Long-Term Review: Giant Trance X Advanced

Giant’s Trance X has been a favorite among aggressive trail riders for quite some time, but it’s been a couple of years since the frame has seen an update. With 135mm of rear travel, the previous bike was a versatile piece in a rider’s toolkit, but the engineers at Giant wanted to pull even more performance and versatility out of the platform. The newest iteration of the Trance X aims to deliver on that goal. Now, with 140mm of rear travel and the same 150mm fork, Giant’s new mid-travel platform packs multiple points of adjustability into a durable and capable all-mountain machine.

FRAME

Giant offers the new Trance X in both carbon and aluminum frames to hit a range of rider preferences and price ranges, which they produce in their own composite and aluminum facilities. Our test Trance X Advanced 0 is the top-spec carbon version, which is currently only available in medium and large frame sizes. On the carbon frames, the front triangle and rear swingarm are made from Giant’s Advanced Composite and monocoque construction to tune the stiffness-to-weight and maintain their distinctive ultra-responsive ride quality. The upper rocker arm is made from Giant’s Advanced Forged Composite using a high-pressure molding process, which they claim produces a rocker arm that is lighter, stiffer and stronger than an aluminum link.

The Trance X has standard Boost spacing front and rear (12x148mm in the rear, 15x110mm up front), as well as updated and more comprehensive rubber chainstay and downtube protection to fend off rock strikes and abuse from the shuttle truck.
The new Trance X now includes integrated in-frame storage on both composite and alloy frames. The lid is secured with a dial-like lock, and it includes a typical zippered pouch that can hold tools, spares and snacks.

Looking at the head tube, Giant integrates in-frame cable housing (no headset routing here), and their three-position-reach headset adjusts the flip chip to allow for +/- 5mm of adjustment and help dial in the cockpit feel. The neutral 0mm cups come installed out of the box (giving our size large a 480mm reach), and the +/- 5mm ones are included with the bike’s accessories.

Another flip chip located at the Maestro 3 link allows for three different geometry settings (Low, Mid and High) while also letting the Trance X frame run either a 29- or 27.5-inch rear wheel, though it comes stock with dual 29-inch wheels. The three-position chip lets the head tube angle range from 64.4 degrees to 65.1 degrees, while the seat tube angle ranges from 76.8 degrees to 77.5 degrees. Chainstay length remains consistent across both frame sizes at 439mm (Mid geometry setting).

SUSPENSION

Like almost every other full-suspension bike from Giant, the Trance X uses their ubiquitous Maestro 3 suspension system that uses a swingarm and two co-rotating links to create a single floating pivot point and drive the vertically mounted rear shock. The lower shock-eyelet hardware of the 185/52.5mm trunnion-mounted shock also doubles as the mount for the lower link to connect to the front triangle. The leverage ratio remains progressive but fairly linear throughout the rear wheel’s travel to prevent any harshness, and anti-squat sits between 105 and 85 percent to let the suspension remain active but not overly soft while pedaling. Anti-rise hovers between 55 and 60 percent to help combat brake dive when slowing things down on rough and rowdy trails.

Up front, there is a Fox 36 Factory fork with 150mm of travel and their Grip 2 damper. We also tested it with the new 160mm Grip X-equipped 36 fork for a few rides, but the majority of our time was spent with the stock fork. Like other Grip 2 forks from Fox, there are independent adjustments for high- and low-speed compression and rebound. Out back, there’s a Fox Float X Factory shock with low-speed compression and rebound adjustments, and a two-position climb switch to firm things up.

COMPONENTS

Giant offers two Trance X Advanced build options ranging from $8000 for the top-of-the-line Advanced 0 carbon model to $700 for the Advanced 1 build, which comes with Fox Performance Elite suspension and SRAM GX Transmission.

The Trance X Advanced 0, which we tested, is Giant’s top-tier build and features a smattering of high-end and durable components. Interestingly, there’s a mix of SRAM and Shimano parts. The XO T-Type Transmission worked flawlessly, per usual, and seemed to shift even more smoothly while under power, while the Shimano XT M8120 brakes paired with their RT-66 203mm/180mm rotors gave us plenty of stopping power with minimal brake fade.

