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Average Rating
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4.62/5
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# of Reviews
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73
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MSRP
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$ 3000.00
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Weight
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More Products from Giant
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Description:The Trance 1 is a hard-charging XC bike with the speed, power and suspension to land highlight-reel jumps. Its climber-friendly aluminum frame churns out power with zero pedal bob, while offering 100mm of fully active travel front and rear.
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Submitted by
ozzyguy3
a Cross Country Rider
from Australia, Victoria,
Date Reviewed: June 18, 2008 | | Favoriate Trail: | Mt Sparrow Canberra | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Price Paid: |
$2400.00 | | Strengths: | Great all round XC Full suspension bike. Plush forks and rear shock. just point and shoot at anything and it rides up the other side. Great climber, Pro pedal is awsome. SRAM Running gear is responsive, I just love it | | Weaknesses: | low Ground clearance, but is traded of foor great handing with lower centre on gravity and for climbing. Hard to clean around many pivot points (But worth it for GIANT's rear linkage) | | Similar Products Used: | Giant Rainier XC Hardtail. Mongoose Otero, Giant Anthem 1. | | Bike Setup: | Stock with saddle change. (Standard saddle is great race saddle) | | Bottom Line: | Love the bike, its light, responsive and just looks damn good with the fluid formed frame and top tube (better in real life than in pictures), test rode numerous similar products. Got on the Trance and rode it around the car park of my LBS, then took it home. | Value Rating: Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
George
a Cross Country Rider
from Athens, GR
Date Reviewed: June 3, 2008 | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Strengths: | Control, comfort, climbing. Good components. | | Weaknesses: | Ground Clearance. My pedals hit stones all the time that I used to pass with my HT. Rims are also on the cheap side :( | | Bike Setup: | Stock! | | Bottom Line: | Very comfortable and good climber! I don't get the back pains
that I had with my HT. Also steep climbs are easier. Much
faster in trail and downhill although in flats and uphill
"feels" slower than my HT. Ground clearance is low...I have
stop pedaling when there are rocks around! | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
George
a Cross Country Rider
from Athens, GR
Date Reviewed: June 3, 2008 | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Strengths: | Control, comfort, climbing. Good components. | | Weaknesses: | Ground Clearance. My pedals hit stones all the time that I used to pass with my HT. Rims are also on the cheap side :( | | Bike Setup: | Stock! | | Bottom Line: | Very comfortable and good climber! I don't get the back pains
that I had with my HT. Also steep climbs are easier. Much
faster in trail and downhill although in flats and uphill
"feels" slower than my HT. Ground clearance is low...I have
stop pedaling when there are rocks around! | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Steve Young
a
from NZ
Date Reviewed: May 14, 2008 | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Weaknesses: | Axle crlkearance off the ground is only about 250mm so you hit a lot of stumps. Like getting knocked off the bike. I guess it keeps the centre of gravity low for better handling.
THe Spec Stumpjumper clearance is about 350mm, clears a lot more obstacles. | | Bottom Line: | Big trade off - clearance/ handling.
