First Ride: 2019 Giant Trance 29

Aug 6, 2018
by Daniel Sapp  

Giant Italy 2018 Trance Launch
FIRST RIDE
2019 Giant Trance 29
WORDS: Daniel Sapp
PHOTOS: Sterling Lorence



The Trance is a mainstay in Giant's line as their best-selling mountain bike. The trail rig is now in its seventh generation, and for 2019 the Trance gets 29" wheels, modernized geometry, a composite rocker link and a trunnion mounted shock. The bike uses Giant's Maestro suspension platform to deliver 115mm of travel.

Giant's goal with the new Trance, according to MTB Category manager Kevin Dana, was to "create a bike that is fun and accessible for everyday trail riding that could handle rough, steep, fast and gnarly trails while still being able to climb well. Basically, we just wanted to make an awesome mountain bike." For those riders who are sold on
Giant Trance 29 Details
• Intended use: XC trail
• Wheel size: 29"
• Rear wheel travel: 115mm
• Boost 12x148
• 1x specific
• Carbon frame (aluminum build options)
• Size: S - XL
• Weight: 26.9 lbs (12.2 kg) Advanced 0 build, size XL, no pedals
• Price: $3,050 - 8,300 USD
• www.giant-bicycles.com
Giant's current 27.5" wheeled Trance, fear not - that bike, now in its third year of the current design, will continue to be in Giant's line for the foreseeable future. The new 29er Trance isn't meant to replace the 27.5" bike but rather, complement it, and offer another option for riders.


Giant Italy 2018 Trance Launch


The last 29" wheeled Trance was the Trance X, which saw its debut about five years ago. Since then, a lot has happened with mountain bike technology and everything has progressed substantially since then. Why the long hiatus from having a 29er trail bike? The team at Giant say that it wasn't a matter of them not wanting to bring a modern 29er into the mix before now, it was that they were limited by the available technology and couldn't create a bike that performed up to the standard they wanted. With reduced fork offsets and other advances in suspension and design, they now feel confident that they have developed their version of an "ultimate trail bike".

bigquotesWe really started with fun in the development of the bike. As silly as it sounds, we just wanted to make the bike fun."—Kevin Dana


Giant Italy 2018 Trance Launch
Giant Italy 2018 Trance Launch


Frame Details

1x drivetrain: The new Trance is designed as a 1x only bike. Giant's development team feel it is the best option for the bike and what the vast majority of riders are using. Also, by eliminating the front derailleur, they were able to free up space in the rear end to increase tire clearance and let the geometry and suspension work exactly how they wanted, without restrictions.

Carbon upper link: The Trance's new carbon upper link for the Maestro suspension platform saves significant weight over previous alloy versions. It's also said to be stiffer and stronger.

Giant Italy 2018 Trance Launch
Giant Italy 2018 Trance Launch


Modern Geometry: Giant claim the Trance 29's on-trail prowess is dues in large part to its geometry. With 115mm of rear wheel travel paired with a 130mm fork, the bike has a 66.5-degree head angle, 74.5-degree seat angle, 435mm chainstays, and a reach of 442mm (size medium); the bike has angles that more closely resemble many longer travel bikes than what 115mm travel bikes have been known for.

DVO Suspension: In addition to its geometry, the suspension on the Trance 29 is another piece of the picture that makes the bike do what it does. Giant have partnered with DVO Suspension on some of their race teams and have brought that relationship into the development of the new bike.

Giant TRX Wheels: Giant have re-worked their off-road wheel line for 2019. The TRX wheels found on the Trance 29 have a 30mm inner width, 28 spokes laced to DT Swiss 240 hubs, and weigh 1662g. They're said to have improved impact resistance over Giant's previous carbon mountain wheels and have a two-year warranty.




Giant Italy 2018 Trance Launch


Giant Italy 2018 Trance Launch
Giant Italy 2018 Trance Launch


Frame Options / Build Kits

The Trance 29 is available in five different build kit options. The Trance Advanced Pro 29 2 is $4,300 USD and features a composite front and rear triangle. It has a Fox 34 Rythm fork, Float DPS shock, SRAM NX Eagle 1x12 drivetrain, Guide T brakes, 780mm x 35mm handlebars, Giant dropper post, and Giant's new TRX 1 carbon wheels.

The top of the line Trance Advanced Pro 29 0 comes with a DVO Sapphire D1 34mm fork, DVO Topaz 2 shock, SRAM X01 Eagle drivetrain, Guide RSC brakes, an 800mm x 35mm TruVativ Descendant carbon handlebar, and Giant's TRX 0 carbon wheels and sells for $8,300 USD.

There are also two build options with aluminum frames, the Trance 29 1 and Trance 29 2. The Trance 29 1 has a Fox 34 Float Performance Elite fork, Float Performance Elite Shock, SRAM GX Eagle drivetrain, Guide R brakes and Giant TRX 1 carbon wheels. The Trance 29 2 shares the spec of the Advanced Pro 2 but with aluminum wheels. It sells for $3,050 USD.

The Trance 29 is also available as a frame only for $2,800 USD.




Suspension
bigquotesThe relationship with Giant and DVO isn’t such that we’re just buying forks and shocks, putting a decal on it, a spacer in, and calling it good...we’re engineering suspension to work with the bike.—Bryson Martin Sr

The new Trance 29's suspension relies heavily on a partnership between Giant and DVO. From the new 34mm, 44-degree reduced offset Sapphire fork to the new Topaz 2, the suspension on the Trance was engineered specifically for the Trance to help the front and rear end of the bike work in unison. Throughout the development process of the Topaz 2, there were over 100 different variations and tunes. The Sapphire now has 34mm stanchions, new damping, and a new air spring profile. According to Bryson Sr, getting a big bike feel out of a shorter travel bike places extreme demands on the suspension and small changes that may be unnoticed on a longer travel bike make a bigger difference.

Although the DVO suspension is only found on the higher end Trance 29 bikes, that doesn't mean that the rest of the line gets the shaft. Giant carried what they learned in the development process over to the suspension they engineered with Fox and spent a considerable amount of time testing and developing with Fox as well in order to ensure that all riders, whether they purchase the entry-level aluminum Trance or the top of the line model can have the same quality of ride. Those that want to have the best of the best, with the most tuning options, can opt for the DVO-equipped bike. The DVO bikes also have a lighter shock tune on the small sizes.

The rear suspension of the Trance 29 uses Giant's Maestro system and a trunnion mount shock with a low leverage ratio. The Maestro system does a good job of isolating pedaling forces as well as preventing brake jack. Dana says, "In working with shorter shaft length shocks, keeping the air pressures down helps the shock perform better and it's also easier to tune the compression and rebound. The suspension is more effective." While the leverage ratio is low and the shock is mellow and linear throughout its stroke, it's well supported in the mid-part of the travel and it does ramp at the end in order to avoid a harsh bottom out. Giant recommend running the shock with about 11mm or 30% sag.

