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Giant or Pivot

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flag slowmope
Posted: Dec 20, 2021 at 10:57 Quote
Which bike, a Giant Trance X Advanced Pro 1 or a Pivot Switchblade Pro XT/XTR 29? I want something playful, light feeling, nice climber and fun descender. These have been on my list while searching for used bikes and they are both available for sale right now so I need to pick. Giant is such a large brand and I don't know much about Pivot. Any input would be appreciated, thanks!
flag Falcon991
Posted: Dec 22, 2021 at 14:44 Quote
Giant = name says it all. They build a million bikes a year (that is hyperbole, but may actually be true... I don't know for sure. Maybe they actually produce two million....?) Great vanilla brand; the bikes they produce will work well for almost anyone, and they have great reach and store support.

Pivot = sweet, sweet, custom-designed bikes with a very specific reason for being. Small company out of Phoenix, AZ. More expensive. Fewer dealers. Far nicer, in my opinion.

From an actual performance perspective, it may not matter. From the angle of exclusivity and panache, the Pivot wins. If it were my money, I'd be getting the Switchblade. You can "switch" that bike into a 27.5"+ model, if you choose. I bet there are people who have mulletized them, too.
flag taterraider
Posted: Dec 29, 2021 at 0:59 Quote
Falcon991 wrote:
Giant = name says it all. They build a million bikes a year (that is hyperbole, but may actually be true... I don't know for sure. Maybe they actually produce two million....?) Great vanilla brand; the bikes they produce will work well for almost anyone, and they have great reach and store support.

Pivot = sweet, sweet, custom-designed bikes with a very specific reason for being. Small company out of Phoenix, AZ. More expensive. Fewer dealers. Far nicer, in my opinion.

From an actual performance perspective, it may not matter. From the angle of exclusivity and panache, the Pivot wins. If it were my money, I'd be getting the Switchblade. You can "switch" that bike into a 27.5"+ model, if you choose. I bet there are people who have mulletized them, too.

Awesome response. What makes the Pivot far nicer than the Giant?
flag novaterra
Posted: Dec 29, 2021 at 4:02 Quote
taterraider wrote:
Falcon991 wrote:
Giant = name says it all. They build a million bikes a year (that is hyperbole, but may actually be true... I don't know for sure. Maybe they actually produce two million....?) Great vanilla brand; the bikes they produce will work well for almost anyone, and they have great reach and store support.

Pivot = sweet, sweet, custom-designed bikes with a very specific reason for being. Small company out of Phoenix, AZ. More expensive. Fewer dealers. Far nicer, in my opinion.

From an actual performance perspective, it may not matter. From the angle of exclusivity and panache, the Pivot wins. If it were my money, I'd be getting the Switchblade. You can "switch" that bike into a 27.5"+ model, if you choose. I bet there are people who have mulletized them, too.

Awesome response /|\. What makes the Pivot far nicer than the Giant?

Pivot isn't nicer or better, only more expensive.
there is a big chance that giant makes the Pivot frames, as they do for a lot more brands wich sell them for ridiculous prices.
flag Falcon991
Posted: Jan 11, 2022 at 15:14 Quote
novaterra wrote:
taterraider wrote:
Falcon991 wrote:
Giant = name says it all. They build a million bikes a year (that is hyperbole, but may actually be true... I don't know for sure. Maybe they actually produce two million....?) Great vanilla brand; the bikes they produce will work well for almost anyone, and they have great reach and store support.

Pivot = sweet, sweet, custom-designed bikes with a very specific reason for being. Small company out of Phoenix, AZ. More expensive. Fewer dealers. Far nicer, in my opinion.

From an actual performance perspective, it may not matter. From the angle of exclusivity and panache, the Pivot wins. If it were my money, I'd be getting the Switchblade. You can "switch" that bike into a 27.5"+ model, if you choose. I bet there are people who have mulletized them, too.

Awesome response /|\. What makes the Pivot far nicer than the Giant?

Pivot isn't nicer or better, only more expensive.
there is a big chance that giant makes the Pivot frames, as they do for a lot more brands wich sell them for ridiculous prices.

You are, of course correct. In the same way, a BMW isn't nicer or better than a Toyota, either. I think I'd still prefer the BMW. Some would laugh at me for spending more on it. Some would agree that the intangibles are worth more.
flag Kidklayko
Posted: Jan 11, 2022 at 19:18 Quote
Falcon991 wrote:

You are, of course correct. In the same way, a BMW isn't nicer or better than a Toyota, either. I think I'd still prefer the BMW. Some would laugh at me for spending more on it. Some would agree that the intangibles are worth more.

lol
flag Kidklayko
Posted: Jan 11, 2022 at 19:22 Quote
Go with Pivot, hands down. The switchblade pedals so well, the poppiest bike I've ever ridden, it's long enough to be stable but still maintains agility, it's a perfectly balanced bike. I mean just the finish and look of pivot frames...

Giants are loud, heavy, and clunky.

In short if you can afford a Pivot go for it. If you can't afford a Pivot, go for an Alumium Ibis, Can't make the budget for that, go for Polygon.
flag mtbtrekracer
Posted: Jan 11, 2022 at 19:41 Quote
Kidklayko wrote:
Giants are loud, heavy, and clunky.

.