Interested in any comments on this. | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Gecko
a Weekend Warrior
from Irvine, CA, USA
Date Reviewed: April 1, 2008 | | Favoriate Trail: | Rock-It and Cactus | | Duration Product Used: | 1 Year | | Price Paid: |
$3000.00 | | Purchased At: | Full Cycle- Boulder, CO | | Strengths: | Great, nimble handling-- does everything well from bombing down technical descents to carving tight switchbacks and singletrack; great climber with no pedal bob; very comfortable bike inspiring confidence on every ride; it's not the quickest off the line, but a superb all-rounder; build quality is excellent; love the paint job and graphics; great value for money with excellent component specs-- the product manager at Giant spec'd this bike as if it was his own ride. | | Weaknesses: | Pierced downtube rear shock "cage" makes it very difficult (if not impossible) to do maintenance on the shock. One also has to install a carbon fiber shield to keep debris/dirt off the shock. | | Similar Products Used: | Maverick, Cannondale, Santa Cruz, Titus, Intense | | Bike Setup: | Fox F100 fork/RP3 shock; Mavic Crossmax SL wheelset; Race Face Deus XC cockpit and cranks; WTB Rocket V saddle; Shimano XTR/XT; SRAM cassette; Panaracer Fire XC Pro Tubeless tires; Hayes Nine hydraulic brakes; Race Face/ODI Lock-on grips | | Bottom Line: | Great, great bike (especially for the money). I would buy the 2006 Trance 1 again in a heartbeat. It's not the best in every category, but it does everything well. You will not be disappointed. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Steve Young
a Cross Country Rider
from Auckland
Date Reviewed: March 13, 2008 | | Favoriate Trail: | Macetown | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Strengths: | All round great performance, Large size suits me at 189 cm tall | | Weaknesses: | THe crank and shock set up attracts and holds a lot of sticky mud as there is not a lot of wheel clearance around that area | | Bottom Line: | $ value for a light bike, good compromise for up and down hilling, took me to 28 of 149 on my 1st ever race at Colville | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Rommel
a Cross Country Rider
from California
Date Reviewed: February 17, 2008 | | Favoriate Trail: | Rocky Peak, Las Llajas, Chumas, Lob Lobres, and Westridge trails | | Duration Product Used: | 1 Year | | Price Paid: |
$2300.00 | | Purchased At: | Local Store | | Strengths: | The frame, suspension, Fork and Rear Shock, Rims/Wheels, Shifters, and hydraulic disc brakes are some of the components make the bike really great. Giant created a good combination of components for Trance 1 which makes it stand compared to other mountain bikes when comes to
| | Weaknesses: | Tires comes with the bike are not really good but upgrading it to Kenda make it great traction for both uphill and downhill.
Saddle not really comportable but using upgraded WTB seat make it perfectly fine. | | Similar Products Used: | Cannodale and Specialized | | Bottom Line: | If you are looking for a moutain bike either for weekend pleasure, fitness purposes, and even hardcore trail biking I recommended Giant Trance 1. This is also a best selection for beginners looking for well-deserved price all terrain bike. The price worth it and you'll enjoy each ride you make. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Daemon
a
from South Africa
Date Reviewed: February 12, 2008 | | Duration Product Used: | 1 Year | | Strengths: | Makes everything easier, and gives such a smooth ride. Good for endurance racing, all mountain etc. | | Weaknesses: | Climbs well but not nearly as well as my old NRS...that said on technical climbs it out preforms the NRS | | Similar Products Used: | Giant NRS 3 | | Bike Setup: | SRAM x9 shifters and rear mech, XT front mech, avid juicy 7 hydrolic brakes, thomson setback seatpost, sella italia XC saddle, raceface stem and bars, manitou minute 100-130mm shock | | Bottom Line: | Buy this bike if you want a all day fun bike that can be raced. Have taken it off drops, over jumps, done north shore riding with it, lots of single day marathon races, XC lap races, and soon n 3 day stage race and the bike have yet to complain. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Nick
a Weekend Warrior
from Canberra, Australia
Date Reviewed: September 9, 2007 | | Favoriate Trail: | Mt Stromlo | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Price Paid: |
$2000.00 | | Purchased At: | LBS | | Strengths: | This review is for the 2008 Trance 1.