The fork on the Trance is not off the shelf. Whether the bike is spec'd with the new 34mm DVO Sapphire - created in part for the Trance 29, or a Fox 34 - depending on what model you're looking at, the fork has 130mm of travel. It also has a 44-degree offset. Giant worked with DVO in this project as well, creating forks at different travels with different offsets and then taking the bike to the trail to see how the set up performed. It was determined that a 130mm travel, 44-degree offset fork was ideal.



Giant Italy 2018 Trance Launch
First Ride


Riding a new bike in completely unfamiliar terrain on minimal sleep after spending nearly 24 hours traveling doesn't seem like the best way to test its capabilities, but could it be? This is a conundrum that I have had lately, just about every other week. While there's certainly no substitute for getting a bike out on familiar trails or my go-to test loop, if I can be comfortable on something new, somewhere I've never ridden, that speaks volumes for the bike.

Santa Caterina, Italy is a bit of a paradise for remote and rugged trail riding. There are no "new school" flow lines, just amazing and rugged backcountry trail. There's everything from a lift accessed "bike park" (I use the term loosely) trail to high alpine glacier fields laced with techy singletrack and pristine hiking trails. The area is just starting to get more "riding" trails built at the resort, and there is a strong local community pushing the scene, but Santa Caterina's trails are best accessed by either pedaling for hours or shuttling up rugged mountain roads in Land Rover Defender 110s pushed to their limits.

PC Mangler
Daniel Sapp
Location: Brevard, NC, USA
Age: 31
Height: 5'10"
Weight: 152 lbs
Industry affiliations / sponsors: None
Instagram: @d_sapp1

Giant Italy 2018 Trance 29 Launch


Climbing: Using shuttles and the local ski lift to access world-class backcountry riding - with almost as much "bike-over-the-shoulders" hiking as steep punchy uphills didn't lend to an extended amount of time to get a great feel for the Trance's climbing prowess. However, I snuck away at the top of one shuttle and climbed an extra 1,000 or so feet up the famous Gavia pass - if you follow road riding, you may know what I'm talking about, and if you don't, just know that the views are amazing and the trails off the side are without a doubt where you want to find yourself on the way back down.

With the DVO Topaz shock fully open, the Trance pedals exceptionally well. You can feel some motion, but everything is well supported and I didn't find much pedal induced bob or loss of energy happening. The shock's low leverage and linear feel were apparent but not in a way that sacrificed pedalability. On flatter rough terrain, the bike was easy to maneuver. It didn't sink or bog down and the suspension seemed to help keep traction when going uphill and in rolling terrain.


Giant Italy 2018 Trance Launch


Descending If I didn't know that the Trance 29 was a 115mm bike, I would have guessed it was more in the neighborhood of 130-140mm. It manages the suspension it has incredibly well. In addition to the portages, sketchy lines, and trails that weren't built for mountain bikes, we also had some great fresh trail, high-speed descents, steeps, roots, wet rocks, and tight switchbacks that were closer to what most people ride on a more regular basis.

On steep terrain, the bike was very comfortable, easy to steer, predictable, and the suspension never felt overwhelmed. I think that the shorter travel made the bike easier to maneuver and finesse into and out of situations that a longer travel bike would feel bogged down in. It soaked up larger hits, and while it is evident that you don't have 140-150mm of travel, it's not in an uncomfortable way and was stable and balanced.

On higher speed sections of trail, the bike felt very smooth and the suspension felt active. It has a lot of small bump sensitivity, yet when it came to managing larger sections of chunder at speed it kept its composure. The 800mm wide bars, Minion DHF/DHR tire combo mounted on wide rims, and brakes that are up to the task of stopping the bike made me forget at times that the Trance 29 is a shorter travel trail bike than I typically would have chosen.


First Impressions:

Forget about the Trance 29 for a moment and think about choosing the appropriate bike for the place you're going to be riding. If I was traveling to Santa Caterina and needed to choose a bike to bring, I would have chosen a 140-150mm all mountain bike, with little debate. Even if I'd seen the Trance 29's spec and geometry ahead of time I'm not sure it's a bike I would have picked for the trails we rode...

But that's why it's best to actually ride a bike before writing it off based solely on its numbers, and I can attest to the Trance 29 being a very versatile and capable bike, one that I would choose for riding in a large variety of locations on diverse terrain. It was a complete afterthought that the Trance had just 115mm of travel. It's nimble, quick, and yes, fun.

A couple days of riding is never enough to form a full opinion of a new bike, so there's a Trance 29 on the way for a long term review. I'm looking forward to getting it out on some familiar terrain to really put it to the test, so look for some updated thoughts once that happens.


Giant Italy 2018 Trance 29 Launch




Posted In:
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256 Comments

  • 168 20
 Anyone else remember all the 27.5 Propaganda they released bashing on 29 in 2015. "Tire weight is worse!" "angle of attack 4' vs 6'"
  • 36 9
 Never forget! What a joke!
  • 44 14
 Almost as comical as when Specialized bashed 27.5". Don't you love it when companies put their over-confident feet in their mouths?
  • 27 5
 The video of the Giant goon saying 29" is dead etc has mysteriously disappeared from YT. But here's a bit of classic anti-29" propaganda from Giant from a few years back m.youtube.com/watch?v=uI6LmGkuyKY
  • 17 5
 Yeah for sure. I remember talking to someone at Pinkbike about this and wondered what were they thinking. They pretty much eliminated all their 29" bikes and implied 29ers are dead. Time to eat some crow @GiantBicycleGlobal @GiantBicycle @giantbicycles
  • 38 0
 @kwapik: to be fair, the had a full range of 29er bikes in 2013 and in 2013, they didn't do well. In 2014 they swapped everything over to 27.5 and it did way better because the bike rode better in general. The 2013 anthem and trance 29 were ok but fork and tire options were terrible and the angles/Geo were o.k. but not great.

There are lots of tire/rim and suspension options out now that cater to 29 and it makes more sense now.

It's just too bad about their marketing angle. Nothing to do with the product.
  • 22 2
 And since they didn't learn from (or didn't mind) looking like idiots, they're now talking about how this brand new concept is only possible due to the newest technology, bla bla bla. Because nobody could make a 29er that rips until now. We all just imagined the Process 111, the Smuggler, the Following, etc.

