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Hey Guys, So i started a thread on here a week ago and that led me to deciding to upgrade my current 2016 Trance 2 instead of getting another bike. Currently wanting to replace the stock fox 32 ctd 140mm fork with a 160mm. Cant seem to find one down here but the new Fox 36 Performance Elite 160mm 27.5 Grip 2 or I have seen and read reviews on the MRP Ribbon. Do any of you ride one of the above or have any input? I was going to go with a cheaper fork but instead of putting cash into a new bike I'm going to get a higher end fork and then in a few years I can upgrade to a newer frame if need be and move the new fork over. Thanks in advance

Hey Everyone, I've been riding a 2016 Giant Trance 2 (140 travel trail bike) for a few years since it was released in 2016. Stay in Cape Town (Southern Suburbs) and ride everything from greenbelts, Table Mountain to Tokai. Also venture out to Stellenbosch, Boschendal, Durbanville, Elgin. So terrain from XC to a little bit more chunky. I've done XC races on it (not for time but more for enjoyment). I do enjoy the downhills and the rougher terrain, want to get better at jumping and drops and technical features as the excitement for me far exceeds racing and Xc type trails. I would like to start doing some Enduro as the uphills don't matter and I can keep improving on the downs. My plan for the next year is where this question comes in. I would like to get a hardtail or shorter travel FS bike eventually for the XC races that exceed 50km and lots of climbing although the Trance for me managed pretty well on races like Fedhealth and such. My main focus would be getting a slightly longer travel bike with better suspension ( not that mines bad but current fork is - fox 32 performance ) , better wheelset as I'm running stock Giants and more focused on the downs. I could upgrade the Trance with a better 140mm travel fork fox 34/36 or similar and get another wheelset on one hand. On the other If I had the money the Ibis Mojo HD4 looks incredible. Unfortunately it's a hard one to get hold of for a test ride so I'm going on reviews and geo which i understand is not the best way to go about it. I see it as a bike that will far exceed what I'm capable of now and I wont have to upgrade anything on it for a long time to come. I do ride smaller jumps, drops and stuff on the Tokai DH lines so not a complete novice but there is always lots of room for improvement. Lots of the reviews are based overseas and the terrain there is a lot different. I'm just wondering if I would still be able to take the bike on more mellow routes (kirstenbosch trail) out climbing, farm rides of 50/80km without it being way too much bike and sucking on anything but the downhills. I like to spend a lot of time on a bike so would like to be able to ride it anywhere. I know it wont climb as well as others but could it be too much bike for local trails and more chilled weekend rides. Any other bikes to look at, comments, advice.. feel free! here to learn from those who have test ridden, raced and tried brands I perhaps have not. Thanks in advance!

Compliments of the season to all the hubbers This is my question to all the more knowledgeable guys. I have a Giant Trance 2 2014 with a set of AC Wide Lightenings. The wheels comes with all the bits to make the wheel compatible with a thru-axle (I am currently running it QR). From what I have read on the net and saw on youtube, you do get a dropout conversion kit and axle to convert the Trance to 142x12 provided that you hubs are compatible. After calling two well known bike shops in Cape Town, I was left a bit perplexed. The one shop told me they can get the conversion kit and axle but its only for 2016 model bikes. When I told them what I saw on the net they quickly changed there story. The second store told me that the kit is not compatible with my 2014 trance as my dropouts are is made for QR only. Further investigation showed that the kit and axle is compatible with all 27.5 giant frames. But I could only find them on international bike shop websites. The dropout kit is quite cheap but the axle is expensive. So is my trance compatible or not? And where does one get the dropout conversion and axle in Cape Town or even South Africa? Or is there any alternatives? I added some pics of my bikes current dropouts. Thanks in advance.

Giant, the world leader in cycling technology, has introduced a new lineup of its award-winning, Maestro Suspension-equipped Anthem and Trance off-road bikes. Developed and tested with pro riders from the Giant Factory Off-Road Team, both platforms feature new geometry, lighter frame weights, and key updates to their suspension systems. The 2017 XtC Advanced +/29 range and the Fathom range feature a number of cutting-edge innovations to improve the XC and trail riding experience for a variety of riders and almost any off-road adventure. Click here to view the article

Hi Hubbers I've been reading topics for a while and have yet to post something but I think I've come across something that needs your help. I am looking at new hubs for a 2015 Giant Trance 27.5 2. I bought a set of WTB KOM i23 rims and am looking to build a nice trail wheelset. Some info that I think is relevant: Weight: 78kg Riding style: Trail, aggressive XC and marathon I noticed that The Rapidé Ultralight Hubs are incredibly competitively priced and I am quite interested in a set. Obviously Hope/Chris King are tried and trusted but I am quite keen on supporting lical particularly if it is a bargain and good quality. Does anyone have any experience with Rapidé hubs?