Light weight, great components for price, awesome maestro system...hardly any noticeable bob. Eats up trails, climbs brilliantly, lockout works well for home commute, SRAM running gear is smooth and direct, jumps soaked up easily. Rides noticably "lighter and faster" than specialized stumpy and '07 trance. .Paint job looks improved from older giants. Sensible cable routing. | | Weaknesses: | Carbon seat a little firm for my bony butt. Not sure about the tyres yet (michelin XCR AT)seemed very slidy on wet roots (then again what isn't). Not much ground clearance for pedals especially with rear sus on "soft". | | Similar Products Used: | Giant XTC 2 2005 | | Bike Setup: | Australian stock 2008 Trance 1. | | Bottom Line: | My first dually...upgraded from the lightweight but twitchy XTC after too many near misses. Fantastic bike!!! Makes XC riding a whole new level of fun!..Great value at this price (2600AUD). Looked around for 6 months including norco/specialized/BMC/GT Couldn't find a better specced or lighter XC dually for this money anywhere! Can't wait for 24hr races now! | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Colin Sick
a Cross Country Rider
from Crowsnest Pass, Canada
Date Reviewed: August 9, 2007 | | Favoriate Trail: | the dump | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Price Paid: |
$2200.00 | | Purchased At: | local shop | | Strengths: | the suspension works realy well
nice and stiff
the colour ( 2 tone grey )
active under braking | | Weaknesses: | no quick release seat post
the stock tubes were the ultralight type, I got 2 flats in my first 2 rides
tough to clean the linkage | | Similar Products Used: | 2001 kona pahoehoe
2004 kona coiler | | Bike Setup: | stock, except for the bar and stem. Race face deus with the larger clamp | | Bottom Line: | I've been riding this bike for about 3 months now, and all I have to say are good things. If your not a racer, but want an efficient bike that climbs well, and rips on downhills. This is your bike. It has been realy dry this summer so this bike has seen a lot of dry rough dusty trails, and it performs realy well in these conditions. I wish it would rain out here so I could try it in the mud. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
adam
a
from fullerton
Date Reviewed: June 28, 2007 | | Duration Product Used: | 2 Years | | Bottom Line: | If you are 200 lbs plus. Do not buy this bike. Giant installs cheap bearings on the pivots. I have had over four bearing blow outs. I finally found a place that makes replacement bearing kits that are stronger. The guy over there said that the Giant Trance bearing kit is their best seller. | Value Rating: Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Matt
a Cross Country Rider
from Tyler, TX
Date Reviewed: May 26, 2007 | | Duration Product Used: | 6 months | | Price Paid: |
$1600.00 | | Purchased At: | Ebay | | Strengths: | Great stock setup - Dual control shifters, shocks, wheel set | | Weaknesses: | A little bit heavier than other options | | Similar Products Used: | Trek 6700 | | Bike Setup: | Stock setup | | Bottom Line: | I could not pass up this almost new 2006 Trance 1 on Ebay. I had test ridden a Giant Anthem and loved the setup. The dealer suggested the Trance if I wanted more of a trail bike instead of a racing bike.
I LOVE THIS BIKE! It is snappy, accelerates quickly, handles small drops, climbs like a billy goat, handles downhills with no problem, and is a blast to ride! The lock out on the front fork is great if you are using the bike for communting. There is very little pedal bob from the rear shock. I was really worried about that and it has not been a problem at all.
Bottom line - if you are looking for an excellent trail bike - look no further! You can not find a better value than a Giant! | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Bryan
a Cross Country Rider
from Park City, UT
Date Reviewed: May 23, 2007 | | Favoriate Trail: | Ridge Ride | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Price Paid: |
$2400.00 | | Purchased At: | Brothers Bikes | | Strengths: | kicks butt. Having the stock shocks on the bike that allow for maximum adjustability is nice, especially when you have buddies in bike shops to help you adjust them. Without having too much knowledge about geometry and all, I'll just say that it's a sweet ride. | | Weaknesses: | people mention the bottom bracket being too low. I say, adjust your pedaling style. I guess that's a weakness. The rear tire needed replacement, but that's an area specific problem. | | Similar Products Used: | Tried a Specialized Stumpjumper | | Bike Setup: | Stock | | Bottom Line: | I upgraded from an LX based Raleigh hardtail I had been riding for 7 years. One might say it's hard to not improve, but I looove this bike. As much as I don't know about the fox float on back, I find hardly any bob when it's locked in and when I'm flyin down the trail with propedal off, it makes love to the turns and absorbs the bumps with sweet soulful satisfaction. This bike has made riding fun again. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
