[Closed] 26" Giant Trance - thoughts?

I've got a 2011 one and I like it a lot. First bike in a long while that I've kept for more than a year 🙂 I use a 150mm fork though.

I have an old version. It's fine to ride actually quite nice but its just uninspiring. My commencal was much more fun to ride. I've since bought a different frame and the trance is under a load of boxes in the shed.
It's predictable but that makes it Meh at the same time.

I have a 2011 one, great bike still enjoy riding it. Still on 120 mm forks but now 2x9, fox shock on the rear and updated brakes

Van Halen - Member
I have an old version. It's fine to ride actually quite nice but its just uninspiring. My commencal was much more fun to ride. I've since bought a different frame and the trance is under a load of boxes in the shed.
It's predictable but that makes it Meh at the same time.

POSTED 6 MINUTES AGO # REPORT-POST

Yes it's more of a steam roller than a snappy (no pun intended!) bike like a meta (I've owned both as well).

Flip side is that it feels a lot more capable and stable at speed. Probably because it's long and low in comparison.

I've got the 2008 version in carbon-licious advanced variety, with 120mm forks and 113mm rear travel. It's snappy and whippy, rather than steam rollery. Basically awesome, lively, fast and engaging.

Hence why I'm still riding it.. 😎

Probably not much use to the OP though.. 😉

I didn't get on with the Maestro suspension.
Found it a bit uninspiring.
Saying that, others I know love theirs and if it's cheap enough I'm sure you could do far worse.

I've got the 2013, which I think is very similar if not the same. I love it, I know a lot of people prefer to run 140mm forks on them.

They are fantastic bikes for general trail and XC riding. I demoed one in 2012 at the time I was looking for my first full sus and although I ended up going with a Specialized Camber, the Giant was a close second.

I've got a 2012 one with 130mm Fox at each end.
It goes up, along and down hills just fine.

I've got that exact one, well I did have, only the frame and headset are original.
Much better with 140mm on the front.

The big weakness I think is the cable routing over the rocker. Very poor.
Wears away the fixing.

Long established, pretty much universally liked. For my first proper mtb it was a choice Reign/Trance, I knew the Trance was the better all round bike for me in Surrey Hills but ambition (ego) saw me get the Reign. I didn't regret the decision and the "bigger" bike makes a good comoanion to my HT (BFe) but if you can run onky one bike the Trance is a good choice.

OP yes go for it but keep the Soul frame if you can. It can be a project to build it up again sometime in the future.

no_eyed_deer - Member
I've got the 2008 version in carbon-licious advanced variety, with 120mm forks and 113mm rear travel. It's snappy and whippy, rather than steam rollery. Basically awesome, lively, fast and engaging.

Hence why I'm still riding it..

Probably not much use to the OP though..

Sounds like a Trance not a Trance X? Different geometry if so (wheel base is shorter on the Trance for example).

Thanks for the feedback, I was thinking I'd run my reba in the short term, but if I got on with it plug a 140mm in, guess that should make it a bit more capable and slightly slacker.

It won't be an only bike though, I've got a Scandal 29er, which I've just clicked with properly after almost 12 months, it seems to get pulled out of the shed first these days. So that's my fast, mile munching xc machine. Perhaps something a little bit more fun/wild than the trance would be better with that in mind? It'll generally get used for days away in rocky stuff and trail centres, bpw etc.

I'll add that my 2012 one is an X Limited Edition.
For the DH side of my routes I'd sometimes like a bit more up front but still happy with it.

If you decide not to go for it and its a medium, please let me know 🙂

I've had 2 trance x frames, a 2009 which I swapped out for a Commencal and then a 2010 after I decided the Commencial wasn't for me. I really like them, not particularly cool or trendy but still really good.

A friend of mine is selling his if you are interested, I think its a medium but it could be a large. With current frame size fashion you'd probably fit both quite easily as there is only 15mm difference in the TT length.

Thanks for the feedback, I was thinking I'd run my reba in the short term, but if I got on with it plug a 140mm in, guess that should make it a bit more capable and slightly slacker.

Go up a size or two and stick a -2deg headset in it with your existing fork.

I had a 2012 Trance X. Unfortunately it was grey so it had to go, but I still wonder whether I should have kept it. It's not trendy or enduro but as a bike for just having fun on it was pretty damn good. The suspension is so good it bores some people. Nice low BB but short and steep by modern standards, which means that it goes round corners like nothing else.

OP - I also have a Mk 3 Soul, and last yr got an Anthem SX to compliment it. Similar to the Trance in many ways, with 120mm up front but 100 at the back. I really like it for what I ride - xc long days, natural stuff, the odd trail centre.

I can imagine it could get out of it's comfort zone on Enduro gnarr, but so would I 🙂

I forgot to say, I had 140mm forks on mine & considered sticking an offset bush in there too.

Would have happily got a 29er one when I changed wheel sizes but they are just too ugly.

It'll generally get used for days away in rocky stuff and trail centres, bpw etc.

See I think this is the problem. You have an xc style bike you like (I'll even forgive you for preferring a 29er over the Cotic 😉 ) and you want something for rockier trials and BPW and whilst the Trance will do its not really the optimal for that. That pushes you to the Reign (if sticking with Giant) or something like a Nukeproof AM etc. I am personally happy riding most trails and my xc on my BFe (would have been a Soul but BFe frames where on-sale) and I have a Covert for "big" ( 😳 ) terrain and holidays. If you get a Trance you'll have two similar-ish bikes IMO, that may mean you ride the Trance more than another FS as it will handle the xc nicely too. So many choices !

I bought the 2012 Trance X4 frame you originally posted up OP.

Running 1x10, fitted a RockShox shock and Reba 120mm solos on.

I have used it for enduros, trail centers and the Lakes. It has been to BPW and I am taking it to Stiniog this weekend. Its a great all-rounder as long as you aren't going to the Alps or other big mountain riding.

Going to 140mm on the front seems a very popular choice and I have read good reviews on this.

Where are you getting the frame cheap from, if it's ebay or 2nd hand then look out for a 2nd hand 2011+ turner 5 spot instead. Rode both and the suspension on the turner is a fair bit better and the bushings are very solid and maintenance light.

I would have thought that a 120mm fork would leave it a bit unbalanced as well, maybe look for a complete 2nd hand 2011+ 5 spot would be better.

(I am only saying 2011+ to keep Hora quiet...)