The newest member of the award-winning Trance X family is this all-new 29er. The premium ALUXX SL frameset has been tuned to match the performance benefits of lager 29-inch wheels. At its core: proven Maestro Suspension plus a host of frame technologies including the OverDrive 2 steerer tube and PowerCore bottom bracket. Whether you’re climbing or descending, pinning it at speed or crawling through technical terrain, there’s no better way to own the trail.
Strengths: Good componets, nice dropper post, fantastic fox suspension. Maestro supsension design is top notch.
Weaknesses: Avid elixir brakes-they stop the bike well, but they are a noisy pita.
Seat is not that comfortable.
Bottom Line:
THIS REVIEW IS FOR THE X1:
The bike was a lot of fun as set up. Very comfortable, pedaling, even in the trail mode was very efficient. The suspension is plush w/o being soggy or trampoline like, I don't know how they managed that but its impressive. Frame is rugged, confidence inspiring. The short wheel base, short chain stay, slack hta make for outstanding handling. Once used to the different feel, the maneuverability is on par with a good 26er. I take on tight technical, jungle-like trails in florida and have a blast. three ride positions on both front and back suspension plus rebound adjustment. s1000 crank is solid, the sram drivetrain has been really good. great shifting. x9 rear derailleur is awesome, x7 shifters are good, not as sweet as the xo's and such but noticably better than shimano alivio that is on everything.
Notes on adjustments: Early on, the front end was a bit light for me, the wheel was coming up off of the ground, and bouncing off of roots. I move the seat a little forward. issue resolved by getting a little more weight over the front tire. I also lowered the air pressure to 100 in the front. (i'm 6'0, 215) handling is great. as this bike rolls really fast, i was having some trouble with fast turns. slow tech stuff was never an issue. i flipped the stem, stretching me out slightly more and getting me down a little lower, still very comfortable. i'm going faster than ever. really having a blast on this bike now. btw- i use the dropper post, a lot, and love it.
Strengths: Climbs like a hardtail. Descends like a 6"+ DH'er. Confidence inspiring! I may not ride my hadtail ever again!
Weaknesses: Not really any so far. I don't really like the gips, but that's an easy fix when I get around to it.
Bottom Line:
I demo'ed the X1 and loved it. Was going to buy the X1 and upgrade the brakes and wheels but finally decided to just get the X0 and was out the door for $3630. I absolutely love this bike! I had an 04 Specialized Stumpy that I never really liked so that put me on my HT most of the time. I was tired of being the slowest guy on the DH, but those days are over! The X0 goes down like no other bike I've ever ridden. My confidence is up and my times are down! As for climbing; this bike climbs only a little slower than my HT but way faster than the stumpy. Because I ride a SS as well, I like to get out of the saddle and the Trance stays planted and I don't spin out.
I have zero complaints about this bike. I don't forsee any changes coming except maybe lowering the stem by a couple of spacers.
I'm 5-11 and went with the medium. It fits me perfectly, is nimble and easy to maneuver. It took one ride to get used to the 29" wheels but even that was easy. Riding got even more fun!
Climbing: planted, no spinning out, front feels planted
Descending: confidence inpsiring, fast, nimble, smooth
Single-track: tracks well, good grip by Nobby Nics - Doesn't feel like a 29'er in the tight stuff.
Bike Setup: Stock setup as listed on Giant web-site.
Overall Rating:
Value Rating:
Submitted by
Gabe
Date Reviewed: May 1, 2013
Strengths: Rolls super fast but feels like a 26 in the trail, even on switchbacks.
Weaknesses: Frame is so ugly. The good news is I can not see it when I am riding it. So much fun to ride, I do not care how fugly it is.
Bottom Line:
Came from a 26 hard tail and I had no problems adjusting. By my second ride, I was clearing sections that use to make me a little uneasy. It is making me a much faster and more fearless rider. I can't wait till my next epic ride. Love the bike but will somebody please tell Giant to tone down the colors and shine.
