Transition bikes can be raced, but they are currently not seen at the highest level. The reason is not that their engineering is not world-class, but because they are not ultra-specialized. Each Transition bike is made to be able to ride across multiple disciplines.
Transition Bike Buyer’s Guide
Written by: Nick Cowie | June 13, 2026 | Time to read: 5 min
Transition doesn’t particularly care about professional wins or the UCI in general. They are here to make sure you have the most fun possible on every ride with one of their capable and well-rounded bikes.
More about the Author: Nick Cowie
Nick is a writer with seven years of experience in the cycling industry. In his free time, he enjoys swimming, Jiu Jitsu, and spending time outdoors.
Mountain bikes are all about having fun, and no one takes that to heart like Transition. Transition Bikes is a rider-owned company whose only goal is to make the kind of bikes that they would enjoy riding. This kind of connection to the cycling community has led to success, with a following of riders who love the well-rounded capability of their mountain bikes, electric bikes, and dirt jumpers.
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Table of Contents
Transition’s History
Founded in 2001, Transition is a relatively new company that has seen increasing success through the years. Kevin Menard and Kyle Young founded the company together with the goal of creating fun bikes that they would enjoy riding. They started with downhill bikes, then moved on to focusing on freeride bikes, earning them a cult following in the early 2000s. The Bottlerocket was their most popular freerider, showcasing ultimate capability in all areas of the trail.
As the brand progressed, Transition developed new technology, including their own proprietary suspension technology. The GiddyUp suspension design allows riders to pedal efficiently without having to lock out the rear suspension. They also developed Speed Balanced Geometry, which allows for more comfortable riding at high speeds that maintains excellent front-wheel traction. Today, Transition has a complete lineup of different trail bikes, electric bikes, and dirt jumping bikes, making them an emerging name on the scene.
Transition Mountain Bikes
Mountain bikes are what Transition is known for. Coming a long way from their downhill roots, Transition now features a selection of full-suspension trail bikes and a couple of downhill models. Currently, Transition only makes full-suspension mountain bikes. They used to make a hardtail in the TransAM, but it was only brought back for a limited release. These are some of the best bikes in their lineup.
- Transition Spur: The Spur is a full-suspension carbon-framed trail bike that is closer to a cross-country bike than it is an endurance bike. It features 120mm of rear travel, hitting that sweet spot of speed and capability. It is fast enough for cross-country riding, but is not constrained to that category.
- Transition Sentinel: The Sentinel includes more travel and is available in both alloy and carbon frame models. It leans more toward the endurance side of things for riders who want to take on tough terrain and need extra shock absorption. It gives a bottomless feel to send any line you want, making it a fun do-it-all mountain bike.
- Transition Bottlerocket: The Bottlerocket is the model that boosted Transition's name about 20 years ago. They continue to update it to handle modern downhill riding. The Bottlerocket still utilizes an alloy frame and 27.5-inch wheels, keeping the retro feel of the original model. It has the ability to run at 180mm or 200mm and is made for freeriding. The Bottlerocket is made to take on all comers.
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Transition’s Other Bikes
Transition is known for their mountain bikes, but the fun doesn’t stop there. They make dirt jumping bikes and electric bikes, driving home the point that off-road cycling should be fun. They even make bikes for kids, helping the younger generation join in on the fun with a bike that fits them properly.
- Transition Relay: The Relay is the most popular electric bike in the Transition lineup. Its popularity comes from its versatility. The bike comes with up to 170mm of rear travel and is available in carbon and aluminum models. It includes a powerful 60 Nm motor and 430 Wh battery. The Relay is also designed so you can remove the battery and ride it as a completely non-electric bike.
- PBJ: The PBJ is available in both 26 and 24-inch wheel models. The new version has a new geometry with a very short chainstay and low standover height. Its hydroformed aluminum frame is light enough to jump but durable enough to handle the impact of the landing. If you need a responsive bike for the dirt park or pump track, the PBJ is a great choice.
- Kids Bikes: Transition puts as much effort into their kids' bikes as they do their adult models. Options include the popular full-suspension Scout and freestyle PBJ, specially designed for smaller riders. There are also kids-only bikes like the full-suspension Ripcord and hardtail Bandit.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Transition for racers?
What is Transition’s top tech?
The GiddyUp suspension and Speed Balanced Geometry developed by Transition are specially designed to balance capability with speed, making sure that a full-suspension bike is still fast and nimble.
What models are for adults and kids?
Transition makes the Scout and PBJ in both adult sizes and kids' sizes. They specially design the frame to fit a kid’s body, bringing high-level tech to younger riders.
Key Takeaways
- Transition is by riders for riders: Transition’s founders are riders, and their main goal was to create bikes that they would have riding. They pulled that off and then some, making bikes that are as fast as they are fun to ride.
- Transition bikes can’t be categorized: Transition’s full-suspension mountain bikes don’t fit into the usual categories, but this is a major positive for riders who want to do all kinds of trail riding. Your Transition bike can do it all.
- Jumpers are rare: It is not often you see a company with the tech and reputation of Transition make a dirt jumping or pump track bike. Take advantage of a true mountain bike brand’s technology with the PBJ, featuring multiple wheel size options.
