Giant Trance Advanced 27.5 0 Review

Giant Trance Advanced 27.5 0 Review
June 24, 20145 CommentsBike ReviewFastTimes
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First introduced back in 2005 as a 100mm cross-country mountain bike, the Giant Trance has since evolved into an adept trail bike, boasting 140mm of efficient travel. Giant has fully embraced the new 650b wheel size and for 2014, only a few select 26” models remain in their lineup. The Trance Advanced 27.5 0 is Giant’s lead trail bike and its build and performance support the role.

MLandry_Giant-Trance-140616-00038
2014 Giant Trance Advanced 27.5 0


Giant Trance Advanced 27.5 0 details

Fork: RockShox Revelation RLT3, w/15mm thru-axle, OverDrive 2 steerer, 120-140mm travel
Shock: RockShox Monarch RT3
Shifters – SRAM XX1, Trigger Shift
Brakes: Avid XO Trail, hydraulic disc, [F] 170mm [R] 160mm
Crank: SRAM XX1, 32T
Wheels: Giant P-TRX0 Composite WheelSystem
Tires: Schwalbe Nobby Nic Evo, tubeless ready, 27.5×2.25, folding
Handlebar: Giant Contact SLR Composite, low rise, 31.8mm
Stem: Giant Contact SLR, Composite w/titanium hardware, OverDrive 2
Saddle: Fi’zi:k Gobi XM, K:ium rails
Seatpost: Giant Contact Switch-R, 30.9mm


History:

I have always been drawn to the Giant brand because of its innovation, technology and bang for the buck. In my stable, I have a 2003 NRS 1 and a 2009 Trance XO. I still ride these bikes and they have stood up incredibly well given the abuse I have put them through, both winter and summer. I have built countless custom bikes from the ground up but none have lasted like these Giants have. Twice a year they get rebuilt and are ready to ride whenever I am. Any small parts I have required over the years have been readily available at my local shop or after a quick search on the interweb.

MLandry_Giant-Bikes-140617-00161
(l-r) 2003 Giant NRS 1, 2009 Giant Trance XO, 2014 Giant Trance Advanced 27.5 0 (click to enlarge)


My 2009 Trance XO has been my do-it-all bike for a number of years. I also have a first generation Intense 6.6 which has served as a more aggressive all-mountain bike. It’s all but dead now and my Trance XO has been charged with tackling some of the burlier trails the Intense once did. The Trance is no slouch and has held it’s own but is most at home on the fast and flowy singletrack. Despite the added abuse over the past few years, the bike is still performing admirably.

A lot has changed since the introduction of these early trail/all-mountain bikes. When it came time for a new bike this year, I wanted a more capable trail bike, one that blurred the lines between trail and enduro.

Given the incredible reliability and countless, amazing rides I’ve had on my Giant bikes, that was where I began the hunt for my next trusty steed. I always look at what other manufacturers have to offer but they never quite seem to have the frame and specs I am after. I like what I see on the surface but quickly begin to notice what I would like changed. This 2014 Trance Advanced 27.5 0 was exactly what I wanted, right out of the box. For many things, I am an early adopter but I was not purposely looking for a 650b bike. The fact that I already had a 26” Trance made it a reasonable choice to give the new, highly debated, wheel size a try for myself.



First Impressions:

I had been riding my Trance XO all spring until the much anticipated arrival of my new Trance Advanced 27.5 0. I rode my XO one day and the new Trance the next. My first impression when riding this new Trance for the first time was that it was a completely different beast. The bike was longer, slacker and was begging to get into some trouble. The discussions about the new 650b wheel size have lit up bike forums over the past year. The difference may seem insignificant on paper but, for me, it was the very first thing I noticed when I threw a leg over it. I tried a few 650b bikes in the fall of last year but going from my old 26″ Trance to this one, with identical tires, was really a great test for how the bike would suit me. While travel on the two bikes was comparable, this RockShox-equipped Trance felt like a decadently-plush machine in comparison.