Giant’s in-house TRX carbon wheels were stiff and lightweight, yet they remained true throughout our testing period. The spec’d 2.5-inch-wide Maxxis Minion DHF up front and 2.4-inch Dissector in the rear gave us a stellar balance of traction and rolling efficiency, though we could feel the limits of the rear tire when the trail chunk started to pick up.

Looking at the cockpit, the integrated Giant Contact SLR handlebar and stem weren’t exactly our cup of tea (more on that later). The 35mm bars come uncut at 800mm wide with 20mm of rise and are wrapped in Giant’s Tactal Pro grips, while the stem is 50mm in length on our large frame. Most of our testing was done with a traditional bar and stem, though we did take a few rides with the integrated setup to get a feel for the stock bike. Our test riders were fans of the Giant Romero SL saddle and felt it gave a good balance of cushion, comfort, and support.

 

THE BUILD

As with many bike companies nowadays, Giant sells consumer-direct and shipped us our Trance X Advanced 0 as any customer would receive it. The packaging was effective, keeping everything safe and tidy, and the build was simple; all we had to do was install the front wheel, handlebars, and dropper post (the cable housing was pre-routed). The brakes and drivetrain were well-tuned and didn’t need any additional attention or adjusting throughout our testing period.

CLIMBING

The Trance X’s lightweight frame and carbon wheels, combined with the Maestro suspension design, gave it a lively and efficient nature when heading uphill. The acceleration is snappy, and we never felt inclined to flip the climb switch on the Float X shock, even on steep and steady fire roads.

Whether we were out of the saddle and hammering on the pedals or meandering up a technical singletrack climb, the Maestro suspension remained active and compliant to give us loads of grip, yet we felt like there was a supportive platform at the sag zone that kept the bike efficient and eager to jump forward. We didn’t feel like there was wasted energy, and everything was translating from the pedals to the wheels. Speaking of which, the TRX carbon wheels emphasized this efficient feeling even more. Their stiff and lightweight nature made them eager to accelerate and punch up the next section of the trail. As always, the SRAM XO Transmission worked flawlessly and never needed any attention, aside from the occasional charging of the battery.

The 77.2-degree seat tube angle and 480mm reach felt balanced, putting us in a comfortable position to take on some fairly long days in the saddle without pitching our weight too far forward or aft. When things got steep, we were able to shift our weight over the handlebars and front wheel without losing traction out back.

Tight and technical climbs were handled without issue, and we were able to easily change direction around rocks and roots or utilize the occasional nose pivot. Overall, the Trance X is an eager climber and would be a versatile weapon on long, meandering days in the backcountry.

DESCENDING

While the Trance X’s lightweight and snappy nature was nothing but positive on the climbs, it did cause us to get into a couple of hairy situations on the descents. When things were smooth and flowy, the bike was a dream and a perfect balance of predictability and playfulness. Pumping and manualing your way through rollers felt second nature, and every little bump turned into a poppy side hit. It allowed us to use every bit of the trail in creative ways instead of monster-trucking its way through.

However, when the trail chatter picked up and some tech was thrown into the mix, the bike could feel a little skittish and not as planted as we wanted.  The bike seemed to want to bounce around obstacles instead of plowing through them. Adjusting our suspension settings (mainly backing off the compression on both the fork and shock) helped the bike feel more planted, but there were some trails that proved to be a bit much for the lightweight, all-mountain platform.

That’s not to say the bike is lacking, but the 140mm of rear suspension does have its limits and probably wouldn’t be the bike of choice when lining up for an enduro race. It is a super-fun bike for riding flowy trails and playful jump lines at the bike park, but we think it would find its limits pretty quickly if you decide to drop into the technical or downhill racetracks. We would say that the bike feels very balanced overall, which allows it to be predictable and able to be placed exactly where you want it on flowy trails, jumps and when slapping your way through corners.

