transition dirtbag

T0mo · Jan 25, 2005

I'm the same hight/weight as you and I love my dirtbag for everything you listed. It jumps better than any bike I've ever ridden, it feels great through rock gardens, it corners well... I could go on for a while but I won't. I would highly recomend this frame. I ride a 17".

fubuki · Jan 25, 2005

for 2005 the seatpost has changed to 28.6mm

T0mo · Jan 25, 2005

The website still says 30 mm seatpost.
http://transitionbikes.com/DirtBag.cfm

fubuki · Jan 25, 2005

Well that's what Kevin told me a few weeks ago when I was at his house. BTW, I ordered my 05 frame and it should be here in a few weeks.

360 · Jan 25, 2005

gets my vote too, a couple of friends have got them and both bikes ride really well and the construction looks good too.

only thing that concerns me about the dirtbag is the high leverage ratio.

Superdeft · Jan 25, 2005

I'm also thinking about one of these, how much of a factor is the high ratio?

buildyourown · Jan 25, 2005

Superdeft said:
how much of a factor is the high ratio?

Higher shock ratios make the shock work harder which means shorter shock life and higher maintenance/less reliablity. This is more of an issue if you're a big guy. I had a Super8, which is renowned for it's high shock ratio. I only had one shock blow in the 3 years I rode it. However, I only weigh 175.
If you are big, I would look for a bike with a 3:1 ratio or better.

Lower ratios also make the suspension respond better to shock adjustments.

For the money, the Dirtbag is really tough to beat

Superdeft · Jan 25, 2005

I wish other companies could be as smart as transition and pump out some cheaper FR frames, there's a market, but people may not be buying because of the high price of most 7"+ bikes.

buildyourown · Jan 25, 2005

You have to cut a lot of corners to sell a bike that cheap. Trans has very low overhead cause the guys run the company out of their house. I think they both have day jobs. All the bikes are made overseas. The quality is decent for the money. I would rather buy a used US made bike like a Turner than a new transition.

zane · Jan 25, 2005

buildyourown said:
You have to cut a lot of corners to sell a bike that cheap. Trans has very low overhead cause the guys run the company out of their house. I think they both have day jobs. All the bikes are made overseas. The quality is decent for the money. I would rather buy a used US made bike like a Turner than a new transition.

I agree, but for a new bike in that price range a dirtbag is hard to beat. Some of your other options are a banshee chaparall or a kona..... notice how all have the same suspension..... cheap to make, cheap to get rights for, made in the land of questionable fabrication. If you insist on buying new and have a limited budget the dirtbag is a good choice. It's been reviewed well for freeride use and lighter Dh (see NSMB's review, it's pretty in-depth). It should pedal halfass decent with a romic, but a better shock would improve the climbing ability.

butthead · Jan 26, 2005

I like my Dirtbag. I'm 6'2" and 265 lbs. and it holds up to me fine. The sag is perfect for me with a 600# spring in 6" mode (I don't have the Dangerboy plates...yet). I'd guess you would probably be good with a 550 or 500 spring at 7". My heft probably puts alot of abuse on a frame by just riding. I've had it almost a year and I don't feel any flex in the rear end at all. It's a very nimble bike and it pedals really well.

I'm no suspension expert, but how does the high leverage ratio affect the internals of the shock? As long as the sag is set according to Romic's specifications, shouldn't the spring rate slow the shock stroke down properly? I think Romic makes up to an 800# spring, so shouldn't the shock be able to hold up to that kind of force? I don't know, I guess I don't completely buy into the "high leverage = bad" line of thinking.

I realize that the pivots, linkages, etc. will have more stress on them in 7" mode, but I'm pretty sure Transition and/or Dangerboy will stand behind their products.

koffee · Jan 26, 2005

I know someone who has broken 2 of them. The second time I witnessed it. It was from jumpin of a obsenely small jump. I sure many will disagree, but i would stay away. I also heard the rear end was going to be beefed up for 05, but I am not sure.

zane · Jan 26, 2005

Example: (I kept the numbers easy)

2:1 leverage ratio- 2 inches of wheel travel for every inch of shock travel.
4:1 leverage ratio- 4 inches of wheel travel for every inch of shock travel.

The 4:1 will require your shock to work twice as hard as 2:1 (or is it muiltiplied exponentially? Could be...), because it's dealing with twice the wheel travel for each inch of shock travel. This equates to shorter shock life, shorter spring life (I've seen a couple screams - 4:1 ratio - with sacked out springs) and in general not as good feeling suspension. The compression and rebound on a high ratio bike must be set higher than the same shock would on a lower ratio bike, bacause the forces exerted on the shock are multiplied (in this case, by 2). This wears out the shock even faster.

Superdeft · Jan 26, 2005

I wonder why they don't respec the shock and rocker plates for a better ratio.

the yeti ASX has a 9.5x3 shock for it's 6.3/7.1 travel settings, so it would make sense for Transition to get a bigger shock.

