Most new frame releases follow a similar rhythm these days. It goes: longer and lower and squishier and blah blah blah. The new carbon fiber 27.5″ Scout from Transition Bikes received all of those expected treatments and a few special ones to remind us that the brand is run by mountain bikers who hit the trail as often as we do.
Among the standout features on the newly carbonized Scout is the frame’s ability to run two different shock stroke lengths that offer either 140mm or 150mm of rear axle travel to pair with the bike’s 150mm fork. The 2020 stock Scout models will include an air shock with a 57.5mm shock stroke, providing 140mm of travel, that can be replaced by a shock with a 62.5mm stroke for and additional 10mm of squish. According to Transition, “the 25% overall progression with a linear rate of change works well with air or coil shocks.”
A second and potentially more surprising feature of the new full carbon Scout is that the rear brake hose is routed externally, from lever to caliper. This detail alongside the bike’s external BB shows Transition’s commitment to designing frames that customers can service at home. The internal derailleur housing runs through guides inside the frame, speeding the up the cable swap process significantly. Finally, Endura Max bearings with bearing shields at the main pivots should help prolong some of those maintenance intervals no matter what conditions you ride the Scout through.
On the subject of angles, the Scout’s head tube leaned back an additional degree to 64°, and the bike’s 44mm/56mm press in headset will allow owners to use angle-adjust headsets if they want to fiddle with the bike’s geo at some point. The updated Scout receives an additional 5mm of chainstay stretch, at 430mm across the size run, and a longer reach, at 460mm for a size medium. Extra-small frames span a wheelbase of 1150mm, while XL bikes sprawl out to a massive 1280mm. Those numbers should make for a stable 27.5-inch platform.
Seat tubes are shorter on the carbon bike to accommodate shorter inseams and longer droppers across the size run. Size XS bikes can take a 120mm dropper, smalls can fit a 150mm, mediums can fit a 180mm, and large/XL frames come with the ability to run a 210mm post. The effective seat tube angle also changes across the size run, with XS frames taking a steep 78.2° approach, and XL leaning back slightly to 76.4°.
The 2020 Transition Scout will be offered in three build configurations, as well as an à la carte frame with a Fox Float X2 Performance Elite shock. The top build includes a SRAM XO drivetrain, Fox X2 shock, and Fox 36 Performance fork. The SRAM GX and NX builds both come with RockShox Super Deluxe dampers and Lyrik forks.
For pricing and additional info, click over to the Transition Bikes website, or roll to your local Transition dealer.
