Giant XTC Composite

Bazzowmb

Got a chance to buy a friends XTC composite frame to upgrade my existing Carrera Kraken hardtail (frame is the only original part left!).

My normal riding is a 1 - 3 hr XC quick blast around the chilterns (no actual racing) with the occasional all day event such as the South Downs all in an attempt to stay reasonably fit.

Would this be a practical frame for this type of riding? and

Is carbon more susceptible to damage if you have a spill?

Many thanks Baz

stevieboy

Carbon is very strong but lets you know when it fails. However i've been abusing my Scale for a year now over rocks etc with no issues, i've even wrote a rear wheel off and cracked a helmet on it without doing any damage.

If I were you i'd be asking your friend if he'd be up for sorting out any future warranty issues as if he owned the bike still.

Otherwise, personally I wouldn't buy a second hand carbon frame/bike unless I knew a friendly LBS who'd honour the warranty.

Other than that the XTC is a nice frame that will eat the type of riding you do for breakfast.

Bazzowmb

Cheers Stevieboy appreciate the advice I quite often get large stones/small rocks thrown up onto the underside of the frame around here so its reassuring to know the hits your bike has sustained without any problems.

Derby_Dave

I have a giant XTC carbon and love it to bits !!
I was also worried about stones being thrown up onto the downtube and have put a protective strip of helicopter tape on the forward facing part of the downtube.

Go for it !
Dave

eddyesi

My XTC was 3yrs old when i bought it, had stonechips all over it, a couple of chainsuck marks, a cip in the top tube, and i rubbed into the rear stays with fat tyres.

Worked fine for my 15st frame riding hard for 18mth with no issues, loved twisty singltrack, but was a bit too flexy when really pushing

Only changed to get longer travel and a bit more stifness as i was pushing the limits of what an XTC is really designed for, so now have a Pace 303, and miss the extra comfort, nut still have carbon bars, seatpost and forks, all running fine after years of riding

Waiting for a sweet 120mm carbon frame to come along, only 1 out there at the moment