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Submitted by
Canmore C
a All Mountain Rider
Date Reviewed: April 22, 2013
Strengths: Climbs well with lots of grip
Descends with confidence (almost scary)
Changes direction well for a 29er
Weight (quite light for an aluminum frame) which translates to faster acceleration and easy transitions
Build kit (X0 & X1)
Geometry and comfort (my preference is a little more XC oriented)
AND PRICE!
Weaknesses: Still feels a little big (usual 29er style) and not hard to get used too.
Bottom Line:
I had been sitting on the fence about my next bike for some time and after extensive research and demo’s. I narrowed my finalists down to the new Rocky mountain Altitude 650b and 2 29ers (Trance x and Tallboy LTC). Loved the TB Ltc but was turned away from the premium on the carbon and the higher weight of the Lta.
After riding the Rocky mountain and the Trance X back to back I found the Trance both suited my body type (6’1 and 190 lbs) and style of riding (eastern side of the Rocky mountains (technical singletrack/am).
I found the Trance very “flick-able”, accelerated efficiently for a 29er and descended aggressively. The maestro suspension, all be it not as “boutique” as VPP or DW is designed well and performs admirably with good power translation to the ground and not a lot of energy loss through suspension "bob".
The price and warranty of the Giant is another plus and leaves room for upgrades.
Since there were no XO's left to purchase (sold out in our area but was able to ride both the XO and X1) I bought the frame set and in the process of building it up.
This bike is a well sorted out 29er that balances the burly xc/am side of mountain biking. Test ride one and you won't be disappointed! Then buy it and RIDE! I will have a hard time telling my wife that I need to spend that much time with a mountain bike.
Similar Products Used: Demo'd/rode many 29ers (Spec. Stumpy FSR Comp & Expert, SantaCruz Tallboy LTC, Trek Rumblefish & Superfly,Rocky Mountain Altitude & Instict 970). As well as a handfull of 26er's and Norco's/Rocky Mountains new 650 b's.
Bike Setup: Finalizing parts kit now and will post details and another review once completed.
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Submitted by
Dave Dickson
a Weekend Warrior
Date Reviewed: March 30, 2013
Strengths: its just right. goes up and down like a dream. my riding and confidence has improved in leaps and bounds. great value and the full xt is great. it felt like id been riding it for ages on the first ride and it keeps getting better. super grippy tyres.
Weaknesses: Frames may be long but not high 22inch xl measures 21. I'm a bit of a freak and have super long legs I'm 6'3" and the standard giant 375mm post was way to short but LBS sorted me a good deal on a 420mm reverb which also fixed the seat being to fat back issue given the height of the post. rear tyre was taking a hammering on the road to and from tracks so I've changed it (great tyres but soft which is great for riding but not long lasting).
Bottom Line:
I love it its just fun to ride and eats what I throw at it.
If your thinking of getting one just get it.
Strengths: The X1 is great bang for the $$. Maestro suspension is a big plus.
Weaknesses: Nothing but cosmetics. The seat was swapped out for a black WTB along with WTB ergonomic grips (my preference). I've always had Hayes brakes, and these Avids are a bit noisy. A little tweaking will probably take care of that though.
Bottom Line:
This is my first 29er. After moving to Phoenix from Seattle I realized most everybody was on a 29er of some sort on these hard, fast, rocky trails. Much different than the rooty, rocky, tight and twisty trails I came from. Didn't take me long to see what the advantage would be on these trails. The bike climbs and descends well. With the rear wheel tucked in it took a little getting used to on the steeper climbs, but took no time to figure out. I swapped out the Schwalbe 2.25 Nobby Nics with tubes for the Schwalbe 2.35 Hans Dampf tubeless tires. The Nics felt fine, but I wanted something more durable for the desert trails. I love the speed of the bike on the trails. Less rock chatter on the arms translates to more comfort. and longer rollouts at the bottom of the hills were obvious. I had no problem transitioning from my Giant Reign X1 to the Trance X1 29er.
