If the name wasn’t enough of a giveaway, GIANT are amongst the biggest players in the bike industry. With the GIANT Reign Advanced 1 V2, the Taiwanese manufacturer enters the race with the latest iteration of their enduro bruiser, which generates 170/160 mm of travel. Can the lightest competitor in the test field assert itself against the competition, or does it get lost in the crowd of enduro bikes?
15.1 kg in size L | € 6,999 | Manufacturer’s website
GIANT have been an integral part of the cycle industry for over 50 years, producing bikes of all kinds for more than half a century. Whether you’re looking for an urban cruiser or a mountain bruiser, GIANT’s massive portfolio will certainly have a suitable option for you. With the new Reign Advanced, GIANT have released the latest iteration of a true enduro classic. The Reign Advanced 1 V2 we tested relies on a full carbon frame, and tips the scales at just 15.1 kg, which makes it the lightest competitor in the entire test field. It rolls on 29” wheels and combines 170/160 mm of travel (f/r), retailing at € 6,999. Unlike some of the direct-to-consumer brands in this test, GIANT only sell their bikes through official dealers. Even if you order yours from their website, it’ll still come via your local GIANT shop.
For an overview of the test fleet head to the group test: The best enduro bike 2024 – 14 of the most exciting enduro bikes in our 2024 comparison test
The 2024 GIANT Reign Advanced 1 V2 in detail
Without picking up a set of scales, you could probably already guess that the GIANT is the lightest bike in the entire test field. The thin tubes ensure a slim frame silhouette, which is particularly striking in the head tube area. For the suspension, GIANT preferred not to experiment with new things, relying on their proven Maestro technology instead. Maestro is a twin link design, with two short links attaching the one-piece rear triangle to the main frame. The cables of the GIANT Reign are routed internally and disappear into the frame through conventional cable ports just behind the head tube. The cables are clamped securely at the ports, ensuring a quiet ride on the trail. The rear brake line reappears just below the shock, where it runs externally along the chainstay, to which it’s secured with zip-ties. This doesn’t do any favours to the look of the bike and doesn’t particularly make it any easier to service it. On the drive side, a generously sized chainstay protector prevents chain slap and paint chips. A chunky TPU plate on the down tube protects the frame against stray rocks, while an additional bashguard shields the chainring. The GIANT Reign doesn’t have a tool mount, but comes standard with a small storage compartment in the down tube. However, given the slim tubing, this doesn’t offer much storage room. The cover of the compartment is secured to the frame with a twist lock, which is the only colour-matched closure mechanism in the entire test field and therefore extremely discreet visually. In addition, the cover doubles as a bottle cage mount.
Particularly striking is the slim head tube area, which might be responsible for the lowest system weight in the entire test field.
The GIANT’s storage compartment cover is the only one in this test field that is colour matched with the frame – cool!
The spec 2024 GIANT Reign Advanced 1 V2
The spec of the GIANT Reign Advanced 1 V2 is sensible, albeit slightly unconventional. For example, the Taiwanese manufacturer combines top-tier FOX suspension and electronic SRAM drivetrain with mid-range Shimano SLX brakes. The suspension consists of a FOX 38 Factory Kashima GRIP2 fork and matching X2 Factory air shock, which deliver 170/160 mm of travel, respectively, with countless adjustment options. FOX’s flagship suspension is paired with a pair of mid-range Shimano SLX brakes – a rather unusual but not necessarily bad combination. The brakes provide extremely powerful deceleration together with the 220/200 mm rotors, and even secured the coveted Best Buy tip in our big 2024 brake comparison test. Overall, they deliver a tremendous performance on the trail, but the combination with the top-tier suspension is still pretty odd.
The Maestro Link provides plenty of traction, but has nothing to do with Italy.
The Shimano SLX brakes provide reliable, powerful deceleration in combination with the 220/200 mm rotors, preventing fatigue and arm pump.
The carbon wheels are produced in-house by Giant and contribute to the low system weight.
Shifting is taken care of by an electronic SRAM GX Eagle Transmission drivetrain, which relies on a direct-mount rear derailleur and ensures butter-smooth shifting at the push of a button. The 200 mm TranzX Vario dropper post can be inserted all the way into the frame, and reduced in travel by up to 30 mm in 5 mm increments, without the need for tools ensuring plenty of freedom of movement on the bike. The Reign Advanced 1 V2 rolls on GIANT’s in-house TRX 2 carbon wheelset and MAXXIS tires, with an ASSEGAI in thin EXO+ casing at the front and Minion DHR II with robust Doubledown casing at the rear. While this is a very solid tire combo per se, we would have preferred the softer MaxxGrip rubber compound for more traction up front. A little more protection at the rear wouldn’t go amiss either – infortunately, the rear carbon rim didn’t make it all the way to the end of our test.
At first glance, the Shimano SLX brakes seem out of place. After the first couple of berms, however, you realise how hard they bite.
