[J the J]

Long story short I'm trying to get a new bike and I thought I might get a bit more feedback on the giant specific forum.

I can get a new '09 trance x1 for $2,199 or a '10 reign 1 for $2,225

For further details see this thread

So like what kind of trails have you guys taken it on and what have you found it can generally handle?

The majority of my riding will be in & around san diego, i would like some versatility but I likely won't be doing much super technical downhill.

I find both the trance and the reign comfortable, but i'm leaning toward the trance as I think it might be the better all around bike for the majority of what I think my riding will be.

I'm rusty so I don't do many drop offs, as I get better I might manage to do them but even then I'm guessing that if i came to a 5 foot drop off I would probably just get off my bike.

So I'm guessing if i did do many drop offs, they would only be 2 or 3 feet. But lets say I did accidentally do a drop off that was bigger than i thought and was 5 feet or so. Would the trance be able to probably handle something like that or would i likely be looking at a messed up bike.

If the trance can handle almost anything the reign can handle with the exception of a few harsher technical trails and higher drop offs then I will probably go with the trance x1 for the lighter weight, better climbing ability, better maneuverability, and better components.

So thoughts?

 

[chazreign]

I think your right on. I've owned the Reign 01 since 2008 and I love it, the Trance feels just as good but with a lighter build setup, and less squish, which I think you'd benefit from when your doing long rides and climbs. It will still handle the nasty stuff to an extent which again sounds like what you'll be doing. I think either bike would work amazing and they are really versatile bikes. I've had my Reign on some super long epic 20+mile mountain rides, and taken it to the bike park, an inch less travel you'll still be doing fine.

 

[Haggis]

do you think it could handle something like this or big bear.

Well, the site pics show a guy on a Reign and a guy on a fully rigid, so maybe a fully rigid Reign would be ideal?

(Sounds like a Trance is just the tool for you).

 

[LyNx]

In general, the Maestro bikes are fantastic bikes, but for me @ 6'2" I thought 29er wheels suited me better and they do But in the 2.5 years I had my original Trance with 4" squish I really enjoyed it and it really gave me confidence to go for stuff. Now with the Trance moving up to 5" squish I don't see any reason it couldn't handle an occassional 5ft drop, but as usual it all depends on how smooth you are/or not. Now what you have to ask yourself is, will you really use the extra travel of the Reign on a regular basis and is it worth it to pedal the extraness up the hills. Either way, I say those are some killer deals right there, grab one IF you're not over 6ft

 

[DiRt DeViL]

Have ridden a Trance and own a Reign X, both are great bikes, the Reign IMO is better for the gnar stuff.

 

[24v]

I have an 09 Reign 1 and I ride Noble Canyon a lot, actually going Saturday.:thumbsup:
I rode both the Trance X, and my Reign when I bought it. I liked the way the Reign felt better. It climbs well, and descends very well.

I have also seen a guy hit a 10 foot drop on a Trance X. So, in reality, either bike should suit you well. Try to ride both, and see which one is the most comfortable for you. The Trance X felt smaller to me than the Reign.

 

[Biohazard74]

i have a Trance X3 and i also think for what you are looking to do maybe the Reign would be the better bike. Although if you gave me the chance id bomb up and down those trails on my Trance. Wish i had places like that here in South Florida

 

[Uncle Cliffy]

I kinda regret getting my Trance X sometimes. (I have a 09 X-1 myself...) I do more DH style riding and the bike's too twitchy sometimes. I'd go ahead with the 140mm fork swap, but my headtube's 7.5 inches long!

I'd get the Reign myself. It's just more versatile (geometry-wise) and not much heavier.

 

[iamamodel]

If you are quite fit and the terrain is seriously rocky, I would go for the Reign. I found the Reign was the perfect bike for Northern California and I felt less beat up than on my Trance (which I sold once I got the Reign). As Uncle Cliffy says, there is very little difference in the two frames, but when you get out of the saddle to sprint, that's when I feel the difference. Sitting down and pedalling smoothly uphill I find little difference between the Reign and Trance (and the Anthem, for that matter).

The other thing you need to consider is what sort of riding you like, if you really love blasting the descents then I would go for the Reign. If you want to go on long epics and ticking off miles floats your boat, then go for the Trance.

If you are a smooth rider that floats above the rocks and is good at lofting the bike to double-up roots and rocks, then you could forego the extra inch and get the Trance. If you just plow through rock gardens and let the suspension do the work, then the Reign is better for you.

What your riding buddies ride may also determine your bike - if they are running 6-7" then go for the Reign, if they are running 4-5", then the Trance is the go. What are epics for if not to share at a similar pace?

 

[J the J]

is one more beginner friendly than the other?