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Submitted by
Matt
a All Mountain Rider
Date Reviewed: February 5, 2013
Strengths: * Good all round value
* Excellent frame design and excellent componentary for price.
* Dropper post gets a lot of use
* Climbs well, descends better & eats mixed single track
Weaknesses: * Seat & grips wear quickly.
* Avid's are noisy. These will be the first upgrade along with grips
* Blew the damper cartridge in the forks within a week. Fox acknowledged it was a problem and replaced with an upgraded cartridge so that's a win really!
Bottom Line:
*This review is for the X 1*
I've had this bike for a few months now and can confirm it's a trail monster! I came from a XC race bike and find that with my all round style that includes a bit of XC, AM & DH this suits much better. I do know the saying "Jack of all trades, master of none" but if you are looking for a good compromise, leaning towards AM then this is a great way to go. You don't often go for a 2 hour ride and only one encounter one type of terrain, well not where I live anyway! 29" wheels are great but do take a while to get used to, as does the overall geometry with rear wheel tucked right underneath. You really have to shift your weight around on climbs to get the rear tyre to grip.
I am right on the cusp of M / L on the Giant guide and went with the M due to availability and long wait for the L. I found my back got quite sore on long rides and found that turning the dropper post around 180 deg and swapping the bolts fixed all the problems and the bike is now a lot nicer to ride. I would recommend giving this a go to anyone who runs a frame a touch small.
I also test rode the Anthem 29er X 1 and am very happy I made the decision to go the Trance.
Strengths: smooth really smooth light cheap. feels like a 26er very well designed short, XT is good spec,goes up and down everything
Weaknesses: came with 24/38 ring gears I live in bc we have steeps so I changed to 22/36 (dealer changed no charge) not a problem just maybe a 24 over geared for a 29er that climbs
Bottom Line:
this is a very well balanced bike u will be using 5 inch travel and not feeling it.
Similar Products Used: many giants reign anthem trance
Bike Setup: I changed to stans crest , and dropped tubes and dropper post and am sitting under 26 lbs super bike on a beer budget
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Submitted by
Ian
Date Reviewed: January 22, 2013
Strengths: Agility, nibbleness, smoothing out the rough stuff. stealth mode
Weaknesses: Gets dirty, grips
Bottom Line:
Great bike - just moved from a Trek fuel ex9 26er to the X0 29er and the diff is unbelievable
I am clearing sections that I never could before and rolling log xings with ease
The clutch on the rear deraillieur makes for a very quite bike ie stealth mode by tightening up the chain
Tires are good and once I moved the seat foward pedal efficiency and handling improved.
Great kit out and with the X0 the seat is a Gobi so all good.
Only thing I changed was the grips and may move to a 70 stem rather than 90.
I have ridden 26ers for 15 yr and getting onto this 29er was the best change in a long time - riding just gets easier !!
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Submitted by
Dean Tickner
Date Reviewed: December 22, 2012
Strengths: This review is for the X1.This 29er is nibble,easy to throw around and will delight anyone coming from a 26" who's a bit shy in moving to the 29 format. Superb Fox full suspension setup that just works !! Light, well made, and a great looking bike !!!!!
Weaknesses: The brakes - Noisy as hell !! Sanded the pads and that has helped. The most horrible looking Giant seat, but this is easily changed .
Bottom Line:
Just buy it !!!! you wont be sorry, and you will forgive the brakes as the rest of this beast more than makes up for a bit of brake noise.I am 5"11, 80kgs, and the medium is picture perfect for me. I added a set of eastern Haven Carbon bars, and a fi zi k Tundra black seat which gives the bike a nice finish for my tastes. Love this bike, and so will you !!!!!!!!
Strengths: Balanced - Good travel for 29er, while still light
Comes with dropper post
Good stock tires
Quiet drivetrain/hubs
Great descending/climbing
Weaknesses: Elixer 3 brakes - initially very loud, but quieted them with grease on back of pads and making sure they were perfectly aligned
Dropper post needs to be very tight not to tilt
Uncomfortable seat that wears poorly as well (ugly)
Bottom Line:
This review is for the X1 model. I'm coming from an 07 Enduro Carbon SL Pro, and was surprised how capable the Trance X 29er is in comparison. Additionally, it is much better in climbing than the Enduro.
