Secondhand Postilions IV: Transition Spire vs. Devinci Chainsaw vs. We Are One Arrival

Un-in-SPIRE-ing?

I have not ridden oodles of bikes in the 170-180mm travel category and along with the fact that I do not gravitate towards bikes with this much travel as personal daily-driver options that is certainly a valid criticism of any review I am writing about a rig in the super-enduro (light-freeride?) category.

With that said, I do have plenty of recent experience with two of the most interesting the Transition’s most interesting peers, so I am going to wrap my used 2021 Transition Spire review by comparing it to the Devinci Chainsaw (170mm) and the We Are One Arrival (170mm). These are disparate rigs by scale, suspension design, and component spec but I rode them on the same trails, with the same people, and I am confident that whether the Chainsaw was seriously upgraded from its basic ‘Select’ level RockShox suspension or the Arrival was a little less ‘Ultimate’ my experiences would have been similar enough. Budget suspension products, combined with good suspension designs, are rad.

I will do a more specific comparison below, but I wanted to start by saying that compared to the other two rigs the Spire is pleasantly uninspiring. It looks boring and it is boring to ride. Wait, what? The Transition simply does not have any quirks. It does not have the pump-to-warp-speed DeLorean time machine suspension effect of the Kamloopsian carbon superbike. It does not have the wheelbase lengthening HP+I (high pivot plus idler) square bump disappearing, awkward at slow speeds ride of the Chainsaw. Although, like that bike, the Spire is probably an answer to the question ‘What does a head tube angle that is too slack feel like?’

Nope, the Spire looks a bit dull with its classic Horst-link and walking beam configuration and timeless raw finish. And the handling and suspension action is instantly predictable such that within a couple of rides it felt like I had been on this bike for ages. It would be the perfect park and shuttle rig for someone who wants to own a 170mm (over-forked or otherwise) big bike but would not get to ride it as often as they would like. Whether it is a question of life and responsibilities, or distance to the sort of trails where a rig like this is fun.

I never wanted a climbing switch on the Marzocchi CR coil rear shock because the Spire does not encourage climbing giddy-up-go. Just chill out and pedal. I did some surprisingly long climbs and big days pushing my 28x11-43t gearing, and never found myself just sitting in the lowest gear and kept up with my friends as long as they did not know we were racing but unlike the Arrival, I did not receive any compliments on how I was floating up rock-strewn service roads like I had a motor-assist.

Compared to the Devinci Chainsaw

Like the Spire, I very much enjoyed the Quebec-made Devinci Chainsaw. It was also a used bike – previously enjoyed by Matt Beer at Pinkbike.com, it also ate bumps and liked to be ridden fast, and it also had a head tube angle that was a bit slacker than I would have liked in the ‘High’ position, a problem that I increased in both cases by running a 27” rear wheel.

In the case of the Chainsaw, which I would say is equally easy to work on compared to the Spire despite the addition of an idler, this DH-slack geometry comes down to the same frame being used for a 190mm DH bike model. In the case of the Spire, I would assume it is down to creating some differentiation between the Enduro-racing-ready Sentinel.

In either event, we are slowly moving towards a situation where shorter and longer travel full suspension trail bikes will share remarkably similar geometry whether they have 120mm travel or 170mm travel. Say a 64° HTA +/- 0.5° depending on if we are talking a Smuggler or a Spire. Meet in the middle.

I had a couple of my scariest crashes in ages on the Chainsaw. Down to my trail reading and confidence at the speeds the bike likes to go. It is certainly faster through straight chunk than the Spire. But in both cases, the extra effort to pedal to the top was rewarded in much shorter rides back down to the bottom than I used to. Certainly, while some of the hardest sections of my favourite trails were rendered notably easier, there is a questionable trade-off of increasing my climbing time and effort to then spend much less time descending.

That reflects the amount of solo riding that I do. With friends, it was certainly fun to be faster than a few folks who always beat me down the hill on my personal bikes thanks to all the extra margin of error I was pushing. All that to say, as much as I enjoyed the Chainsaw, and as much as the maintenance on both bikes would be similar if buying new and used, the Spire would be a much better rig for me. Plenty fast, and easier to ride.

