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It has become bulkier, the brand new Giant Trance X, with a massive down tube and massive head tube area. Visually, the bike has thus moved significantly closer to its electric brother, yet it is designed more than ever to delight all-mountain bikers who still want to climb every summit under their own steam and are looking for a technical challenge on the downhill.
At the heart of the All Mountain is the completely newly developed frame, which is available as usual as an aluminium version or, with the addition of Advanced, as a lightweight carbon frame. In order to meet the growing demands of a modern trail bike, the developers have given the Trance X more suspension travel and significantly more options for customising the bike to your personal requirements.
Giant Trance X - more suspension travel
All Trance-X models now have 140 millimetres of travel at the rear instead of 135 millimetres. Suspension forks with 150 millimetres of travel pave the way at the front. An SX version, which focuses more on downhill performance, is also still available in the comprehensive Trance line-up. On the SX models, the suspension travel increases to 145 millimetres at the rear and 160 millimetres at the front.
Extensively customisable via flip chip
Building on the flip-chip technology of its predecessor, Giant has given the Trance X another option for geometry customisation: A second flip chip in the headset allows the reach to be adjusted to the rider's preferences without much effort. Two different bearing shells offer a total of three positions. The reach can be shortened or lengthened by 5 millimetres from the middle position. This should make it easy to adjust the handling of the bike from slightly more playful handling to a more stable riding feel.
The second already familiar flip chip is located in the rocker arm of the Maestro rear triangle and also allows the geometry to be adjusted via three positions and the choice between 29 or 27.5 inch rear wheels. Giant also uses two different inserts here. The adjustment results in significant changes to the geometry and affects the head angle, seat angle, bottom bracket height and wheel size. For example, the head angle changes between 64.4 and 65.1 degrees, while the seat angle increases from 76.8 to up to 77.5 degrees.
Giant Trance X - facts and figures
- Spring travel: 140 mm at the rear / 150 mm at the fork
- Geometry adjustment: 2 flip chips on the head tube and rocker arm
- Wheel size: 29 inch front / 29 or 27.5 inch rear
- Steering angle: 64.4 to 65.1 degrees
- Seat angle: 76.8 to 77.5 degrees
- Sizes: S, M, L, XL
- Price Trance X: 3499 to 4799 euros
- Price Trance X Advanced: 5799 to 8799 euros
Geometry at a glance
The new Maestro rear triangle on the Giant
The Maestro rear triangle itself is also said to have undergone some changes. When revising the suspension, the engineers concentrated on perfecting the balance of anti-squat and anti-rise in order to optimise power transmission, the management of braking forces and the interaction of the bike with the constantly changing terrain. The upper rocker made of Advanced Forged Carbon is lighter, stiffer and more stable than aluminium.
The trunnion mount of the shock ensures a lower leverage ratio with a softer end stop without harsh bottom-outs. The almost vertical wheel lift curve and the linear travel should enable the rear suspension to react to both small and large impacts without hardening on fast hits or bottoming out on big hits. Ultimately, this should also result in better contact with the ground, more grip and better braking behaviour.
The rear triangle floats on four strategically positioned pivot points, which the developers hope will make pedalling more efficient. The use of trunnion mount shocks should also contribute to pedalling and braking efficiency. The rear swing arm is made from a single piece and should provide a precise ride feel thanks to its high rigidity.
All Giant Trance X models at a glance
Giant Trance X Advanced - the carbon version
The new advanced composite frame with Maestro suspension offers 5 mm more travel than the previous generation and increases from 135 to 140 mm. The rear suspension is supplemented with a 150 mm fork. The frame is equipped with two three-way adjustable flip chips, which are designed to offer ultimate versatility and adjustability. The rear flip chip, which is located on the Maestro swingarm, allows the frame geometry to be adjusted and the riding behaviour to be adapted to the riding style and terrain. With a second flip chip on the headset, the reach can be adjusted by 10 mm (-5 mm, 0 mm or +5 mm) without having to replace the stem. Another new feature is an integrated storage compartment in the down tube, which can be used to store the most important items for the tour.
The rear triangle allows the Trance X Advanced to be ridden with both 29-inch and 27.5-inch wheels. The Trance X Advanced will be available in a total of three different equipment options and four frame sizes from S to XL.
The aluminium version of the new Trance X
The new Giant Trance X has an extremely stable yet lightweight frame made from ALUXX SL aluminium and an improved Maestro suspension system. It offers 140 mm travel at the rear and a fork with 150 mm travel. The frame also has two triple-adjustable flip chips, which are designed to enable optimum adjustment. The flip chip on the Maestro swingarm can be used to change the geometry of the frame and replace the standard 29-inch wheel with a 27.5-inch wheel if desired. Another flip chip on the headset allows the reach to be adjusted by 10 mm. The Alu Trance also has an integrated compartment in the down tube for carrying tools, snacks and other essentials. Additional holders under the top tube offer further storage options. Protection on the down tube is also designed to prevent damage to the frame.
Unlike the carbon version, the aluminium trance will only be available in two equipment variants and four size options from S to XL.
Giant Trance X Advanced-FR
If you want to build your very own Trance X Advanced, you can buy the wickedly painted frameset including Fox shock for a whopping 4499 euros.
Stefan Frey
Editor
