Transition Smuggler: 29er touring bike from the USA now with more suspension travel

The new Transition Smuggler with 29-inch wheels now has 140 millimetres of travel at the front, paired with 130 or even 140 millimetres at the rear. The bike is positioned in the Transition line-up between the cross-country model Spur and the all-mountain Sentinel. The new edition of the Smuggler will be available with an aluminium frame for 4799 euros. The high-end carbon models cost a little more, of course.

Facts about the new Transition Smuggler

• Front/rear suspension travel: 140 millimetres/130-140 millimetres
• Wheel size: 29 inch
• Steering angle: 65 degrees
• Reach: 485 millimetres in size L
• Chainstay length: 435 millimetres (sizes S & M) / 440 millimetres (sizes L-XXL)
• Weight: carbon frame 3.oo kilogrammes in size M incl. shock absorber
• Price: 4799 to 9499 euros, carbon frame set 3999 euros

Geometry & design of the Smuggler

When designing the geometry of the Smuggler, the engineers at Transition took a lot of inspiration from the Transition track and Sentinel. The aim was to combine light-footed and efficient pedalling over longer distances with lots of fun on challenging trails. Compared to the Predecessor model the new Smuggler has therefore been given a little more travel and in this respect leans towards the slightly wider shoulders of its 150 mm brother, the Sentinel.

The design of the frame has also been updated. Transition has fitted the frame with internal sleeves to improve the routing of the cables inside the frame. This means there is no fiddling around if you want to insert a new cable. To improve the ease of maintenance for the customer, the head tube already has integrated bearing shells. This means that they do not have to be pressed in again.

Chassis

The rear suspension kinematics of the Smuggler are very similar to the 100 to 120 mm track. As a rider, you should be able to stand firmly in the mid-travel range. If the 130 millimetres of travel of the standard Fox Float X shock are not enough for you, you can remove the stroke limiter from the shock. This allows the suspension travel to be increased to 140 millimetres.

Model overview

There are a total of four different equipment variants. Only the cheapest model has an aluminium frame, plus three carbon models. The aluminium Smuggler for 4799 euros has a Sram NX groupset and a Marzocchi Z2 fork. The entry-level model with a carbon frame is fitted with a Sram GX groupset and Fox 36 Float Performance. The Smuggler Carbon GX is available for 6799 euros.

The other two carbon models are equipped with either a Sram GX AXS or the X01 AXS drivetrain. The only difference between the suspension elements is the quality of the Fox suspension: either Performance Elite or Factory Line with Kashima Coating.

The Smuggler Carbon with electronic GX shifting costs 8299 euros, the elegant top model 9499 euros. The carbon frame including shock is available for 3999 euros. The Transition Smuggler will soon be available from specialist dealers, probably from spring 2023.