FIRST RIDE REPORT
THE NEW TRANSITION REPEATER PT
First Ride by Max Rhulen
Images by Max Rhulen and Skye Schillhammer
Repetition often leads to refinement and in the case of the Transition Repeater PT, refinement is the name of the game. Small tweaks to frame geometry and the integration of SRAM’s new and exciting Eagle Powertrain eBike system provide this eMTB with some updates to boost its performance a step higher. Read below for more details of the new Transition Repeater PT, following our First Ride Impressions.
FIRST RIDE IMPRESSIONS
Recently I had the opportunity to join Transition in Bellingham, Washington for some riding on the newest rendition of their full powered e-bike, the SRAM Eagle Powertrain-equipped Repeater PT. I only have had two days of riding on this new bike, so this is merely my initial thoughts, but hopefully we will be receiving the Repeater PT for a long term test to add some further insight in the future.
This enduro focused e-mountain bike sticks closely to the roots of its predecessor, however it is not identical. Right out of the gate the appearance of the Repeater PT is a bit more streamlined, with straighter lines, slick paint, and tighter packaging overall. Adding to that streamlined appearance is the integration of the new SRAM Eagle Powertrain system, with their Brose-powered drive unit and integrated functionality with the Transmission gearing system. SRAM entering the drive unit space seems to be somewhat polarizing for some, but don’t let that steer you away from this updated eMTB. The wireless controls and top tube integrated display make for a clutter-free cockpit that simplifies cable management.
During our two days of testing in Bellingham, we logged about 33 miles with 7,000 feet of climbing. Transition arranged a size large for testing which works well for me at 6’ (183cm). I was on the higher spec XO transmission build, one of two builds offered, the other being GX transmission. The Repeater PT will only be offered with the SRAM Powertrain ecosystem, however, if that is a deal breaker for you (which we don’t think it should be) the first-generation Repeater with Shimano EP8 motor will still be available. The SRAM Powertrain drive unit supplies the Repeater PT with 90nm of torque and is accompanied by a 720wH battery. On day one of our test, we rode 25 miles with 4,500 feet of elevation and I finished with 17% battery after riding in the Rally mode all day. This seems like a reasonable feat with my weight of 155 lbs (70kg). The power delivery from the SRAM/Brose motor was smooth and never once did it feel unmanageable. While on steep technical climbs some other motors have moments of whiskey throttle when in boost, whereas the new SRAM unit was very consistent with its power delivery. Read more on SRAM Eagle Powertrain here.
Other than the new drive unit, the Repeater has seen some minor updates to boost its capabilities. Its geometry is ever so slightly slacker and longer, and it has a touch more suspension front and rear. The longer wheelbase and steeper effective seat tube angle help to combat the slightly slacker head tube angle, keeping the climbing position comfortable while also maintaining traction and preventing the front end from being too hard to manage. When using the Auto Shift feature, I found that it worked great on mellower, undulating terrain, but the motor became bogged down on harsher transitions from descending to climbing at times. This can be avoided by overriding the Auto Shift and clicking down a few gears preemptively, and with the Coast Shift function this is made all the easier with no need to pedal to shift into the desired gear. By helping the SRAM Powertrain to “see the trail ahead” for the more extreme situations, you’re left with a healthy amount of autonomy and effective gear selection for most of the time.
The Repeater PT is no slouch on the climbs for a 170mm eMTB, but there is no denying that descending is its strong suit. The small tweaks and increase of travel are enough to refine the Repeater into a more comfortable and capable ride on the way down. 10mm more travel makes the Repeater a bit more supple off the top, but the bike still manages to retain some playfulness thanks to how this travel is managed. There is a reason it has been a top choice for E-EWS champion Yannick Pontal – the new Repeater PT is a seriously capable machine on the way down the hill.
My only gripe with this new bike would be the sound of cables rattling in the frame. With the wireless SRAM AXS controls you only have the rear brake running to the rear end, but the sound was there nevertheless. Transition claims that this issue has been resolved for production models, with the bikes being equipped with a sheath covering the cable that will dampen sound, but we’ll have to wait for our long-termer to confirm. That aside, I am very pleased with the new Transition Repeater PT and look forward to including it in our E-Bike shootout next year, where I imagine it will stack up well against the competition. 
