2019 Transition Scout Alloy GX Bike
(discontinued)

Vital Rating:
Discontinued
Where To Buy
Free shipping on orders over $50 (continental U.S. only).
International shipping available. Some exclusions apply.
Free shipping on orders over $50 (continental U.S. only).
International shipping available. Some exclusions apply.
Long-Term Test: Transition Scout
Nine months and countless rides aboard a promising rig reveal where it excels and where it could be improved. Let's dig in...
Rating:
Vital Review
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What is it that makes a bike fun? What do we require it be capable of? What boxes must it check? Pedaling, pumping, jumping, climbing, descending? Surviving, encouraging, enjoying? The list could be a mile long and will vary from bike to bike and rider to rider. Hopping on the Transition Scout, a mid-travel trail/all-mountain bike with Transition's Speed Balanced Geometry (SBG) and GiddyUp 2.0HH suspension, we expect some fun will be had. Will it check all our boxes though?

Strengths

Weaknesses

  • Great cornering feel and performance
  • Quieting yet lively over chunky descents
  • Doesn't lose much speed or hang up on rocky descents
  • Responsive and accurate steering
  • Suitable for both male and female riders
  • Feels heavy when grinding up climbs
  • Seat tube angle could be steeper
  • Noisy chain slap in the rough stuff
  • Lighter-weight riders may be limited by the stock shock tune
  • Not an e-bike (kidding!)

Transition Scout Alloy GX Highlights

  • Heat-treated hydroformed alloy frame
  • 27.5-inch (650b) wheels
  • 130mm (5.1-inches) rear travel // 150mm (5.9-inches) front
  • GiddyUp 2.0HH suspension with Enduro Max sealed bearings
  • Speed Balanced Geometry (SBG) with shorter 37mm fork offset
  • 73mm threaded bottom bracket with ISCG05 tabs
  • Tire clearance up to 27.5 x 2.8-inches
  • Internal derailleur and external brake cable routing
  • Molded rubber downtube and chainstay protection
  • Water bottle mounts inside front triangle
  • Rattle-free internal cable port covers
  • 12x148mm Boost dropout spacing
  • Measured weight (size small, tubeless, no pedals): 32.5-pounds (14.7kg)
  • Available sizes: XS, S, M, L, XL
  • Three-year frame warranty
  • MSRP: $3,999 USD

In 2018, Transition made some sweeping changes to their platform, rethinking how bike geometry is approached. Sure, it's 2019 now, but you can love a dog as much as you can a puppy. So here's the skinny on what gives the Transition Scout its bark.

Ever evolving, advancing, and improving – the search for the holy grail of bike design often brings engineers, designers, and test riders face to face with geometry. Searching for the recipe to a better-handling bike, Transition looked beyond the repetitive longer-and-slacker trend the industry was following knowing there was still room for improvement. Their attention focused in part on fork offset and its effect on steering trail. After a few years of experimenting and testing different blends of offset and frame geometry, Transition's "R&D" division found a winning combo. Their new geometry approach, SBG, was born. Truly a system, SBG incorporates five components working in concert: increased frame reach, a slacker headtube angle, steeper seat tube angle, a shorter stem, and a shorter fork offset. Like a masonry arch, each supports the other and the shortened fork offset is the keystone holding it all together. The resulting ride qualities include calmer cornering, more direct control and better braking on the steeps, less deflection over bumps, plus improved stability and front-wheel traction. If you want even more nitty-gritty details on SBG, check out Vital MTB's in-depth story.

The Transition Scout can accommodate riders big and small, from 4'8" (1.43m) tall with their size XS frame to 6'9" (2.06m) with the XL. Part of the SBG system, the Scout has a longer top tube length, reach, and thus wheelbase than the previous generation. It also has a 2-degree slacker 65-degree head tube angle. The SBG Scout doesn't, however, see a significant change in seat tube angle from the previous generation and is only a tenth of a degree steeper. The SBG Scout does have shorter seat tube lengths and up to a 13mm difference is seen on the size small frame – a plus for smaller riders and those looking to maximize dropper post travel.

