Transition launches new Scout Carbon with geometry overhaul and more travel

By Lance Branquinho
last updated

Transition's Scout gains a raft of improvements for 2020, making it an even more capable enduro bike

The 2020 Transition Scout carbon is even more capable with more travel than before
The 2020 Transition Scout carbon is even more capable with more travel than before (Image credit: Transition)

Transition’s Scout has been given a frame redesign and revised geometry for 2020.

The American trail and enduro bike brand has been strongly influential in the progressive geometry trend, which has seen mountain bikes become lower, slacker and longer.

Despite 29ers now dominating in both the trail and enduro bike categories, Transition’s Scout remains committed to its 27.5” wheel size configuration. It has always appealed to those riders who value the directional agility of smaller wheels when attempting to link a succession of fast switchbacks.

For 2020, Transition has refined the Scout frame design with a more angular tube profile. These reshaped lines reduce waste material during the carbon layup process and form a sturdier strength-to-weight ratio.

Aware that many mountain bikers now desire the ability to run longer dropper seatposts, the new Transition Scout obliges. On a size large, you’ll be able to fit a 210mm dropper, thanks to the straight seat tube shaping. All frame sizes can accommodate a generously sized dropper post. 

If you are a keen follower of Transition’s Scout range, you’ll notice that the 2020 frame features a comprehensive carbon frame, which includes a composite rocker link and a trunnion shock mount.

This new rocker link actives more rear suspension travel than before, with the Scout’s trail-taming ability having increased from 130mm to 140mm. Balancing the bike’s rear kinematics is a 150mm suspension fork.

As mentioned, Transition has never been shy about marketing bikes with radical geometry and for 2020 it has stretched and slackened the Scout carbon. That means reach increased by 10mm per frame size and head angle on all sizes, with a 150mm fork, sits at 64 degrees.

Ensuring that the Scout retains lively steering dynamic, Transition specifies a 37mm offset fork, to offset any slow speed steering lethargy, due to the very slack head angle.

Other new frame details present on the 2020 Transition Scout carbon is a ribbed drive-side chainstay to silence chain slap, oversized Enduro bearing for its suspension pivots and enough clearance to run 2.6-inch wide tyres.

Pricing for the new Scout carbon starts at $3,199 for a frameset, whilst build kit options are available from $4,499 to $6,599.

Lance Branquinho
Lance Branquinho
Freelance writer

Lance Branquinho is a Namibian-born journalist who graduated to mountain biking after injuries curtailed his trail running. He has a weakness for British steel hardtails, especially those which only run a single gear. As well as Bike Perfect, Lance has written for MBR.com, Off-Road.cc and Cycling News.