Bike Review: The 2014 Giant Trance 1 – The One Bike for all?

Many bike manufacturers attempt to fulfill the demand of building one bike for everything. Giant, the world’s biggest are one of them. Their Trance trail bike should win us over, not with one-sided qualities rather with its all encompassing, balanced complete package performance. Bikes like this are always a rolling compromise as one quality always comes at the expense of another. We wanted to know where the industry leader’s priorities were and whether the claim to be one bike for everything really pans out. We sent our test riders off on our home trails, on epic alpine rides, to enduro races and to the bike parks.

Update May 2016: We’ve tested two current version of the Giant Trance. Check out our Giant Trance 2 LTD review and our Giant Trance Advanced 1 review

Within the Trance family the tested Trance 1 model sits alongside the X 29 a 29-er Trail bike as well as the more downhill orientated Trance SX with 160 mm travel at the front. For a bike, which sits in the grey area between up- and downhill there are no one-sided extremes. The Trance 1 preaches a calm averageness: 27.5″ wheels, 140 mm suspension travel, 2×10 drivetrain, a weight of 13.35 kg and a price of 2599.90 – these are the key statistics of the bike.

A wet painted, silver frame in size large forms the backbone of this Lord of the Middle. The components are served up by – you’ve guessed it – the mid-price models of the biggest suppliers: a Fox Talas Evolution fork can be adjusted in travel by 20mm whilst a Fox Float Evolution CTD shock regulates the rear suspension. For propulsion and braking you’ll find a mix of Shimano SLX and XT parts. A dual-ring compatible MRP chain guide keeps the chain where it should be on the dual ring crankset. Giant uses own brand parts for the cockpit with a 730 mm wide riser bar and a 70 mm long stem.

Uphill

With a 2×10 gear system the Trance 1 sticks to proven and classic drivetrain strategy giving plenty of gears even for the steepest of climbs. Using the CTD remote levers you can switch the Fox Float shock into climb mode and climb even standing up without bob. If the climbs are technical the open trail mode is the best compromise as traction is increased. The own brand dropper post has just 100mm adjustment range and for sufficient power transfer needs to be extended high out of the frame. Its function hasn’t been consistent and sometimes disappointed with reduced travel range and general moody behaviour.

For really steep climbs you can drop the height of the Fox 32 Talas Evolution-fork by 20 mm but we hardly ever used this function as the bike climbed brilliantly even with the fork at full travel.

Downhill

The Trance isn’t meant to be a pure race machine but it stands to reason that we could try out a trail bike in a race. No sooner said than done! The proven Maestro-suspension system lengthens the bike’s wheelbase initially as the suspension wheel curve extends backwards at the beginning of the stroke giving the bike great stability, even though on-paper the wheelbase is not especially long at 1177mm. The 67° head angle lends the bike plenty of agility and the bike can be steered well from the front end.

At the front 20mm of spacer are fitted under the stem for a balanced cockpit. If you fit these above the stem a low and direct steering set-up can be achieved which is advantageous on flat and curvy trails. Less of an advantage is the too narrow 730mm bar. If you like rough downhill trails you’ll want to swap the stock Schwalbe Nobby Nic tyres for some more substantial rubber too.

The rear suspension is linear and eager to absorb bumps; an end-rate progression effectively prevents bottoming out. The Fox 32 Talas Evolution-fork has to be set-up quite firmly in order to prevent it diving excessively on steeper descents and as a consequence loses valuable comfort, which the rider really needs at high speeds and during fast, repetitive bumps. At lower velocity the suspension is more harmonious and on moderate trails the bike cannot be ruffled at all.

Conclusion:

A bike for everything. Giant can live up to this claim. Strong on the climbs and capable on the descents. Just little details like the short adjustment range dropper post and partially overwhelmed Fox 32 fork diminish the gravity fun somewhat. If you make some upgrades, step-by-step a very capable and great value trail bike and occasional race bike could be built. If you want a versatile machine or if you’re just not yet quite sure which mountain biking discipline is going to grab you the most, you should take a serious look at the Trance 1. From all-day rides to enduro racing – everything is possible.

More information on giant-bicycles.com

Update May 2016: We’ve tested two current version of the Giant Trance. Check out our Giant Trance 2 LTD review and our Giant Trance Advanced 1 review

Words: Sebastian Gierulski | Pictures: Florian Egner

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