justin hail
a Cross Country Rider
from fernie
Date Reviewed: May 20, 2007 | | Favoriate Trail: | the muff | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Price Paid: |
$2000.00 | | Purchased At: | local shop | | Strengths: | This is just a nice Mountain bike. It climbs well, it's comfortable to ride, and it's fun on the descents. | | Weaknesses: | I've been dh riding for the last few years so the high seat is taking some getting used to, so a quick release seat clamp would be nice. | | Similar Products Used: | none have never owned a trail bike before. | | Bike Setup: | stock except for race face duece stem and bar with the larger diameter clamp. | | Bottom Line: | I bought this bike because I wanted to go out into the mountains and ride up as well as down. This bike is almost weird to ride because it just works realy well. It's smooth, fast, and the handling is bang on perfect. I suggest anyone looking at this style of bike strongly consider trying a Giant, this is my first Giant product and I'm thinking already for next year buying a Glory DH for the bike park. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Dan
a Weekend Warrior
from Riverview, FL
Date Reviewed: May 14, 2007 | | Favoriate Trail: | Abyss | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Price Paid: |
$2000.00 | | Purchased At: | AJ's bike and Board | | Strengths: | Everything about this bike ROCKS!! The components are great all SRAM X9 or equal. The wheel are nice the cockpit is very comfortable. The suspension eats up most anything in its way. Bike just oozes confidence. Easy point and pedal interface works like a dream and the meastro suspenion with the FOX RP2 shock works well in climbs and tough decents! | | Weaknesses: | Only thing weak on this bike would be the grips they are thin and hard, upgrade these and you are good to go! Don't know if I would call this a weakness but the spoke guard behind the rear casette broke after a good tumble. | | Similar Products Used: | Specialized stumpy and epic. KHS Alite, and XC604 | | Bike Setup: | Stock with specialzed bar ends and grips and candy SL pedals/cleats | | Bottom Line: | BUY ONE. All you have to do is point and pedal and the bike takes care of the rest. the suspension once tuned right will amaze you. Eats up everything from roots, small/medium rocks, sand. It works great! Should be used as a XC/Trail bike. Might be a little heavy for hardcore XC racers but for everyone else this bike will serve its purpose. Don't buy for freeriding or big jumps 6+ feet | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Ben P
a Weekend Warrior
from Surrey, United Kingdom
Date Reviewed: May 3, 2007 | | Favoriate Trail: | Telegraph Road on Holmbury hill,Peaslake, Surrey, U.K | | Duration Product Used: | 6 months | | Price Paid: |
$3000.00 | | Purchased At: | Nirvana Cycles, Westcott, Surrey, U.K | | Strengths: | Sexy hydro formed tubes, Excellect Fox RP3 rear shock, great for all day rides | | Weaknesses: | Hard to clean without a decent bike cleaning brush set as the rear shock mount has lots of tight areas for dirt to get trapped. | | Similar Products Used: | n/a | | Bike Setup: | hope/mavic wheels, hope mono mini brakes, easton ea50 bar,stem and post, DMR V8 pedals, WTB rocket V saddle, Manitou Splice Comp 130mm fork, Shimano LX holotech 2 chainset, Deore shifters and mechs, Schwalbe Marathon Plus tyres. | | Bottom Line: | A great XC bike that is nimble and easy to chuck around but can also inspires confidence.I love this bike! | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Martin Daris
a
from Québec, Quebec, Canada
Date Reviewed: April 21, 2007 | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Strengths: | Very Stiff lateraly, good geometry, Pedals well, good traction, minimal pedal kickback and brakejack. Comfy!
Linear travel. Adustability, Heavy duty | | Weaknesses: | Frame is a bit on the heavy side but I wanted something that would last me more than two seasons. | | Similar Products Used: | A lot! Rocky Mountain element, Devinci Banzai, Oryx Hurricane, GT I drive, Giant NRS , etc... | | Bike Setup: | Trance frameset (fox RP23), Rockshox revelation u-turn air (awesome fork!), Avid juicy 7's, Mavic Crossride (turned tubeless with a 20" bmx tube trimmed down as a rim strip), LX crankset and XT all the way... | | Bottom Line: | A very fun and capable bike! I wanted a real trailbike, not a race oriented XC bike. I'm a former DH racer so I wanted a more relaxed geometry, something I would be happy on the downhills and that can go up as well. Something I could ride for hours, having fun! The Trance is what it's all about... The fox RP23 is awesome! I set it up pretty firm on the prodedal mode for long climbs and I ride it in the open mode most of the time. My set up works fine for me, yes I have to weight down the front end on the way up when the trail becomes very steep but it's well worth the effort cause my position on the flats and dh is perfect!