The size small fit my 5’7 frame perfectly. I have always liked roomy top tubes. With past size small frames, I have had to slam the saddle as far back on the rails as I could. With this new Trance, I was able to keep the saddle positioned in the centre of the rails, maybe even a hair forward – and still feel like I wasn’t cramped. The cockpit felt perfect with the composite Contact SLR 50mm stem and 730mm bar. The stand over height of the Trance has always been a huge plus and it is the best ever on this new Trance.

MLandry_Giant-Trance-140616-00111
The Fi’zi:k Gobi saddle with its neutral profile works very well on this 650b bike which can require more english at times.
MLandry_Giant-Trance-140616-00297
House brand components can often get a bad rap but I have been extremely pleased with the Contact bar and stem combo.


The build:

Hitting the showroom floor at $7,399 CAN, the composite Trance Advanced 27.5 0 offers one of the best packages for your money.

The bike built up beautifully in no time at all. The only relatively tricky bit was hooking up the internally routed cable to Giant’s Contact Switch-R dropper post, which really wasn’t that tricky at all. Cut the housing down to the desired length, attach the cable end to the bottom of the post and Bob’s your uncle. I had to straighten the rear rotor a tad but other than that, it was ready to roll.

The 140mm travel Trance Advanced 27.5 0 frame is complete with ISCG 05 tabs, a direct mount for front derailleur, internal cable routing throughout, Giant’s Overdrive 2 head tube as well as a custom downtube protector and chainstay cable guide.

MLandry_Giant-Trance-140616-00839
The SRAM XX1 drivetrain is clean and quiet and the clutch does a great job of keeping tension and chain-slap at bay.
MLandry_Giant-Trance-140616-00765
Clean and easy to manage internal cable routing front to back. The removable plugs make it simple to access for installation and service. They also minimize cable chatter, further adding to the silent ride.
MLandry_Giant-Trance-140616-00959
Clean and unobtrusive cable routing through the bottom bracket area. All suspension pivots are easily accessible from either side of the frame.
MLandry_Giant-Trance-140616-00701
The Trance’s carbon downtube is protected by a custom injection moulded guard.


The Trance comes spec’d with a SRAM XX1 1×11-speed drivetrain and Avid XO Trail brakes. The XX1 was a breeze to setup as were the Avid XO Trail brakes. After spending my first full season on Avid trail brakes last year, and having to hear them squawk despite every effort to silence them, I was happy that, at first glance, the “turkey-gobble” issue had been tamed.

MLandry_Giant-Trance-140616-00141
SRAM XX1 Trigger Shifter with custom colour accent to match the Trance’s look.
MLandry_Giant-Trance-140616-00772
The SRAM XX! carbon crankset is light, stiff and can take a hit. It has also been customized to match the Trance’s white and blue accents. These little touches all add up to give the Trance a very custom look and feel.
MLandry_Giant-Trance-140616-00793
The SRAM XX1 32 tooth front ring. The ISCG tabs allow for easy installation of a guard but this thing is so tough, it may not be needed. I have nailed it several times and am amazed at how it has remained intact, with no damage to the chain or the ring.
MLandry_Giant-Trance-140616-00303
The amazing SRAM XX1 rear derailleur. This group is a game changer and the XX1 RD is at the heart of it all. Once the cables have stretched, it’s nothing but crisp accurate shifting for days. Seriously impressed.
MLandry_Giant-Trance-140616-00617
The massive 10×42, 11-speed cassette of the XX1 drivetrain. The gearing has been spot-on for everything I have ridden thus far. I wouldn’t change a thing.
MLandry_Giant-Trance-140616-00517
Giant’s Contact Switch-R remote bar mounted lever. Very comfortable with smooth, predictable actuation.
MLandry_Giant-Trance-140616-00495
Avid XO Trail brake lever. The reach can be easily positioned to achieve perfect one-finger braking action.
MLandry_Giant-Trance-140616-00992
AVID XO 4 piston Trail brake. The brakes work well and predictably but are still prone to squawking and losing modulation under hard braking. Any moisture compounds these issues exponentially.


