This is the bike I have been waiting for. At 28-pounds the bike is competitive in the weight game but also feels light on the trail aided by the Maestro suspension which made for an extremely quick feeling ride. How does the ride compare to the 29er? Full disclosure: I ditched the Giant dropper for a Reverb and switched out the 34 for a Pike. The engagement of the hubs was on par as well. If you're beginner to intermediate, this bike is suprisingly good for it's cost. The trance in general has no specific strengths, but does everything well.
It all comes down to the terrain you're riding. Same material but totally different geometry from entry level to two specs up. But in the end, the Stance just felt better underneath my feet. The Giant Contact Switch-R dropper post worked flawlessly If you could change one thing about your longtermer what would it be? I've now ridden this bike on long epics, bike parks, an enduro race and even a couple of cross country races. Recommendation: Most people on the forums throwing shade on this bike have never ridden it. Or start used and build up from there.
Those that know me will know that I have been waiting for this bike to arrive for a while, and I thought it only fair to give a quick review after my first ride. Top it off with durable Giant components including a dropper post to get you in the perfect position, and you'll be dropping the hammer no matter what the trail throws at you. The sx is bit different but still the same design It's not listed in the cattledog, but there have been a couple of mid-season limited releases of of a Trance and Anthem 3. Speaking of charging forward, the wide-ranging Shimano Deore 2x10 drivetrain keeps you going with quick, smooth shifts every time. It was snappy in and out of corners, up and over obstacles and while climbing. It didn't plow through the chunder as well as some other bikes in its class, but it definitely made up for it with its agility.
At faster speeds it we were impressed by the stability of the suspension — big, fast hits never bucked us or unsettled the bike. And when it comes time to dive hard into the switchbacks, Giant's 27. Ride: Three different testers rode this bike over the course of a week and each came back praising the fun, spritely and supple ride of the Trance. When I go to trail centers and do some downhill on it the forks are the only thing that isn't good about the bike. I've mountain biked in Michaux State Forest known for its rocks and technicality.
Joe, Morgan added that pic and caption, I'm going to have to default to him on that one. While most brands were dabbling with a model or two in their lineups, Giant announced a full range of the mid-sized wheeled bikes, across nearly their entire lineup. Well cared for bike, all works very well, well used with a some trail and carrying marks see photos. The improved shock tune and bump up in wheel size produce a noticeable improvement in climbing performance on technical terrain. This bike likes to shred, it feels far faster and more capable than the 140mm of rear suspension may lead you to believe. When on fire roads we were in Climb mode, rocky climbs and rolling trails in Trail mode, and when trying to get wild we popped it into Descend. So if you compare evo's with evo's and comps with comps, I think the geometry should be the same.
If one isn't swapping brake rotor sizes, it does seem nice to not have to mess around with adaptors, I guess, if I was going to say anything…. The Deore Shifters work perfectly, and I can't see myself rushing out to upgrade them. He's also known to tinker with bikes 'til they're perfect, creating custom additions and fixes along the way. Yes you can put an external reservoir air shock on the trance but i already have people on pinkbike. With the suspension so supple and lively at the top of the travel, it was easy to make the bike work for you, popping it all over the trail or keeping the front wheel up over slippery roots. With that sorted, the position on the bike was perfect for all-day adventures.
We did find the wheels a tad on the soft side, so keep an eye on the spoke tension. Pros: I own this bike, 2016 model, great bike for the price, can do some upgrades and it will be a Pro Bike. Stay tuned for a complete ride and performance review coming soon. I completely understand what you're saying but I believe that it is this bikes ability to do everything well that I admire, I think it will be quite some time before I am entering any races to do with cycling so this bike should do the job just right for me. Yes you can put an external reservoir air shock on the trance but i already have people on pinkbike. In addition to the change of wheel size, travel has jumped up from 127mm to 140mm, so even though Giant has dropped the X tag, the Trance packs more punch than ever before. This has handled everything I've thrown at it and has done well.
Very nice to have the playfulness put back in the bike by 27. The little plug you can see here can be removed and replaced with an insert that allows you to route rear brake line internally too if you wish. Items must be returned unused and in their original packaging. Things felt good when leaving the ground off jumps, and the suspension offered a firm and responsive platform ready for preload and pop. That might answer a lot. It's definitely good to hear all this feedback from you now I suppose, saves the 'shock' in the future. The wheel size just doesn't make sense for hard riding either.
With all the bikes that we tested at this price range , this is by far the best handling bike we have riden. There are other bikes on test that were simply more fun and inspiring to ride on the best bits of trail. On tighter, twisty trails the Trance felt even lighter than its reasonable 13. That might answer a lot. This is a new bike entirely and an entirely better bike too.
Fit some sturdier rubber, as the bike is well and truly up for some harder riding than the tyres permit. I am aware that the Trance 27. Great bike, don't think you'd be disappointed. Bonus Gallery: About The Reviewers John Hauer - In 13 years of riding, John has done it all and done it well. This bike is more capable than you'd expect from 140mm rear travel and it's only on the gnarliest of downs that I feel the extra 20mm rear travel would be nice.