Relay PNW: 2-in-1, Long Travel, Powerful, Modular Bike
Words by Mia de Paula:
The great folks at Transition Bikes sent us their Relay PNW Alloy to ride for a couple months, and boy was it a fun descending bike! Transition has always been a brand that champions inclusivity and performance, and the Relay is no exception.
Transition’s new e-bikes, the Relay and Relay PNW, are innovative 2-in-1 modular bikes that offer exceptional versatility and performance. Meaning, the battery is removable, transforming the bike into a regular mountain bike. This allows folks to ride in areas where MTB’s are illegal, fly with your bike, or ride laps all day long! The possibilities are endless!
The bike build we demoed was quite heavy in the small frame, but that didn’t limit the fun!
What stood out to me was the cushy/plush suspension, which combined with the bike’s well-balanced geometry gave me confidence on low speeds, and steep terrain, while maintaining front wheel traction.
Transition is one of the few brands making bike sizes ranging from an XS to an XXL, with the geometry designed to accommodate different body types comfortably. The availability of different frame sizes and the overall geometry make the bike accessible for a broader range of riders. Whether you choose the Relay or the Relay PNW, both builds can be changed to a mullet or a full 29er.
With 6 different Relay builds, Transition offers a bike for any terrain you want to tackle. Each build thoughtfully designed with the rider in mind. You want a mullet bike? They have it. You want a full 29er? No problem. You’re a 5 foot tall person and want to ride a 27.5″? They have that too! Oh, and you want fully wireless transmission with 2 different brake options, wheelsets, tires, etc? Yeah, they have you covered!
However, it would be great to see more women-specific customization options, such as saddles, designed specifically for women and smaller width handlebars on XS and S frames.
Quick first impressions are:
- Descending was super fun and playful
- Weight was heavy, at (52.5lbs/23kg). But I didn’t feel the weight descending.
- The motor was efficient
- The range was very capable
- Components were top notch
- Colour was sleek
On the Trail- Southern California
Descending: The Relay PNW really shines on descents! It can handle a variety of terrain with ease- Steep, chunk, switchbacks, you name it! This burly 170mm travel bike can do it all! The geometry that Transition has (SBG) ensures the bike maintains low speed agility, front wheel traction, and proper rider weight balance while actually increasing confidence in steep terrain and at high speeds.
I felt this every single time I was riding this bike in steep terrain. The geometry gave me the confidence to tackle any steep, loose, or chunky trail, knowing I wouldn’t wash out or go over the bars.
The bike descended like a dream, the weight wasn’t an issue as the bike was playful and fun to throw around! I even did a ton of skills practice on this burly bike which included tight switchbacks and chucky rock descents.
The Fox components, especially the rear coil shock, provided an incredibly plush ride. This build also features TRP brakes, a Fox 38 fork, SRAM GX transmission, and large Schwalbe tires. With these top-notch components, I felt confident ‘-,ko[≤¬and focused solely on enjoying the ride, without worrying about the bike’s weight at all.
Climbing: This build, being that it’s an alloy bike, with 170mm travel bike front and rear, coil shock and a Fox 38 fork, was very heavy to pedal with or without any power assist. So, it wasn’t a terrible climber, it just felt sluggish. Let’s be honest, no one wants to pedal a 52lb (23kg) bike up hill, on steep or chunk. Even with the battery out, the bike was still 48ish pounds.
With that said, I had no issues climbing this big burly build. It just wasn’t my favourite. And because of the weight I quite often had the bike on the boost setting (pink) for ultimate climbing power which tends to drain the battery quickly.
Key Geo:
Key Geometry that most women look for when deciding to buy a bike: Frame Specs
- Reach- Short
- Standover- Ok
- Wheelbase- Great
- Wheel size- Perfect
- Travel- A lot!
Sizing:
For me, at 5’4.5″ tall, the bike felt small, and reach encroached (see photo below).
The standover height was high, right on the crotch…. Although, the small frame has a 150mm dropper post, which allowed me to raise it as high as I needed it.
Even though I felt the bike was small for me, I didn’t see it as a con. The opposite-the bike was playful, cushy, and stable.
Keep in mind that bike sizing is personal preference. With a larger bike/frame, and longer wheelbase, the front wheel will be further away from you which makes you feel more stable. This was the case with the Relay PNW alloy. Even though the reach felt short, the wheelbase felt great giving me confidence and stability.
So, when choosing a size, consider what your style of riding is and whether you want a more stable ride etc., keeping in mind that you’ll need to work a bit harder to muscle the larger bike around.
Fazua Ride 60 Motor, Battery Modes, & App
The Fazua Motor, much like the one on the Santa Cruz Heckler SL we reviewed, performed exceptionally well. I didn’t experience any range issues on 15-mile rides, even when riding in full boost. The 430Wh battery, has 60Nm of torque, combined with 250 watts continuous power, and 450 watts at peak power, equates to an experience that exceeds what you might expect. Although very capable, I found the motor on this bike to be very loud.
The Ring Controller changes the battery settings, and is located in the cockpit. It is ergonomic and easy to use, and offers 3 different power modes:
1- Breeze mode (Green) is very functional in many situations, and is custom tuned by Transition to use in varied terrain, not just riding to the trailhead.
2- River mode (Blue) is preset to match the amount of energy you are delivering to the pedals. If you’re soft pedaling it delivers a minimal amount of assistance. If you’re hammering it will give you as much available assistance it can, which provides a very intuitive experience and range management.
3- Rocket mode (Pink) provides maximum power to help you tackle steeper climbs and challenging terrain, it will reduce your range but packs quite a punch.
All the modes and ride customization can be viewed on the Fazua ride app.
Builds
Components-Relay PNW GX Alloy:
- Alloy Small frame
- Travel- 170mm Rear, 170mm Front
- Fox 38 fork, and fox DHX Factory coil rear shock
- Drivetrain- SRAM GX Eagle
- Mullet set up, 27.5″ rear, 29″ Front
- TRP DH-R EVO Brakes
- One Up V2 dropper, 150mm travel
- ANVL Mandrel Alloy 35 Handle Bars
- Schwalbe Tires front and rear
- RaceFace Aeffect R
- TRP R1 2.3 (223/203mm) Rotors
- Saddle, SDG Bel Air 3
- Battery FAZUA 430 Wh Integrated Battery
- Drive Unite, FAZUA Ride60
- ODI Elite Flow Lock-On
Final Thoughts:
Over all the Relay PWN is a great options for those who want a big burly bike ready to tackle steep and chunky terrain. It has a perfect blend of comfort, performance, and style. The Relay will inspire confidence and bring out the best in your riding experience. Being that Transition offer 6 different builds that are budget friendly, with top components, catering to riders of all sizes and regions, you can’t go wrong with this bike.
I’d love to demo the Relay carbon, to see what the hype of the lightweight full 29er is all about!
Pros:
- 2-in1 bike, removable battery
- Efficient, Agile, FAST!
- Sizing from XS-XXL
- Build for every occasion, and location
- Mullet
- Amazing descender
- Top notch components
- Both builds can be changed to a mullet or a full 29er.
Cons:
- Small for my height 5’4.5″
- Saddle was not great
- Heavy!
- Comes with 800mm bar for XS and S frames
- Sluggish climber (PNW Alloy)
- Loud motor