Titan Skyrim ST Sport or Giant Stance 29 2

[Bro Derek]

49 minutes ago, sa-shooter said:

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. 

Try this...

https://bikehub.co.za/classifieds/item/dual-suspension-bikes/879470/titan-racing-skyrim-st-sport?return_to=L2NsYXNzaWZpZWRzL2MvYmlrZXM_cGFnZT0y

[sa-shooter]

6 hours ago, Bro Derek said:

Try this...

https://bikehub.co.za/classifieds/item/dual-suspension-bikes/879470/titan-racing-skyrim-st-sport?return_to=L2NsYXNzaWZpZWRzL2MvYmlrZXM_cGFnZT0y

Thanks. I saw this one this afternoon. Sadly it's the wrong size. 

[daveno7]

On 1/16/2026 at 1:26 PM, sa-shooter said:

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.

the giant....because of the drive train...try and ride both...both are appealing...give the dealers your best offer...

[RikusZA]

10 hours ago, sa-shooter said:

Thanks. I saw this one this afternoon. Sadly it's the wrong size. 

I'm brand new to the forum and cycling in general, but I am the same height as you and ride a Medium Skyrim.  I'm really enjoying the bike. 

I bought the bike second hand, but basically brand new because it was too large for the person I bought it from (who typically also rides M frames).  I would suggest you try and ride one to confirm whether you're actually an M or an L. 

[Titan Racing Bikes]

On 1/17/2026 at 10:47 PM, sa-shooter said:

Thanks. I saw this one this afternoon. Sadly it's the wrong size. 

What size are you after? 

[sa-shooter]

1 hour ago, Titan Racing Bikes said:

What size are you after? 

Looking at it again now, I don't know. I've spoken to a number of bike shops now and all of them sugest a size large. The chart on the Titan website suggests that I fall in a large. On the Giant I am 100% sure that I would need a large but sizes between manufacturers vary so much when I looked at the numbers over the weekend. Perhaps I could fit in a Medium Titan after all 

[JoeMerida]

If I was buying I would ride them both but I think I would Choose the Giant. Also look at build Quality.

[Titan Racing Bikes]

37 minutes ago, sa-shooter said:

Looking at it again now, I don't know. I've spoken to a number of bike shops now and all of them sugest a size large. The chart on the Titan website suggests that I fall in a large. On the Giant I am 100% sure that I would need a large but sizes between manufacturers vary so much when I looked at the numbers over the weekend. Perhaps I could fit in a Medium Titan after all 

Iwan here from Titan Racing.

I am 179 and ride a large. I have been riding for a while, so I know that I'm after a reach of around 470mm on a bike, which falls between the Med (459mm) and large (481mm). I went with a Large as I would rather "fix" that 10mm with a shorter stem, than going with a 10mm longer stem on the med. 

The Large feels like the perfect fit for me. In theory, a smaller bike should offer snappier handling due to the shorter wheelbase, and a larger bike more stability at high speed due to a longer wheelbase. But, to be honest, I have found that you need VERY twisty bits often on a trail to really benefit from snappier handling, or VERY fast descents in a fairly start line to cash in on the stability of a longer bike. Just like the aero benefit some manufacturers claim for their products requires a very high average speed in ideal conditions. So in the end, it is much of a muchness. 

At 179, I have been between sizes for much of my riding life, and have always been fine on the bigger of the two options I fall between.

Where are you based? We have an ambassador based in Stellenbosch who rides a Large. I'd be happy to connect you two or get the bike from him and meet up with you to try it out. 

[Iwan Kemp]

Figured I'd post this bit from my own account.

Looking at the Stance's numbers, the reach on those is fairly old school. To get the reach I would want, I would have to go for an XL, but that would mean a 20mm higher stack height and a 20mm higher standover height - both of which won't cut it for me. The 15mm longer headtube is also something I'd rather avoid. It is easier to raise your bars, but when you have a higher stack (which the headtube contributes to), you can only go that low. A 17mm longer seattube also means you will have to run a shorter dropper post, although maximum insert may negate that. (I doubt it, though, looking at the kink in the seattube.)

So, forgetting brands and sizes, etc., if presented by the numbers of the two options, I would go with the Skyrim for the bang up to date geo, as well as a thru axle rear, which won't limit wheel and hub choices in the future.

[sa-shooter]

5 hours ago, Titan Racing Bikes said:

Iwan here from Titan Racing.

I am 179 and ride a large. I have been riding for a while, so I know that I'm after a reach of around 470mm on a bike, which falls between the Med (459mm) and large (481mm). I went with a Large as I would rather "fix" that 10mm with a shorter stem, than going with a 10mm longer stem on the med. 

