2016 Giant Trance 2

[Runbikeswim]

Place to talk about and comment on the 2016 Giant Trance 2.

 

Loved the precious two, think this model fixed some issues such as the shock and the lack of dropper.

 

[AndrewH]

The best value for money and all round trail bike you can get on the market!

[sakkiebomskok]

Same bike. Still a rubbish fork, below average shock, 100mm dropper is worthless, 2x10 on a trail bike is stupid, wheels are garbage. This is one of my favourite bikes once you have upgraded everything.

[Sarge]

HaHa,

Yes Sakkie, that should get thing going!!!!!

Sarge

[Mawbs]

wonder why they dont follow Spaz's idea and stick a pike on the front

[Captain Fastbastard Mayhem]

wonder why they dont follow Spaz's idea and stick a pike on the front

Agreed. Should be a Pike or a 34 up front. No less. Maybe even a Yari. 

 

Oh - have you seen what they are going for now, thanks to the Dollar? R 38k. Yikes. 

[s14phoenix]

So it is the exact same bike as was launched in 2014. The only difference is the tendered equipment is of a slightly higher spec or the manufacturers have updated/fixed their products or the problems with it.

 

I also used the Giant Droppers for some time and it works... and keeps working funny enough...

I have seen and heard of PLENTY Spaz droppers failing and even had a mate cut his ride short due to the dropper dropping without being operated.

 

So sure it develops and bit of play but I have not seen one fail and I have had 2 of them. The politics regarding equipment spec is always an issue and many companies put out a tender and the various manufacturers then apply.

 

The deal+spec combo usually wins out and also sometimes degrades the possible performance but here is my question... if fitting a monarch+pike would be better and it would change the price from lets say R35k to R40k it would be worth it for some.  Consider however for a lot of people that this bike would no longer be affordable and hence less people enjoying these bikes. Simple math when you sell 3x Trace + PIKE @ R40K or 5x Trance + Fox 32 for R35K.

 

It is easy for us to write a wishlist (read spec sheet) but then the Advanced 1 comes with Fox 34 Kashima etc. But at a much higher cost.

 

Anyway... They are still in my view fantastic and I loved all my Trances. They really are great to ride. Although thanks to our fantastic exchange value for money has disappeared.

 

The Giant Trance - A trail bike so good that Giant didn't even bother with aggressive marketing - The riders did through their love of these bikes. 

[MTBeer]

Same bike. Still a rubbish fork, below average shock, 100mm dropper is worthless, 2x10 on a trail bike is stupid, wheels are garbage. This is one of my favourite bikes once you have upgraded everything.

It might have some negatives, but in it's standard form it bombs through most stuff that 99% of riders will ride. (can only talk WC trails).

 

Any bike can be improved by adding x y and z, but then it wouldn't be the same bike.

 

It's a fooking great bike.

[justanotherbiker]

The 2016 colour scheme is great! That means the 2017 colour is going to be a shocker. Maybe green and pink?

[Christofison]

Same bike. Still a rubbish fork, below average shock, 100mm dropper is worthless, 2x10 on a trail bike is stupid, wheels are garbage. This is one of my favourite bikes once you have upgraded everything.

Sounds like you're describing the Trance 1. This thread is for the Trance 2, the lower priced option.

[Runbikeswim]

My opinion is cant beat this bike on price.... Its super fun, strong and "cheap" compared to the rest.

[s14phoenix]

well if you gonna change everything but want a functional bike in the meantime... Trance 4???

 

Not sure what the price difference is between the 2/3/4 but when I got a 2014 Trance 4 for a buddy in 2015 I paid R15K and paid R20K for my 2014 Trance 2.

 

From a Trance 4 you can change the Fork from the Suntour and the shock from the Giant one and then all the drivetrain stuff and wheels. Not sure what that would work out but you can at least do it gradually...

[sakkiebomskok]

It might have some negatives, but in it's standard form it bombs through most stuff that 99% of riders will ride. (can only talk WC trails).

 

Any bike can be improved by adding x y and z, but then it wouldn't be the same bike.

 

It's a fooking great bike.

 

It is. Nut giant could have made it 1x10 with 42 cog, 125mm giant dropper( giant droppers are really good value for money) and a fox 34 or revelation in front. That wouldnt have put the price up by much. the wheels i can live with. If i break them ill replace them kinda thing. 

[s14phoenix]

It is. Nut giant could have made it 1x10 with 42 cog, 125mm giant dropper( giant droppers are really good value for money) and a fox 34 or revelation in front. That wouldnt have put the price up by much. the wheels i can live with. If i break them ill replace them kinda thing. 

 

I think we will only see this level of bike come with 1x when we get the trickle down SLX 1x11 setups coming to town making it "cheap"

 

I agree on the Revelation idea... for many however this is still a dreambike to own - especially at todays prices.

 

and I like the new colours abeit it could be brighter considering latest trends.

[PhilipV]

I really dig mine. The new fox 32 has the fit4 damper that is light-years away from the old evolution ctd damper (frankly, this was a piece of poo.)

The dropper is a 120mm giant, and works just as good as my reverb on my other bike. Actually, I prefer the contact sl to the reverb.

I did swop put the bats and tyres immediately. The stock bar is 680mm, a d the tyres are flimsy schwalbe rocket rons. I now roll wit ibex tyres and a Rapide 780mm bar. Next change will probably be a shorter stem once I decide on a length, and a different saddle. I don't get along with the saddle enough to want to live with it.

 

The maestro pedals really well, and descends like a home sick mole.

If I only had this bike, then I would be perfectly fine with it.

[Runbikeswim]

It is. Nut giant could have made it 1x10 with 42 cog, 125mm giant dropper( giant droppers are really good value for money) and a fox 34 or revelation in front. That wouldnt have put the price up by much. the wheels i can live with. If i break them ill replace them kinda thing.

What bike do you ride?