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Giant Trance X2 (09) | $2852
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The Trance X2 is a comfortable cruise machine that will play as hard as you let it

BikeRadar verdict

"A comfortable cruise machine that will play as hard as you let it"

By Jenn Hopkins, Mountain Biking UK

While the Trance X frame design remains unchanged for 2009, Giant have tweaked the spec throughout the range to offer even better value for money. Scraping in at just under £2,000, the X 2 offers a smattering of branded finishing kit, to keep up appearances, and a tough drivetrain to keep you trouble-free and out on the trails all day.

Ride & handling: Balanced and capable, on both the ups and downs

The Trance X’s initial relaxed feel soon evaporated when we hit the 'harder, faster' button. Dropping an inch of bar height made an instant improvement to its balance and though the low bottom bracket height made us fear for our toes, we soon adapted to and appreciated the stable riding position.

Giant’s Maestro suspension system makes for a roundly accomplished ride that really appreciates a bit of a kick. Serving up a plateful of rubble fields and boulder steps revealed that the capable 125mm (5in) will swallow wallops without a hiccup, and it’s far happier forgiving hammed-up hammering than it is simply cruising along.

Climbing performance is equally adept, whether that involves negotiating tenuous baby head size boulders or cruising fireroads to the top. 

The reasonable weight of 12.5kg (27.09lb) makes an appreciable difference to energy levels on big days out, too. Just sit in and spin, keeping traction at a maximum, and you’ll discover the Trance’s appetite for munching mile after mile of technical amusement without leaving you utterly stuffed at the end of it.

The hydrofromed tubes may be functional, but they’re still pretty: the hydrofromed tubes may be functional, but they’re still pretty

Frame: Stiff, light and elegant with a quality shock

We’re used to seeing oodles of swoopy hydroforming on aluminium frames these days, but the Trance X is an elegant example of how to make a mid-travel design work effectively without creating an eyesore.

Manipulated tubesets make for a stiff, light frame that’s highly upgradeable. The floating pivot point Maestro suspension maximises control throughout and is aided by the Fox Float RP2 shock that helps tame a wayward back end for smoother trails.

Weight saving 160mm rotor on the rear, extra power 180mm on the front: weight saving 160mm rotor on the rear, extra power 180mm on the front

Equipment: Impeccable fork plus top kit from Shimano and Race Face

The 15mm bolt-through Fox 32 F120RL fork is bang up to date and performed as impeccably as we’d expect. The drivetrain is predominantly Shimano XT, with an upgrade to the racier XTR for the Shadow rear mech. The chainset and finishing kit come courtesy of Race Face, with a Deus XC on drive duty and resilient Evolve XC seatpost, stem and bars.

Hayes Stroker Trail brakes are light and functional, and 180/160mm rotors are perfect for substantial trail binges. Kenda Nevegal 2.1 tyres are bread-and-butter capable and we appreciated the soft compound up front, though we’d prefer to see some higher volume rubber for protection on the rocky rubble that it seems to enjoy.

he hydrofromed tubes may be functional, but they’re still pretty: he hydrofromed tubes may be functional, but they’re still pretty

User Reviews

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  • User review of Giant Trance X2 (09)

    Giant’s Maestro suspension system makes for a roundly accomplished ride that really appreciates a bit of a kick. Serving up a plateful of rubble fields and boulder steps revealed that the capable 140mm (5in) will swallow wallops without a hiccup, and it’s far happier forgiving hammed-up hammering than it is simply cruising along.

    assuming your talking about the rear travel, it is 125 or 127 mm (5inches) rather than 140mm and 5.5inches.

    personally i love this bike

    0.3
  • User review of Giant Trance X2 (09)

    Tested this exact bike model last year and it performed almost without peers. I do have some reservations: the low bottom bracket is a frame scraper. The bike just did not obstacles like a log during climbs - bottom bracket had a way of getting stuck on them. Secondly, the long chainstay length is very comfortable for seated riding but the bike feels like a spin sessions: it felt a bit dead, not snappy or lively.