It's been 6ish years since I've done any real mountain biking (other than a few trips in the past couple weeks in which I determined my old frame was just too small now) so for now and at least until i get more practice and get better I'll be being careful and not doing anything to crazy.

Maybe in a couple years it would then be better to get a more downhill oriented bike than the trance like the reign if I find i'm doing more technical stuff and drops.

Or is it better the other way to get the bike with more travel so I have more leeway and room for forgiveness on bumps and rocks etc as i'm re learning

 

[Biohazard74]

If you are quite fit and the terrain is seriously rocky, I would go for the Reign. I found the Reign was the perfect bike for Northern California and I felt less beat up than on my Trance (which I sold once I got the Reign). As Uncle Cliffy says, there is very little difference in the two frames, but when you get out of the saddle to sprint, that's when I feel the difference. Sitting down and pedalling smoothly uphill I find little difference between the Reign and Trance (and the Anthem, for that matter).

The other thing you need to consider is what sort of riding you like, if you really love blasting the descents then I would go for the Reign. If you want to go on long epics and ticking off miles floats your boat, then go for the Trance.

If you are a smooth rider that floats above the rocks and is good at lofting the bike to double-up roots and rocks, then you could forego the extra inch and get the Trance. If you just plow through rock gardens and let the suspension do the work, then the Reign is better for you.

What your riding buddies ride may also determine your bike - if they are running 6-7" then go for the Reign, if they are running 4-5", then the Trance is the go. What are epics for if not to share at a similar pace?

great post !

 

[swoodbrn]

The other factor to consider is bottom bracket height. The Reign is much higher. I used to have a Reign, and loved it, but always felt I was perched very high. Sometimes it seemed to make a difference trying to balance getting through rock gardens. I seem to have a bit better balance on my TranceX (along with slightly faster cornering). On the other hand, some people think the lower bottom bracket promotes more pedal strikes, but I've been able to adapt.

 

[J the J]

So I rode the reign 1 and the trance x1 around the parking lot for a couple hours today switching back and forth between the two and while I liked the trance x1, it was responsive and light, I just didn't like it as much as the reign 1.

The reign didn't seem all that much less responsive and the reign took the hits better, it seemed to roll over or float over the curbs much better and it was much less jaring when hitting the curbs and going on or off them.

The reign was just more fun it seemed.

So I'm pretty sure I'm going to go with the reign.

Going to go back to ride some more tomorrow.

Only problem is now I'm seriously considering the reign 0 for that talas front shock so that I have the travel adjust and it climbs even better.

Any thoughts on the reign 1 vs reign 0. The price difference between the two is about 600 and I think it might be better to get the reign 0 than getting the reign 1 and wanting to upgrade later. But still it's a lot of money so i'm not sure and kind of leaning towards the reign 1 for the money savings.

 

[twistedshifter]

Reign with the 160 Talas is the way to go. Really enhances bikes DH/jump/drop capabilities with the ability to drop the travel when you need to climb.

http://forums.mtbr.com/forumdisplay.php?f=32

 

[SkaredShtles]

I agree with twist. I've got a Reign 1 and I would REALLY like to have an adjustable fork up front. I'm getting sort of used to it now after several rides, but I'd love to be able to drop down to 120 on steep climbs.

And the Reign simply HAULS ass on the way down the mountain. It's all sorts of fun.

 

[twistedshifter]

Another key mod to this bike is swapping the stock DHX 4.0 with a 2011 FOX VanR coil with 2.25 travel, this gives you an extra 3/4 inch of rear travel and eliminates any bottom out that I used to commonly have with the 4.0. Coil really is the way to go with this bike.....a completely different bike now on the downs, super plush......and only slightly heavier for the ups.

 

[Pedro]

Yep, coil does provide an unrivaled ride.

But it is not preferred by everyone, at least not until they try it.

 

[Pedro]

For general riding purposes, I would say Reign is Better

Reign can be built almost as light, or heavy as the Trance; pedals almost as well, but is mucho more supple, and compliant.

Trance would be for a more serious purpose, such as Marathon Racing.

 

[Pedro]

For general riding purposes, I would say Reign is Better

Reign can be built almost as light, or heavy as the Trance; pedals almost as well, but is mucho more supple, and compliant.

Trance would be for a more serious purpose, such as Marathon Racing.

 

[mimi1885]

Reign X can do almost anything Trance X can do but not the other way around. The big difference would be the climb. If you are competitive in nature and can't stand your buddies beat you up the climb first, then get the trance.

I owned both first gen I gotta say they pedal really well. And yes Reign can be built under 30lbs. I built mine up 29lbs with 2.35 tires, and adjustable seatpost, and that's was the first gen, 2010 is about 2lbs lighter at least.

Get the reign and add adj seatpost you'll love it.