Have fun aboard a Trance! Trance'form your ride... | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Craig
a Weekend Warrior
from Kansas City
Date Reviewed: April 14, 2007 | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Price Paid: |
$2000.00 | | Purchased At: | Bike Stop | | Strengths: | Very Fast,smooth,tight handling. | | Weaknesses: | The Hayes brakes are a little touchy, very powerful but gotta watch how much brake you pull. Wheels are Wtb and DT swiss but I am saving for a set of Chris Kings or Industry Nines. Also gonna change the brakes out for Codes or Juicys if I dont find a way to tame the brakes down. | | Similar Products Used: | Specialized Fsr xc and Stumpjumper | | Bike Setup: | Stock Trance 1 but I have ordered a Race Face 50mm stem and 2"inch rise bars for it. | | Bottom Line: | My buddy bought a Fsr xc and I got the Trance 1. Now after riding a month he wishes he had gotten a Trance. I dont get why people say the pedals hit cause the fsr xc has shorter cranks and lower bb height and they hit the ground when turning around. I bought this bike sight unseen because a year along I test rode one at a bike shop. So this year when it was time to buy a bike and after riding everything out there that was available locally, I ordered the Trance and I am not sorry one bit. This has to be the best bike out there in all price ranges and the sad part is most of local bike stores in town push Specialized and sorry but I think they are not half the bike the Trance is.... | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Miguel Chedas
a Weekend Warrior
from Sintra, Portugal
Date Reviewed: April 2, 2007 | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Price Paid: |
$2500.00 | | Strengths: | Rear suspension highly active and efficient
Feels quite fast on all kinds of terrains
Very stiff frame
Price /quality relation
Very precise/stiff and manouverable handling | | Weaknesses: | Low bottom bracket, which is responsible for the fantastic handling, makes pedals hit the ground quite often in rooty or rocky terrains
Gearing could be smoother | | Similar Products Used: | Several | | Bike Setup: | Stock except for Schwalbe Nobby Nic in front | | Bottom Line: | I have purchased about 2500 for a 2006 model, which has fantastic equipment.
I haven't been able to test it on descents, as i have a bad wrist at this moment, but the bike climbs very well and let's you pedal hard over every kind of terrain as you were on a flat surface. It's amazing how efficient and active it is at the same time. I think it could only get more efficient with losses on comfort.
There are significant differences between the 3 ProPedal settings, besides what other people say here, and in the harder setting it almost locks (which is good for tarmac).
I am enjoying very much this bike and hope to be able to descent it hard very soon...
This bike is amazing for all the guys that love descent, like me, but spend 85% of the time climbing because of the area they live in.
You can buy it with confidence as it won't let you down! | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Jonnie
a
from PH
Date Reviewed: March 29, 2007 | | Duration Product Used: | 6 months | | Strengths: | Best all round Mountain bike around.
Climbs like a true XC
Single tracks with a huge smile on your face
Rides the technical stuff like a 6" | | Weaknesses: | The frame is a bit heavy, but for what you can do with it sub 13KG isn't too bad. | | Similar Products Used: | Trance 2 | | Bike Setup: | Reba Team fork, SRAM gears (better than th Shimano stock) Shortened stem (90mm), helps tighten up the steering on the single tracks and makes no difference to the cimbing abilities. | | Bottom Line: | Recomended to anyone who loves comming back after a day out
with a huge smile on their face....
A bit pricey, but look around for 2006 stock deals. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
kostas
a Cross Country Rider
from athens,greece
Date Reviewed: March 11, 2007 | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Price Paid: |
$2000.00 | | Strengths: | good components,lively geometry | | Weaknesses: | brakes drag but there is chance it's my fault.low bottom bracket. | | Bike Setup: | reba race,rp2,hayes hfx-9,race face all around,xt front mech,sram x-9 rear. | | Bottom Line: | using a full sussy for 1st time makes me the last person to have an opinion.the bike made me a better+more confident biker from day 1.didn't like the low bottom bracket,although i had a problem only when pedalling required to take place in real technical rock garden.the rp2 has a problem with the rebound knob.when i move the pro pedal the rebound knob moves.this isn't normal,right? it's a xc bike and can do almost everything other bikes with a lot more suspension do.at least at our local trails.it bobs a bit but if you focus on spinning perfect circles you forget the bob.i guess i like it.for sure i will tell after a whole year. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Anthony Hocking
a Weekend Warrior
from Melbourne, VIC, Australia
Date Reviewed: February 12, 2007 | | Favoriate Trail: | You Yangs (AU) & anything Nth Shore Vancouver | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Price Paid: |
$2800.00 | | Purchased At: | The Freedom Machine | | Strengths: | Wicked climber...best I have ridden
UNBEATABLE spec'd components. Nobody beats Giant for this.
