Giant Trance X3

rockmonkeysc

Heres my new Giant Trance X3.



Standard so far other than my purple gusset slim jim pedals' soon to be replaced with some black or white ones. I have also fitted an Easton EA50 40mm seat post as I needed an extra half inch past the original limit line.
Had a couple short rides, and it feels awesome after my old Specialized Hardrock but went out this morning to set up the suspension & crashed it. Bike is fine, I don't look too pretty at the moment though!


Spec:

frame ALUXX SL-Grade Aluminum, 5.0" Maestro Suspension
fork Fox 32 F120R, w/ 15QR Thru Axle, 120mm travel
shock Fox Float R
handlebar Giant Connect low rise
stem Giant Connect
seatpost Giant Connect
saddle Fi'zi:k Gobi XM w/ Manganese rails
pedals Shimano M520 SPD
shifters Shimano Deore Rapidfire 27speed
front derailleur Shimano Deore
rear derailleur Shimano SLX Shadow
brakes Avid Juicy 3 hydraulic 7" front and 6" rear rotors
levers Avid Juicy 3
cassette SRAM PG-950 9speed 11-34T
chain Shimano HG-73
cranks Shimano Deore, 22/32/44T
BB Shimano Deore integrated outboard
rims Mavic XM 117
hubs F: Giant Tracker Sealed 15mm Axle [R] Shimano M475
spokes 14G and 15G stainless
tires Kenda Nevegal Stick-E front, DTC rear 26x2.1"

The Northern Monkey

Nice... like the look of the Trance

WelshGiant

Really nice, i have got the trance 4, great bikes

ellsbells1973

lovely bike, white pedals is the future on white bikes, excellent saddle the gobi xm i put one on mine but definitely worth the money though
see my white bits in my sig

rockmonkeysc

I found the saddle horrendously uncomfortabue & have temporarily fitted my specialized saddle.
Think I might get a set of white slim jim pedals & some shimano SPD pedals for XC riding.

Dick Scruttock

Nice looking bike.

Once you have done a few miles on the Gobi it will be fine.

neninja

It took a couple of rides to bed in my Gobi - now it's incredibly comfy

tptvmbircn

it looks lush in white, i'm in a debate whether to get a trance or anthem!

rockmonkeysc

it looks lush in white, i'm in a debate whether to get a trance or anthem!

It took me a while to decide between the Trance & Reign. I have been told that the Trance is an excellent all rounder, unfortunatly on my second ride I managed to crack a couple ribs & remove a lot of skin so I still don't know how good it is!
Personally I would rather have a hardtail for xc riding and longer travel full suspension for flat out trail riding which is why the Trance appealed to me.
Hopefully in another week or two I can get out & see how good it is.

pte1643

RockmonkeySC wrote:

Think I might get a set of white slim jim pedals & some shimano SPD pedals for XC riding.

Didn't it come with SPD's? :?

rockmonkeysc

It didn't come with pedals at all

idiotdogbrain

Love the look of these - just had one on a test ride and really tempted.

I saw in another thread that you're 6' - same height as me - was there any particular reason you went for the Medium over the Large? I demo'd the Medium, and like you, had to have the seatpost all the way up, so was thinking maybe the Large would have been a better fit?

rockmonkeysc

I found the large a bit too long & I have almost no standover clearance. I have fitted a 400mm seat post but now ride with the seat just below the height of the original at it's max height.
I also like to be able to drop the seat 4-5 inches for steep descents which I couldn't do on the large frame because the seat doesn't drop as far as you would expect it too.
I think I am between sizes, my other bike is a 19" and fits me perfectly, unfortunatly Giant only do a 18" or 20". with a few minor tweaks (longer stem, rotated handlebars, longer seat post) the medium Trance fits me perfectly plus I have the advantage of a smaller frame thats easier to throw about.

Stevo_666

Like it. I spotted one of these in one of the Giant stores that's just opened near me and looks good 'in the metal'.

Anonymous

stealthelite1986 wrote:

it looks lush in white, i'm in a debate whether to get a trance or anthem!

