Titan Skyrim ST Sport or Giant Stance 29 2

[Bro Derek]

Are Bike Addict still a thing?

This Titan Skyrim ST Sport is only 22500zar

https://bike-addict.co.za/products/titan-skyrim-st-sport-2024?variant=47993190252841

 

[Alouette3]

Chat to the bike shop, they might throw in a tubeless conversion?

Get the bike that you can ride to meets its capabilities, not land up wanting something more in 6 months time.

What is the suspension and brakes spec on the versions you looking at?

Edited January 16 by Alouette3

[sa-shooter]

24 minutes ago, Robbie Stewart said:

also, you don't have to upgrade the tyres at first. You can ride them for a month or so and then upgrade.

 

I have considered this, part of the reason that I am still on the fence.

[sa-shooter]

20 minutes ago, Bro Derek said:

Are Bike Addict still a thing?

This Titan Skyrim ST Sport is only 22500zar

https://bike-addict.co.za/products/titan-skyrim-st-sport-2024?variant=47993190252841

 

This is the one that I am looking at. The Giant is slightly less. 

[sa-shooter]

5 minutes ago, Alouette3 said:

Chat to the bike shop, they might throw in a tubeless conversion?

Get the bike that you can ride to meets its capabilities, not land up wanting something more in 6 months time.

What is the suspension and brakes spec on the versions you looking at?

I did and they offered tires off another bike that I customer didn't want. Would still cost R1500k+ for the tires, tape and sealant. The bike is already discounted to I cannot expect them to thrown in free stuff, doesn't seem fair to blame them that I have a tight budget. 

Suspension on the Titan is Suntour Zeron 140mm on the front and X-Fusion RLX on the back. Giant has their own Giant Crest 34 130mm on the front with a Suntour Raidon on the back. 

For brakes, the Titan has Tektro HD 180mm/160mm and the Giant has Shimano MT-200 also with 180mm/160mm rotors. 

Drivetrain and shifter for the Titan is Microshift Advent with Prowheel cranks and the Giant has Shimano Deore all around with Praxis cranks. 

Giant weighs less but not sure by how much. 

All this info means very little to me 😆, thus I don't know if there are improvements in the components and if I would even be able to tell the difference between the components. The Titan does offer more travel, though I don't know if my riding would require or benefit from the extra 10mm. I do know that I would like to limit the suck on the climbs though.

[Robbie Stewart]

Okay, so my new subjective take on this. 

The suspension is much of a muchness on entry level bikes. You won't tell the difference between the two to be honest. Also, as a beginner, you won't miss the extra 10 mm. And just for your information, suspension is a hindering factor on climbs. Its there for the descents.

As for the gearing. Shimano Deore is much better than the other Microshift option. It is more readily available and parts are cheap.

Brakes. Tektro as meh. Shimano are slightly less meh.

Cranks are cranks. The turn the engine and have a place to screw the pedals in there.

Both Giant and Titan are reputable brands, so you would get both serviced with no issues from most any bike shop.

Being that both bikes are entry level, you aren't really being torn either way. I was thinking you were going for the top of the range Skyrim which is a whole different kettle of fish which fights above its weight class.

My revised opinion, I personally would go Giant now.

[sa-shooter]

23 minutes ago, Robbie Stewart said:

Okay, so my new subjective take on this. 

The suspension is much of a muchness on entry level bikes. You won't tell the difference between the two to be honest. Also, as a beginner, you won't miss the extra 10 mm. And just for your information, suspension is a hindering factor on climbs. Its there for the descents.

As for the gearing. Shimano Deore is much better than the other Microshift option. It is more readily available and parts are cheap.

Brakes. Tektro as meh. Shimano are slightly less meh.

Cranks are cranks. The turn the engine and have a place to screw the pedals in there.

Both Giant and Titan are reputable brands, so you would get both serviced with no issues from most any bike shop.

Being that both bikes are entry level, you aren't really being torn either way. I was thinking you were going for the top of the range Skyrim which is a whole different kettle of fish which fights above its weight class.

My revised opinion, I personally would go Giant now.

I'm honestly kind of still on the fence. I don't want to spend the extra money if I don't have to, I just want to get back on the bike again and get something that is "good enough". At the same time, I don't want to feel like I would be missing out. I'm leaning toward the Giant mainly due to price, tubless ready tyres and I don't know if 140mm of travel is what I need right now and end up struggling up climbs. I know myself and I know that if the bug bites again, I would be upgrading to a better bike within a year, and I feel like I would upgrade either of these bikes as both are entry level bikes. So why spend more than I need to right now(rhetorical)?

Out of interest, what is it that makes you say you would rather go with Giant now?

[Bro Derek]

I'm too lazy to look, what what are the Geometry numbers?

Those will outweigh most of the trimmings anyway in terms of initial comfort and how upgradeable the bike actually is

[ChrisF]

6 hours ago, Yyyy said:

Why does Giant use a QR dropouts on the rear for the Stance
That puts me off completely 

 

6 hours ago, thebob said:

Don't sweat the details so much. The Giant is an entry level trail bike. All the reviews agree. You have confirmed it is not the latest model of the Stance, which makes the Titan an even more obvious choice in my eyes. Tubless setup is as easy as a bottle of sealant and some rim tape (assuming the tyres are compatible). As for sizing, at 179cm, I would think the Large is a better bet.