GIANT Reign Advanced 1 V2
€ 6,999
Specifications
Fork FOX 38 Factory GRIP2 170 mm
Rear Shock FOX FLOAT X2 Factory 160 mm
Seatpost TranzX Vario 200 mm
Brakes Shimano SLX 220/200 mm
Drivetrain SRAM GX Eagle Transmission 1x12
Stem GIANT 40 mm
Handlebar GIANT Contact SLR Carbon 800 mm
Wheelset GIANT TRX 2 Carbon 29"
Tires MAXXIS ASSEGAI, EXO+, MaxxTerra/MAXXIS Minion DHR II, Doubledown, MaxxTerra 2.5/2.4
Technical Data
Size S M L XL
Weight 15.1 kg
Specific Features
Storage compartment
Height adjustable dropper
Flip-Chip
Tuning tip: Front tire with softer MaxxGrip rubber compound
The geometry of the 2024 GIANT Reign Advanced 1 V2
The GIANT Reign is available in 4 sizes, S to XL, which provides a suitable option for riders between 163 and 198 cm tall. A flip chip in the upper shock mount allows you to adjust both the seat tube and head tube angle by 0.7°, whereby the latter goes from a very slack 63.5° to a more moderate 64.2° in the two extreme settings. We chose the middle setting, which results in a 63.9° head angle and 77.7° seat tube angle. Although at 450 mm, the seat tube is slightly longer than average in this test, it didn’t bother us on the trail in combination with the fully-slammed dropper post.
| Size | S | M | L | XL |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Reach | 430 mm | 460 mm | 480 mm | 510 mm |
| Stack | 624 mm | 629 mm | 638 mm | 642 mm |
| Chainstay Length | 443 mm | 443 mm | 443 mm | 443 mm |
| BB Drop | 30 mm | 30 mm | 30 mm | 30 mm |
| Seat Tube | 400 mm | 425 mm | 450 mm | 475 mm |
| Head Angle | 63.9° | 63.9° | 63.9° | 63.9° |
| Seat Angle | 78.7° | 78.7° | 78.7° | 78.7° |
| Horizontal Top Tube | 555 mm | 586 mm | 620 mm | 652 mm |
| Head Tube | 100 mm | 105 mm | 115 mm | 120 mm |
| Wheelbase | 1213 mm | 1245 mm | 1270 mm | 1303 mm |
The 2024 Giant Reign Advanced 1 V2 on the trail
Riding uphill, the Giant Reign Advanced 1 V2 places you in a balanced pedalling position. With a smooth pedalling technique, the rear suspension hardly bobs, rendering the shock’s climb switch redundant. While the high front end doesn’t put much pressure on your hands, the front wheel always generates sufficient traction, even when things get steep. Despite being the lightest competitor in the entire test field, the GIANT isn’t quite as efficient as some of its rivals, like the Scott, Bold or Canyon – but then again, they all rely on gravity-defying gadgets such as TracLoc and ShapeShifter. The Giant is a very good choice for longer climbs and backcountry expeditions, especially if you fill the storage compartment with snacks and a puncture repair kit.
In rough terrain, the Giant Reign is very precise without feeling overly stiff, making it easy to hold your line without getting arm pump
The Giant Reign Advanced 1 V2 also puts on a tremendous show on technical descents, where the well-tuned suspension provides an excellent mix of traction and support, generating tons of grip, while at the same time gobbling up harder impacts. When the going gets rough, the Reign feels reassuringly composed, holding its line reliably even in faster trail sections. Here it’s direct yet predictable to ride, striking an excellent balance between stiffness and riding comfort, which makes it suitable for both beginners and advanced riders. The high front end inspires huge amounts of confidence, and helps ensure you stay behind the bars on the steep stuff. If you want to slow down, the Shimano SLX brakes pack a punch, which is partly due to the massive 220 mm front rotor. The Reign also generates plenty of traction on flowing trails, where the rear suspension literally sucks itself into the ground. However, the insane amounts of traction means a tradeoff with support, meaning that you’ll require slightly more physical effort to pop off ledges and natural kickers. Nevertheless, the Giant Reign is by no means cumbersome, and it’s plenty nimble enough to spontaneously change your line. In this regard, the GIANT is on a par with the Canyon Strive and RAAW Madonna. While it might not be perfect, the Giant delivers a solid performance on the trail, and it put a big smile on our test crew’s faces.
Who should take a closer look at the 2024 Giant Reign Advanced 1 V2?
The Giant will appeal to both beginners and advanced riders. Newbies will benefit from the intuitive, predictable handling, while trail veterans will appreciate the direct yet composed character. In terms of value for money, the Giant has hardly any weaknesses, combining a lightweight construction with a sensible spec.
Our conclusions about the 2024 Giant Reign Advanced 1 V2
The Giant Reign Advanced 1 V2 is a solid trail bruiser at a fair price. Although there are bikes in this test that offer more for the same money, the Reign impresses with its balanced performance and intuitive handling. All in all, the Reign proves to be a reliable companion for all kinds of riders and every trail, impressing above all with its grippy suspension and smooth handling – nice!
Tops
- Direct yet easy to control
- Good all-rounder
- Lightest bike in test
Flops
- Suspension lacks pop
For more info, visit giant-bicycles.com
The test field
For an overview of the test fleet head to the group test: The best enduro bike 2024 – 14 of the most exciting enduro bikes in our 2024 comparison test
All bikes in test: Bold Unplugged Ultimate (Click for review) | Canyon Strive CFR LTD (Click for review) | GIANT Reign Advanced 1 V2 (Click for review) | Ibis HD6 GX AXS (Click for review) | Norco Sight C1 (Click for review) | Orbea WILD M-LTD (Click for review) | Propain Tyee 6 CF MIX (Click for review) | RAAW Madonna V3 (Click for review) | Rocky Mountain Altitude C70 (Click for review) | Santa Cruz Megatower GX AXS RSV (Click for review) | SCOTT Ransom 900 RC (Click for review) | Trek Slash 9.8 XT (Click for review) | Yeti SB160 T3 (Click for review) | YT CAPRA CORE 4 (Click for review)
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Words: Julian Schwede Photos: Peter Walker Translation: Eric
