Review: 2015 Giant Trance 2

[Captain Fastbastard Mayhem]

Anybody done a wheelset upgrade?

Where does most of the stick weight lie, rims or hubs?

Want to get wider rims but need to know if the stock hubs will do.

Rims. Stock tracker hubs are actually pretty normal ito weight. Not too heavy and not super light. Around the same as the DT 350's

[Steven Knoetze (sk27)]

Rims. Stock tracker hubs are actually pretty normal ito weight. Not too heavy and not super light. Around the same as the DT 350's

So youbreckon the weight lies in the rim perhaps?

I know they are double walled.

[Captain Fastbastard Mayhem]

So youbreckon the weight lies in the rim perhaps?

I know they are double walled.

Yeah. They're heavy rims, from what I've read. I know mine (P-am2) are in the 550/580g range which is heavy for a rim in today's world

[brumby]

Giant hubs are heavy. Using the stock rims , Rapide hubs and Alpina double butted spokes I,m shedding between 300 and 400 grams per wheelset.

[Captain Fastbastard Mayhem]

Hmmmm... that's very strange. Tracker hubs are quite light by all accounts. You got any shots of the hubs on a scale for us?

 

Mind you, the rapide hubs certainly are very light. 140g for the front hub is super light, even compared to other more expensive options.

Edited January 1, 2016 by Myles Mayhew

[Captain Fastbastard Mayhem]

Oh and if you're going for ultralight spokes, there'll be a weight saving for sure. Even 1.5g per spoke (achievable) will get you a 100g saving overall on 64 spokes.

[brumby]

Oh and if you're going for ultralight spokes, there'll be a weight saving for sure. Even 1.5g per spoke (achievable) will get you a 100g saving overall on 64 spokes.

Got  some Giant hubs at work - will weigh them on Monday.

Edited January 1, 2016 by brumby

[Steven Knoetze (sk27)]

Thanks guys. Actually looking at the R25 Rapide rims. Such value for money. Not many reviews though.

[Captain Fastbastard Mayhem]

Thanks guys. Actually looking at the R25 Rapide rims. Such value for money. Not many reviews though.

Do it. If their bars and such are anything to go on, then the rims will be mega durable.

[DJR]

I asked my mechanic about the Giant hubs. He said the front hub was a very solid one and hardly ever gave issues. He would even use it to build a new wheel with a new rim on. The rear hub he said tends to pack up sooner or later, so best not used to build new a better rim on. He recommended riding the rear wheel as is until the hub packs up and then replacing it completely. Sorry if it sounds like hearsay, it is.

 

Personally, I don't consider the weight a big issue on a bike like the Trance. Burly is better in my opinion. If you want to go all weight weenie, rather start with an Anthem. 

[Steven Knoetze (sk27)]

I asked my mechanic about the Giant hubs. He said the front hub was a very solid one and hardly ever gave issues. He would even use it to build a new wheel with a new rim on. The rear hub he said tends to pack up sooner or later, so best not used to build new a better rim on. He recommended riding the rear wheel as is until the hub packs up and then replacing it completely. Sorry if it sounds like hearsay, it is.

 

Personally, I don't consider the weight a big issue on a bike like the Trance. Burly is better in my opinion. If you want to go all weight weenie, rather start with an Anthem.

[Steven Knoetze (sk27)]

I asked my mechanic about the Giant hubs. He said the front hub was a very solid one and hardly ever gave issues. He would even use it to build a new wheel with a new rim on. The rear hub he said tends to pack up sooner or later, so best not used to build new a better rim on. He recommended riding the rear wheel as is until the hub packs up and then replacing it completely. Sorry if it sounds like hearsay, it is.

 

Personally, I don't consider the weight a big issue on a bike like the Trance. Burly is better in my opinion. If you want to go all weight weenie, rather start with an Anthem.

Thanks DJT. Heard from a friend that he went through 2 or 3 rear hubs, replaced under warranty, in about 6 months.

Always thought that he was just really heavy of his kit.

So Rapids hubs are good at least?

[Captain Fastbastard Mayhem]

Thanks DJT. Heard from a friend that he went through 2 or 3 rear hubs, replaced under warranty, in about 6 months.

Always thought that he was just really heavy of his kit.

So Rapids hubs are good at least?

i would say so, yes. Kiwi seems to do a lot of research on the stuff that he imports... Doesn't sell junk, IOW

[NotSoBigBen]

i would say so, yes. Kiwi seems to do a lot of research on the stuff that he imports... Doesn't sell junk, IOW

I second that, what I really like about Wayne is that he rides what he sells! I see him often at Thaba and he CAN ride a bike ☺

[Steven Knoetze (sk27)]

Their new carbon riser bars look pretty good too. Well priced considering the Rand/Dollar.

[berg_fiets]

Here is my baby

 

 

I have done about 2500km on her including some MTB race events, so here is some "real world" feedback on the bike.

 

Geometry is good enough to do both XC and Enduro type of riding. Completed to name but a few Dr Evil, K2C and Attakwas without issues. Climbing is a bit harder than on an XC bike, but the decent abilities make up for it. Weekends I hit G-spot, Eden and Helderberg trails without any problems; thats when the bike really becomes alive! 

 

Two dislikes though:

 

The OEM Fox Evolution fork is CRAP. Fork has been warranty repaired 3 times because of damper issues. Actually waiting on parts for a 4th warranty repair; this time Omnico will be replacing the damper with a FIT damper. This will hopefully fix it once and for all.

 

Stock wheels and the rear hub. I run Onza Ibex tyres front and back. The stock rims burped quite a bit on low pressures, especially railing hard on Enduro trails. The rear hub also needed strip and regrease often enough to become annoying. 

 

Changes from Stock. 

1. Had the boys from Williams Bike Shop in Somerset West build me some proper wheels. Replaced the stock wheels with through axle Hope Pro Evo 2 hubs and Stans FlowEx hoops. Life Changing! Both my riding confidence and speed improved dramatically knowing the wheels could handle it. No burps since. I weigh 72kg and I run an average pressure of about 1.4bar. Nuf Sed

 

2. New fork! After waiting (and still waiting) I eventually replaced the fork with a Fox Factory 34 150mm fork. The difference is crazy. My very first ride after the fork change knocked about 25 seconds off my previous best, just because the damper would not seize and stiffen up halfway down a line. It's a no brainer really.

 

3. Shimano 180mm XT IceTech rotors. On the more gnarly lines the brakes sometimes faded a bit, but considering its only Deore brakes it should be expected. I only changed the rotors, not levers or calipers. No fading since. 

 

4. Dropper Post. Life Changing! Yeah, bike is a bit heavier, but hell your riding agility and stance options outright outweighs the negatives. 

 

Lastly was the rear derailer. Managed to snap my SLX derailer in half during Origin of Trails, have since replaced it with an XT and have had no issues since...

 

This really is an awesome bike. Pitty Giant skimped on some of the more important parts though. Really good value for money.