Giant's attempt at a29er trail bike sucked - I had a Trance X 29er, and man, going to a Process 111 was a big step up. Those bikes overlapped in the market by a bit. So when Giant abandoned 29ers because they wanted to standardize on 27.5, it was clear to everyone they were full of shit. The problem wasn't that short/mid travel 29ers necessarily sucked - it's that Giant seemed unable to make one that worked. Whether that's because of their suspension platform, or some other issue - fact is, others did it, and their response was a bunch of marketing BS. Color me unimpressed by them now telling us that two whole generations of ripping short travel aggressive 29ers only happened in our imagination...
  • 30 6
 @makripper: Here's the utter turd that was the Trance 29". Just look at it! www.giant-bicycles.com/us/trance-x-29er-0-2013

The was when the Stumpjumper Evo 29 was around BTW. Giant made excuses for shit bikes then and they're doing the same now. "Oh we couldn't build a fun 29" without short offset". What a load of crap. Go ride a Evil Following, Stumpy, Fuel EX etc with 51mm offset and tell me they aren't fun.
  • 73 5
 Anyone remember what happened on this site when 29er were mentioned until 2016? Guess who are the biggest fools?
  • 7 2
 @jclnv: "Utter turd" is a gross understatement. Yikes.
  • 32 5
 @RedRedRe: First of all, this site is basically an advertising site for the industry. Yea, I know its free, but it is what it is, and the Pinkbike guys do need to make a living, but don't take everything here as gospel. Reviews are performed on whoever sends a bike, and then buys an advertising spot, and all of us readers eat what we get fed. A few years ago, 29" sucked, 27.5" was the future, now 27.5" sucks. Last year plus-sized bikes were the future, now crickets chirping (good hedge by the industry though, making them 29" compatible). Wonder what will be hot next year when they run out of wheel sizes to pimp, although 26-plus hasn't really had its full 15 minutes yet.
  • 32 7
 Boo hoo they said they didn't like 29ers before but they're making one now and I just feel so offended that they don't stick by their words and never make a 29er.
  • 7 0
 marketing is certainly not a practice in loyalty. Especially to wheel sizes
  • 8 0
 Oh man hit that nail on the head. @RedRedRe:
  • 11 1
 Wow @jclnv - that bike looks like it ran head-on into a wall
  • 13 0
 For you we have the 27.5 Niner.
  • 1 2
 Angle of attack that is different now because of fork offset. Maybe.
  • 4 1
 @jclnv: Ha! I was hoping someone would bring up the awful Trance X29.. It's pretty much the current one, except after being involved in a head on collision with a brick wall.

I'm not surprised it's taken them this long to make another, given how bad the first one was.
  • 12 1
 This was on Pinkbike.... Giant has always had several 29ers since. Anthem, XTC, Talon, Fathom, and ToughRoad. It also say below that they would make more 29ers if the market wanted them. Well..?


"So, there are no 29er XC racing bikes for 2014?

· Anthem X 29er, XtC Advanced 29er and XtC Composite 29er will still be offered.

Will Giant follow this path throughout its DH range next year?

· Can’t answer that question directly, but you can imagine that if we believe so strongly in 27.5 for the majority of our range in 2014, you can guess what might happen in our future…

Can we expect to see 29 and 26-inch wheels eventually disappear in Giant's consumer-priced bikes in the near future?

· 26-inch for sure, but 29-inch will be dependent on market feedback. That said, if the market progresses the way we believe it will, 29-inch will be phased out in approximately two years....again, totally dependent on market feedback."
  • 1 0
 @jclnv: yeah I demod that and the anthem x 29. I actually preferred the anthems feel and angles although definitely not a fan of either haha
  • 2 0
 @jclnv: www.giant-bicycles.com/au/anthem-x-29er-0-2013 71 head angle that felt like a 68 because of wheel size and fork offset. Glad they learned!
  • 1 2
 Haha yeah giant quit making 29ers and tried pushing 275 hahaha silly giant, I knew they would give in
  • 1 0
 @dirtworks911: almost but not as dumb
  • 5 3
 www.giant-bicycles.com/int/technology/detail/94

here's the link to the fateful Giant Press Release saying how much better 27.5 is!
But the gripe I have most, is that the top spec is priced at $8300USD, for DVO, X01 Eagle, RS Reverb and Giant Composite wheels (the crackers).
First Giant I've ever seen miss the pricing mark by such a margin!
  • 1 1
 @jclnv: This exactly!
  • 13 1
 @dirtworks911:
Specialized hasn't changed its 'mind'.
They said point-blank that they're simply making 27.5's to meet customer demand, but they feel(know) that 29" is the better wheel size
  • 4 0
 The "other" MTB site has a more in depth interview with Giant as to why they did what they did if you are interested.
  • 17 2
 @DH-Angel: Ya, sure looks like Kirt Voreis is having one hell of a hard time jumping and doing other crazy shit on his 29er! Same with Kendall-Weed!
  • 6 2
 @DH-Angel: you don’t know shit. Unsubscibe.
  • 1 0
 double post
  • 8 0
 @RedRedRe: exactly!! Mention 29ers at all and the crowd here would nail you to the wall!! So it's pretty rich to hear people complaining about it now.
  • 5 0
 to be completely fair even bmc told people 29er was better and faster and people screamed for 27.5 anyways so when specialized bashed on 27.5 and made it anyways they were meeting a market demand and pointing out the platform flaws in the same instance. which isnt hypocritical at all really.
  • 1 2
 "Uh I think 27.5 is gonna be the end all wheel size"
www.youtube.com/watch?v=uI6LmGkuyKY
  • 1 0
 @jclnv: Those bikes will all be on reduced offset within the next 2 years, it's the direction that nearly every company is going. It doesn't mean the standard offset forks aren't fun, it just means it's the next generation of what geo is going to be and it's what works best with the rest of the bike's geometry.
  • 2 0
 @g-42: the 111 is the most underrated bike made since 29ers came out. Still one of the most fun bikes I’ve ever rode.
  • 1 2
 You mean this one:

www.giant-bicycles.com/int/technology/detail/94

and this one:

www.slideshare.net/Carlosdef/275-46187052
  • 2 1
 @gabbatron: it's been 5 years. Tech has changed alot
  • 2 1
 So as usual, are they going to paint their lower end models like it's ready for McDonald HappyMeal?
  • 1 0
 @jclnv: AKA Operation Ox Wagon
  • 7 1
 We are all fashion victims of this industry, it is out of choice, we can hold back and wait to see the main stream bike type evolving and take a decision only after every one said there last word, but this isn't fun. we have to try and talk crap.
we love the sport we like to ride and have fun out in the bush.
we all have our favorite make / brand of bike, tiers, grips...
we had fun on 26" on 27.5 (we still do, funny but most EWS racers still use it and many normal riders too) and we have fun on 29ers
to put toxic words for evolution of products its a waist of riding time.

And no we don't have shares in the bike brands we like or ride.
Giant has made many legendary models and few shity models too, as any other brand. this is the way technology developing.

