First Look: Giant's 27.5" Prototypes
Confirming the rumors that had been circulating over the past few months, Giant has stepped forward to become the largest bicycle manufacturer to enter the world of the in-between wheel size. At a recent event held outside of Giant's US headquarters in Newbury Park, California, two different prototype models were on display in both carbon and aluminum versions. While they are still technically in the prototype stage, the bikes looked refined enough that there is little doubt these will become full production models in the near future. We were given full reign to examine the bikes, but Giant would not answer any specific questions or confirm any concrete details.
| Prototype Details • Carbon front triangle / aluminum rear and full aluminum frame options • ISCG tabs • Press-fit BB • Maestro suspension design • Routing for stealth dropper post | • Two different frame designs, likely between 110-120mm and 140-150mm of travel. • 12x142 rear thru axle • Internal cable routing • Weight: NA • Availability: NA |
Pinkbike's Take:
 | While the designs of the prototype bikes themselves may not be groundbreaking, as they look quite similar to Giant's current Trance and Anthem models, the fact that a company as large as Giant has entered into the 27.5" market is worthy of attention. As the largest bicycle manufacturer in the world, the actions of Giant are used by many as a kind of barometer to predict shifts in the global bicycle market. It will be interesting to see if large manufacturers like Trek and Specialized decide to respond with 27.5" offerings of their own, and to see how extensive Giant's adoption of the 27.5" wheel size turns out to be. - Mike Kazimer |
www.giant-bicycles.com
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Just a few minutes looking at pricing and that is easily dismissed
Giant Trance X XT build $4250 32mm Fork
Trek Remedy XT build $4409 32mm Fork
SC TBLT XT build $4450 34mm Fork
Giant Anthem XT/SLX build $2875
Trek Rumble Fish XT/SLX build $3049
SC TB XT/SLX build $3049
Sorry I disagree on the Giant value statement but see it everywhere. If at the point you're spending 3k or 4k and $200 is enough to sway your decision, I'd argue you're spend more than you should on your bike.
Maybe I'm not comfortable with using my XC lid on an A/M bike, and want to buy a new helmet. Or maybe some shoes. Or pedals. Not everyone has a sky-is-the-limit spending capability. Some of us have budgets.
Let me put it this way. Lets say you love the ride you're on now. I come to you with a bike that you know you don't like ( VPP, FSR, DW link, etc..) and say I'm trading out your bike for this one with the same build spec and giving you $200.,
Are you going sit here and tell me you'd consider that a great deal? I doubt it and that is my point.
On a 3k or more bike saving $200 isn't shit. If that sways a buyer, I'm sorry they are being stupid and you know it.
When I switched to 29er since I now ride mostly XC, I always had Specialized before my Felt Compulsion, so I bought a Stumpjumper FSR. 6 months later my shop had a SC TBLT demo bike. I had always read about SC and VPP so I took it for a demo ride. Ordered one when I got back and put the SJ on CL.
So are you telling my that if that SJ was $200 cheaper, that it is such a great value that I should pick it over the TB?
That's what irks me every time I read Giant is a great value, it just isn't. Not saying their bike are bad, they just aren't this huge value everyone makes them out to be.
What's more important $200 or liking the way your bike rides?
you are quite right. It is vastly overpriced taiwanese sweatshop product and not really decent quality. People here are not after intrinsic quality they are just shopping for color and brandstickers all the while the product does not improve. XC is Enduro is AM is Sramano. Giant`s maestro sucks - its plain wrong - sad testimony to unchanged corporate idocy.
So, yes you are on the right track - you dislike the fact that year in year out they peddle the same crap. I think its time for you to get a handmade frame and add the quality bits you like yourself.
I do this and now have a stellar US-handmade-frame with top-parts made in the west by wagemakers instead of slaves (Apart from rims and hubs and derrailleur),
It is slightly more expensive but inherently more satisfactory than shoving money into a giant corps ass. (Love the pun)
Giant is awesome'
Wal-Mart must love you. Again, just being cheaper != better value
Are you driving a Yugo? After all comparing prices that is the best value in the automotive world right there.
You obviously do not know anything about the bike industry or manufacturing. You seem to ba an angry troll or big brand hater.
I am an industry lifer and have been involved for 21yrs from retail to distribution to company employee. I have worked with Orbea, Giant, Scott, Shimano, Bianchi, and at retailers.
I can tell you Giant is not a sweat shop. They actually started as a small frame builder in the 70's. It is still a family business and King and Tony and others are avid riders!
The factory workers in Taiwan all work 8hrs a day and 40hrs a week in a clean safe environment.
As far as American and handmade....? Who is all American made? Do you know who makes Trek? Do you know who makes Yeti's tubes and or frames? Please enlighten me. Do you ride a Lynskey or a Moots, then you got me.