To learn more about the Repeater PT, keep reading or visit Transition.com
PRESS RELEASE
THE NEW TRANSITION REPEATER POWERTRAIN
PLUG INTO THE VIBE
The Repeater Powertrain takes your eMTB experience to a whole new level. Utilizing the 90nm Eagle Powertrain Motor by Brose, SRAM 720wh battery, SRAM T-Type AXS Transmission, and the SRAM Powertrain brain, the Repeater PT marks a giant leap in integration of motor and drivetrain, allowing the rider to give their full attention to enjoying the ride while shift assist handles the drivetrain. This system harmoniously integrates the most complicated moving parts on an eMTB to create a simple, worry free, and exhilarating ride. With 170mm travel front and rear, user tunable motor and shifting modes, as well as wheel size options, the Repeater PT is a ground breaking eMTB designed to fulfill all of your powered riding dreams.
THE POWERTRAIN SYSTEM
The magic of the Repeater PT is the integration of the motor and drivetrain. Power on the bike and all systems are immediately working together to make sure your ride is as smooth and supported as possible. As you climb it constantly assesses your speed, power, and cadence, shifting on its own to keep you at your optimum cadence without the need for the rider to reach for the shift lever. In addition, the Powertrain system will continue to shift and keep the bike in the perfect gear even when you are coasting. This means that as you pick up speed on the descent, your bike will be in the right gear for your next pedal stroke. Whether you’re at the high end of speed to keep pushing faster, or at the bottom of a descent before the next climb, you know your bike is ready for what’s next.
WHY WE THINK IT’S RAD
The Powertrain system is complex and uses advanced algorithms to create a bike that simply allows you to ride to the best of your ability with maximum enjoyment. By reducing the inputs needed from the rider you quickly feel how much more you can focus on riding. Whether you are trying to clean a techy climb, or get a pedal stroke out of a turn, knowing you’re in the right gear gives you confidence in each pedal stroke. It’s less about having a fully automatic system, and more about the system assisting you when you need it most. Imagine entering a rocky, technical section of trail where it takes all of your focus to choose your line. While you maintain balance and composure, the Powertrain system will make sure you are in the best gear to sneak in that crucial pedal stroke. Or take the moment after you stop climbing and begin descending. Many times putting in a pedal stroke mid descent is not ideal, but with Powertrain Coast Shift, the derailleur will smoothly keep the gear ratio aligned with your speed as you accelerate, allowing you to push into the next pedal stroke with confidence.
REPEATER PLATFORM
The Repeater PT is, at its core, a long travel, heavy hitting Transition bike. We think this platform performs best with dual 29” wheels but it can accommodate a 27.5” rear wheel. A flip chip in the lower shock mount accounts for the wheel size change to maintain proper geometry. The frame was developed with an emphasis on keeping the looks and function as clean and sleek as possible. Leveraging the SRAM AXS ecosystem with the wireless rear derailleur and seatpost, the only lines are the brakes. This allowed us to design a very clean and refined bike visually and functionally. The slide-in battery allows for a slimmer downtube while also reducing weight. With 26.6% progression, the frame works well with both coil and air shocks and is ready to tame the toughest descents. Available in SM – XL sizes and two color options.
EAGLE POWERTRAIN DRIVE UNIT AND SRAM 720WH BATTERY
The Eagle Powertrain drive unit is powerful and reliable while churning out 90nm of torque, making it one of the most powerful systems on the market. Powered by the SRAM 720wh battery, this motor is not only very powerful, but also has an extremely natural feeling, assisting you as an extension of your own strength, allowing you to push harder and farther.
RANGE AND RALLY MODES
The Repeater PT has two tunable motor power settings: Range and Rally. Range is a lower power mode, which is useful to extend battery life or use along your commute to the trailhead, and Rally is full power for ultimate speed and torque. By simplifying the motor power levels to two options, you no longer have to look down and see what mode you’re in. If you’re needing more or less power, simply click the single button that toggles between Range and Rally. We find this system simple and easy compared to other systems that have multiple power level modes. You can keep your eyes up on the trail and easily switch between either mode. This is just another place where the Powertrain system is working to keep you focused on the ride and nothing else.
