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Morning all,
I'm really tempted by the new Giant Trance 29er (the 2019 version) after seeing some good deals on the alloy versions in the sales. Would love to hear some experiences from forum owners. I'm specifically looking at the top end alloy model (the orange one with SRAM Eagle GX).
I'd be using it as an all day trail bike at places like Gisburn / Dalby Forest so more pedally red run stuff rather than steep and technical trails.
Currently riding a 2017 27.5 Anthem which is great for the general XC riding I do mid-week.
Cheers!
Demoed one for a couple of days. Really liked it. I had a Large and I'm 174cm, wouldn't of said it was huge on me, and that was with quite a long stem (60mm?). A medium would of been too small I think.
Pedaled and accelerated well. Rear suspension was good, firm but still took the sting out of most stuff. Pretty light and all the parts were good. That wasn't the top end model either.
This all sounds super familiar
I have a 650b Anthem from 2018, the year with 130mm pikes and there was something about the Trance that caught my eye so I booked a demo, it was amazing. Great pedalling, firm but just sensitive enough and the geometry felt good, however I still have my Anthem and haven't order a Trance because I felt that for most of my riding the Anthem was more fun, a bit more playful, a bit slower on the rough stuff but for me the Trance felt like a bit of a sled compared to the Anthem. My biking sounds similar to yours, local woods, blue/red pedally trail centre stuff.
Anthem sounds like more fun for the type of riding you're doing - it definitely has its limitations but you won't find them on pedally red run stuff. It rules that sort of riding, if anything.
OTOH trance is clearly a great bike and will open up your riding more - anthem in the Lakes, say, can feel well out of its depth on some of the harder descents.
Hmm, I have a 2017 Anthem with 130mm forks...... I would say the 2019 Trance is probably to similar to the Anthem, albeit with 29" wheels. The Anthem is far more capable than its intended. I took it to Morzine for a week and it did everything I needed it to. (not jumping!) The Trance does look like a great all day bike though.
Trance 29er is 130mm/115mm. I've had a 27.5 Trance which is 150mm/140mm and the 29er feels firmer and more "racey".
For trail centre stuff I think it would be excellent.
Great info so far, thanks to all. I need to sort a proper test ride with my local Giant dealer as I'm now wondering whether the 27.5 Trance might be a better second bike i.e. less crossover with my Anthem which I intend on keeping.
I'm thinking about getting rid of my Anthem and getting the new Trek fuel EX, think this would cover all my riding a bit better than the Anthem does.
I've had a Trance 29, the carbon green one, since the end of October last year. I've done over 1100 miles since then on it, all around the Peak District, first ride was the Long Mynd.
It's wonderful, great for all day rides but also not afraid when I throw it down some steep stuff. OK I have to go a bit slower than when I'm on my Reign, but it copes.
It replaced a Kona Hei Hei Trail 29er that replaced an Anthem X29 so I'm fully converted to the benefits of a short-travel 29er for at least 1/2 of my riding.
I am a bit of a Giant fanboy, but I wouldn't hesitate to recommend it to anyone.
I bought one in September last year - as soon as it came into the shops.
Replaced a 2015Â Trance 27.5 stolen by my son.
It's an excellent bike: rolls along nicely and eats obstacles.
First big ride on it in the Ochils I cleaned a steep switchback climb that I hadn't ridden for years.
I tend to prefer my hardtail for local skooshes - moved to a 29er Stanton Sherpa because the 29er Trance was so awesome but have still done 700 miles on it without really trying.
Only problem I have had is that the freehub exploded in May this year. Shop replaced it there and then.