The bike provides a very capable all around bike that I think many people would be happy with. It has enough travel without being too slack, but isn't so slack to give up on climbing. My type of riding is technical single track, with some occasional challenging rocky downhill or climb. This bike fits this type of trail very well.
I am 5'10.5", 30" inseam and the medium fits me well.
Strengths: - great climber
- better descender
- shortened chainstays make it feel nimble and quick
- Fox CTD system is novel (not a huge strength, but some may find this feature useful)
- dropper seatpost is standard
Weaknesses: Honestly, I haven't found any yet.
Bottom Line:
I'm an avid road cyclist, but spend a fair amount of fall/winter 'cross-training' on my mountain bike. I was looking for a single bike in the garage that could do it all - climb, descend, do some technical stuff, and handle a few yearly mtn bike races I like to do. This bike fit the bill perfectly.
I was previously riding a Cannondale Scalpel (26), carbon race rocket. Super fast and great climber, but I wouldn't exactly call it 'fun'. The TranceX is FUN on all accounts. This is my 1st 29'er bike; I've been hesitant to make the move, primarily due to my stature (I'm 5'6", about 145 lbs). I had read about the shortened chainstays on this bike and felt it was worth a try. Interestingly enough, I ended up getting the size M; normally I ride a S but the medium just felt right.
As a 'big wheeler', this bike is nimble. I've hammered it down tight switchbacks at high speeds and felt completely in control. As a previous reviewer wrote also, this bike has increased my confidence and allowed me to tackle descents and technical rock gardens that would have previously tightened me up on my old 26'er.
There are two standard features that I would like to comment on:
- dropper seatpost - Never had one before riding this bike. The guys at the LBS said once I rode it and started actively using it in my rides, I would never go back. I now fully agree with this and won't buy another bike without it.
- Fox CTD suspension - as mentioned, it's novel at best. Not that there is anything wrong with it (I've been riding Fox suspensions for 10+years and have always been pleased with performance), I just haven't been 'wowed' by the 3 distinct settings. I've tried to force myself to use each; however I tend to just ride it consistently in the trail setting unless I'm either (1) planning for a 30+ minute climb (will use the climb setting), or (2) planning for a 30+ minute descent (will use the descend setting). However, in both cases, I've also just left it in the trail setting and didn't experience significant bob on climbs or stiffness on the descents. This could also be due to the fact that I'm not a year-round mtn bike rider and therefore maybe not skilled or in tune enough to tell the minute differences in my general riding. So at best I would call this feature novel, though I expect some would really enjoy it.
Bottom line, I could not be more pleased with the purchase of this bike. I have tested it out in all scenarios I ride - singletrack (climbing, descending), technical riding (it was BRILLIANT down in Moab), and a couple of local mtn bike races. In each condition, it was exactly what I was looking for.
I've ridden Giant on the road for years; I can confidently say they have converted me in the dirt as well.
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Submitted by
Ray
Date Reviewed: November 27, 2012
Strengths: Precise handling, very nimble, great component spec, and comes with a dropper seat post to boot! Climbs great descends even better.
Weaknesses: Front end may feel a little light when climbing to some (fits my riding style exactly), A factory installed chain-stay guard would be nice vice a poorly applied clear plastic film (i'm fishing here).
Bottom Line:
This bike is an absolute monster! It devours single track like nobody's business. Its light, well balanced, and more importantly it's an absolute blast to ride and inspires utter confidence! The combination of shortened chain stays and 29" wheel gives this bike the feel Giant was aiming for, extremely nimble handler and ready to gobble up anything in front of it! This bike has completely changed the way i ride, it definitely brought out a more aggressive rider (as evident by the scars). No issues with Giant's Contact dropper seat post thus, excellent tire choice (Nobby Nic). Overall phenomenal bike!
