Transition Spur V2 XT Di2 review: This is what trail bikes are all about these days

The Transition Spur was ahead of its time. In mid-2020, the Americans unveiled the short-travel trail bike for the first time. The V2 reissue took a full six years to arrive. Not because the ‘short travel, trail bike attitude’ concept was a flop – quite the opposite! Anyone who’d ever given the Spur a go probably became a fan. BIKE magazine also praised the Transition’s all-round suitability back in its 2020 test and – as much as we can reveal at this stage – is once again heaping praise on its successor six years later for precisely that reason.

So are we experiencing déjà vu here? Have we seen it all before? How is it possible that a bike with such limited travel still appeals to trail enthusiasts worldwide? Non-motorised trail bikes are in the midst of an identity crisis. In Germany, hardly anyone is interested in bikes with a maximum fork travel of 140 millimetres and weights in excess of 14 kilos. We believe that downcountry could be the niche that allows trail bikes to flourish once more, which is why we’ve put the new Transition Spur V2 – weighing just 12.5 kilos – through its paces.

Conclusion

The Transition Track V2 It’s neither a racer nor a downhill beast, and yet it’s a bloody good mountain bike. Even if the price puts you off at first, it could well be worth the investment. In true downcountry style, the short-travel Spur climbs with sporty vigour whilst still tackling any trail with ease. Trail bikes have never been this versatile or high-performing – what an amazing time to be alive! – Jan Timmermann, BIKE editor

Built close to the racecourse

The new Transition Spur V2 combines 130 millimetres of travel on the fork with 120 millimetres on the rear shock. These figures mean it is now barely distinguishable from a modern cross-country bike. New XC models, such as the Scott Spark RC or the ultra-light Specialized Epic 9, are also approved for a 130mm fork. Even in the geometry charts, trail and cross-country bikes have now converged. In the high flip-chip setting, the Spur’s head angle is on a par with race bikes such as the Canyon Lux World Cup or the Santa Cruz Spur. There is, however, one fundamental difference: the Transition swaps the option of a second bottle cage for a short seat tube. XC full-suspension bikes simply cannot offer such a low overhang.

From our testing experience, we know that a trail bike with limited travel is only fun if it’s also light. Transition has therefore omitted a bearing from the rear triangle and opted for a Flex-Pivot design. Our test bike, the Spur XT Di2, weighs in at 12.5 kilos in frame size XL, excluding pedals and accessories – a good figure compared to classic trail bikes. And the bike hasn’t cut any corners: the tyres with Exo+ casing, Shimano XT four-piston brakes and Di2 wireless shifting are all fully trail-ready. From the long One-Up dropper post with 210 millimetres of travel, through the carbon handlebars, to the ODI grips, the rest of the spec has also been carefully selected for high quality down to the last detail.

On top of that, there’s a lifetime warranty on the frame. In BIKE’s assessment of serviceability, the Transition Spur V2 really comes out on top. Classic internal cable routing, a bolted bottom bracket and generous frame protectors are sure to impress mechanics. Handy for long rides: there’s a frame storage compartment in the down tube with two tool pockets, and a tool mount under the top tube. The build quality is impressive. The frame design is also impressive, with its straight line between the top tube and seat stays: rarely has an XL-sized bike looked so sharp. That’s exactly how it should be for just under 8,000 euros!

​Downcountry is back!

The rider sits in a modern, central position on the Transition Spur V2. The seat angle is efficiently steep, yet not too steep even for flat transition sections. The generous reach, combined with the relatively flat stack, creates a sporty riding position. Racers can set the cockpit quite low; for trail riding, we decided to stack all the spacers under the stem and were pleased with the riser handlebars. Under pedal pressure, the Spur V2 bobs only slightly. This almost makes you want a platform remote on the handlebars or an electronic control system like the RockShox Flight Attendant to squeeze every last bit of efficiency out of the suspension. Even without that, however, trail riders needn’t fear significant energy loss through the suspension.