Go out and ride
  • 2 0
 @shinook: Even tho it's negligible at best after riding bike to back.
  • 1 0
 @chyu: of course! That'll force the uber picky to step their game up to next level models..
  • 2 0
 Much worse would be if they never change their bikes! All of us say a lot of things, like the bike companies, means that they are made by persons like us. People who like to progress and ride bikes. Amdrola to this Trance 29! Dream Bike.
  • 2 0
 @Clarkeh: Not the first bike company to reverse their stance on 29 inch wheels, I believe Yeti called them circus wheels a couple years back and said they weren’t going that route.
  • 1 0
 @jclnv: Haha! I had that bike, rode it happily for 3 years and put a few thousand miles on it. I came from a 26" Stumpjumper, so it was a totally different experience. Looking back, it had some pretty big flaws, but fairly light for a metal bike, reliable and a decent value.
  • 1 0
 @jclnv: ugh what an utter nightmare.
  • 2 1
 @dirtworks911: I don't see the point of 27.5 inch wheels in this day and age. It's obvious that 29ers are faster, and in my experience 27.5 just rides like a sluggish 26. Why not offer 29ers for racing and 26ers for people who want something maneuverable or are perhaps a bit shorter?
  • 2 1
 Giant foot choking
  • 1 0
 I can't wait for Giant to release the Glory 29. It'll either have like 140mm of rear travel and 15.9" CS or 190-200mm travel and 19+" CS

Giant: "We built the bike around suspension kinematics and geo rather than travel. Blah blah blah..."

I'll still buy their road bikes even with OD2.

Remember the OD2 "take-over" on the MTN bike side of things?
  • 37 1
 The 27.5 press release in all its glory. They were all in a trance about 27.5 and thought it would reign forever. 27.5 is better became their anthem.

m.pinkbike.com/news/650B-For-All-Giants-Elite-Level-Mountain-Bikes.html

Writing this was pure xtc....
  • 20 1
 @KiwiXC - that was some highly Advanced snark on your part, Giant props to ya. Way to take a Stance on stuff. Way to Revel in the Glory and not let it slip through your Talons!

Sorry, couldn't help myself Wink
  • 7 1
 That is actually a good read, I think the marketing line that 27.5 is a happy medium and best for your average Joe rider is based on a lot of fact. Can't blame Giant though for jumping on the current 29er bandwagon. Just hope there are lots of 27.5 options to choose from when my current ride kicks the bucket.
  • 7 1
 The best bit of that whole article is the top comment. lol
  • 2 1
 And the top comments vehemently defending 26ers...LUL
  • 3 0
 Just seen a pic of the Trance X 29er from 2013. The thing is lopsided. They reversed the geo - super slack seat angle and steep HTA. What an awful looking bike it was.
  • 36 5
 I'm glad DVO is finding some factory support. I've been very happy on their products. The rest of the bike though, meh.
  • 6 11
flag tgent (Aug 6, 2018 at 14:02) (Below Threshold)
 I love DVO but find Giant to be a bit meh.
  • 10 0
 Hey if the production model has no annoying graphics or logo's they will set an industry first.
  • 6 0
 DVO Diamond, best damned fork I have ever ridden ... yes I am a DVO fan boy now!
  • 1 2
 The one bike where the stealth and little bit of green ano from DVO would look perfect, Giant makes it all blue. I get it at the WC level but the blue fork ruins the stealth look of this bike.
  • 2 1
 Seriously though if they want to make their stuff marketable they need to ditch the neon power-ranger colors
  • 1 0
 @fecalmaster: Production team still enjoying their beer. Wait til they ask you to hold their beer.
  • 1 0
 @chyu: Right,, wait till they are wearing the beer and mug over their head hahahahha.
  • 35 6
 got my hopes up when its called trance 29, kind of seems more like a anthem 29
  • 7 3
 There's already an Anthem 29 though isn't there!
  • 6 0
 At least they got the matte black color right.
  • 8 1
 newest trend. like a following, SB 4.5, django etc. short travel 29 rippers with longer travel geo.
  • 3 2
 @SnowshoeRider4Life: Newest? That was available in the form of a Process 111 (OK, slightly steeper HTA - but not the way most people rode them with the jacked up Pike at 140mm) when they were still selling the Trance X 29er.
  • 4 1
 @g-42: wow, takes everything super literal. yea in the grand scheme of "bike ideas" it is newer. not every manufacturer offers one, or has it really taken off. kona stopped the 111 and unveiled the satori (i think thats it). Other than e-bikes, there really hasn't been a new trend of bike types.
  • 1 0
 @SnowshoeRider4Life: country bikes boys
  • 25 0
 In over 25 years of mountain biking, the biggest thing I’ve learned beyond how to ride a bike is how trend driven the scene truly is. It’s the same in most of these sports vying for our discretionary funds. And then the market blames the companies for forcing new tech on us that we don’t need when our trend breeze blows in a different direction. 1000 bottom bracket standards is industry BS trying to tell us how something that is cheaper and easier for THEM to manufacturer is somehow better for us. LONGER, SLACKER, MORE TRAVEL TILL THE END OF THE WORLD!!! is us pushing our desires on the industry, BIG WHEELS, but not that big... ok NOW THAT BIG!! Is us pushing our desires on the industry. It is these desires pushed on the industry that has brought us to the point where we all feel like we need a damn “quiver” of bikes to be able to properly go out and ride our damn bikes. Reading these comments, you would think everybody should just be riding a 29 inch downhill bike in XXL down their local XC trails. Good luck.

