I can’t stand high street banks. There’s something about them that gets right up my hooter. The staff members are usually always miserable and every time I walk into one the f–kas just take my money…

From Dirt Issue 121 – March 2012

There are also banks (grassy ones) down the park. These banks are OK. The only problem is they are always covered in dog poo. This actually makes these banks shit banks, and who wants to wade (or ride) through shit?

Then there is the Transition Bank. This bank is not a bad bank. In fact it’s about as good as banks get. It’ll never take your savings when they go bust. It will always put a smile on your face, and it will get you out of shit and not put you in it. But if you are heading for rough times, similar to riding bumps, roots and rocks, it’ll (like most high street banks) beat the living daylights out of you…

Most aluminium 4X race bikes have a very similar ride characteristic. I say 4X race with a little trepidation, as if you look on the Transition website the video footage that interprets what the Bank should do is all about the dirt jumps. Their four inch travel Double would be the obvious choice, to someone who wasn’t in the know (4X race wise anyways). However, nobody races a suspension bike and most (if not all) jumpers of dirt usually opt for a ‘steelie’ which sells for two thirds of the cost of an aluminium 4X race frame. This isn’t really a dirt jump frame. It’s a stamp on the pedals, generate speed from nothing, faster than a super charged Ariel Atom, fly through the air race weapon. This thing rips and is like a scalpel on any 4X race track. No bullshit.

If you’ve ever had the pleasure of driving an Ariel Atom you’ll know that it ain’t no Rolls Royce. The ride is stiff, fast and exhilarating, just like the Transition Bank. If you are a racer (who has the skills to get the most out of the bike) this is a good thing. After all, if it’s a 4X type race you are in, then a wedding car (or a bike that rides like one) isn’t really the best option.>>

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