Another feature is the GiddyUp 2.0hh suspension design. This brings increased pedaling efficiency, a wider sag range, and increased small bump sensitivity. All good things. The suspension is tuned to have a moderate amount of chain growth which provides improved traction while climbing without a notable increase in pedal kickback. Additionally, GiddyUp 2.0hh is slightly more progressive than the original GiddyUp design.

On The Trail

Straight out of the gate there's a bit of reprogramming required and kicking of bad habits to feel at home on the new SBG geometry design. Once we got serious about steering by leaning the bike and not turning the bars as much, we were in business. From the trails of Colorado, Arizona, and Utah to the South Island of New Zealand and even Whistler Bike Park, the Scout was put through its paces over nine months.

When descending any trail, the Scout is a fun ride. It's planted and stable at speed. Sure, it's a smaller bike for the tall order of taking on something like Whistler Bike Park, but all 130 and 150mm of travel did an impressive job of it. You didn't find us faffing around at the base. In the steeps of the Colorado high country, the Scout proved to be supportive and grounded. Even when off-line going into steep switchbacks, it could still pull off the feat. In high-speed chunk, the bike feels quieting yet awake and active. It isn't slowed down or hung up by geologic obstacles. Unfortunately, though, it's also through this chunk and especially right after a big compression that there often is a bit of chain slap. This Scout doesn't possess Navy SEAL stealth.

Not the flashy show horse or zippy racehorse, the Scout is the consistent and reliable stable horse that can be ridden day after day.

Lastly, the cockpit and seating. Race Face Chester 35mm handlebars were provided with a generous 780mm width on the size small bike. We trimmed that down to our default 750mm width, but after experiencing SBG we might have liked to keep it a bit wider. Our word to the wiser: with the new geometry's steering feel, do some experimenting with bar width before chopping it out of habit.

Match your shoes and belt and match your bar and stem, or so it usually goes from the assembly line. To match the Race Face bars, a 40mm long Aeffect R stem is supplied on all bike sizes. That shorter length is part of the SBG system to balance the shorter fork offset. It works.

Grips and saddles are personal touches where each rider has a different priority. Knowing ours, we swapped out the provided ANVL Forge Chromoly saddle and ODI Elite Flow grips. We know riders that are perfectly happy with these stock options, both men and women. But for us, the more comfortable WTB Koda saddle and some cushy ODI Longneck grips go with us to every bike.

Long Term Durability

The Scout's burly alloy frame will probably last for years, but will show its wear and tear unless you wrap it straight away. As soon as we built up the bike, we added clear vinyl to the downtube and key locations on the rear triangle. Unforeseen scratches and scrapes in unprotected areas of the bike will be remembered as they go through the paint pretty easily. Another part of the frame showing its abuse is where the chain just barely misses the rubber chainstay guard, taking some bites out of the edge of the stay. During a dropped chain event, albeit very brief, there was also visible work done on the frame and wear on the derailleur cable where it routes just behind the chainring. This cable location is also causing cable-rub wear on the lower pivot. Oh, mountain bikes: loved and abused.

Over the course of nine months there hasn't been any creaking or squeaking from the frame. It has the added benefit of a threaded bottom bracket as well. When it's time to replace bearings, Transition takes the guesswork out and has Enduro Max bearing kits available on their website and everything is relatively easy to access.

Speaking of bearings, the FSA headset on this model is unsealed and developed some feel-able play that couldn't be tightened away. As previously discussed, other weak points include the rear rim and brakes requiring some serious shop attention. The rest of it we'd expect to hold up for a while longer. Looking at this as a base bike to be updated as needed for performance or weight savings, we'd focus on the cassette and wheels first.

What's The Bottom Line?

So, is the Transition Scout Alloy GX a fun bike? Yes, it is. Did it check all the boxes? Most of them. Descending, cornering, surviving, encouraging, and enjoying? Yes, absolutely. The SBG system and GiddyUp 2.0HH suspension made for a comfortable, stable, well-handling bike. Pumping and jumping? Not a sloth and not a jackrabbit. It's capable in all those departments but won't hand success to you on a silver platter and skills are needed to get the best results. Climbing? Welp, we'll see you at the top. Save us a beer. Getting up the hill can be a chore because the Scout feels heavy when fighting gravity. One thing is for sure though, you'll get stronger riding it.