This bike actually looks like a well thought out mountain bike that you could bring to 90% of the trails you ride and have fun. Shame on Giant for making something that isn’t pigeonholed into PinkBike commenter’s “need” for (insert whatever geo degree or travel number or cutely color matched whatever here).
  • 12 0
 Before long, people are going to realize that the general geometry changes of modern enduro bikes is what makes them so much fun out on the trails, not the travel, and that half a degree here or there is not going to cause the trail to spontaneously combust in front of them. They may also realize that less can mean more when it comes to travel and rider input actually making it to the wheels. Giant seems to have nailed what actually makes for a good mountain bike, not just a good one trick pony that sacrifices much for little.
  • 6 0
 And the momentum of this “29er OR BUST!!!” shift in public opinion has to be one of the least self-aware about-faces I have seen in all my years of riding.
  • 21 0
 Pretty cool looking bike. It's a Giant so it seems hard to get too excited about it, because its like a "Chevy" but everything looks great by the #'s. Good price, good specs, good geo, good job! I'd really like to demo one in the coming months if they show up somewhere.
  • 2 0
 more like a Subaru Outback vs an Audi
  • 17 1
 Giant said this and talked that, who gives a shit you all sound like pissy school girls. Hate to break it to ya but they still sold more bikes in those couple years then any other brand and they are still the leaders in mtb sales so how do you like tgem apples.
  • 15 0
 @danielsapp "Riding a new bike in completely unfamiliar terrain on minimal sleep after spending nearly 24 hours traveling doesn't seem like the best way to test its capabilities, but could it be? This is a conundrum that I have had lately, just about every other week" - If this ever gets old for u I'll gladly be a substitute for a trip to northern Italy. I'll even test a fat bike and I hate those things
  • 12 0
 There seems to be a whole lot of “You weren’t fast enough to jump on our trend bandwagon!” going on here. Pretty amusing to watch a bunch of people who wouldn’t ride a 29er until Greg Minnaar did freak out about a company hedging their bets until the schizophrenic market figured out just what wheel size they were cool with. Also amusing to watch a bunch of people complain about any bike that isn’t 160mm of travel for their jump line flow track tastes. Modern trails seem to get smoother and smoother while everyone cries for MORE TRAVEL!!! Has anyone jumped on a modern mid travel bike lately? More fun than a 30lb monster truck that puts novocaine on any rock or root in your path. I, for one, enjoy picking lines and having to move the bike underneath me more than simply brapping through rock gardens. I also like when I push into a bike and it pushes back.
  • 17 3
 For people who want a Smuggler, but don't have a Transition dealer nearby....
  • 9 3
 Not even close
  • 5 3
 I know you're making a joke, but if your local shop is flexible, have them talk to the sales guys at transition. if there aren't any local transition shops, they may be willing to do a one-off order in order to maybe get their foot through the door. the shop gets the margin, so win-win
  • 17 6
 I've come to the conclusion that there's people who love Giant and people who hate them.

Another boring Giant that takes steps in the right direction, but stops short...to ensure they're not too edgy. Maybe my mom will like it.

Guess what camp I'm in???
  • 14 0
 Niner camp riding their new 27.5 bike
  • 19 2
 Hmm let's go with sad-wannabe-bike-snob camp?
  • 2 4
 @BorisBC35: maybe...but there’s about 100 other people making the same general comment. But tell me, aside for the DVO (on the $8500 model), what on this bike shouts “innovation?” Does this bike do anything at least 10 other mfgs have been dining for years....and better?

The largest (and probably most advanced) frame mfg company should be able to do better than make a poor imitation of another brand’s bike.
  • 10 0
 @smartyiak: My 2014 aluminum trance is insanely light because their frame manufacturing techniques are best in class. So if you wanted to buy something in this class with a similar suspension layout why wouldn't you buy it from Giant? Most people are not looking for niche products. They just want to go ride bikes.
  • 3 0
 @friendlyfoe: Totally agree, I had a 2014 Trance too. Crazy light, and also really tidy joins. Had 2 separate people assume it was the carbon model.

Lots of other much more expensive brands look like they were welded together by a drunk horse in a garage by comparison.
  • 7 0
 @smartyiak: Giant isn't the brand you look for if you want a bike that's pushing "innovation", they sit back, watch what the market is doing, develop bikes that work well for reasonable prices and sell a shit ton of them.

Small boutique brands will always be the ones pushing limits and trying new things, some will work, lots will fail. brands like giant cant afford to try out new unproven tech when they sell more bikes than all the small brands combined. a lot of people (myself included) dont necessarily want a bike with a 50 degree head angle and 3 meters of reach, we just want a solid bike that's fun.
  • 5 0
 @arrowheadrush: Except for one of the 1st carbon frame companies, compact road bikes, integrated seatpost road bikes, tapered steertubes and 15mm qr on 29ers, Maestro, the reign was the 1st mass produced long low slack bike on the market, and many others.
  • 11 0
 I got a chance to ride the Trance 2 Aluminum model last month at a dealer meeting and I for one love it. Most of the population does not live amongst the mountains or bike parks that justify a 150-170mm bike everyday. This is the perfect all-round "just mountain biking" or trail bike for most of the U.S.. It will be perfect for the Midwest and South as an everyday bike.
  • 3 21
flag BrianRichards (Aug 6, 2018 at 15:45) (Below Threshold)
 hen i demoed a trance 2018, i found it to be horrible and i dented the rim really bad when running high pressures
  • 19 0
 @BrianRichards: maybe you're a hack...
  • 2 4
 Maybe more of the population should move closer to the mountains! Actually even where I am in Penticton BC the local XC mountain that only has blue/green trails sees inordinately more traffic than the area with slightly harder to access but incredibly well built black trails. Giant will probably sell a lot of these, they just wont be selling one to me! haha
  • 8 0
 Yeah, by the comments here it looks like a lot of the respondents are not thinking about the big picture. Giant can now offer a bike with the specs they want at a price point which will sell to the majority of people out there. The people hucking themselves off cliffs, refining their whip, and doing double blacks are not the majority of riders and don't represent the biggest profits for the largest bike manufacturer in the world.
  • 15 0
 Rented a new ali Trance 2 for a day in the Italian mountains. Extremely rough natural rocky and steep in places, bike felt composed and stable and I just geled with it straight away. It wasn't mega poppy and playful but it was very good and didn't feel out of it's depth. Climbed well too.

Feel that Giant get a unjustified hard time on here. Well made, light, fairly simple bikes at a decent price. Isn't that what many PB commenters are asking for after the latest review of a £6000 super bike?
  • 2 10
flag opignonlibre (Aug 6, 2018 at 23:50) (Below Threshold)
 If you are not riding in the mountain you are not "mountain biking".
  • 3 0
 @opignonlibre: VTT then.
  • 13 0
 ...but can it backpedal?
  • 7 1
 It seems like a company that takes measured steps towards evolution just gets slammed on here. I imagine half of the people freaking out about “Not soon enough!” and “But you said 29ers sucked, Giant!” were probably saying the same damn thing a couple of years ago. Not every company is cool with going whichever way the PinkBike comment section breeze blows, especially when they are going to back every frame with a lifetime warranty. They probably made the bike you are riding, they make most of them, and yet they get nothing but grief. Giant is easily one of the better companies out there for price for spec, and backing their products. They’re business model doesn’t allow them to simply make a bike for every whim of the market.
  • 2 3
 To be fair Giant did take an absolute hard line stance on the 27.5 vs 29 debate and flat out said 27.5 was the better product and that it would be their sole focus. They deserve the flack, and then after that everyone can just get on with their lives.
  • 6 0
 By my guess, almost everyone on here has said that either 26 or 27.5 was better than 29 at some point or another. So I just don’t get who deserves to give that flack.
  • 8 0
 44-degree offset - mentioned several times.

