Santa Cruz CA
take wheels off. take pedals off. loose the bar. put everything in your evoc bike bag. don't think of any cables. travel. arrive. put everything back together. not THAT complicated...
I've had some nightmares showing up somewhere to ride and having a bike that was damaged in shipping. I take everything off and wrap things individually. No trusting TSA
 

Silver

find me a tampon
Jul 20, 2002
10,840
1
Orange County, CA
You can understand what alloy is used, and see the forging/machining and welding.
How many consumers know enough to pick out different alloys? I know on a basic level what some of the differences are, but to get an educated answer, I'd have to ask a frame builder.

And then the welding - nice welds are a cherry on top of the sundae, but that's it. I'd have to think that for your regular enthusiast consumer (let's say someone who would bother reading these forums, or hell, anyone that buys a frame by itself, really) it comes down to the following:

1 - Price
2 - Looks
3 - What big name rides it?
4 - Does it snap a lot?
5 - What was the price again?
 

joeg

I have some obvious biases
Jul 20, 2011
198
137
Santa Cruz CA
How many consumers know enough to pick out different alloys? I know on a basic level what some of the differences are, but to get an educated answer, I'd have to ask a frame builder.

And then the welding - nice welds are a cherry on top of the sundae, but that's it. I'd have to think that for your regular enthusiast consumer (let's say someone who would bother reading these forums, or hell, anyone that buys a frame by itself, really) it comes down to the following:

1 - Price
2 - Looks
3 - What big name rides it?
4 - Does it snap a lot?
5 - What was the price again?
Really? I've been deluding myself. I figured looks was up there, expected weight, suspension, geometry, stiffness and component compatibility might show up in there - at least for frame only buyers.

Thing is, metal frames were all made one way (excepting treks bonded aluminum days). Welded tubes, or formed welded sheet. What you see is what you get. Carbon frame processing has a lot of different methods, but it is true that it goes beyond what can be explained to the consumer - or most people really.

Anyway, back to the transition. Looks great, good for them biting the bullet and getting into the carbon market. Playing it safe with weight for a first carbon bike is also a smart move.
 

bizutch

Delicate CUSTOM flower
Dec 11, 2001
15,928
24
Over your shoulder whispering
Isn't the main driver by bike companies to move to carbon creative limitations with aluminum? Can't you put more radical designs into effect without drastically pushing the weight caps consumers insist on?

Basically, if you can dream up a design, you stand a much greater chance of successfully implementing a durable version of your design in carbon?
 

Tetreault

Monkey
Nov 23, 2005
877
0
SoMeWhErE NoWhErE
there is a whole basket worth of reasons to switch to carbon. Less limitations when it comes to shaping and design, greater strength to weight ratio, marketability, tech factor, aesthetics, ect. In a few more years when they have had lots of these carbon FR and DH bikes out in the market for awhile they will only get better. More knowledge with placement and layups in the real world and i dont think it will be out of the question to see super durable trust worthy carbon Dh machines in the 6-7lb range. Its amazing to think how far aluminium frames have even come in the last 10 years, hopefully we'll look back and say the same about carbon.