The Advanced carbon frame has fluid lines in a stealthy black satin composite finish. Giant chose to cut cost by keeping with an aluminum rear triangle. The carbon goodies list rolls on with some Giant house brand components such as the P-TRX0 Composite wheels and Contact SLR Composite bar and stem.

MLandry_Giant-Trance-140616-00749
Giant’s beautifully sculpted Advanced-grade composite with proven Maestro suspension.
MLandry_Giant-Trance-140616-00665
The ALUXX SL rear triangle which has seen a great deal of refinement and weight reduction over the years. Tire clearance with the 27.5×2.25 Nobby Nic wasn’t an issue.
MLandry_Giant-Trance-140616-00490
Giant P-TRX0 Composite rims with Nobby Nic tubeless ready, 27.5×2.25 tires.


The Schwalbe tires are tubeless ready and the Trance parts box contained all I needed to make the conversion. Unfortunately, these Nobby Nic’s had small holes along the seam of the sidewall which made the conversion impossible. The tire would not hold air. These are tiny holes and I’m sure if I let the tire sit on each side for a few days, with sealant in, it would resolve itself but I didn’t want to take a chance on ruining a ride so am still running the tubes.

Suspension is handled by the RockShox Revelation RLT3 fork and a Monarch RT3 rear shock.

MLandry_Giant-Trance-140616-00907
RockShox Revelation RLT3, w/15mm thru-axle.
MLandry_Giant-Trance-140616-00565
The extremely adjustable Revelation was adaptable to all the trails we rode it on.
MLandry_Giant-Trance-140616-00211
Looking down at the t

Kết quả (Việt) 1:

Khổng lồ Trance nâng cao 27,5 0 nhận xétNgày 24 tháng 6, 20145 Mi-CommentsBike ReviewFastTimesChia sẻLần đầu tiên giới thiệu trở lại trong năm 2005 như là một chiếc xe đạp xuyên quốc gia núi 100mm, Trance khổng lồ đã kể từ khi phát triển thành một xe đạp đường mòn lão luyện, tự hào với 140mm du lịch hiệu quả. Khổng lồ đã hoàn toàn chấp nhận kích thước mới bánh xe 650b và cho 2014, chỉ một vài lựa chọn 26" mô hình vẫn còn trong đội hình của họ. Trance nâng cao 27,5 0 là khổng lồ của dẫn đường mòn xe đạp và xây dựng và hiệu suất của nó hỗ trợ vai trò.MLandry_Giant-Trance-140616-000382014 khổng lồ Trance nâng cao 27,5 0 Khổng lồ Trance nâng cao 27,5 0 chi tiếtNgã ba: RockShox sự mặc khải RLT3, w / 15mm thông qua trục, OverDrive 2 steerer, 120-140mm du lịchSốc: RockShox vua RT3Sự thay đổi sang số bằng-SRAM XX1, kích hoạtPhanh: Avid XO Trail, đĩa thủy lực, [F] 170mm [R] 160mmQuây: SRAM XX1, 32TBánh xe: P-TRX0 khổng lồ Composite WheelSystemLốp xe: Schwalbe Nobby Nic Evo, tubeless sẵn sàng, 44.3 × 2.25, gấpTay lái: Khổng lồ liên hệ SLR Composite, tăng thấp, 31,8 mmThân cây: Khổng lồ liên hệ SLR, phần cứng w/Titan Composite, OverDrive 2Yên: Fi'zi:k Gobi XM, đường ray K:iumSeatpost: Khổng lồ liên hệ chuyển đổi-R, 30,9 mm Lịch sử:I have always been drawn to the Giant brand because of its innovation, technology and bang for the buck. In my stable, I have a 2003 NRS 1 and a 2009 Trance XO. I still ride these bikes and they have stood up incredibly well given the abuse I have put them through, both winter and summer. I have built countless custom bikes from the ground up but none have lasted like these Giants have. Twice a year they get rebuilt and are ready to ride whenever I am. Any small parts I have required over the years have been readily available at my local shop or after a quick search on the interweb.MLandry_Giant-Bikes-140617-00161(l-r) 2003 Giant NRS 1, 2009 Giant Trance XO, 2014 Giant Trance Advanced 27.5 0 (click to enlarge) My 2009 Trance XO has been my do-it-all bike for a number of years. I also have a first generation Intense 6.6 which has served as a more aggressive all-mountain bike. It’s all but dead now and my Trance XO has been charged with tackling some of the burlier trails the Intense once did. The Trance is no slouch and has held it’s own but is most at home on the fast and flowy singletrack. Despite the added abuse over the past few years, the bike is still performing admirably.A lot has changed since the introduction of these early trail/all-mountain bikes. When it came time for a new bike this year, I wanted a more capable trail bike, one that blurred the lines between trail and enduro.Given the incredible reliability and countless, amazing rides I’ve had on my Giant bikes, that was where I began the hunt for my next trusty steed. I always look at what other manufacturers have to offer but they never quite seem to have the frame and specs I am after. I like what I see on the surface but quickly begin to notice what I would like changed. This 2014 Trance Advanced 27.5 0 was exactly what I wanted, right out of the box. For many things, I am an early adopter but I was not purposely looking for a 650b bike. The fact that I already had a 26” Trance made it a reasonable choice to give the new, highly debated, wheel size a try for myself. First Impressions:I had been riding my Trance XO all spring until the much anticipated arrival of my new Trance Advanced 27.5 0. I rode my XO one day and the new Trance the next. My first impression when riding this new Trance for the first time was that it was a completely different beast. The bike was longer, slacker and was begging to get into some trouble. The discussions about the new 650b wheel size have lit up bike forums over the past year. The difference may seem insignificant on paper but, for me, it was the very first thing I noticed when I threw a leg over it. I tried a few 650b bikes in the fall of last year but going from my old 26″ Trance to this one, with identical tires, was really a great test for how the bike would suit me. While travel on the two bikes was comparable, this RockShox-equipped Trance felt like a decadently-plush machine in comparison.The size small fit my 5’7 frame perfectly. I have always liked roomy top tubes. With past size small frames, I have had to slam the saddle as far back on the rails as I could. With this new Trance, I was able to keep the saddle positioned in the centre of the rails, maybe even a hair forward – and still feel like I wasn’t cramped. The cockpit felt perfect with the composite Contact SLR 50mm stem and 730mm bar. The stand over height of the Trance has always been a huge plus and it is the best ever on this new Trance.MLandry_Giant-Trance-140616-00111The Fi’zi:k Gobi saddle with its neutral profile works very well on this 650b bike which can require more english at times.MLandry_Giant-Trance-140616-00297House brand components can often get a bad rap but I have been extremely pleased with the Contact bar and stem combo. The build:Hitting the showroom floor at $7,399 CAN, the composite Trance Advanced 27.5 0 offers one of the best packages for your money.The bike built up beautifully in no time at all. The only relatively tricky bit was hooking up the internally routed cable to Giant’s Contact Switch-R dropper post, which really wasn’t that tricky at all. Cut the housing down to the desired length, attach the cable end to the bottom of the post and Bob’s your uncle. I had to straighten the rear rotor a tad but other than that, it was ready to roll.The 140mm travel Trance Advanced 27.5 0 frame is complete with ISCG 05 tabs, a direct mount for front derailleur, internal cable routing throughout, Giant’s Overdrive 2 head tube as well as a custom downtube protector and chainstay cable guide.MLandry_Giant-Trance-140616-00839The SRAM XX1 drivetrain is clean and quiet and the clutch does a great job of keeping tension and chain-slap at bay.MLandry_Giant-Trance-140616-00765Clean and easy to manage internal cable routing front to back. The removable plugs make it simple to access for installation and service. They also minimize cable chatter, further adding to the silent ride.MLandry_Giant-Trance-140616-00959Clean and unobtrusive cable routing through the bottom bracket area. All suspension pivots are easily accessible from either side of the frame.MLandry_Giant-Trance-140616-00701The Trance’s carbon downtube is protected by a custom injection moulded guard. The Trance comes spec’d with a SRAM XX1 1×11-speed drivetrain and Avid XO Trail brakes. The XX1 was a breeze to setup as were the Avid XO Trail brakes. After spending my first full season on Avid trail brakes last year, and having to hear them squawk despite every effort to silence them, I was happy that, at first glance, the “turkey-gobble” issue had been tamed.MLandry_Giant-Trance-140616-00141SRAM XX1 Trigger Shifter with custom colour accent to match the Trance’s look.MLandry_Giant-Trance-140616-00772
The SRAM XX! carbon crankset is light, stiff and can take a hit. It has also been customized to match the Trance’s white and blue accents. These little touches all add up to give the Trance a very custom look and feel.
MLandry_Giant-Trance-140616-00793
The SRAM XX1 32 tooth front ring. The ISCG tabs allow for easy installation of a guard but this thing is so tough, it may not be needed. I have nailed it several times and am amazed at how it has remained intact, with no damage to the chain or the ring.
MLandry_Giant-Trance-140616-00303
The amazing SRAM XX1 rear derailleur. This group is a game changer and the XX1 RD is at the heart of it all. Once the cables have stretched, it’s nothing but crisp accurate shifting for days. Seriously impressed.
MLandry_Giant-Trance-140616-00617
The massive 10×42, 11-speed cassette of the XX1 drivetrain. The gearing has been spot-on for everything I have ridden thus far. I wouldn’t change a thing.
MLandry_Giant-Trance-140616-00517
Giant’s Contact Switch-R remote bar mounted lever. Very comfortable with smooth, predictable actuation.
MLandry_Giant-Trance-140616-00495
Avid XO Trail brake lever. The reach can be easily positioned to achieve perfect one-finger braking action.
MLandry_Giant-Trance-140616-00992
AVID XO 4 piston Trail brake. The brakes work well and predictably but are still prone to squawking and losing modulation under hard braking. Any moisture compounds these issues exponentially.