Does anyone proof read around here?
  • 12 8
 dose anyone still remeber when they kinda f...ed us and they said 29 suck,and showed us graphs and "sience" why they suck and we had to wait for 4 more years(or ride the specializzed enduro) till the geo of all the other 29er got back up to speed because 27.5 was the shizzel back then ........cool locking bike but f........ because of shit like this, we´r all not riding yet starwars speeder. Smile ·#letsthinkbignot27.5cusiskindalikea26
  • 5 1
 "us" lol
  • 21 1
 I remember when 99% of Pinkbikers said 29ers suck and were in full revolt.
  • 4 0
 Why the long hiatus from having a 29er trail bike? The team at Giant say that it wasn't a matter of them not wanting to bring a modern 29er into the mix before now, it was that they were limited by the available technology and couldn't create a bike that performed up to the standard they wanted.

Everyone else seems to have done just fine...
  • 2 0
 marketing bs...
  • 6 0
 So, they went and made an XL 29er that’s too small for XL riders?! Giant, you should know better - your road bikes fit all but the tallest riders.
  • 2 0
 Exactly, except they should have made XXL size too with 500+mm reach. So silly as I would have only steepen SA and lenghten CS if I was designing my own personal whip. But there is still Starling and Robot, both cheaper than this DVO version...
  • 1 0
 @AspidMan: I'm really confused about the XL size. I'm tall 6.2 and feel perfect on the Following MB that is shorter than this Trance. And you say that's too small. Why?
  • 2 0
 @GaelP: Don't be, it's Giant's fault. Reach increments between sizes are 16-20-18mm only. To me it doesn't sound like enough or there should have been XXL size for lads above 6.4 tall. I'm 6.55 and I feel comfortably in bike with 510mm reach and beyond. Actually by my basic calculations if I want bike with 76° seat angle and 45mm stem I can go to 535mm reach! That's what Nicolai thinks is right for example.
  • 4 0
 Good on Giant for taking another look at making a fun bike. The market swings, and now it's in the 29" short travel bike with AM geo. Awesome, they are a freaking blast. I'm on a Devinci Marshall, which has almost the exact same specs as this bike, but weighs a fair bit more. They are a hoot to ride, and with forgiving geo, they can really surprise you with how well they rally.
  • 5 0
 That's a great looking bike, and pretty cool to see Giant push some new tech in to it.

Mostly though, I'm excited to see a Sapphire 34 in the wild. Will the fork get a full stand alone review?
  • 5 0
 Not the bike for me, but the alloy model with fox shox and gx for $3k would be a nice upgrade to my wifes trance x in a couple years. These are solid bikes for trail riding.
  • 3 0
 Everyone Is hating Giant for their marketing or writing off 29ers. It's obvious they had to jump back into the 29er market. My concern...a 29er Trance with good reach and HT angle with 115 rear end??? On a Trance??? Huge fail. Whats next? 2020 Reign 29er with 130 rear travel???
  • 3 0
 i thought the exact same thing when our rep told us about this bike, but i rode it today and was pleasantly surprised. nonetheless, they kinda missed they mark - it would be more well-received with more travel.
  • 5 0
 It's a beautiful bike, and no doubt good quality. Pretty decent price for the pimped-out version, vis-a-vis Spec or Trek. Good lines too, like stealthy.
  • 4 1
 The team at Giant say that it wasn't a matter of them not wanting to bring a modern 29er into the mix before now, it was that they were limited by the available technology and couldn't create a bike that performed up to the standard they wanted.

What was this technological breakthrough that finally allowed them to manufacture this pinnacle of 29" bike design?
  • 1 0
 Evil managed it 5 years ago with the Following, so...
  • 9 0
 @jadias: Evil makes super fun bikes, and are a cool company... that has already gone out of business once, has a ridiculous amount of hardware in their linkage (that constantly loosens up), and have a whopping 3 year frame warranty. Don't get me wrong, I would gladly consider an Evil for my next bike, but would probably go with someone more established and with a better warranty policy.

These smaller companies come and go while Giant remains the largest bike manufacturer on the planet. Most companies would kill an intern to have the kind of numbers Giant enjoys. They also don't make anything they won't stand behind for a decade or more, so yes, technology plays a part in making a bike you are happy with that you will also back for life. Trunnion mount shocks, carbon layup, forged carbon rockers, weight to strength ratios that make it worth it for them and us to make and ride.

I imagine Giant sits back and watches all of the companies that build bikes in Giant's factories and lets them make their mistakes and waste their money and time on chasing trends, and NOW they are ready to put out a bike like this.
  • 7 0
 @jadias: Giant does all of this WHILE remaining one of the most competitively priced companies on the market. Basically only getting beaten out by direct-to-consumer only companies that basically leave their customers to the wolves with no dealer support.
  • 3 0
 @Garrathustra: I think it's worth a mention that Giant also does some of the lightest aluminium frames. I have a '14 Trance 2 and with a budget build and zero carbon,it's just a hair above 13kg/28.6lbs.
  • 5 0
 Geometry has been added to the database... Smile
geometrygeeks.bike/bike/giant-trance-advanced-pro-29-2019
  • 1 0
 Seat tube length is incorrect on L and XL sizes...
  • 2 0
 @tmargeson: hmm good spot, thanks. The table in the PB article and Giant's website don't agree. I've added a note to the database entry. For future reference, anyone that spots an error on geometrygeeks can edit the bike/geo directly (and add a note) as it's a bit like wikipedia.
  • 2 0
 @refreshcycles: D'oh! Yep, I see that the Giant vs PB tables don't match. Crazy, considering the table included in this article appears to be a screen grab straight from Giant!
  • 6 0
 Sexy looking bike. Liking the trend of XC type bikes with decent angles.
  • 5 1
 Down country
  • 7 1
 Does this mean a reign 29 is coming too?
  • 4 0
 Needs to happen.. but without a reduction in rear wheel travel
  • 2 0
 did I read this correctly?
Alu model with carbon wheels 30mm inner 1 X.....for 3K US
I am now after last years 2 purchases of Trance 2 and Talon I am a total Giant fan and my Jamaica tour stock will the growing in a Giant way!
  • 9 7
 Really, this Kevin guy thinks it should sound silly that he just wanted to make the bike fun? As in, you've attempted to make bikes "not fun" in the past? These two guys from Giant shove their feet in their mouths more than the rest of the bike industry combined.
  • 2 2
 lol, its the worst
  • 7 1
 Niner making a 27.5, giant making a 29. The world has gone insane
  • 8 6
 Oh boy, waited 6 years for Giant to pull their head out of a dark place and this is the best they could come up with? They ought to order a Jeffsey, a Siskiu, a Sentinel and see how a 29er should be made.Plus this effort is $400.00 more expensive than bikes with much more travel.Who's running these companies anyway, the bean counters or the engineers?
  • 3 2
 Bean counters make the decisions which keep the engineers gainfully employed Smile
My guess is Giant's distribution network allows them to do some things others can't and the bean counters take that into the equation.
  • 5 0
 so more travel = more money? does that mean all road bikes should be free?
  • 3 1
 It’s a really pointless bike. I ride a Norco sight, and it is just enough bike to take anywhere, including downhill lift accessed tracks. This thing is going to struggle a lot sooner than a sight or even a fuel ex, and what benefit does it get from less travel?