Maestro suspension. Brilliant.
Did I mention the component level? XO Sram rear, Race Face, Mavic X-Max, Fox RP23, RockShox Reba World Cup, Easton E70. | | Weaknesses: | Juicy 5 brakes are not up to spec for a bike like this. Would be better with XT Brakes.
Rear Shock is somewhat exposed underneath to debris & water
Seat could be better
Paint, while having the coolest 2 tone pearl paint job, is a little on the thin side. Use clear tabs to protect paint from cable rub. | | Similar Products Used: | Cannondale Jekyll 1000, Rocky Mountain ETSX-70, Giant Reign 1. | | Bike Setup: | Gravity Dropper seatpost with remote lever - THE best upgrade you can put on any bike. Totally changed the way I ride.
Panaracer Dart tyre on front.
Avid G2 2007 cleansweep rotors
Time Atack pedals
| | Bottom Line: | This is simply one of the best "all round" bikes in the workd. Flick the ProPedal setting to Firm, and it nearly hardly bobs and feels firm. Set it to soft...and your plush all the way down the mountain. Then theres always the medium setting when your not sure. Great balance, damn sexy look, Light (20" model is 26lbs.
If you want an agressive trail/XC bike that climbs and decends without compromise...this is it.
A SRAM spec's model will give you far better gear performance than even the new Shimano XTR.
| | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Stefanos
a Weekend Warrior
from Greece
Date Reviewed: February 9, 2007 | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Price Paid: |
$2800.00 | | Purchased At: | zweirad-stadler.de | | Strengths: | 1) Great suspension
2) Great components
3) Great price | | Weaknesses: | They have already been mentioned...
1) Heavy frame
2) Tires don't grip well
3) Cables rub on seat tube | | Similar Products Used: | None. First FS. | | Bike Setup: | Stock with 07 XTR pedals | | Bottom Line: | This review is for the 2006 Trance 1.
Price: I paid 2200 euros, 35% off european list price. Zweirad-stadler.de has little stock but great prices and service. Incredible value for the money.
Suspension: I'd like to add that there is SOME pedal bob. It seems to depend on the cassette chainrings rather than on the front chainrings. I don't agree that the propedal lever dosn't change that. It does. It's not supposed to be a full lockout. Anyway, I never use it and I don't lock the fork either.
Frame: Heavy, although I can't say it slows me down.
Components: Top. Don't like the XT shifters though. Seatpost up/down tilt squirks. Rear brake pads touch the rotor, still have not worn properly after 20 hours of ride. Tires suck on rocks and corners.
Ride: Great suspension offers good grip both uphill and downhill. Long stem is good and keeps the front wheel on the ground all the times.
If you are a racer, there are plenty of other bikes to consider (but I think you can still race the Trance). If you like downhills, you will want different geometry and longer suspension. But if you ride 2-3 times a week with your friends, if you enjoy going both uphill and downhill, if you ride both fire roads and singletrack and if you are looking for a comfortable and quality ride, this bike is for you. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Mike Stopford
a Cross Country Rider
from New Zealand
Date Reviewed: February 1, 2007 | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Purchased At: | Chain Reaction Christchurch | | Strengths: | Awesome frame and suspension. Smooth!
Stock Fox RPS2 shock, Reba dual-air fork with lock-out. Set up by Chain Reaction and left as is - perfect.
Ability to stiffen both ends for road ride home helps too.
Juicy Five discs great. | | Weaknesses: | Stock grips (too hard).Stock tyres(Hutchinson)good for dry only.
Rear brake binding a little. Caliper rubs on rotor, but easily fixed.
