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Last Winter Transition launched a new lineup of kid’s bikes – the 27.5″ Scout, the 24″ full suspension Ripcord and the 20″ front suspension Bandit. The latter two bikes are offered in just one build level, but have a very well thought mix of components that work beautifully for young shredders. My now six year old son has been riding the new Bandit since Spring. We’ll start out with an overview of the bike and then get into how it’s worked out and held up for him after 3 seasons of riding…
Geometry
Details
- Aluminum frame
- 20″ wheels
- 10mm front travel
- 9-speed with 28T front and 11-36T rear
- Boost 148 rear spacing
- Universal derailleur hanger
- Water bottle compatible via Fidlock
- 3’8″ to 4’4″ (112-132cm) size range
- 23.6 lbs
- $1,399 USD
The rear end of the Bandit features a rugged aluminum frame with chainstay protection to keep things on the quieter side. 135mm cranks are easy on little legs.
I loved the really wide range of gearing on this bike. My sidekick was actually able to hang in there on some pretty decent sized climbs, spinning up the hill in a very easy gear, but still had plenty of power on the other end. When in the largest gear the derailleur cage is pretty exposed and very close to the ground, but it’s worth it for building confidence and showing kids what they’re capable of on the climbs.
Another high point was the Manitou fork. While I don’t think my son really needs full suspension at this point, having a few inches of travel to take the edge off up front has been huge. Our local resort has 3,400 foot descents and his hands have been grateful for it.
Speaking of hands, the cockpit is fully spec’d for miniature ones. Long lever blades with a close reach were a huge benefit during braking and smaller diameter grips gave him a better grasp on the handlebar…
Shimano’s shifter levers were placed very close and within easy grasp. Gloved or not he never really struggled with shifting complexity or the necessary dexterity required to shift.
On the topic of miniature components, SDG really nailed it with these pedals. The scaled down size is just right for small feet, but the fatter traction pins lowers the likelihood of a trip to the hospital for stitches on a shin or a calf, while still offering plenty of grip.
A big benefit and confidence booster has been Maxxis’ DHR2 tires. The larger volume was excellent in taking the edge off and provided ample grip in a wide range of conditions, while still wearing very well.
This might not seem all that necessary, but as my son is getting into longer self powered rides he is very stoked to have his own bottle. The smallest 450mL Fidlock offering just barely fits, and by not having a normal cage, it will play nice with car racks. The fact that Fidlock is so easy to use is a bonus as well.
On the above note, Transition opted for internal brake and shifter hose/cables in the top tube so as not to get tangled up on car racks. While this does complicate maintenance slightly, it has clean lines and tidy entry/exit hardware.
Big props to Transition for leaving this bike (and their adult bikes) room for extra spacers on the steerer tube. Taking this picture was a nice reminder that my son is getting big, fast. I need to swap a couple of those spacers around at this point.
The only quick release you’ll find on the bike is at the seatpost. At this age I don’t know if a dropper would even be beneficial due to the added complexity, but he has figured out how and when to raise and lower his seat on his own.
The Shimano brakes have provided plenty of stopping power that’s been noise free and have so far required no maintenance or pad changes. It turns out 60 pound riders don’t wear brake pads out very quickly.
UDH means the bike is future proofed. If a new type of drivetrain is available when you pass it down to the next kid this could be beneficial. It also means that it wouldn’t be hard to replace a damaged hanger on a road trip.
Uncle Ryan came to town…
On the trail
First and foremost the geometry and component choice made for an easy transition (no pun intended) for my son into his first real mountain bike. That he was able to comfortably hop right onto the Bandit when he was on the smaller end of their recommended sizing was a huge benefit in getting him acquainted with his first trail rides. From the upright position on the climbs to the ability to manage his controls and grip the bars, the mechanics of the bike itself has always just been an afterthought – allowing him to focus solely on the trails. At no point in time has he been frustrated by the bike, which has been a passive but noteworthy benefit.
As far as the durability and maintenance has been concerned, after 6 months of constant use this bike is still running flawlessly and will soon be passed down to my daughter when my son grows out of it. There have been zero issues with the shifting or the brakes and the tires are still in great shape despite plenty of skidding. The hub, headset and bottom bracket bearings are all running smooth as ever as well. About the only thing I could foresee needing to replace would be the grips and perhaps the derailleur cable, which, due to Shimano’s style of routing is a little bit more exposed to abuse. All told, those are minor matters in the grand scheme of the life of a kid’s bike.
Overall
As far as value is concerned I think this bike is about as good as it gets. Yes, a high performance 20″ kids bike slots into a fairly narrow category, but as far as I can tell I can’t find a bike that tops the Bandit from the aforementioned value standpoint. You can get a Specialized Riprock for about half the price but it’s fully rigid and doesn’t even come close on spec. Commencal offers the Meta HT 20, but it cost more money and also has a weaker spec, despite Commencal being a direct brand. So, hats off to Transition on a job well done in helping to build up the next generation of mountain bikers. Last, but not least something I’ve grown to appreciate with all Transition bikes is their broad availability of small parts on their website. From chainstay protection to touch up paint it’s a breeze to get ahold of, so next year when this gets handed off to my daughter, I’ll give it a little refresh first. All told, I’m very happy with how this bike has worked out and it’s been a blast watching my son progress on it. Hat’s off on a job well done from Transition!
The post [Tested] Transition Bandit appeared first on MTB-MAG.COM.
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[[{“value”:”Last Winter Transition launched a new lineup of kid’s bikes – the 27.5″ Scout, the 24″ full suspension Ripcord and the 20″ front suspension Bandit. The latter two bikes are offered in just one build level, but have a very well thought mix of components that work beautifully for young shredders. My now six year old son has been riding the new Bandit since Spring. We’ll start out with an overview of the bike and then get into how it’s worked out and held up for him after 3 seasons of riding… Geometry Details Aluminum frame 20″ wheels 10mm front
The post [Tested] Transition Bandit appeared first on MTB-MAG.COM.”}]] Read More MTB-MAG.COM
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