Giant is the only big or medium full bike line that can claim they HANDBUILD all of their own product and tubing!!
@Kudos
Giant frames are NOT OD2 or OverDrive 2!! It is the fork steerer and headset that are oversized. That would be Fox and RockShox.
The Giant tapered headtube is the same as Kona, Trek, Specialized and dozens of others. Giant only specs Fox and RockShox's oversized option.
I use a OD2 fork on my Kona and it is stiffer and lighter!
Hope this helps clear up misconceptions in the industry.
Jim
re: Overdrive and overdrive 2...
www.giant-bicycles.com/technology/overdrive/50
Giant invented both the original 1.5 to 1.125" tapered steerer/headtube design and called in Overdrive and released it on the Glory in 2006. They've recently invented what they're calling Overdrive 2 which is a 1.5 to 1.25" tapered steerer (and matching headtube). So yes, it IS the fork and headset that are oversized, and yes Fox and Rockshox support them but neither developed them first. Giant had an idea, they paid for Fox and Rockshox to make them suspension forks for that idea.
Man wish I had never said anything. I didn't realize $200 is more important to passionate bike riders over the actual ride.
You all simply look at a number, I'm going by what rides better for me. I wouldn't buy another FSR type bike again after having tried VPP even it's $500 cheaper, numbers are not the only thing that determines value, why is that a hard concept.
Like I said I can now see why WalMart is a success, people only look at numbers.
Your're saying the guy who purchase the Specialized bike is stupid for spending more then 500 over your bike...but you blast the guys saving 200 in a similar situation?
No Jhou I'm saying that if you don't like the way a bike rides lets just pick one- Specialized, how is that Specialize a good value to you at $200 cheaper than a bike you do like the way it rides.
Wow now I see why pinkbike has the rep it does.
@Jim Rawson: I toyed with a Lynskey. No - I ride a new Foes and a swiss handmade raceframe thats as vintage as I am. The rest of my familie rides french hand made frames and Intense. I build them up myself and I usually run 5-800$ below what a factory build would cost and with mostly western quality parts. I get quality and the satisfaction out of it that the money stays put in my vicinity rathern than feeding fat and ugly corps.
I dont like big companies that sell generic crap at elevated pricing. You and I know exactly how much it is ordering a batch of bikes in Taiwand or the PRC. Its ludicrously cheap. So I disagree that a mainland worker is paid a decent wage.
The Giant bikes are cheaper, however if you prefer the ride of a FSR or VPP bike there is no value in that cost savings to you.
Simple concept that appears above a lot of people.
Here's a little help, notice the word relative.
val·ue
[val-yoo] Show IPA noun, verb, val·ued, val·u·ing.
noun
1. relative worth, merit, or importance:
Now that you've insulted people, they're not going to take your seriously, even if you happen to make sense, so just drop it and let people ride what they want to ride. i.e. SHUT THE F*** UP
Firstly, stop being a dickbag, you can argue a point without being an ass.
The term relative in that definition would refer to the bikes value relative to other bikes of comparable quality. Your definition has zero reference to personal brand loyalties or preference, which is the only valid point you have made. I agree that if a person dislikes the frame design of a giant bike, the cost savings are a mute point. But if you are approaching a bike purchase with no bias or preference towards a particular bike, Giant bikes in general(not always) provide similar performance for slightly less money. This is what 90% of the population would call good value. Another definition that is useful here is value for money:Value for money is based not only on the minimum purchase price but also on the maximum efficiency and effectiveness of the purchase. Using this definition giant bikes are great value for money. Given that they have a lower purchase price, and similar effectiveness as the bikes you have listed.
It's not much but it's at least a glaring example of group think shunning out the nay-sayers.
I'm not a fan of Giant either and their conglomerate way; suspension is outdated, and let's not forget the recall they issued on the 29er Anthem a year ago, but notwithstanding, let's also not forget that the same factory, or sweatshop if you hold that view, is most likely the same one that built your Trek, Specialized, Merida, etc., etc.
Most of these bikes are all the same and anyone who says otherwise is full of it. As for arguments that Giant is inferior to other bikes, I would use Danny Hart and Kurt Sorge as examples of riders who seem to be able to make their Giants work just fine.
And for all the boutique bike lovers out there, most of you must be new to the sport to think a company like Santa Cruz is better than Giant, they're exactly the same except for the price difference. Some want to defend higher prices for bikes they like that coincidentally have the most high profile and highest paid riders. Some people just have to have their name brands to buy there way in, "you got a V10, me too".
