Washington-based Transition Bikes showed its new TR250 at the London Bike Show last week.

Based on the TR450, the full-fat World Cup downhill race bike that the likes of Jill Kintner and Bryn Atkinson have been piloting during the WC season last year, the Transition TR250 is meant to be slimmed down version with a little less travel but essentialy the same geometry for hitting up the bike parks and having a bit of fun on.

Travel maxes out at 180mm but is adjustable down to 160mm so you pair it with your single crown forks of choice. The frame has been designed with single crown forks in mind. The adjustable head angle and bottom bracket features carry over from the bigger TR450 but the company has added adjustable dropouts for dialling in the chainstay length and wheelbase to your preference – so for example the rear end can be shortened for jumping.

That 180mm of travel is handled by a single pivot layout with a pair of short linkages between the shock and swing arm allowing the designers to tailor the characteristics of the suspension delivery. The design is very compact, the shock tucked at the bottom in the frame keep the centre of gravity low. To adjust the travel there’s inserts in the swing link that can be removed and replaced with different ones. Other details include a 12x150mm rear end and at the front a tapered head tube to be used with the latest wave of tapered steerer tube forks.

Weight also sees a significant difference, the TR250 nearly a pound lighter than the TR450. All models will be delivered with a Fox DHX RC4 shock. Availability is slated for February 2011.

More at www.transitionbikes.com and distributed in the UK by www.surf-sales.com