Also, the spiel about short shaft length on the rear is bogus. We all know that it is optimal to have more travel in the shock to have smoother suspension.
  • 2 1
 Agreed, bikes like the Sight are going to climb very close to this (it aint XC racing) and yet do SOO MUCH more. Bikes these days are climbing well, its all the demand for long travel enduro stuff that can still pedal. Trickle down has been nice. I mean, my kindergarner can find a way to blow through 100mm of travel pretty easily. I can't imagine 115 is all the hard either unless its super harsh.
  • 2 0
 So I see the size quoted as XL with a weight of 26.9lbs. That's all well and good but @danielsapp did you ride the XL for the review? You are listed as 5'10" there, so I'm confusified.
  • 5 0
 No, I was on a medium - we just weighed the XL as it was what was close to a scale when the opportunity arose.
  • 2 2
 @danielsapp: Gotcha, thanks for the clarification. Betting the M was in the 26lb-even range then. Not too bad with a dropper and proper tires.
  • 2 1
 IMO, you should have made the “extra” effort and weighed your Medium, isn’t it your job?
  • 1 0
 @danielsapp: Do you think a medium for someone 5'11" and 32" inseam would be appropriate sizing?
  • 6 4
 Another $5000 bike with Performance suspension, GX drivetrain, and low-tier Guide brakes. And it has OEM wheels, cockpit and dropper! Giant is probably making insane margins on this crap. What a rip.
  • 6 2
 What does OEM wheels, cockpit, and dropper mean to you? Giant hand builds their own rims and rims for a lot of others.
Do you know who makes the "component brands" wheels, bars, stems, etc? I can in fact tell you they mostly come from the same few factories.
  • 1 9
flag mattradical (Aug 6, 2018 at 16:53) (Below Threshold)
 @OzarkBike: giant rims are oh so soft and their handle bats have been known to snap... yeah they are killing it. I’m a Giant fan, but their builds have been going down and the price has been rising. Guides suck. They shouldn’t even bother, but if they’re giving OEM avid breaks away, I guess I would take them too.
  • 5 0
 @mattradical: I have seen some soft Giant aluminum rims for sure. I have never heard of handlebars just snapping and never seen a Giant bar just snap. Bars don't just snap for no reason. All handlebars break if over tightened and or crashed excessively.
  • 2 2
 @OzarkBike: OEM means it's cheaper for Giant to spec. This build should be $4k tops.
  • 1 2
 @griffsterb: Yes it save the companies money sort of... They still design and insure the components on the bikes. It also allows the bike companies to get timely product and control the sweep, length, width and reach they want instead of hoping Spank or somebody can supply the largest bike brand in the world. So what components do you think is better for the money? You could start a "griffsterb" component company tomorrow and your non OEM components come from the same factory. So what makes your non OEM better??
  • 3 0
 @OzarkBike: I feel like you're simply not understanding what I'm saying. I'm saying that because Giant specs a ton of OEM, the bike should be cheaper than if they specced name brand. I'm sure their OEM stuff is made in the same factories. But there is no question it's cheaper for them to use. I made no comment whatsoever on the quality of OEM pieces.
  • 1 0
 @griffsterb: I agree with the less expensive statement also. Yes it is almost always cheaper than buying from someone else. But as I was saying before that is only 1 part of the equation when supplying bicycles. Spec, color, quality and availability are equally important if you want to get bikes out in the market quickly and to your liking.
  • 5 0
 Giant are starting to make good bikes again ? ????
  • 4 1
 i used to think "we have the technology"...but I guess the worlds largest bike company...apparently did not, until now.
Guess I picked the wrong week to stop sniff'n glue.
  • 3 0
 Roger Roger
  • 2 0
 I kind of wish my short travel bike had a slacker headangle. Riding in Fernie on black diamonds with a 69 degree headangle didn't feel terrible..... But slacker would have been a bit more confidence inspiring.
  • 2 0
 At least the geo is slightly more modern. (I owned a used 2014 Trance for less than 3 weeks... very short reach, very long chainstays... did NOT work for me.) That said, I have no doubt this bike will sell well.
  • 1 0
 Hey Daniel. Nice review. Noticed you were on a Med at 5’10”. I’m 5’11” with a 32” inseam and am torn between getting a large or a medium. What would you recomend? My local shop only had a large to sit on and I can’t tell if I would feel better on a med. How did that medium feel for you at 5’10”? Do you feel like you could have risen a large comfortably as well?
  • 1 0
 You ever decide on a frame size?
  • 4 1
 Pink bike when will you do a full review on the New Devinci Troy 29er??? The bike has been out but no review.
  • 8 4
 115mm, what?
  • 33 0
 That's what she said.
  • 4 1
 Must be an internal 44 degree offset
  • 5 4
 "We really started with fun in the development of the bike. As silly as it sounds, we just wanted to make the bike fun..." Gives it big wheels....
  • 3 0
 Big wheels can indeed by fun - lots of different riders, lots of different ways to have fun. If you're looking for the most flickable bike out there, big wheels aren't going to be fun for you. If you're more into railing turns then flicking them, maybe they are. It's just like skiing - big mountain skis aren't as flickable as park skis, but that doesn't make them not fun if used for their intended purpose. Plus there's rider size - for me at 225#, big wheels don't present too much of a wagon wheel problem, but for my wife at 120#, they're seriously cumbersome.
  • 3 1
 Clearly Kendal-Weed is always having a crappy time on those big wheels. And he is a small dude.
  • 3 0
 Me likey very much. Goes on my list
  • 2 0
 Finally Giant produces a bike that will still look cool in more than 2 years. ????
  • 1 0
 Giant used to be very well specced for your money. The Trance 29 line seems to break that tradition with lower end drive and suspension at the various price points.
  • 2 0
 damn the photography in this review is fuckin high grade
  • 4 2
 Oh look they made a smuggler v1. Nice.
  • 1 3
 The following is not long in terms of wheelbase and reach but still probably feels better than the giant.
  • 2 0
 @danielsapp You’re a review machine.
  • 1 2
 I have never heard of fork offset described by degrees before. But it does make sense in describing how the bike’s head angle might effect its trail numbers regarding fork offset.
  • 2 0
 I’ve learned allot from these comments.
  • 2 0
 44 degree offset? I have reached yet another new level of confusion.
  • 2 0
 Wheel size arguments are so 2015
  • 1 0
 Topaz 2?! I just got a topaz like 3 weeks ago. I’m loving it but wished I knew a new version was coming out.
  • 1 1
 "We are completely committed to an all-or-nothing approach because we believe in 27.5” so much." Kevin Dana to Flow mountain bike, August 2013
  • 2 0
 I wish more manufacturers made all black bikes
  • 2 0
 Demoed this bike 3 times and was amazed! Now I am waiting for delivery :-(
  • 6 6
 This sounds like the prefect 29er. They don't need any more than 120mm of travel. This Trance might tempt me on to a 29er.
  • 4 6
 The new Giant Trance is 74.5 degrees of a 'wheelie' good time! Slack is back (apparently).