    Overall however, the bike is a true master of the trail. It tracks extremely well and is so well balanced that it can make technical sections almost easy.

    0.3
  • User review of Giant Trance X2 (09)

    Agree with you all. I have the Trance x2, BB height, Solve it and get some 170mm cranks, Sorts it out a treat. Tyre heights is another way. I had Manitou Minutes with the hex bolt axle, With the big long head tube, Made for a very capable bike, Very stiff. Now a pair of Fox 36 talas, Keep them at 130mm travel. Brilliant. The new X0 2009 has 140mm fox's. Does not upset the feel of the bike at all. Much better than the Sub 5 Orange, Plus 2005, 2006 Orange 5's i had before. Lot more control of the rear sus, Tracks and climb better, Plus much faster on single track. I've rode more trails and give this far more abuse than the Oranges in the past. Still smooth and running spot on. 9 hours in the saddle doing the Ben Nevis 50 miler last year, Pure Epic and loved ever mile and minute on this bike.

    0.3
  • User review of Giant Trance X2 (09)

    This is the first 'off the peg' bike i have bought. I did so because of the revies it was getting and after a short test ride realised how responsive it was as well as feeling lighter than it's 27 lbs weight. I am still very pleased with the ride.

    The issues are ....

    1) A cheap brittle paint job. Make sure you tape the frame with protector.

    2) Wheels... WTB Laser Disc Trail. After the 3rd ride on basic cross country fields the back wheel had buckled. Terrible wheels. My handbuilts have lasted 8 years without a murmur.

    3) Can't find the love as i would if i had bought a frame and handbuilt it up myself. Will probably sell the frame in a year to get a Ventana.

    4)Still prefer Magura over Fox forks.

    Overall a great ride. Feels stiff on the flat and comes to life when heading downwards. I paid £1400 instead of £1900 for and XT/XTR equipped bike with Fox 120RL forks. So shouldn't moan but i would have changed the XTR shadow r/m for an XT and put the extra money saved into a set of better wheels if i was building for Giant.

    0.3

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Specification

Name:
Trance X2 (09)
Built by:
Giant
Price:
$2852.00

Available Sizes:
L, M, S, XL, XS
Available Colours:
White/Grey
Weight (kg):
12.5
Weight (lb):
27.09
Year:
2009

Frame & Fork:

 
Frame Material:
AluxX SL aluminium, Fluid Formed,Maestro suspension system, 5''/127mm travel
Fork Model:
Fox 32 F120 RL 120mm travel, lock out,15mm Thru-axle
Rear Shock Model:
Fox Float RP2

Brakes:

 
Brakes Model:
Hayes Stroker Trail, 180mm/160mm rotors

Transmission:

 
Cranks Model:
RaceFace Deus XC X-Type 44/32/22
Bottom Bracket Model:
RaceFace X-Type
Rear Derailleur Model:
Shimano XTR Shadow
Front Derailleur Model:
Shimano XT
Shifters Model:
Shimano XT 27 speed RapidFire Plus
Cassette:
SRAM PG980 11-34

Wheels:

 
Wheels Brand:
WTB
Wheels Model:
Laser Disc
Rims Model:
WTB Laser Disc Trail 26"
Front Hub Model:
Giant FR 15mm Thru axle
Rear Hub Model:
WTB Laser Lite Disc
Tyres Brand:
Kenda
Front Tyre Model:
Nevegal
Front Tyre Size:
26x2.1
Rear Tyre Model:
Nevegal DTC
Rear Tyre Size:
26x2.1

Contact Points:

 
Saddle Model:
WTB Devo Team, CroMo rails
Seatpost Model:
RaceFace Evolve XC
Stem Model:
RaceFace Evolve XC
Handlebar Model:
RaceFace Evolve XC riser

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