New Transition TR450 DH prototype

From Transition Bikes:

The Transition TR450 is designed as a dedicated downhill racing machine. Factory rider Lars Sternberg, along with other select riders, will be rallying the frame all season. Transition expects production models to be ready sometime early winter 2009 for the 2010 race season.

The TR450 is currently in prototype testing, so geometry and other features are not finalized, and may still change by production. The prototype frames feature a 64 degree head angle, 14” bottom bracket height and 17.5” chainstay length. Three sizes are being tested with wheelbase lengths of 45.5”, 46.5” and 47.5” for the small, medium and large frames. Heavily researched and selected with direct input from Lars, this is an aggressive geo built for speed and stability. With a careful ratio between chainstay length and head angle, the frame has a neutral feel in corners with good rider weight balance between the front and rear wheels.

Transition was not setting out to create an ultra light fragile pro-only frame; this is intended to be a dependable bike that riders can trust race after race. That being said, the TR450 frame is not an overbuilt tank either. The painted medium prototype frame weighs in at a respectable 11.6 pounds with a DHX RC4 (with steel spring), aluminum rear axle and all frame hardware. Lars’ complete bike weighs in at 39.5 pounds as pictured here. Retail pricing has not been announced, but customers should expect a great value with amazing performance for the price.