Introducing the Bandit

[wolfy]

I'm running 150 now. I weigh about 175.

-M

[dorian.ducker]

Thanks wolfy. At that setting for the rear suspension (150) and you weighing 175, did you get a chance to do some washboard stuff as well as medium sized drops? Did you find that setting stiff enough to pedal uphill while soaking up small bumps and still have an efficient rear end? And did you bottom out on the drops on that setting?

Loved the video and the review. Thanks again!

[wolfy]

oh yeah. It's super smooth. I like a little feedback, but it's not too stiff. Especially with the pro pedal off.

-M

[LeeL]

More Bandit in the alpine

[DBY]

Stoked to get it out tomorrow for first ride on dirt. 5'11"'ish, went with the large. Feels good, going to need to play with stem spacer height a little bit. Many of the parts came off my 29er. At some point I'll throw a Reverb post on it.





Large with RP23 adaptive logic shock (non-Kashima)
Fox 32 Float 140 RLC Fit tapered fork
Race Face SixC bar
Easton Havoc 65mm stem
ODI Ruffian grips / ODI bar plugs
King headset
SDG Bel Air saddle / Thomson post / Salsa clamp
King bottom bracket
Race Face Atlas AM 175mm cranks / E13 32t chain ring
MRP G2 Mini SL iscg-05
KMC X10L ti-n chain
XT 11-36t 10-speed cassette
Sram X9 med cage derailleur / X9 shifter
Shimano XT brakes, 180 front rotor / 160 rear rotor
Flow rIm on front / Hope Pro 2 hub on front
DT Swiss EX500 36h rim on rear / King 36h 135x10 thru hub on rear / Hadley thru bolt
Sapim Laser spokes, front and rear
Trail King 2.2 rear tire
Minion 2.5 exo 3C front tire
*both tires run tubeless.

That about covers it. Tomorrow can't come soon enough!

[craigstr]

Weight?

[DBY]

Originally Posted by craigstr

Weight?

Yeah sorry, forgot about that. It's 28 lbs, 10 oz.

[discodave]

I may need to get my eyes checked, but are you running 26 front 29 rear?

[DBY]

Originally Posted by discodave

I may need to get my eyes checked, but are you running 26 front 29 rear?

Nope. 26" fore and aft. Used the hubs off the 29er, relaced to 26" rims.

[craigstr]

I thought it would be lighter but you are running a tractor tire on the front. I'm going to try and build a large in the low 27lb range this winter.

[hunrugger]

There's your Bandit 29er

Transition Bikes

[DBY]

Rode for 3.5 hours today. Roots, some drops, some tight switch backs, some fast flow, uphill, downhill, etc. 1) TBC really nailed the geometry on this bike. It does everything well, or at least well enough that I don't have anything to complain about. 2) Feels neutral, easy to move it around. 3) Climbs well seated or standing, didn't feel like it hung up on any larger roots or ledges. 4) I love this bike.

[Rickerty]

nmtim - with the 1 degree angleset and 150mm travel forks, what does that do to the wheelbase over the stock as shown on the geo charts? I think stock is down as 44.7 inches on a large (yours looks a large) - what's your wheelbase measure up as?

[nmtim]

I'll get an exact measurement when I get home. Its a large and a touch over 45" but I can't remember. You can use this website to get an idea... bikegeo.muha.cc

[Rickerty]

Thanks! Looking at that calculator website it should be a little over 1/2 an inch increase.

Just been stalking your photos - was that your TNT Turner (5 Spot?)? If it was, how does the Bandit compare?

[nmtim]

It measures at 45.25"

That wasn't my 5-spot. I'm coming off of a Uzzi-VP.

[nmtim]

Some ride pics from yesterday ...

[Scuch]

Nice shots! I want to ride there ^ ! Where are you based out of nmtim?

[nmtim]

Originally Posted by Scuch

Nice shots! I want to ride there ^ ! Where are you based out of nmtim?

In New Mexico. That is East Fork to Battleship in Jemez.

[shift96]

Anyone have a TransAm also? How does the Bandit compare to the TransAm? Reason I ask is the TransAm is giving my lower back fits but I LOVE the way it pops in the corners and it's a fast, fun trail bike. Wondering if I should go the Bandit route. I have a V1 Covert but it's too pigish for me now. Thanks guy's

[craigstr]

I have recently been able to demo a new Covert and Bandit. I had three pretty long rides on the Covert with lots of climbing (over 3K) and a short ride on the Bandit. My current stable consists of a Titus El Guapo for trail duty and a Knolly Delirium for freeride. Both are four bar/horst link designs. I have pretty much always ridden horst link bikes except for one short foray into Maestro. I have never had any time on a faux bar/single pivot. Both RP23's had a very firm propedal (almost a lockout) and in the open position (even on the firmer setting on the adaptive logic) they were cush-cush. So when you climb with the propedal on the rear kicks and stumbles on every rock/root (like a hardtail), if you open up the shock it feels like it absorbs half of my energy, kinda like i am pedaling a 40 lb FR bike uphill. I race my El Guapo at the local ski hill XC series where a 6" bike is an advantage on the downs, but at 31 lbs a bit much to sprint uphill. I was hoping to build up a Bandit in the 27 lb range as I like the Geo but honestly I think I am a faster climber on my heavier El Guapo. Am I missing something here or is this a characteristic of Transition's suspension design?

[nmtim]

Like Lee mentioned, the RP23 is really hard to set up and is a compromise with the rebound. Its hard to find the balance between running it slow for climbing and a little fast for DH stuff. In the end I took the same approach and run a little less pressure and use the the propedal on climbing. I'm not sure if my shock just took a little time to break in or I've got used to it, but it seems fine now. I also thought about trying the RS Monarch with the dual flow rebound.

[Nevada 29er]

Lee, how does the Bandit compare to the Norco Shinobi you recently reviewed? And why on earth would they give you that bike with weight weenie SB8s?

[Nevada 29er]

Originally Posted by wolfy

I have a bunch of rides on this bike. Love it. It's super efficient, super light and super fun. My full review is on my blog -M

Sweet! Good to see some local trails on here.

[craigstr]

Made a few changes that helped me feel more comfortable on the bike. First was wider bars. Who uses 27" wide bars anymore? I put some 710mm Sunlines on, reduced the fork pressure to 70psi from 80 psi and the shock sag to 30% from 25%. With the propedal on it will now give a little on a square edged bump, with it off I put the compression setting on "3" on the dial, that helped out general climbing a bunch. I would love to try a Monarch RT3 on this bike. I have one on my El Guapo and I love having a firm, medium, an full open compression setting. I think the Bandit would benefit tremendously from this shock and its probably cheaper as well. I didnt use the last 10-15% of the travel on either end and I was trying to jump and launch everything I could find. I like the bike, it just rails the descents!