 

I currently have two Giants in my stable.  I LOVE the "TRANCE" ... was shocked to see how seriously the Stance is downgraded in comparison, it is truly their entry level bike .... the QR being one of the more visual items ...

 

My money, between these two bikes .... Titan Racing

 

YES, ride both ... find which one speaks to YOU.

[sa-shooter]

52 minutes ago, Bro Derek said:

I'm too lazy to look, what what are the Geometry numbers?

Those will outweigh most of the trimmings anyway in terms of initial comfort and how upgradeable the bike actually is

The Giant has 67.5 deg head tube angle and a 75 deg seat tube angle where the Titan has 66deg and 77 respectively. Are there any other geometries that would be critical to consider? The Titan is newer and offers more modern geometries though I don't know how much that difference would impact the ride. My previous bike was a 26er 100mm travel CX bike with a 69.5 degree head tube and 73.5 seat tube angle. Both of the above bikes are lightyears ahead of what I see to ride. 

[sa-shooter]

7 minutes ago, ChrisF said:

 

 

I currently have two Giants in my stable.  I LOVE the "TRANCE" ... was shocked to see how seriously the Stance is downgraded in comparison, it is truly their entry level bike .... the QR being one of the more visual items ...

 

My money, between these two bikes .... Titan Racing

 

YES, ride both ... find which one speaks to YOU.

The Trance is what I really want and I looked hard to find a good used one in my budget. I'll probably upgrade to it in the future but the price tag makes it out of reach at the moment. Thus I settle for the next best thing for the time being. I understand what you mean by ride both but in reality I don't know what it should feel like when you ride a bike that talks to you. As mentioned above, my previous bike really was extremely outdated, almost certainly the wrong size and probably dangerous for the type of riding I was doing. At this stage for me, when you drive a Corsa Lite and get of the option of a new Corolla or a new Civic, I feel grearful to just have the option to chose in the first place and pick the one that fits my pocket best (if the analogy makes sense). 

[IvanvRooyen]

Skyrim 100%

[ChrisF]

4 hours ago, sa-shooter said:

The Trance is what I really want and I looked hard to find a good used one in my budget. I'll probably upgrade to it in the future but the price tag makes it out of reach at the moment. Thus I settle for the next best thing for the time being. I understand what you mean by ride both but in reality I don't know what it should feel like when you ride a bike that talks to you. As mentioned above, my previous bike really was extremely outdated, almost certainly the wrong size and probably dangerous for the type of riding I was doing. At this stage for me, when you drive a Corsa Lite and get of the option of a new Corolla or a new Civic, I feel grearful to just have the option to chose in the first place and pick the one that fits my pocket best (if the analogy makes sense). 

 

Bikes are emotional purchases for most of us.

 

Very few are capable of feeling the difference 1 degree of any of these geometries makes .... 

 

Right size frame !!!

 

Right tyre pressures.

 

Get somebody to help tweak the suspension.

 

That is more than most do ... sadly.

 

As for riding the bikes .... this is where the emotional bit comes in ... despite the numbers and specs some bikes just stir your emotions, sounds like the Stance already does that.

[Chadvdw67]

The Skyrim is the better bike, and you have said that it is the one you prefer, you WILL regret getting the Stance, just based on that.

[Robbie Stewart]

18 hours ago, sa-shooter said:

Out of interest, what is it that makes you say you would rather go with Giant now?

Looking at the suspension they're in the same league, so no extra points either way. 

The difference comes in via the drive train components where the Giant wins.

But as for geometry the Titan wins the battle.

Why don't you rather consider buying a better second hand bike rather? There are plenty of good bikes being advertised on this site. 

After your last round of comments, and also reading the comments from Mr Giant himself (a.k.a. @ChrisF) I'd probably swing back to Titan 

All that proves is that buying a bike is a pretty subjective and emotional thing, and opinions only go so far. It's your money. Do what you feel is the best bet.

[sa-shooter]

3 hours ago, Robbie Stewart said:

Looking at the suspension they're in the same league, so no extra points either way. 

The difference comes in via the drive train components where the Giant wins.

But as for geometry the Titan wins the battle.

Why don't you rather consider buying a better second hand bike rather? There are plenty of good bikes being advertised on this site. 

After your last round of comments, and also reading the comments from Mr Giant himself (a.k.a. @ChrisF) I'd probably swing back to Titan 

All that proves is that buying a bike is a pretty subjective and emotional thing, and opinions only go so far. It's your money. Do what you feel is the best bet.

I have been keeping a close eye on the used bikes section for the last 3 weeks but it seems flooded with XC bikes and fewer trail bikes (in the price range that I am looking at). I don't have a problem with a used bike, just worried about the financial implications of getting the suspension looked at if a service is then needed. But I still have a few days to decide so I'm keeping my options open.