Not convinced with Sram X9, but will get used to it. | | Similar Products Used: | Early GT LTS full suspension (put me off FS for a while!)
Specialised FSR
Giant Anthem (tested) | | Bike Setup: | Stock Fox RPS2 shock, Reba fork. Set up by shop and left as is - perfect. Changed to Kenda Nevagal after one ride.
Protected frame immediately with scuff film (Flat finishes always mark easily). | | Bottom Line: | This bike exceeds expectations - I chose it on the strength of other reviews here, and really happy. Liked Anthem test bike as serious race bike, but Trance suits me better for long trail rides. I found it easy to get used to, and wondered why I suffered hardtail so long!
In the month I've had it, I've ridden at every opportunity! I'm able to climb better, descend better, and everything in between. The stock suspension is so plush, the only time I adjust it is for the road ride home.
Sure there are a few improvements that can be made, but the basics are right on the mark.
Highly recommended to anyone wanting balanced all-round trail bike. If you are one of those die-hard hard tail riders not getting any younger, you need to ride one of these. Your body will thank you! | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
bob guerin
a Weekend Warrior
from vacaville, CA
Date Reviewed: January 1, 2007 | | Favoriate Trail: | Rockville Park | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Price Paid: |
$1500.00 | | Purchased At: | Ebay | | Strengths: | This is my first full sus bike. I had a Trek 9800 carbon fiber for 10 years. I took a 5 year break from riding. When I started riding again about 6 months ago, I realized that my old bike just wasn't good enough so it was time to upgrade to a full suspension bike.
I love the Hayes disc brakes!!! Night and day from Shimano V brakes. The Fox RP3 and Rock Shox Reba work well together. The bike has no bob when peddling. It climbs very good and is great for the fast single tracks that I ride. | | Weaknesses: | On my first ride, the front wheel wouldn't stay on the ground. This made it difficult to climb hills. By changing the seat angle and moving the seat forward on the rail that problem was resolved. I also had too much air pressure in the tires. This made the tire bounce off the rocks and loose traction on climbs. The Reba fork took a little bit of adjustment but not much. It took some time and help from my local bike shop to set up the bike properly for me but now it runs great! | | Similar Products Used: | I was interested in the Specialized Stumpy FSR and the Trek Fuel. These were the two other bikes in my price range of about $2,000. | | Bike Setup: | This bike was custom built. It has full Shimano XT compnents, Rock Shox Reba Race fork, Fox RP3 shock with Pro Pedal, Race Face Deus Crank, Hayes HFX -9 Carbon levers with 6"disc brakes and Sun DS1-xc rims with Shimano hubs. | | Bottom Line: | After about 3 rides on this bike (it took that long to work out some bugs and set it up to my likeing) I am loving it! I am riding faster and with more confidence than ever before. I can't tell that the shock and fork are moving - no bobbing but I can see from the zip ties that they are moving alot. This bike rides really smoothhhhhh.
I got a screaming deal from a bike dealer on Ebay. However, it is key to build a quality relationship with your local bike shop - Rays Bikes in Vacaville - Hey Mike. They were a big help when it came to setting up my bike. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Warren
a Cross Country Rider
from Johannesburg, South Africa
Date Reviewed: December 22, 2006 | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Price Paid: |
$3000.00 | | Strengths: | Overall nicely set up and excellent spec for the price. Haven't had a single mechanical problem, including on a 4 day stage race. Pedals well up hills, and great control on fast technical downhills. | | Weaknesses: | I've had big hassles with the paint chipping easily and plenty of cable rub through the paint in a couple of short rides. This needs early attention on a new bike. I fitted single piece outers and used plenty of zip ties, plus some rubbing strips. | | Similar Products Used: | Giant NRS 2 | | Bike Setup: | Avid Juicy brakes, SRAM X0 shifters and rear derrailer, cross max wheels, Fox RP3 Rear Shock and Fox RL 100 Fork | | Bottom Line: | Get one! | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
bazy bazy
a Cross Country Rider
from leeds west yorkshire
Date Reviewed: December 6, 2006 | | Duration Product Used: | 6 months | | Price Paid: |