What sounds like a clichéd advertising slogan actually happened in our test of the Transition Spur V2 XT Di2: racing to work along the cycle path at an average speed of 27 in the morning, and smashing the KOM on my favourite local trail in the evening. The Spur has a wide range of uses, setting it apart from both stripped-down race bikes and heavy, cumbersome trail bikes. It seems that, under the ‘Downcountry’ label, Transition is delivering on what many manufacturers have long promised: a bike that meets all the needs of a true mountain biker.

A cut above his weight class

When it comes to downhill riding, the Transition Spur V2 XT Di2 clearly punches above its weight class. We switched the flip-chip to the flat setting and put the short-travel bike through its paces on the most demanding trails we could find. The Spur handles it all. With high-end suspension components from Fox and a powerful rear end, the bike has a surprising amount of reserves for a bike with so little travel. The rear end is sufficiently responsive, very controlled in the mid-travel range and, thanks to perfectly tuned end progression, copes well even with really hard impacts. The character of the Fox 34 SL Grip X fork complements this perfectly. It sits comparatively high in the travel and never loses control. A pleasant level of resistance in the suspension encourages an active riding style. This allows the Spur to maintain, for example, compared with the similarly lightweight Last Asco a slightly sportier sort of person.

However, the Transition Spur V2 also owes its suitability for downhill riding to its geometry. It takes a bit of getting used to at first to master the handling of this long bike. A full 30 millimetres more reach such as the Lux Trail downcountry bike from Canyon in the same frame size They help the bike transition to a smooth ride, but they do need to be managed at first. Beginners to riding technique might find this a bit tricky. However, once you’ve got the hang of it, you’ll be rewarded with handling that’s almost limitlessly confident and can tear through the terrain at full throttle, almost as if you were riding an enduro.

The Transition Spur V2 handles steep descents with ease, thanks to its stable ride and short seat tube, combined with a long dropper post stroke. The XT brakes pack plenty of power, and the Maxxis Forekaster tyres provide ample grip despite their high rolling efficiency. Of course, you could tune the bike even more towards downhill riding with an even wider tyre on the front wheel and a slightly stiffer Fox 36 SL. But the Spur doesn’t really need it. Even in its factory setup, it takes some really tough terrain to lure it out of its comfort zone. If you’re pounding over large boulders all day long, this sporty, stiff bike demands a higher level of fitness than the ‘flying carpets’ of the trail bike category.

The Transition Spur V2 XT Di2 in detail

• Intended use: Trail bike
• Suspension travel: 130 / 120 mm
• Wheel size: 29”
• Price: 7,999 euros >> available here
• Warranty: lifetime
• Special features: Flip-chip, frame storage compartment, tool mount

BIKE measurements

• Weight of complete bike: 12.50 kg (size XL, excluding pedals and accessories)
• Weight of wheels: 4616 g (wheel set including tyres, cassette and brake discs)
• Wheel inertia: 3771 kg/cm² (front and rear combined; the lower the figure, the better the acceleration)
• Customer service rating: 13.5 (out of a maximum of 15 points)

Facilities

• Fork / Shock: Fox 34 SL Grip X / Float SL Factory
• Drivetrain: Shimano XT Di2, 32; 10–51 (510 per cent)
• Brakes: Shimano XT, 4-piston, 180 / 180 mm
• Dropper seatpost: One Up Dropper, 210 mm
• Wheels: DT Swiss XR1700
• Tyres: Maxxis Forekaster 3C MaxxTerra Exo+ TR, 29 x 2.40

Strengths and weaknesses

Pro

• Comprehensive, functional features and excellent serviceability
• a beautiful frame with a lifetime guarantee
• Good weight and well-suited to touring
• surprisingly high reserves despite limited stroke
• a wide range of uses as a downcountry bike

Cons

• Handling rewards experienced riders more than beginners
• not a bargain

What do you think: how important is suspension travel to you on a trail bike? If the geometry is right, is it okay to have a bit less?