That said, with a dual crown installed for use as a park bike or amateur DH rig, or for a rider wanting to have one bike to serve both use cases with a quick fork and shock swap, the Chainsaw is the obvious choice. Also, while I found it a bit awkward in slower speed jank situations, Devinci sponsors some riders who make it float seamlessly through the same terrain, so never question the extent to which rider abilities influence their review of certain suspension designs.

Compared to the We Are One Arrival

The made-in-Kamloops, BC, Arrival is a carbon fiber superbike in every sense, so I accept as fair the question of if it should be compared to the Spire. Even if they have the same amount of front and rear wheel travel. Undoubtedly no one in the market for an Arrival is buying an aluminum Spire, but maybe the carbon version with a luxury build would be an okay comparison?

If I had the time and treasure, I could certainly justify owning a 130/150mm Arrival and then, using the same frame, having the linkage kit, shock, fork, and bomber DH wheelset to convert the bike to a 170/170mm Arrival for those times when a bigger and faster bike is desirable. I quite enjoy doing the conversion (I like working on bikes) and the shorter travel varietal makes a good daily driver for me if I can ignore the price of entry.

A big part of that is that the Arrival, even in 170mm guise, was a fun bike to climb. Attack steep technical lines. Race my equally unfit friends. Here again, never reaching for a climb switch.

But, here again, the Spire is a much easier bike to get along with on the downhills. The Arrival wants to be ridden all the time and I never found myself able to relax and plunk about like I can on the Transition.

I have seen videos of some incredible riders laying down vicious DH times on the Arrival and even with my modest skills when ridden in anger it is a shockingly fast bike. And sometimes fast is fun. Certainly, again price aside, as an aspirational purchase for someone who sees themselves ripping downhills, and charging uphill to bag more DH, the Arrival stands above most 170mm rigs on the market.

Transition Spire

Of the three bikes, the Spire is the least interesting – in appearance and performance – and would also be the best option for me, and likely a majority of riders out there buying a 170mm machine. When I go riding, I am not shredding all the time. I have even known to get a bit distracted by my thoughts as I pump through the woods. I tend to hit features cautiously the first few times and having a bike that features peak predictability at a range of speeds is ideal.

So maybe what I am saying is that anyone looking for a 170mm travel bike would be happy on a Spire, folks who are test-riding a few different rigs first may have to achieve a certain level of self-awareness in choosing the Transition over something sexier.

That is not to say that the bike does not smash. It has a progressive suspension design that is happy through a wide range of sag (28-34% recommended) allowing riders to balance their best suspension performance for their terrain and also to get away with not taking the time to bracket their perfect settings.

Bottom line, it is predictably a pile of fun. It is also well over 40lbs and more bike than I would choose for myself as a daily driver given my penchant for pedaling.

USED

No bottom-bracket eccentric pivots, future-problem micro-adjustability, or weirdly fragile hardware choices here. All three bikes I am writing about today have an excellent reputation for small parts availability and long-term after-sale support and none of them are difficult to work on beyond the slightly hateful rear brake routing of both the Arrival and the Chainsaw.

The external rear brake routing of the Spire is a LUXURY. I wish every company would go back to a handful of zip-ties. Sure, most folks do not change their brakes that often, but it is so much more pleasant to be able to remove and install hydraulic systems without partial disassembly being required.

Even second-hand, the Arrival jumps out of my personal price range. That is not to say they are overpriced at all, the time that WR1 put into these bikes between design and in-house manufacturing is obvious. It is just more money than I would consider spending on a bicycle frame. On the other hand, I have seen complete Chainsaws for surprisingly little cash given they are welded in Canada, and they are great fun to ride. Money-talk aside, I would happily buy any of these three bikes used in good running condition.