The Advanced carbon frame has fluid lines in a stealthy black satin composite finish. Giant chose to cut cost by keeping with an aluminum rear triangle. The carbon goodies list rolls on with some Giant house brand components such as the P-TRX0 Composite wheels and Contact SLR Composite bar and stem.

MLandry_Giant-Trance-140616-00749
Giant’s beautifully sculpted Advanced-grade composite with proven Maestro suspension.
MLandry_Giant-Trance-140616-00665
The ALUXX SL rear triangle which has seen a great deal of refinement and weight reduction over the years. Tire clearance with the 27.5×2.25 Nobby Nic wasn’t an issue.
MLandry_Giant-Trance-140616-00490
Giant P-TRX0 Composite rims with Nobby Nic tubeless ready, 27.5×2.25 tires.


The Schwalbe tires are tubeless ready and the Trance parts box contained all I needed to make the conversion. Unfortunately, these Nobby Nic’s had small holes along the seam of the sidewall which made the conversion impossible. The tire would not hold air. These are tiny holes and I’m sure if I let the tire sit on each side for a few days, with sealant in, it would resolve itself but I didn’t want to take a chance on ruining a ride so am still running the tubes.

Suspension is handled by the RockShox Revelation RLT3 fork and a Monarch RT3 rear shock.

MLandry_Giant-Trance-140616-00907
RockShox Revelation RLT3, w/15mm thru-axle.
MLandry_Giant-Trance-140616-00565
The extremely adjustable Revelation was adaptable to all the trails we rode it on.
MLandry_Giant-Trance-140616-00211
Looking down at the t