GIANT’S MAESTRO REAR SUSPENSION–NOV 23

GIANT?S MAESTRO REAR SUSPENSION–NOV 23

November 23, 2004
R. Cunningham


Giant USA went in search of a single rear suspension design to replace the three different types that it used last season. The goal was to find one suspension that could be configured to perform as well for a short-travel cross-country application as it could for a long-stroke gravity racer. After a series of sleepless nights on the computer and some real-world testing, Giant developed ?Maestro?–a dual-link setup similar to the Santa Cruz VPP. Reportedly, negotiations with Santa Cruz required Giant to reconfigure the linkage in the latter stages of Giant’s design and pre-production process. Remarkably, Giant rebounded en-force with a revised linkage that could meet or match the performance of the best players on the dirt.

MEET MAESTRO
Giant’s Maestro rear suspension does not have a conventional swingarm pivot. Instead, a triangulated swingarm rocks on a two levers in much the same way as the rear derailleur swings on its parallelogram. Giant configured the upper and lower linkage geometry so that the rear axle moves in a near-vertical path?not in an arc, like a conventional swingarm would. Giant claims that its Maestro linkage design, combined with a specially tuned stable-platform shock, accelerates without bobbing and stops without locking out the suspension.



The Maestro cross-country and big-hit frames use a very conservative diamond frame profile with a special cut-out in the bottom bracket area that doubles as a shock mount. The top tube is sharply sloped to maximize the frame’s stand-over clearance, and a reinforcement tube (ala, the Specialized Epic) insures that tall riders will not flex or snap off the seat mast. Giant’s mother factory in Taiwan developed the hydro-formed ?hockey stick? top and down tubes that many firms have copied this year, and the technology has been put to use on both models to reinforce the frames without generating the need for extensive gusseting. The end product of Giant’s design team has delivered a very refined-looking pair of trailbikes.
   

Giant will use Maestro for its entire 2005 suspension lineup. We were invited to check out three models: the four-inch-travel cross-country ?Trance,? The six inch travel big-hit ?Reign,? and the ?Faith? gravity racer. Giant’s camp was set in the verdant mountains behind Santa Barbara, California, where singletracks range from all-day epics to hair-of-the-dog shuttle runs. We were treated to a technical descent on the Reign and a cross-country jaunt on the Trance. Factory representatives from Giant, Fox Racing Shox and Manitou were on hand to answer questions and custom tune the suspension to suit our riding styles. The weather was cold, but the dirt was tacky and the riding was as good as it gets. Giant also brought some incomprehensibly lightweight carbon fiber road bikes for guests who did not feel like getting dirty.



The first lap was aboard the Trance, which delivered on Giant’s promise that it could be pedaled strongly without suffering from pedal bob or chain feedback. The initial climb was a rather steep set of switchbacks pocked with small rock gardens and recently dug rain gutters. The Trance felt somewhat light?not as energetic as a cross-country racing platform should be, but it pedaled better than most four-inch-travel trailbikes. Giant’s geometry made for easy steering and its low center of gravity made it feel very nimble over the rocks.

Pedal feedback (the feeling at the pedals caused by when the suspension tugs on the chain as it compresses) is not noticeable on the Trance?which is good. The suspension never feels completely locked out under acceleration, however and, although the bike lacks the ?ready when you are? feel that racers love at the pedals, the Trance accelerates with a healthy sense of efficiency.

Descending on the Trance was very pleasant. Its rear end is not completely active under braking, but it stays sufficiently uncoupled to take the edge off of bumps that would cause the older AC and NRS models to bounce and chatter. Overall the Trance has a well balanced feel throughout a wide range of speeds and technical situations.



RIDING THE REIGN
With well over six inches of wheel travel and a Manitou Nixon single-crown monster fork, Giant’s Reign leaves no doubt that it’s not your average trailbike. The Reign’s weight was not spoken of at the gathering, but it felt like it checked in at about 33 pounds wet. On the trail, the Reign was a serious kick in the pants to ride. Its long legged fork made lofting the front tire unnecessary unless the gap or boulder ahead questioned the rider’s mortality. The rear suspension was phenomenally good at sucking up sharp-edged bumps. So much that we went in search of them to see how great an impact was needed to level the rear suspension. Suffice it to say that Giant’s Big-drop Maestro will not shy from a bad landing or missed approach in the rough stuff.

As expected, the softer, longer-stroke Reign suspension does not pedal as firmly as the cross-country Trance, but it still puts in a good performance under power. Expect some give with each big push on the pedals, but enjoy the seamless ride you will receive if you stay seated and pedal relatively smoothly. The higher bottom bracket and more relaxed steering geometry of the Reign make it easier to climb steeper and more technical ascents than is possible aboard the lighter Trance?as long as the rider has the leg power to push six more pounds of iron up the hill. Overall, The Reign fits perfectly into the realm of a ?light freeriding? or a ski-area fun bike. Trail riders who live for the descents and don?t mind poking uphill in the granny gear will not find fault in this very capable machine.



SO, WHAT ABOUT THAT NEW GIANT SUSPENSION?
MBA did not expected Giant’s dual-link rear suspension to perform at such a high level. Short lever arms normally suffer from distinct rate changes as the suspension nears the extremes of its stroke. Giant’s design team has done a great job of masking this anomaly and delivering a competitive, sharp-performing and well-designed chassis. Maestro brings Giant back into the hunt at a time when many established names are beginning to flounder. Good work!