Giant Trance advice

phillipmeredith

Hi everyone, I am having a bit of a dilemma and wondered if anyone had an opinion on the subject. I have always been into biking but had a 4/5 year break from it and I am only just getting back into it.

I was just about ready to purchase a 2013 Giant Trance X3 as it seems like a great all round bike for my needs. You know how this story goes, I started reading all reviews and forums and began wondering, are brakes going to be good enough, I wonder if the Giant own brand rear shock is decent, should I go for the next model up?

So I started looking at the 2012 Giant Trance X2 and the 2013 version which are around £1400 at the moment, (£500 more)... and to make matters worse, the 27.5 trance 2 jsut came out at £1900 so ive been looking at that!

So my question is, for weekend riding, for fun and fitness is a Giant Trance X3 going to cut it or is it worth the extra for the other bikes. What would you go for?

http://www.paulscycles.co.uk/m1b0s1p494 ... CE-X3-2013

http://www.paulscycles.co.uk/m1b0s1p442 ... CE-X2-2012

http://www.paulscycles.co.uk/m1b0s1p494 ... E-X-2-2013 (Can get this for less than here (1400) but cant find link atm

http://www.ashcycles.com/site/giant-trance-27.5-2-2014

Thanks in advance 8)

brucie45

For the type of riding you do the Trance x3 2013 would definatley cut it.

Going up in the range you will get better quality components an lower weights but that will be with a higher price. At the end of the day you can always upgrade parts you are not happy with and also when things break and wear out.

thelonegroover

My 14 year old son has the 2013 Trance X2, great bike, however 27.5 is the future but I'm not sure it's worth an extra £500.

phillipmeredith

I don't mind spending the money if it is worth it, but I just can't see the added value for what I'm going to be doing. The only thing that really worried me was the forks on the X3. Are the rox shox up to the job?

97th choice

I've got the 2012 x3 (see link in my sig) , and love it. If you can I would def go for the higher version as you are getting better quality drivetrain as well as forks.

However if you are on a budget the 2013 X3 is still a great bike, and the frame is identical so you can upgrade it over time. But there is absolutely no need to.

As for 650b, my 26" trance with 2.35 schwalbe hans dampf tyres measures just over 27"

thelonegroover

phillipmeredith wrote:

I don't mind spending the money if it is worth it, but I just can't see the added value for what I'm going to be doing. The only thing that really worried me was the forks on the X3. Are the rox shox up to the job?

The shock on the X3 is probably the weak link, it's not as good and heavier.

phillipmeredith

Thelonegroover wrote:

phillipmeredith wrote:

I don't mind spending the money if it is worth it, but I just can't see the added value for what I'm going to be doing. The only thing that really worried me was the forks on the X3. Are the rox shox up to the job?

The shock on the X3 is probably the weak link, it's not as good and heavier.

Its difficult to figure out if thats actually going to matter though to someone like me, I appreciate that it is worse component but wondering if i will actually notice day to day riding or if its a bit of a on paper its better situation.

rockmonkeysc

I have had a Trance X and im getting a new one next year. Personally I would go for the X2 for the better spec all round.
It's also worth looking at the Anthem X, quite similar and very good.

chrisw333

I think Giant downgraded specs somewhat in 2013, so you may find a 2012 X3 is better that a 2013 one (prob more akin to the 2013 X2), if you can still get it.

Personally I'd get the best you can afford - the 2012 X2 or X3 if you can or the 2013 X2.

I have the 2013 X2 and think the upgrade over the X3 is worth it, particularly fork & shock. The 2012 X2 is probably better still.

RandG

I'm going to throw it out there that the trance is way more than you need by the sounds of what you're going to be using it for. 140mm travel...like do you really need that, with a pretty slack head ??

rockmonkeysc

They changed the range in 2013 and dropped a model. Each model went down a number so a 2013 X2 is equivalent to a 2012 X3 in spec and price.
The Trance is 125mm travel with a 69 degree head angle. The 2014 bikes will be 140mm but still not all that slack.
It's a great all round bike. Light enough for all day xc but tough enough for when you want to go banzai.

thelonegroover

RockmonkeySC wrote:

They changed the range in 2013 and dropped a model. Each model went down a number so a 2013 X2 is equivalent to a 2012 X3 in spec and price.

Thats not stricktly true, the brakes and mechs are better on the 2013 X2 than the 2012 X3. I'd say the 2013 X2 is closer to the 2012 X2.

The Trance is 125mm travel with a 69 degree head angle. The 2014 bikes will be 140mm but still not all that slack.
It's a great all round bike. Light enough for all day xc but tough enough for when you want to go banzai.

chrisw333

RockmonkeySC wrote:

They changed the range in 2013 and dropped a model. Each model went down a number so a 2013 X2 is equivalent to a 2012 X3 in spec and price.

The Trance is 125mm travel with a 69 degree head angle. The 2014 bikes will be 140mm but still not all that slack.
It's a great all round bike. Light enough for all day xc but tough enough for when you want to go banzai.

Thelonegroover wrote:

Thats not stricktly true, the brakes and mechs are better on the 2013 X2 than the 2012 X3. I'd say the 2013 X2 is closer to the 2012 X2.

bloomin eck, the brakes on the 2012 X3 must have been shite then. The brakes on the 2013 X2 are Alvio level - they're ok, but not great for a bike at that price point in my book.

RandG

The 2014 Trance 27.5 has 67 degree head with 140 forks where the 29er has 69.5 angle with 120 forks

rockmonkeysc

RandG wrote:

The 2014 Trance 27.5 has 67 degree head with 140 forks where the 29er has 69.5 angle with 120 forks

The original question was about the 2013 model

97th choice

chrisw333 wrote:

RockmonkeySC wrote:

bloomin eck, the brakes on the 2012 X3 must have been shite then. The brakes on the 2013 X2 are Alvio level - they're ok, but not great for a bike at that price point in my book.

The 2012 X3 brakes are avid elixr 1's. So yes, yes they are shite.

But, they'll do up until the point when they stop working, then I'll upgrade them.

Notthing wrong with low end shimano brakes, and an awful lot that's right.

bamba

where was you looking at x2 ? paul's cycles shows it as no stock all sizes, personally i think the x3 at £900 is a bargin.

97th choice

Looks like they have sold out since the thread was started.