The Large feels like the perfect fit for me. In theory, a smaller bike should offer snappier handling due to the shorter wheelbase, and a larger bike more stability at high speed due to a longer wheelbase. But, to be honest, I have found that you need VERY twisty bits often on a trail to really benefit from snappier handling, or VERY fast descents in a fairly start line to cash in on the stability of a longer bike. Just like the aero benefit some manufacturers claim for their products requires a very high average speed in ideal conditions. So in the end, it is much of a muchness. 

At 179, I have been between sizes for much of my riding life, and have always been fine on the bigger of the two options I fall between.

Where are you based? We have an ambassador based in Stellenbosch who rides a Large. I'd be happy to connect you two or get the bike from him and meet up with you to try it out. 

Thanks for this. I am relatively sure that I should be a large and every opinion that I have gotten has said that I should be a large, I just get anxious about choosing the correct size. I have lower back issues that I am working through so I think leaning toward the longer side is probably the better option anyway.

[sa-shooter]

5 hours ago, Iwan Kemp said:

Figured I'd post this bit from my own account.

Looking at the Stance's numbers, the reach on those is fairly old school. To get the reach I would want, I would have to go for an XL, but that would mean a 20mm higher stack height and a 20mm higher standover height - both of which won't cut it for me. The 15mm longer headtube is also something I'd rather avoid. It is easier to raise your bars, but when you have a higher stack (which the headtube contributes to), you can only go that low. A 17mm longer seattube also means you will have to run a shorter dropper post, although maximum insert may negate that. (I doubt it, though, looking at the kink in the seattube.)

So, forgetting brands and sizes, etc., if presented by the numbers of the two options, I would go with the Skyrim for the bang up to date geo, as well as a thru axle rear, which won't limit wheel and hub choices in the future.

This is very informative, thank you! I have been thinking about this aspect for a few days and I am cautious about falling into the "but it's better" mindset. At my level and experience, I dont know if I would know, feel or benefit from these updated specs for my application. I acknowledge that it certainly is better but will marginal improvements help me at this stage of riding. I've been off the bike for about 5 years and I have a bunch of re-learning to do. My main concern with the Skyrim is the extra travel that I would need to contend with on climbs. It is reportedly also heavier. On the other hand it is more modern afterall so perhaps the geo makes a difference that negates the difference in climbing ability. This is me just thinking out loud, as they say. I have a few days still to make a choice so I still have time. 

[Iwan Kemp]

1 hour ago, sa-shooter said:

This is very informative, thank you! I have been thinking about this aspect for a few days and I am cautious about falling into the "but it's better" mindset. At my level and experience, I dont know if I would know, feel or benefit from these updated specs for my application. I acknowledge that it certainly is better but will marginal improvements help me at this stage of riding. I've been off the bike for about 5 years and I have a bunch of re-learning to do. My main concern with the Skyrim is the extra travel that I would need to contend with on climbs. It is reportedly also heavier. On the other hand it is more modern afterall so perhaps the geo makes a difference that negates the difference in climbing ability. This is me just thinking out loud, as they say. I have a few days still to make a choice so I still have time. 

Travel comes after pedalling efficiency when it comes to pedalling and climbing. 

[mynameisluka]

Hey amigo,

New to MTB and this forum. I was recently in a similar situation. Wasn't sure about sizing, suspension, components, all that. Had done a lot of research and was going over the smallest things over and over. I'm also 179cm and also wanted a more trail orientated bike than a XC. 

I ended up with a Med hardtail with 140mm travel, and it's perfect. Mind you, not all Mediums are the same. The bike I got feels bigger, which is great because I wanted something to throw around. Climbs fine, but then I'm still not bike fit.

I think we tend to overthink. I was stuck on dual sus or hardtail, but thats a significant difference, whereas in this case, it seems like these two are quite similar so... which one do you think looks nicer? Go with that one. Go with your gut. 

[Bro Derek]

This is also in the classifieds...

https://bikehub.co.za/classifieds/item/dual-suspension-bikes/877777/reduced-giant-trance-large

[sa-shooter]

So I am happy to report that I have pulled the trigger on the Titan Skyrim 🙂. I'm excited to get riding and will report back in a few months with my findings. Thanks to all for inputs and advice. 

[gerriemtb]

9 minutes ago, sa-shooter said:

So I am happy to report that I have pulled the trigger on the Titan Skyrim 🙂. I'm excited to get riding and will report back in a few months with my findings. Thanks to all for inputs and advice. 

Nice! Enjoy!