Is the Scout GX build worth it? You get a pretty solid base bike for a reasonable cost. The paint will show its age and you'll likely need replacement parts along the way, but we could see this being a great bike for the average rider who will ride it for years. Not the flashy show horse or zippy racehorse, the Scout is the consistent and reliable stable horse that can be ridden day after day.

Visit www.transitionbikes.com for more details.

Vital MTB Rating

  • Climbing: 3.5 stars
  • Descending: 4.5 stars
  • Fun Factor: 4 stars
  • Value: 3.5 stars
  • Overall Impression: 4 stars - Excellent

About The Reviewer

Courtney Steen - Age: 32 // Years Riding: 12 // Height: 5'7" (1.70m) // Weight: 155-pounds (70.3kg)

"Going downhill puts a smile on my face and I climb for beer." Courtney routinely shocks the boys with her speed and has experience in various disciplines. A silent force behind the scenes for Vital MTB, she's posted up in Durango, Colorado and has ridden dozens of women's bikes. Her technical background helps her think critically about products and how they can be improved.

Photos by Brandon Turman

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Specifications

Product
Transition Scout Alloy GX Bike
Model Year
2019
Riding Type
Enduro / All-Mountain
Trail
Rider
Unisex
Sizes and Geometry
XS
SM
MD
LG
XL
Wheel Size
27.5" (650b)
Frame Material
Aluminum
Frame Material Details
Heat treated hydroformed alloy
Rear Travel
130mm
Rear Shock
FOX DPX2 Performance, 210mm x 55mm
Fork
FOX 36 Grip 2 Performance Elite
Fork Travel
150mm
Head Tube Diameter
44mm zero stack (top) / 56mm zero stack (bottom)
Headset
FSA No.57E
Handlebar
Race Face Chester 35mm diameter, 760mm x 10mm (XS), 780mm x 20mm (SM), 780mm x 35mm (MD, LG, XL)
Stem
Race Face Aeffect R, 40mm length
Grips
ODI Elite Flow
Brakes
SRAM Guide R, 180mm rotors (front and rear)
Brake Levers
SRAM Guide R
Drivetrain
1x
Shifters
SRAM GX Eagle, 12-speed
Front Derailleur
N/A
Rear Derailleur
SRAM GX Eagle
ISCG Tabs
ISCG05
Chainguide
None included
Cranks
SRAM Descendent 7K DUB, 170mm
Chainrings
32 tooth
Bottom Bracket
73mm threaded
Pedals
None included
Chain
SRAM GX Eagle, 12-speed
Cassette
SRAM XG 1275, 10-50 tooth, 12-speed
Rims
Stan's Flow S1 Team
Hubs
Stan's Neo with Durasync
Spokes
Sapim Race black 2.0mm/1.8mm/2.0mm
Tires
Front: Maxxis Minion DHF 3C WT, 27.5 x 2.5
Rear: Maxxis Minion DHR II 3C WT, 27.5 x 2.4
Saddle
ANVL Forge chromoly
Seatpost
RockShox Reverb Stealth, 100mm (XS), 125mm (SM), 150mm (MD), 170mm (LG, XL)
Seatpost Diameter
31.6mm
Seatpost Clamp
Standard single bolt
Rear Dropout / Hub Dimensions
Boost 148
Max. Tire Size
27.5 x 2.8
Bottle Cage Mounts
Yes
Colors
Desert Tan, Slate Blue
Warranty
3 years on frame for original owner from the date of purchase
Weight
33 lb 3.9 oz (15,080 g)
Miscellaneous
Internal cable routing
Integrated frame protection
Price
$3,999.00
More Info
What do you think?
Where To Buy
Free shipping on orders over $50 (continental U.S. only).
International shipping available. Some exclusions apply.
Free shipping on orders over $50 (continental U.S. only).
International shipping available. Some exclusions apply.
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