WHAT DID WE LOVE?

With good reason, in-frame storage is becoming more ubiquitous on both carbon and aluminum mountain bike frames, and Giant’s iteration is executed very well. The dial-style lock is easy to use with or without gloves and effectively secures the lid without any kind of rattling. There’s plenty of room for tools and trailside goodies.

We love the reach adjust headset and wish more bikes came with it. It allows the rider to really fine tune the fit and feel of the bike, or just radically change it. Combined with the flip chip, we were able to take this bike from a stable speed carrying long 29er to a short, nimble mixed wheel setup that some of our test riders loved.

Additionally, we appreciate that Giant went with traditional cable routing through the side of the head tube instead of headset routing, which may be a tad neater, but we don’t think the additional work and maintenance are worth it.

WHAT DID WE HATE?

An issue we had with the Trance X straight away was with the integrated bar and stem combo. We can see the appeal for certain types of riders, but we preferred running our own stem and higher-rise 35mm bars over the one-piece combo. Even though it is angle adjustable via wedge shaped shims, the bars were a bit too flat for our preference, and the integration with the stem made the cockpit feel too stiff. Our test riders just couldn’t get comfortable with it.

We also experienced a creak from the rear end after a handful of rides. We couldn’t track down the specific culprit, but cleaning and re-greasing the pivot points and torquing the bolts to spec in the rear triangle seemed to solve the issue and quiet things down.

Giant only offers this bike in two frame sizes leaving those at the extreme ends of the spectrum out in the cold. That said, the adjustable reach headset gives these two sizes a large range of reach options so they cover a bigger range of rider sizes than most bikes.

BOTTOM LINE

Giant has had historical success with its Trance platform over the years, and the newest iteration only improves on a good thing. It feels like a true trail bike through and through, and thrives on flowy trails, jumps, and lighter tech.

Balanced geometry and multiple points of adjustment let the bike adapt to individual riders and riding styles without affecting its spry and playful nature. If you enjoy spending your days getting lost on fire roads looking for singletrack or spending hours with your riding crew in the backcountry, the Trance X Advanced 0 could be the golden ticket.

GIANT TRANCE X ADVANCED 0

www.giant-bicycles.com

CATEGORY: Trail

SUSPENSION: 150mm (front), 140mm (rear)

WHEEL SIZE: 29″

Price: $8,000
Weight: 30.4 pounds (without pedals)
Sizes: MD, LG (tested)
Frame tested: Advanced-grade composite
Shock: Fox Float X Factory (185mm x 52.5mm)
Fork: Fox 36 Factory, 150mm travel
Wheelset: Giant TRX Carbon WheelSystem
Tires: Maxxis Minion DHF (29″ x 2.5″, MaxxTerra, EXO), Maxxis Dissector (29″ x 2.4″, 3C MaxxTerra)

Seatpost: Contact Switch AT dropper (170mm travel)
Saddle: Giant Romero SL
Handlebar: Giant Contact SLR Trail integrated, composite
Stem: Giant Contact Integrated SLR Trail
Grips: Giant Tactal Pro single lock-on
Headset: Giant Reach Adjust – 0mm, +/- 5mm
Brakes: Shimano Deore XT BR-M8120
Rotors: Shimano RT-66 (203mm front, 180mm rear)
Rear derailleur: SRAM XO Eagle AXS, T-Type
Shifters: SRAM AXS Pod
Crankset: SRAM XO, 170mm
Bottom bracket: SRAM DUB, Press Fit
Cassette: SRAM XO, 10×52
Chain: SRAM XO
Chainrings: SRAM XO, 30t

GEOMETRY SIZE LARGE

Head tube angle: 64.4°-65.1°
Effective seat tube angle: 76.8°-77.5°
Reach: 476mm-484mm (18.7″-19.1″)
Stack: 628mm (24.7″)
Bottom bracket height: 348mm (13.7″)
Chainstay length: 438mm-440mm (17.2″-17.3″)
Wheelbase: 1245mm-1246mm (49″-49.1″)