Giant Trance X3 buying advice (now owner)

97th choice

Here's the deal, never got on with my boardman team FS as the frame set up didn't give me any confidence at all when going downhill, great for singletrack etc but when the going got steep it just felt all wrong and nervous, especially when hitting something at speed.

I've tried a specialized camber in comp and elite form and whilst I love the looks, the giant trance x3 seems a better specified bike for the money and on a short ride apart from wanting wider bars it feels like a great bike.

I've read a load of reviews and feel fairly confident this is a very sorted allrounder, but before I pull the trigger on the credit card could any owners/riders provide some feedback on how they feel it performs in various conditions, especially on downhill technical stuff?

Cheers in advance.

woodenman

I just bought a giant trance x3 2011 last week , not had chance to ride it yet this week but will be going out this weekend for defo so will let you know how she rides soon as . Oh and this bike looks the shit , has great kit and from a quick ride round block felt great . Cant wait to hit my local trails .......

Bishbosh10

I have a Trance X Ltd and I am way over biked (and under legged!). Love mine to bits.

I think the Trance has been BOTY for 3 years on the bounce so I don't think you will be going wrong with your choice.

rockmonkeysc

I had one. Wouldn't have there is much in it between the Trance and Camber.
Trance rides really well but needs a shorter stem and wider bars to improve handling.
BB30 bottom bracket is stupid and expensive.
To be honest I think it would be better to upgrade your Camber rather than get a new but very similar bike.

chez_m356

RockmonkeySC wrote:

I had one. Wouldn't have there is much in it between the Trance and Camber.
Trance rides really well but needs a shorter stem and wider bars to improve handling.
BB30 bottom bracket is stupid and expensive.
To be honest I think it would be better to upgrade your Camber rather than get a new but very similar bike.

doesn't he say he has/had a boardman FS and has tried the camber ?

rapid_donkey

I have a 2011 Trance X3.
I have done over 500 miles on it now, this includes trips to the Peaks, and lots of trail centre red routes and a black route.
Only modification has been an Easton Haven 711mm wide bar and some Token lock on grips.
What can I say other than this bike is amazing. Its handled everything Ive thrown at it.
I was 97 kg's when I got it, so no feather weight. Im now down to 85 kg's, still throw it about just as much, and it just takes it all in its stride.
If there was 1 weak point it would be the Avid Elixir 3 brakes. My rear brake has been so noisy, Ive rotated the pads numerous times, reseated the caliper etc. In the end I put some superstar pads in, but it still squals now and again.

andy_welch

I've got a Trance X2. It's a great bike but not really any different to your Boardman, so I can't see why you'd be any happier on it. Both have pretty much the same head angle and travel and will feel pretty similar on the trail. If you want something to give you more confidence then go for something slacker. Or just build your skills up. Plenty of folk ride technical stuff on a Boardman just fine.

Cheers

Andy

97th choice

Thanks for the advice, I've got a 160mm forked banshee that I use for the seriously lairy stuff but the boardman is the early version and I reckon the head angle is even steeper than originally advertised, It just tends to push your weight forward to compress the fork and gets really twitch and unsettled, I've spent plenty of time fetling the shock and forks to know that it's just the bike frame and nothing else I can really do about it, I could fit a shorter stem but then the whole thing might start feeling cramped. I've run with the bike for two years but enough is enough.

I think I've made my mind up on the giant, and will fit wider bars, thanks for the comments.

andymc06

FWIW I upgraded mine with RaceFace Atlas Bars at 725mm and a 70mm Atlas stem. I have recently upgraded the Elixir 3's to M785 XT's also. These mods took the bike from very good to a superb allrounder and very capable on steep, rocky terrain. This is coming from an Enduro to the Trance. They are known for feeling like they have more travel than 125mm front and back. You won't be disappointed.

97th choice

Cheers for that, bought the bike today and picking it up next week.

Also I'm enjoying the LBS experience so far, glad I didn't just use them and buy online.

jeannot18

97th choice wrote:

Cheers for that, bought the bike today and picking it up next week.

Also I'm enjoying the LBS experience so far, glad I didn't just use them and buy online.

If you don't mind me asking, how much did you pay and what year model is it. Thanks

JC

97th choice

£1300, 2012 model.

jeannot18

97th choice wrote:

£1300, 2012 model.

Thanks, enjoy your new bike.

JC

97th choice

One thing that also persuaded me to buy was the upgrade potential of the frame, as it's the same as the X0 and will run up to 140/150 mm forks.

jeannot18

Waiting myself to maybe buy a Trance X2 2011. Should have an answer beginning of the week. Did quite a bit of research and a lot of people seem to rate the Giant Trance (and Anthem) pretty well.
JC

rockmonkeysc

97th choice wrote:

One thing that also persuaded me to buy was the upgrade potential of the frame, as it's the same as the X0 and will run up to 140/150 mm forks.

Anything over 120mm will invalidate the warranty (I asked Giant when I had mine) but it does ride well with 140mm up front, wouldn't go to 150mm though.

97th choice

strange, that, the XO comes with 140mm forks and the standard model runs 125mm

http://www.jejamescycles.co.uk/giant-tr ... 78482.html

?

rockmonkeysc

I also had a 2011 Reign X2 which came with 160mm forks. Giant told me that fitting 170mm forks would invalidate the warranty even though the X0 & SX models which use the same frame come with 170mm forks and if you buy the frameset then you can fit up to 180mm forks.

97th choice

Well, I have her home and from the brief rides I'm very happy, the LBS did a great job in setting her up and spent a decent while showing me everything and setting up sag on fork and shock.

I can see me changing the bars and stem soon enough, and going to swap the nobby nics for high rollers, although I doubt she will see too much action over the winter.

Now, time to sell the boardman FS, can't decide whether to sell her whole or break her....

97th choice

Quick update after a few weeks of ownership, so far loving the bike. It's so chuckable on twisty single track, solid on descents and climbs well. I've had no problem with the occasional gap jump and although I appear to be using full travel it never actually feels that way.

Only downside/gripes is that the 3 x 10 set up seems pointless, would have preferred 2 x 10, and there is an annoying amount of chain slap.

tarbot18

take the outside ring off adjust your limiter, shorten your chain and put a bash guard on, doesnt take long reduces chain slap and is cheap.

97th choice

Yeah, done that on other bikes of mine. Shame there's no way to fit a stinger

peter_booker2003

you can fit a stinger, just a bb mount one.

97th choice

Daft question, but I thoughthey only worked with external BB?

sandy771

Put an slx shadow plus on my x3 and so far am very happy with it

97th choice

I'd need to swap the sram shifters as well if I did that.

The Rookie

97th choice wrote:

Daft question, but I thoughthey only worked with external BB?

No, you can trap them behind conventionl BB's, can't use with pressfit without ISCG tabs obviously!

lufccharlie

Really fancy the GIANT TRANCE X3 but specifically the spec on the 2011. I feel the 2012 and 13 are lower spec but also lower price?

The only place I know with the 2011 is Chain reaction?

Does anyone have any thoughts or recommendations?

lufccharlie

I meant Pauls Cycles!

mikeyj28

Buy the best spec you can afford as it'll cost you more to upgrade than buying the bike as stock with better parts.
if you already have decent parts to put on though then get the cheapest version and upgrade.

97th choice

2011 x3 has better drivetrain and brakes, everything else the same. If I wasn't buying local I would have spent the extra 100 for the 2011, although that would have been closer to 200 with postage!