$5000.00 | | Purchased At: | simpley the bike shop | | Strengths: | this bike is just the best..very little bob..great for climbing..top down hill bike..just a top all round bike | | Weaknesses: | none so fare | | Bike Setup: | chris king headset mavic sl wheels thomson post and stem.Specialized toupe seat..full xtr brake crank rear mech fron mech..dual shifters..aztec wavey rotors 160 rear 180 fron...fsa k force carbon bars..xtr 959 pedels..all bolts Titanum..front forks 2007 rockshock reba wold cup..salsa scewers xtr rear block..lizerd skin grips | | Bottom Line: | i just bought the frame....iv ony just finshed building this bike...and i think is the best there is out there for all day riding...its light...about 26 lbs..like i said its just a top allround bike..buy one..and i tel you you will not want to go home.. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
evan pearce-davis
a Cross Country Rider
from hobart
Date Reviewed: December 3, 2006 | | Favoriate Trail: | glenorchy mtb park | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Price Paid: |
$2200.00 | | Purchased At: | treadlies 07 trance1 | | Strengths: | Seemless suspension movement,eats up the rocks and ditches whilst maintaining a super smooth ride.light and agile on the decents.Strong climber also. | | Weaknesses: | stock pedals are low quality. | | Similar Products Used: | trek fuel,specialized stumpjumper | | Bike Setup: | The bike is stock with the 07 parts at this time except I upgraded the pedals to a set of time. | | Bottom Line: | If you are a xc fan who likes to push it and even do a little downhill,then this is the bike for you.It can ride the trails and hills and decents all day and still feel comfertable.quality giant parts and engineering make this bike a real gun. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Shawn Gold
a Weekend Warrior
from PA
Date Reviewed: November 12, 2006 | | Favoriate Trail: | Rocky Ridge | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Price Paid: |
$850.00 | | Purchased At: | Holmes | | Strengths: | Solid suspension design and nice frame. Great value and as usual great Giant engineering. Suspension performs as advertised. | | Weaknesses: | Cosmetic only. Giants typical lame graphics, but you don't ride the graphics. | | Similar Products Used: | 2001 NRS 1 | | Bike Setup: | I bought the Trance 4 Frame and added Manitou Minute 2 Fork, Hayes Disc Brakes, Mavic Tubeless Rims, FSA V-Drive Megaexo crank, Easton EA 50 Seatpost, XT Rear Derailer and Cassette, LX Front Derailer, Deore Shifters. | | Bottom Line: | This Bike rides great both up and down the trail. Great traction from the rear suspension. You can't go wrong with this bike. No it does not have the botique appeal of the Santa Cruz Blur but I would venture to say the performace is on par or better and for alot less money. Make sure your bike comes with the carbon shock cover and make sure to grease the seatpost and seatpost clamp. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Ropie
a Weekend Warrior
from Maryland
Date Reviewed: November 6, 2006 | | Duration Product Used: | 1 Year | | Price Paid: |
$2600.00 | | Purchased At: | L.B.S | | Weaknesses: | SHOCK!!!!! CUSTOMER SUPPORT!!!!! | | Similar Products Used: | Rocky Mountain, Specialized, Yeti, Kona... | | Bottom Line: | I purchased the bike because of the deal. Rode it about 5 times started to have issues with the shock. Rocks and mud were eating it up due to it being exposedt to the front wheel. I called Giant on the matter and they proceeded to tell me that I was the only one having the problem. Which is nonsence because the started installing a guard on all the new bikes from about mid year on. When I called them out on this they stood to their word and told me that I would have to pay 40.00 for the guard. WHAT!!! they expected me to pay to fix a problem that they new they had... Whatever. I sold the bike and bought a Yeti. Do yourself a favor do not buy a Giant. The company has some issues, more importantly they do not back their product. There is no room in our industry for this.. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
G Money
a Weekend Warrior
from el segundo, ca USA
Date Reviewed: September 28, 2006 | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Price Paid: |
$300.00 | | Purchased At: | eBay | | Strengths: | Suspension concept, Fox Float RP3, Construction and Welds, | | Weaknesses: | white...i don't like riding on a bathtub or toilet | | Similar Products Used: | Everything under the sun | | Bike Setup: | |
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