POD CONTROLLERS
The new AXS pod controllers keep all functionality simple to control and easy to program to your preference while delivering one of the cleanest cockpits possible. Out of the box, the upper non-drive side button toggles between Range and Rally mode while the lower non-drive side button controls the AXS dropper post. The upper drive-side button shifts the derailleur up, and the lower drive-side button shifts the derailleur down. We find this to be incredibly intuitive and natural, and there are a multitude of reprogramming options accessible via the AXS App if you’d like to change the setup.
SHIFT ASSIST WITH T-TYPE AXS
The Shift Assist function eliminates the need for the rider to initiate a shift most of the time. The Powertrain system uses an algorithm to keep you in the perfect gear when pedaling as well as coasting. While the Shift Assist function handles most of the shifting duties, there will still be times when the rider will want to initiate a shift for a change in terrain ahead. In this case the rider can use the Pod Controller to shift into the correct gear manually, temporarily pausing the Shift Assist function. If you prefer a manual shift experience, a press and hold of the upper right pod button will turn the shift assist on or off allowing the rider to control the derailleur like a traditional AXS shifter. Additionally, the Powertrain system has Coast Shift, which allows the rider to shift at any time, without turning the cranks. This is beneficial in many instances but one example is descending a steep section of trail that leads immediately into a quick climb. As the rider descends at high speed, the derailleur will remain in a high gear matching the speed, but with Coast Shift the rider can anticipate the climb ahead and shift to an appropriate gear without ever pedaling. To accomplish this seemingly impossible magic trick, the Powertrain drive unit will rotate the chainring just enough to smoothly shift without using enough torque or speed to affect your ride. This function remains active even when the rider is in manual shift mode, allowing riders who want the ultimate control over the system to still have access to this incredibly useful feature.
MODELS
TRANSITION REPEATER PT
X0 AXS
FRAME: Repeater Carbon 170mm
FORK: Rockshox Zeb Ultimate 170mm
SHOCK: Rockshox Vivid Ultimate
DRIVE UNIT: SRAM Eagle Powertrain Drive Unit
BATTERY: SRAM Eagle Powertrain Full-Size Battery 720wh
DISPLAY: SRAM Eagle Powertrain AXS Bridge Display
SWITCH: SRAM POD Ultimate Bridge MMX
DERAILLEUR: SRAM XO Transmission
SHIFTER: SRAM POD Ultimate Bridge MMX
CRANKS: SRAM XO Eagle E-MTB 160mm
BRAKES: SRAM Code Silver
WHEELS: Crankbrothers Synthesis E-Bike Alloy
TIRES: Schwalbe Magic Mary (f) / Big Better (r)
SEATPOST: Rockshox Reverb AXS
SADDLE: SDG Bel Air V3
HANDLEBARS: OneUp Carbon | 800mm
STEM: ANVL Swage | 40mm
TRANSITION REPEATER PT
GX AXS
FRAME: Repeater Carbon 170mm
FORK: Rockshox Zeb Select 170mm
SHOCK: Rockshox Vivid Select+
DRIVE UNIT: SRAM Eagle Powertrain Drive Unit
BATTERY: SRAM Eagle Powertrain Full-Size Battery 720wh
DISPLAY: SRAM Eagle Powertrain AXS Bridge Display
SWITCH: SRAM POD Bridge MMX
DERAILLEUR: SRAM GX Transmission
SHIFTER: SRAM POD Bridge MMX
CRANKS: SRAM GX Eagle E-MTB 160mm
BRAKES: SRAM Code Bronze
WHEELS: DT Swiss H 1900 Spline
TIRES: Schwalbe Magic Mary (f) / Big Better (r)
SEATPOST: Rockshox Reverb AXS
SADDLE: SDG Bel Air V3
HANDLEBARS: ANVL Mandrel Alloy 35 | 800mm
STEM: ANVL Swage | 40mm
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