For the purposes of the Postilions series, the Spire is perfect. Transition is transparent about its excellent supply of small parts . Changing worn-out bearings is easy, and even for riders who do not have the tools, experience, or space to perform this service themselves, it should be relatively cheaper in a shop compared to bikes with similar numbers of pivot points that are more frustrating to work on.

Also, as much as it is a bit of a tank, the Spire is overbuilt to be bombproof. This is advantageous for folks buying used because a Spire that looks to be in good shape most likely will be. I have seen plenty of folks burned by buying lighter trail bikes that have been over-used and discovering cracks, or cracking frames, soon after the fact. Chances are the majority of Spire users, me included, do not ride the frames to the edge of their capabilities.

Another way that the Spire is a perfect used bike, and this goes for all Transition’s full suspension models, is the very progressive, coil-friendly, suspension design. In this case not for any comparative performance reason, but because the suspension works very well with budget-friendlier shocks.

The Marzocchi CR coil I have been riding, for example, is a famously simple shock with no climb switch and basic low-speed compression and rebound adjusters but it works great. Brand new, that is a US$300 rear shock (plus a spring). A take-off air shock that another rider has upgraded, like basic a RockShox Super Deluxe Select, could be an excellent choice too for a limited investment.

It is not that a luxury option like an EXT or PUSH does not work great on Transition’s frames, just that their suspension design does not necessitate that level of investment in custom damping to achieve a great riding experience. Some frames do.

Going Forward with Secondhand Postilions

I hope that you have enjoyed this Secondhand Postilions series to date. The used market remains, and will remain for some time, a buyers' market. Many, even most, listings out there are insanely optimistic relative to the street value of used bikes, and most makes and models of new bikes, but if you see the right machine, it never hurts to engage the seller in a respectful conversation about what you would be willing to pay for their rig. Especially when it has been sitting unsold for months. As with everything in life, do not be a dick. Expect the same treatment.

If you are not confident in determining whether a bike has a massive service bill waiting to happen – creaking fork CSU, worn-out everything, etc. – then have a knowledgeable friend or even a local shop have a look at it. Ask around to find bikes, like any Transition full suspension rig, which are easy to work on and well-supported. Or heck, buy a hardtail.

I did not reach out to every brand under the sun, but I did touch base with several companies I figured might be interested in digging up a previous-enjoyed few-years-older frame for review. Some have transferable warranty or crash replacement options that are worthy of highlighting. All have sterling reputations for supporting their bikes long-term when it comes to a supply of small parts and even frame members. And, well, I did not find any takers.

I was not shocked. As we know from reading BikeMag, or any online bicycle media resource, there never seems to be a shortage of the newest of new 10K+ carbon test rigs with a bunch of battery-activated components. It probably comes as no surprise that brands do not want to advertise that the last generation of said bikes is nearly as good, just as good, and in some cases better than the latest and greatest depending on the final application.

Cy suggested trading the Spire for the next Postilions rig, like one red paper clip, and after laughing about the idea it is exactly what I did (sorry, Cy, turns out it was a great idea). Although there is zero risk of me eventually trading into a two-story farmhouse in Kipling, Saskatchewan. As my wife said when she saw the next bike, “Well, you are never getting rid of that are you?” That is the full tease for the time being.

That is a wrap for the 2021 Transition Spire. The same frame one can buy in 2024. Probably not a heck of a lot different than the next generation of the frame, whenever that comes out. I am certain that it will have more obvious mullet capabilities, but I enjoyed this Spire with mixed wheel sizes, and I also preferred the Chainsaw and Arrival with a 27” rear and 29” front setup.

The next generation may also add in-frame storage and the extra weight that goes with that. As I understand it, most mountain bicyclists will be happy with that, but I would rather have the aesthetic of the less-endowed downtube and skip the added complexity of the claptrap.

Geometry-wise it is hard to imagine changes that will make any bold change to the Spire’s excellent, and not too-too steep, seated climbing position and DH-slack descending-bias. Assuming the frame and bearings are in good condition, and the price is right, this 3-to-4-year-old design is a great buy for someone seeking a used bike in this category.