There used to be leaders in this sport who rode bikes, now most the riders are followers and the leaders are bankers.
www.bike-eu.com/Home/General/2001/8/Correction-Merida-Buys-49-of-Specialized-BIK000680W
"Practically, the arrangement should bring short term benefits to both companies. Merida will gain near immediate exclusivity for Specialized's orders to Taiwan, as Specialized will no longer use competitors Giant and Ideal. Specialized, meanwhile, receives a quick cash influx to support its current marketing, sales and merchandising programs"
I don't use plastic, I put money in the bank until I take it out. It takes me awhile to get the funds for a bike, but after putting $3-5k together, $200 MAKES LITTLE DIFFERENCE!!! That's 3.33333333 xbox games or a decent night out. Set your sights on what you want, and get it!
If you are into plastic, well, you have less of an excuse.
Hypocrisy at it's finest. This place... man this place...
Everyone else that is comparable is more than $2500.
That is not $200, but $500 difference!
gnarbar, please don't make assumptions about me (more money than sense etc) from my bike preferences, when you have literally no idea whatsoever about my circumstances.
For the record, I work in the industry, so it makes sound financial sense for me to change my bikes every 2 years. Although I've had Yeti frames for the last 4 or 5 years, I don't consider a Giant to be beneath me.
ALSO. people up there who say buying a certain build is better because its fox are for the most part corporate whores. have you ever ridden rockshox? theyre excellent products.
IMO companys are jumping on the 650B band wagon as its relatively easy to modify there 26" designs to accomodate 27.5" and sell 25% more needlessly different bikes.
bb.nsmb.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=8345&d=1333564058
Then, I could not reach the European Giant corporation, no phones or other ways to contact them. So I was left battling those Giant-Russia guys alone. Fortunately, their boss was smart enough to actually read the description in the website and confirm the difference between what they had shipped to me and what the website read. (The website read "XTC has OverDrive and accepts tapered steerer forks" and the frame came with a straight 44mm steerer tube and no external adaptor like Cane Creek EC44/40.) Eventually they paid the cost of the additional adaptor, but the impression and the joy of buying a new frame was spoiled. (That said, the frame is awesome. The people were the weak link.)
But, they still claim that the Giant XTC aluminium frame model year 2012 has an 86.5 BB width!!! Please, Giant corporation, call those idiots and tell them to work better thank you!
They already had press-fit on the last Reign and they ditched it with the current model because there are so many problems with it. And now they are going back to that? I really love my current reign and I would seriously order one of those above without any questions asked, as I don´t think that 26" or 650b makes any difference - but why do they have to use that bullshit press-fit stuff?
Reviews of which can be found on Texas Mountain Bike Trails: www.texasmountainbiketrails.com/giant-anthem-27-5-3-review
As you'll find in my reviews, I'm not an immediate believer in the 27.5 wheelsize. I feel that it is actually a step backward from a 29er for the type of terrain we ride in Texas.
Now, that's not necessarily the case everywhere else I know, but at least here in XC country that is where we're at now. Some of the downhill enthusiasts who do more hucking than I do however would love the 27.5 trance with 5 inches of travel. The Anthem's with 4 inches just isn't enough for their preferences.
I guess its all in what you like..
There must be 10 different options for just that one fork with tapered, strait, qr axle, 15-20mm axle.
Rockshox has to recoup those costs somewhere and its part of the reason that a decent fork from the big 3 costs twice the price they used to even 5 years ago.
SWEET!
@OrigionalTwoTone
YOU ARE CLEARLY A STUPID TROLL
Sure you have the right to debate but there are 2 sides to every story.
1. Everyone can benifit from bigger wheels
2. Bigger wheels on the rear of a full suspension bike gets tricky. This is why many companies have not built long travel 29ers. You have too long of swingarms and complexity of front deraileurs or changuides, linkage, tire clearance, etc. The bikes simply get too long.
3. With 27.5 you can kinda get best of both worlds. bigger wheel with out the engineering disaster of cramming a 29 wheel in a long traver rear end.
Trust me it is not only about money making(mostly...it is a business) it is also about development and pushing boundries and trying to make the best bikes on the market. I am sure Giant wants to be first and capitalize on the $$ from the consumers who must have it right now.
My point is 29er wheels on full suspension bikes is EVERY bike companies challenge as stated by my points above. Hence 27.5"...
www.google.co.uk/search?client=safari&rls=en&q=snapped+link+reign+x&ie=UTF-8&oe=UTF-8&redir_esc=&ei=cjRoUbauJ8ru0gXE4IGYCA
That's like guarantying every str*pper at the club will be hot. Right.
I'd agree with what you said before, I'd be better off with a Faith (or similar) as it's more suitable to my riding. That doesn't make either the Faith or the Glory good or bad, just different.
Btw prices include shipping
Thanks.