Bacardi · Jan 26, 2005

The bike is fine. Don't listen to people who say 'questionable' fabrication, 'poor' shock ratio...I have seen one break... etc.

Maintenance
Everything needs maintenance, how many people do all the Required maintenance? start doing it.

Fabrication
After years and years of taiwan manufacturer's doing welding / fabrication, they are getting good at it. My 02 kona has sooo many dents in it from me kicking its arse, but it is OK. Kona FR bikes were carrying 5 year warranties.

Breakage
Everything will break eventually. Did you witness every minute of the bikes lifespan? (to the guy who says he know of 2 that broke)....Sometimes there are manufacturing bad apples, too.

Shock ratios
Yes higher Leverage wears out a shock faster, BUT the shock is setup to not recieve much Side-load. Also you can upgrade your shock to something that holds more OIL Volume, or has compression Damping that works:
i.e. Fox DHX, 5th element, stratos helix (air assist), romic, ...avy.

Summary
---------------
Typically you do get what you pay for, and if you are that worried about Durability, spend more $$$ and find a frame with a solid Warranty and great durability rep.

Bacardi · Jan 26, 2005

ps. it looks like they [transition] have a pretty nice Crash Replacement Policy

joelsman · Jan 26, 2005

the shock stroke is 2.25 and it gets 7in w/ the danger boy plates. leverage is 3.1111, not that bad at all.

great bike for the price. pedals good and isn't too heavy, plenty stiff.

koffee · Jan 27, 2005

Bacardi said:
The bike is fine. Don't listen to people who say 'questionable' fabrication, 'poor' shock ratio...I have seen one break... etc.

Why would he not listen to people? Isn't that why he posted this thread? He asked for so info on a dirtbag. No i have not been with the bike it's whole life, but the fact is my friend bike broke 2 frames. What you do with this info is completely up to the purchaser. Warranty at Transition was awesome, they ended up giving him a new Trail-or-Park and some parts for a swap.if I was buying a new bike I would want to hear from as many people as possible. I am not sure but I think Transition is beefing up there frames because of this problem, But again that is not fact!

---------------

thesacrifice · Jan 27, 2005

How come the only mention of a broken Dirtbag is from your friend? And not only is it one, it's two? He must really be a tank

p.s. check out mtbreview, where dudes have broken 2+ Banshee Screams.... if you do stupid stuff like drop to flat..you're gonna mess up your toys

banj · Jan 27, 2005

Superdeft said:
I wonder why they don't respec the shock and rocker plates for a better ratio.

the yeti ASX has a 9.5x3 shock for it's 6.3/7.1 travel settings, so it would make sense for Transition to get a bigger shock.

It was originally designed with plates that gave 5 or 6 inches of travel giving a shock rate or 2.2 to 2.7 with the 2.25" stroke shock...but has been "upgraded" with dangerboy plates to a 7" travel giving it a shock rate of 3.1. 3.1:1 isn't a horrible rate which is why I'm guessing they haven't changed it.

Can you still get it with the shorter travel linkage plates? I was considering for a nice 5 and 5 before they started selling it with the plates.

biggins · Jan 27, 2005

i hear good things about the dirtbag. also keep in mind every bike breaks. well except for a yeti dh-9 which for some reason i have never heard of one breaking.

buildyourown · Jan 27, 2005

I think pretty much everyone agrees that the Trans bikes are great for the money. "for the money" is key here. Don't expect them to be a $2k frame. Most people don't need a $2k frame though.
The trans guys are good people and they will hook you up if you have problems. I would buy one in a heartbeat over a Kona.

zane · Jan 27, 2005

You get what you pay for, that IS the key in this argument.

koffee · Jan 27, 2005

I am really not trying to argue, i am just telling the facts. Anybike can break. Someone asked about them, So I let them know what i saw. If people don't want opinions don't ask!

thesacrifice · Jan 28, 2005

NSMB.com gave it a 5/5 mainly criticizing the weird seat tube size (resolved with 05) and the quality of the paint (so what)

butthead · Jan 29, 2005

banj said:
It was originally designed with plates that gave 5 or 6 inches of travel giving a shock rate or 2.2 to 2.7 with the 2.25" stroke shock...but has been "upgraded" with dangerboy plates to a 7" travel giving it a shock rate of 3.1. 3.1:1 isn't a horrible rate which is why I'm guessing they haven't changed it.

Can you still get it with the shorter travel linkage plates? I was considering for a nice 5 and 5 before they started selling it with the plates.

That would be a question to ask the Transition guys. It pedals well in 6" mode. It would probably be good with a 5" fork up front and 6" rear. It does work well with 6 and 6 (my setup). The only complaint I have with mine is a low bottom bracket (13" before sag), which appears to have been fixed on the new ones.

joelsman · Jan 29, 2005

I think you can still get the old plates, you just have to ask, most people want the longer travel plates.

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