Transition Sentinel V3 Review: It Got Steeper?

Today, we’re talking about the Transition Sentinel V3. Changes in bike geo have been less and less radical in the past year or two. Still, it’s not often these days that you see bikes get steeper than their previous versions — But that’s exactly what we have with the V3 Sentinel. Let’s talk about that.

0:00 Intro
1:02 What's new with the Sentinel V3?
2:13 Ride Review Uphill
4:08 Ride Review Downhill
6:36 Comparisons
8:05 What Would I Change?
8:29 Buyer's Guide

[Shredding-qf]

Hey Connor! Glad to see you’re back out riding again. Great review of the Sentinel! This is one of the bikes I’m considering getting. Question for you, do you think the V2 Sentinel is worth getting or should I get the new one?

[Chance.B]

Glad to see you back on a bike! Looking forward to the Hightower review!

[kevinmanzo]

Glad your healthy and can ride. Welcome back!

[marksandoval]

If I could only own one bike, the bike with a 160mm fork and a 64-65* HTA would be what I would choose. I ride a 150/160mm travel Stumpy Evo that weighs 31.5 pounds and that bike is right in the Goldie Locks zone. Quite capable on the rough, fast, and steep while still being fun on flat smooth easy flow trails.

[JCaleb]

Great review as always, and really liked the small bit comparing it to the Ripmo. Glad to have you back!

[Etge]

Great review!! 🎉 I saw this bike at the shop and had to come watch your review!

[brianstevens]

Hello Connor, glad to see you posting videos again. While I am at the opposite spectrum of a mountain biker as you (XC type rider, ride a Revel Ranger) I really enjoy your videos and appreciate your viewpoints on mountain biking. Your review on the Orbea Rise was the one that helped my wife and I choose that bike for her e-bike. Thank you.

[michaellee]

Great review Conner, as an owner of a full custom V2, there's enough aftermarket components to meet the updates found on the V3 except for the MX option and the loam pool design of the V2. In frame storage isn't a deal breaker for me but I really wish TR gave us an option to run external rear brake lines. That said, the ability to run a longer stroke shock puts this at the top of my next bike list, but also never parting with my V2, it is that good.

[micheandmikey]

no You were here and we didn't get a ride in together?!?!?! TR is literally 3 miles down the road from my house! Ok, I'll watch the video now. SO glad you got to ride some of our trails! Hopefully you got on some I've helped build! Glad you're back on the bike man! Cheers!!! Immediately I see you rode Spirit Bear, I help out maintaining that one with my buddy Jeff who has built about 10 trails on Galby. Woo hoo! I did the bridge & wood work on Double Vision with a buddy, just finished another bridge yesterday on a brand new trail called Larry's Pizza. Double Black & Double Down....nice, such a great trail! Come back and lets ride!!!

[ChaseAdams-fh]

Good to see ya back in the saddle! Number one bike I’ve been waiting for you guys to review is the SC Vala! Your Heckler/SL reviews have been so good, can’t wait to see how you compare the Vala. I know this has nothing to do with this vid other than travel numbers. Haha

[andresdavila]

Good to see you are back riding!! Great review! Sounds like a very interesting bike, always felt the previous Sentinel was a too much of a bruiser for my taste, it sounds like this one would suit me better, specially as an MX 😉

[nunyabiznes]

Great review. Hope you enjoyed riding here in the PNW.

[Sck]

Damn! It really seems like Transition and Ibis have hit the sweet spot. I can't see how most people wouldn't be super happy with the Sentinel or the Ripmo in almost every application of mtbing. I fall right into this category. I don't want a true trail bike because I often ride park and gnarly trails, and i don't want an enduro plower that can't pedal either, i need something that can be happy and capable in a lot of different terrain since i ride CO. I currently ride a Banshee Titan in a light set up and it is great, but I'm a year from a new bike and these two seem like the best options. I'd probably go with the Sentinel since i do like long chain stays coming off the Titan.

[rpiian]

Mo Steep - Mo Stack? Choo choo goes the Quinney train!

[SpencerBaum]

Longer chainstays is definitely a good improvement. Big fan of chainstays close to or at 450mm for a size large.

[kurtisgassewitz]

Fantastic review, exactly what I wanted to know about the bike and some great shots while listenening!

Just a note, not sure if your audio or my earbuds but there was a bit of a hum while you were speaking. Didn't take away from a great review though!

[MrBig]

Looks like recovery is going well for you. That's great!

[flyingnorseman]

Just ordered the "salted chocolate chip cookie" element partially based on your review. Got that thing for 35% discount. C50 Shimano version. Hope I like it as much as you did. Coming from a v4 Tallboy.

[bitumen]

Thanks for this video!

As someone who is from Europe, Transition bikes were always definition of mountainbikes, like THE mountainbike!
Unfortunately here in Eastern Europe they are extremely rare and expensive.

One day...

[kevinclark]

This bike and the Ripmo V3 are very intriguing to me. I like the fact either the Sentinel you can throw a longer stroke coil shock on and turn it into a more enduro bike if you do a park day. But I’m curious on your Ripmo comparison. You said the Ripmo is softer AND more playful. I kind of assume those are opposites, softer meaning plow bike and needs stiffness to be poppy. I assumed the Sentinel would be the more poppy/playful bike with the firmer platform. Can you explain that any more what you meant and how they compare? Or do you have a comparison video?