Depends if you care about weight

rockmonkeysc

it looks lush in white, i'm in a debate whether to get a trance or anthem!
Depends if you care about weight

You would be lucky to get either at the moment. Giant have sold out unless you are extra small or extra large. I had to phone around several shops to find mine and that was a couple months ago now

j96_2

Sweet Bike

tptvmbircn

RockmonkeySC wrote:

it looks lush in white, i'm in a debate whether to get a trance or anthem!
Depends if you care about weight

You would be lucky to get either at the moment. Giant have sold out unless you are extra small or extra large. I had to phone around several shops to find mine and that was a couple months ago now

Humm well i'm no jockey and use an 18" in the HT catagory

RockmonkeySC wrote:

it looks lush in white, i'm in a debate whether to get a trance or anthem!

It took me a while to decide between the Trance & Reign. I have been told that the Trance is an excellent all rounder, unfortunatly on my second ride I managed to crack a couple ribs & remove a lot of skin so I still don't know how good it is!
Personally I would rather have a hardtail for xc riding and longer travel full suspension for flat out trail riding which is why the Trance appealed to me.
Hopefully in another week or two I can get out & see how good it is.

Yes thats what i was thinking more travel on the trance and just as good as climber as the Anthem, but as above humm well may have to look at alternatives!

rockmonkeysc

I'm all fixed now. Broken bones healed up (sort of).
I had one of those rides where everything just came together and felt good. I got the suspension set up nicely & realised that braking in to turns is not a good idea!
I can carry a lot more speed than I expected when descending & seem to really be able to chuck it around. I had a whole heap of fun riding the local singletrack with lots of man made features to play on. The trance is also very good at climbing, even without pro-pedal which I don't feel the bike needs at all.
Not sure what to do with my hardtail now, the Trance is better at everything except riding on tarmac which is no fun anyway.
Maybe it's time to get a hardcore hardtail frame and build something 'different' as my second bike to play on the local DH/FR tracks.

tptvmbircn

RockmonkeySC wrote:

I'm all fixed now. Broken bones healed up (sort of).
I had one of those rides where everything just came together and felt good. I got the suspension set up nicely & realised that braking in to turns is not a good idea!
I can carry a lot more speed than I expected when descending & seem to really be able to chuck it around. I had a whole heap of fun riding the local singletrack with lots of man made features to play on. The trance is also very good at climbing, even without pro-pedal which I don't feel the bike needs at all.
Not sure what to do with my hardtail now, the Trance is better at everything except riding on tarmac which is no fun anyway.
Maybe it's time to get a hardcore hardtail frame and build something 'different' as my second bike to play on the local DH/FR tracks.

may i suggest a full rigid? there are bloody good fun!

rockmonkeysc

A few minor tweaks & it's great. Been having a play on locah DH trails, just the steady bits. It seems to respond well to lots of speed! Suspension is great it just never seems to bottom out, Juicy 3 breaks work well even though everyone tells me they are rubbish. I just need to learn to ride the bike to it's full potential.
We are off to Afan in a couple weeks, I really want to ride The Wall

[/img]http://www.flickr.com/photos/26143964@N04/4869372474/[img][/img]

kinelljohn

pte1643 wrote:

RockmonkeySC wrote:

Think I might get a set of white slim jim pedals & some shimano SPD pedals for XC riding.

Didn't it come with SPD's? :?

Mine came with some really naff spuds (black/make unknown) which I changed for White Shimano. Not only do they work properly they look great too

rockmonkeysc

After 6 months riding and steady tweeking I have now got my Trance pretty much exactly how I want it.
Upgrades so far are:
FSA Gravity bars 25 rise 710 wide
Bontrager XR4 tyres
Easton EA50 seat post
Charge Spoon saddle
Straitline bash guard with original deore granny & middle ring

It rides extremely well and is awesome for trail centres & long rides over the Quantocks and local single track and the mendip downhill trails.

tptvmbircn

looks very nice mate!

rockmonkeysc

Bugger. Looks like I messed up posting a photo again!
Starting to build my new project (On One Summer Season glow in the dark DH fun bike) after xmas, will try to get the photo's right for that.

coxy17

rockmonkeysc

Cool, how did you do that?

rockmonkeysc

Unfortunately this bike is now for sale.
All standard other than Charge Spoon saddle, FSA Gravity 720mm bars, Straitline bash guard & Bontrager XR4 tyres.
Please contact me if you are interested.