Simply resorting to a mini motor for a lightweight bike? That was out of the question for Giant. Because although the Trance X Advanced E+ Elite is a light e-MTB weighing less than 20 kilos with a compact battery, Giant offers a full 85 Newton metres of thrust. The bike, which will be presented for the first time in 2023, takes a middle ground between real minimal-assist bikes such as those with a TQ motor and classic full-power E-MTBs with large batteries and often around 25 kilograms.
For 2025, the Giant Trance X Advanced E+ Elite is getting another major update and now goes by the name Elite V2. The full-power approach with a rather small main battery and optional range extender has been retained, but a new motor with magnesium housing and new wheels save some weight. The equipment has also been fundamentally revised. We have all the details.
Giant Trance X E+ Elite V2 at a glance:
- Motor: Giant Syncdrive Pro 2 / Pro 2 Mg (85 Nm)
- Battery: 400 Wh permanently installed, range extender with 200 Wh optional (€599.90 / 1.1 kg)
- Frame: Carbon
- Suspension travel: 150/140 millimetres
- Wheel size: Mullet (29 inch front, 27.5 inch rear)
- Price: four models between 5499 and 10499 euros
- Weight: 19.78 kilograms (Elite 1 V2, EMTB measurement)
- Fox Live-Valve and own handlebar stem unit in top models
- Sizes: S, M, L, XL
Motor with magnesium casing: The new Syncdrive Pro 2 Mg
All but the cheapest model of the Giant Trance X Advanced Elite V2 now feature the new Syncdrive Pro 2 Mg motor. It is based on the hardware of the new Yamaha PW-XM and differs from the classic Pro 2 thanks to its lighter magnesium housing. Compared to the aluminium housing of the Pro 2, this saves a good 100 grams and makes the Pro 2 Mg the lightest motor in the 85 Newton metre class.
The performance and electronics of the Pro 2 Mg are identical to the classic Pro 2 based on the Yamaha PW-X3. This means: 85 Newton metres of peak torque according to the factory specification. We were able to elicit a real 78 Newton metres and 457 watts of peak power from the Pro 2 Mg in the lab. This puts the Giant motor on a par with the full-power competition in terms of torque. The power output is slightly lower than that of EP8, Bosch CX and co, but noticeably above the level of classic light drives such as Fazua Ride 60 or even TQ HPR 50 or Specialised SL 1.2which also offer significantly less torque.
As with its predecessor, the power for the bike comes from a 400 watt-hour battery permanently installed in the frame. For longer tours, the range can be extended with an optional range extender (200 Wh / 1.1 kg / €599.90). This is simply inserted into the bottle cage and turns the bike into a full-power bike weighing around 21 kilos with 600 watt hours. As usual with Giant, there is only a slim remote and a reduced LED display on the top tube, but the system offers a comprehensive app and is compatible with common bike computers such as Garmin.
Balanced and precise: geometry like its predecessor
With 447 millimetre short chainstays and a steep steering angle of 66.5 degrees, Giant wants to give its light bike agile yet not too demanding handling. Not a hyper-modern approach with a slack head angle and super-short rear end, but a successful mix, as we found out in our test of the V1 bike last year. The geometry can be set a little slacker for a smoother ride using a flip chip.
Trance X Elite V2 geometry at a glance (size L)
- Seat tube length: 450 mm
- Wheelbase: 1244 mm
- Reach: 480 / 487 mm
- Stack: 619 / 625 mm
- Steering angle: 65.8 / 66.5 degrees
- Seat angle: 76 / 76.7 degrees
- Chainstay length: 447 mm
Now without Live-Valve: models and features of the Trance X Elite V2
While the high-end models of the V1 still came with electronic Fox Live Valve suspension, Giant is saying goodbye to this technology again on the V2. The top models Elite 0 and 1 now also come with conventional Fox suspension. A good development from our point of view - the somewhat harsh fork was one of our biggest criticisms of the 2023 bike. The price-performance ratio of the models should also benefit somewhat as a result.
In addition to the new magnesium motor, Giant has also fitted fresh in-house wheels to the Elite V2, which should be slightly lighter than their predecessors, as well as offering improved grip and more puncture protection. Despite the full carbon frame and Fox Marzocchi suspension, the entry-level price for the most affordable Elite V2 is only € 5499, although the most affordable Elite 3 model comes with the conventional Pro 2 motor with aluminium housing.
There is also the Trance X Elite 2 V2 with Fox performance suspension, Shimano SLX throughout and the new Giant SLA aluminium wheels for € 6499. From the Elite 1 V2 model for € 7999, Giant installs carbon wheels (Giant SLX), their own one-piece carbon cockpit and Fox Factory suspension as well as Srams Transmission. The top model Elite 0 V2 costs 10499 euros. For comparison: Our Elite 0 V1 test bike with Fox Live Valve from 2023 cost a whopping 2500 euros more, with comparable equipment.
EMTB conclusion on the Giant Trance X E+ Elite V2
With the new motor and new wheels, the Trance X Elite gets a few sensible updates, and Giant is also saying goodbye to the electronic Fox Live Valve system. The suspension should benefit in practice and the price will also fall as a result. The new Elite V2 is available from 5499 euros, luxury equipment with carbon cockpit and carbon wheels is available from 7999 euros. Fair! - Adrian Kaether, Editor EMTB
Adrian Kaether
Editor