Hi there, Model Fork: Fox 32 Float Performance w/ 15thru-axle, overdrive steerer, 140mm travel. (I realize this is not a high grade fork and for a 32 at 140mm its not as good as say a 32 at 100mm) Wheels and Tyres: Onza Ibex 2.25 and Giant stock S XC-2 Tyre Pressure front 22/23psi and rear 26psi (up or down a few depending) Fork Pressure: recommended around 75 (set to sag) currently at 95 (reason why below) and shock around 155. Current weight 77.5kg 6 turns from the right (rebound) Running the stock 75mm stem with 760mm bars and one large spacer above. I have been riding for just over a year so Singletrack technique always needs improving. Problem i'm having is down a long section of ST the bike handles great with pro pedal on both fork and shock. Feeling firm but controlled in the front. Body position seems good, elbows bent, weight not too far back and keeping pressure on the front wheel. Switchbacks downhill and cornering good at a decent speed. Keep in mind I have upped the fork pressure to 95 (too high surely?) With that I end a ride with around 3cm or so of space above my spacer no big drops or anything. When I put the fork and shock into fully open here is the problem: I feel way less in control of the front end, the shock compresses pretty deep just leaning on it even at 95 psi and round switchbacks and corners it almost dives into its travel. Feeling sketchy compared to half locked (pro pedal) mode. I have come off the front a few times its dived so much into steep stuff. The bike is a 2016 model and pretty new only a few months 6/7 old. No service to the fork or shock yet. I thought of ordering a volume spacer or two and playing around with that? As I would like to setup the fork based on sag rather than over filling it to 95psi. Otherwise could it just be i'm putting to much weight on the front end around corners? or bad technique? Appreciate the feedback? Thought i'd ask here before taking it in and asking the shop. Sean Fox 32 Float Performance w/ 15mm thru-axle, OverDrive steerer, 140mm travel

Found these pics on the net of the new 2017 Giant Trance.

Hey Guys Gone over the whole Trance/Anthem thing way too many times. Ride on local trails around Southern Suburbs, Cape Town. Table Mountain and hopefully if Tokai opens this year there too. I'm still learning but like riding single track, more aggressive time of style and like speed. Would like to start riding out near Stellenbosch and other trails in the Western Cape. Riding a hardtail 1999 old school Trek at the moment and looking at either the Trance 27.5 2 or the Anthem 27.5 SX. The price of both seems to be in the same bracket. I'm pretty convinced the Trance is what I want. Have not test ridden either but will in the near future. My Question: The type of trails in the Southern Suburbs, Western Cape and surroundings from what i have ridden to the clips I watch on Youtube seem to be more XC type flowing single track, jeep tracks, small jumps if any. Would the Anthem not be more suited to the trails around here than the Trance? I don't race but would like to do some of the more chilled out ones in future for fun. Want to do the Argus but will buy a cheaper road bike for that when the time comes. Besides a short ride to the gym or shops this bike will be used mostly off-road on trails. Excited to learn how to wheelie, manual, jump a bit, small drop off's, bunny hop those things in riding I find more exciting then shooting up a hill to beat a record. Saying that I don't like a massive heavy bike that feels like a tank on the up's either but from what I have read the Trance is good up hill too. Any feedback based on the local trails. Trying not to convince myself I need more bike than I do. I'm one that watches a few Redbull Rampage clips and ends up riding a DH bike to gym on road haha Thanks guys

For 2015 Giant builds on the foundation it has laid for it's Trance in 2014. The latest model makes a worthy claim at being the true do-it-all trail ripper that it's always promised to be. Click here to view the article

I live in Jhb. Currently ride a trance 2014 X2, if you had 15k to spend would you buy a second hand anthem or upgrade the trance (fork, dropper post, xt groupset)?