By now, results have proven the so-called ‘mullet’ setup’s utility on the gnarliest mountain bike trails. The Transition TR11 joins the party.
If you want the steamrolling stability of a 29er but can’t compromise the flickability of a 27.5” bike, you might need what some folks call a “Kentucky waterfall.”
A mullet mountain bike setup combines a bigger front wheel with a smaller rear wheel (usually 29” and 27.5”) to give gravity riders the best of both worlds. That’s precisely what the Transition TR11 seeks to do.
Transition designed the bike for all-around capability, whether you ride park, enduro, downhill, or rock gardens. You’ll probably prefer it for the gnarliest, steepest conditions: a massive 200mm of front and rear travel courtesy of Fox should help it plow over just about any obstacle (so should the beefy 2.5” Maxxis Assegai downhill tires).
The smaller wheel behind you and the resulting higher clearance can also add control in drops and tight corners.
To support the riding style versatility Transition claims for the TR11, the designers give it a bashable aluminum frame and an adjustable chainstay position — lower for better stability, higher for a flick-ier feel.
The geometry skews decisively downhill, with a super-slack 62-degree head angle and a long wheelbase thanks to longer chainstays.
Boost (148mm) rear hub spacing gives the TR11 stiffness and strength in the frame and wheel and allows sharing a rear wheel with a trail bike. The bike’s 83mm bottom bracket shell spacing results in the best chain line when paired with downhill-specific seven-speed cassettes.
Want proof that it works as intended? Watch Jaxson Riddle’s Style Award-winning finals run at this year’s Rampage — stomped on a TR11 mullet.
The bike comes in four sizes, with widened reach differentials over the previous version to accommodate shorter and taller riders. The SRAM-specced GX build runs $5,299 MSRP, or you can get a frameset For $2,299. Choose from “Misty Green” or “Raw Alloy.”