Modern Giant bikes are One of the quietest from factory, They are also not heavy lol, the new trance x 27.5 is sub 32lbs and for a burley bike with big hitting components thats pretty good.

I also wouldnt be buying from a brand who came out an said they changed their suspension for the sake of a water bottle mount.(ive ridden both the old and new firebird and it mind boggles me why they would make the new bike worse in the rear, the firebird used to be soo good)
also, pivot are overpriced, your paying for their race team 100%.

The switchblade is a good bike but for trail its a little on the conservative side as far as Geo goes when comparing similar bikes.

i rode the new TR patrol recently... talk about a do-it-all fun bike. got 2 frames on order
flag Kidklayko
Posted: Jan 11, 2022 at 19:48 Quote
novaterra wrote:

Pivot isn't nicer or better, only more expensive.
there is a big chance that giant makes the Pivot frames, as they do for a lot more brands wich sell them for ridiculous prices.

This is not true, if Pivot had their frames made by Giant they would be a fraction of the cost. Additionally Pivot has admitted multiple times that they make their frames on their own, starting with an aluminum test mule-like bike. Additionally they have the strongest manufacture standards and they make their mules in-house. They also have the highest standards for margin of error in their frames when built and their frames include size-specific tubing for better stiffness per size. They also have a very rigorous test the bikes must go through upon inspection before they are put up to sell. Pivot has the highest standards probably out of any mtb brand for their frames.
flag Kidklayko
Posted: Jan 11, 2022 at 19:50 Quote
mtbtrekracer wrote:
Kidklayko wrote:
Giants are loud, heavy, and clunky.

.

Modern Giant bikes are One of the quietest from factory, They are also not heavy lol, the new trance x 27.5 is sub 32lbs and for a burley bike with big hitting components thats pretty good.

I also wouldnt be buying from a brand who came out an said they changed their suspension for the sake of a water bottle mount.(ive ridden both the old and new firebird and it mind boggles me why they would make the new bike worse in the rear, the firebird used to be soo good)
also, pivot are overpriced, your paying for their race team 100%.

The switchblade is a good bike but for trail its a little on the conservative side as far as Geo goes when comparing similar bikes. What Firebird did you ride, the new pedals better and is softer off the top.

i rode the new TR patrol recently... talk about a do-it-all fun bike. got 2 frames on order

I love how you say the pivot has conservative geo (which I agree with), and then talk about transitions being playful. You are 100% correct, but their geometry would say the exact opposite. The Pivot is more capable then it looks on the charts.
flag mtbtrekracer
Posted: Jan 11, 2022 at 20:19 Quote
Kidklayko wrote:
mtbtrekracer wrote:
Kidklayko wrote:
Giants are loud, heavy, and clunky.

.

Modern Giant bikes are One of the quietest from factory, They are also not heavy lol, the new trance x 27.5 is sub 32lbs and for a burley bike with big hitting components thats pretty good.

I also wouldnt be buying from a brand who came out an said they changed their suspension for the sake of a water bottle mount.(ive ridden both the old and new firebird and it mind boggles me why they would make the new bike worse in the rear, the firebird used to be soo good)
also, pivot are overpriced, your paying for their race team 100%.

The switchblade is a good bike but for trail its a little on the conservative side as far as Geo goes when comparing similar bikes. What Firebird did you ride, the new pedals better and is softer off the top.

i rode the new TR patrol recently... talk about a do-it-all fun bike. got 2 frames on order

I love how you say the pivot has conservative geo (which I agree with), and then talk about transitions being playful. You are 100% correct, but their geometry would say the exact opposite. The Pivot is more capable then it looks on the charts.
as most 29ers are, i didnt say the transition patrol was playful(which it is) but as a perfect bike for do-it-all.
I just dont think Pivot are worth their Tag IMO
flag Kidklayko
Posted: Jan 11, 2022 at 20:23 Quote
Yes but, I don't think slowmope said he is really concerned about the price. I'm comparing these bikes as though price is irrelevant, so I think the Pivot is the best.
flag mtbtrekracer
Posted: Jan 11, 2022 at 20:36 Quote
Kidklayko wrote:
Yes but, I don't think slowmope said he is really concerned about the price. I'm comparing these bikes as though price is irrelevant, so I think the Pivot is the best.

out of those options, for sure the Pivot performance wise will be better.
flag HaggeredShins
Posted: Jan 11, 2022 at 21:48 Quote
Kidklayko wrote:
This is not true, if Pivot had their frames made by Giant they would be a fraction of the cost.

Topic and truth of the claim irrelevant, this is not how the world works. Pivot's frames are (or at least used to be) manufactured by Genio in TW, which mind you then share the floor with some comparatively bargain bucks brands. If its no longer Genio, then its the same arrangement elsewhere.

With name brands you are paying for design, but you're also paying for the logo markup. Some research into open mold frames might be an eye opener on this note. I won't ruin any surprises.
flag Kidklayko
Posted: Jan 11, 2022 at 22:09 Quote
I know bro, I must not have made it clear enough that I was being facetious and making a joke, since Giant is known to produce very cheap frames and pivot vice versa. lol

In all seriousness I have researched this topic and found that Pivot has some of the highest standards in the industry for quality control. Additionally they also test their frames rigorously and have size specific tubing to achieve the best stiffness for each rider.
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