Aside from that little nagging issue with geometry, the rest of the bike looks good like a shiny Evil. DVO fork +++
  • 7 2
 Is 74.5 slack? It's certainly not the steepest, but I definitely wouldn't call it slack.
  • 2 4
 @danielwest330: Fair question for sure! Perhaps in the age of progressive geometry like you see in Pole, Mondraker and other like bikes and the shape that this frame has been created with, it looks like you'd be "Big wheeling" your way up on climbs. Its maybe the only thing that ever really bothers me with some models of bike (including my Evil frame) so it jumps out at me. Certainly there are people that will work well with the fit, so it's not all about me. Wink .
  • 1 3
 25mm rim widths seem narrow on the Trance 29, 2, same you'll need to go to a 1 for the wider rims...but in carbon. $3k breaks my budget and I'd have old tech wheels...

Too fat and cheap for carbon hoops...
  • 5 1
 What tires are you planing to put on a 115mm travel 29er?
IMO 25mm rims fit 2.3-2.4 tires just fine, and I don't see myself going for bigger rubber on this kind of bike.
  • 4 1
 Lots of world cup and ews riders on 25mm Dt Swiss rims.
  • 2 0
 @nozes: I guess I didn't think about that, but why offer the wider rims on the higher end bikes if a 25mm would suffice?

I'm really just butthurt that bikes are so expensive and if you go lower end you make sacrifices I don't think you should have to on a $3k bike.

I also know from experience the upgrade to a wider rim is very noticeable as soon as you start pedaling!
  • 1 2
 They were just too occupied by their Arts and Graphs, BSing how 27.5 was the best and only options for them. Time well wasted by the looks of it!
  • 5 8
 I’ve had 4 Giants and won’t be buying another. Nice from far but far from nice - cheapest, nastiest bearings they can find go into the frame to save costs; links sorta kinda line up - definitely not in the same category as many other leading brands in terms of quality. You get what you pay for.
  • 3 1
 Looks like a Smuggler.
  • 2 1
 Summary of Giant 27.5 propaganda: 65% more 26 and 55% less than 29...
  • 2 0
 Unno it looks aight
  • 1 0
 Look! It's the 2017 Giant Smuggler! ????
  • 1 1
 When comming the new wheel standard 26,8"??
All article who start with the word 29" is bullshit
  • 1 0
 Alright stop! Our egos are not our amigos!
  • 2 2
 Whenever I can't sleep at night, I think about Giant bikes. They're such a snooze fest that they put me right to sleep.
  • 1 0
 Any word on the stroke and eye to eye?
  • 1 1
 Looks good. But thats not heard to do because the last 29er trance sucked so bad it was brutal.
  • 1 0
 Just wait for the new turner sultan
  • 1 0
 Giant rants, 234 so far and counting.
  • 1 0
 The black on black will be in style for ever!!
  • 2 5
 DVO - Thats a nice color scheme you got there, be a shame if someone were to throw Green into the mix. WHY. just make those parts, blue. or black too. Pretty bike excluding that green.
  • 6 1
 Yeh cool color, I've never seen THAT shade of black before.
  • 3 1
 100% subjective. Plenty of folks like green That is their primary color. I don't see many complaining about red nobs on black Rockshox forks who don't like red or blue nobs on Fox forks or don't like blue.
  • 3 3
 giant why u no like fox or rok shox?
  • 8 2
 They wanted somthing better!
  • 3 1
 @freeridejerk888: I have ~ 15 rides on the the Pro 1 with Fox DPX2 and I currently have the Pro 0 with DVO... the Fox DPX2 is just as good!
  • 5 5
 What's the point with 115mm travel, you may as well buy an anthem
  • 3 2
 Because the Anthem is a different bike with a geometry for XC.
  • 4 5
 Giant have almost caught up to the Kona process 111 from four years ago, just not quite as modern
  • 7 1
 Guaranteed this climbs way better.
  • 9 1
 You can't be referring to the geometries of the two bikes.....right??

--Giant has a 66.5 deg HA, the Process has 68
--Giant has longer reach across all sizes (except the XL size, which is indeed strange that it flip-flops there)
--Giant ST angle is 1/2 deg steeper
--Giant wheelbase is longer across all sizes
--Giant fork offset shorter by 2mm

This Giant is much more "modern" than a 2014 Process 111.
  • 1 2
 That top tube sculpting looks like it would be brutal on the insides of your knees and thighs.
  • 1 1
 AnthemX, not a trance...???
  • 1 1
 The aluminum Trance 1 29 isn’t on Giants website.
  • 1 0
 Not a U.S.A. bike
  • 2 0
 @OzarkBike: gotcha. That’s weird.
  • 1 0
 @Feendogg: Seems to be that way with Giant USA with road or MTB bikes. They do not bring in the high spec or high end Aluminum models. They claim market demand wants carbon and the ability to produce carbon for not that much more money. I certainly see their point, however, I would like to have that Trance 1 personally.
  • 1 1
 No Overdrive 2? I'm disappointed.
  • 2 5
 I love that giant has to eat humble pie after doubling down on 27.5" . It's all about the $$ with these guys.
  • 6 4
 Except they're not owning up to it, so it's not really humble pie. They're just blustering their way through it, having removed all that stuff from their website and youtube channel, and now telling us that the reason they've not made a short travel aggressive 29er until now was because it wasn't possible until whatever new technology they supposedly have now.
  • 1 2
 Fake news !
  • 4 1
 Hey look ! Another 29ers
  • 6 0
 Well everyone bar a few lanky XC riders hated 29ers back then. But all of a sudden 29ers became cool again. So can't blame Giant for making a bike the market wants. You just wait till this happens with eMTBs...
  • 1 2
 Ah ha !!! Dumb asses!!
  • 3 5
 Blue lips....
  • 3 6
 Get with the program Giant, and stop with the slack seat tube angles...
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