Giant reign x2 2011

teejay73

Guy's, Been offered a giant reign x2 2011 in a hardly used condition. How much should I be looking to pay for it? It is overkill for my ability/needs but if it was worth it then I might be tempted to go for it. Also as a freeride bike would it do the job? Been riding for about a year now on my Jamis durango 2 and feel I could move up a bit. I was looking at the on one 456 evo, As I have heard good things about it. Want to go to chick sands and Aston hill as my skill develops and would like a better ride, But what is better for me, A full susser or H/T? I guess it is subjective a bit. Thanks for your advice in advance guy's.

rockmonkeysc

I had one. Sold it after less than a year for £1200 with some serious upgrades.
It's no good as a freeride bike, the bottom suspension linkage is too weak.
The suspension linkage rate is crap so unless you weigh 10 stone you need a very heavy spring which the Van R rebound damper can't cope with so it kicks back off jumps.
I had a 456ss before the reign x and I preferred that as a freeride bike.

teejay73

Thanks for the quick reply, I heard there was a linkage problem, Though thought that might have been solved with the 2011 bike? Guess not! So a standard one should likely be less than a grand in your opinion as of now? Might steer clear then. I kinda like the idea of a steel frame as I know it can take more punishment and if it does crack it is a easier to put right and if not the 456 frame can be bought pretty cheapish anyway. Might see what the guy will drop down to, If he lets it go for silly money, Then I would take it. Doubt it though as he was hinting around the £1000 mark.

rockmonkeysc

I wouldn't pay more than £800 for a standard Reign x. The fork and transmission are pretty crap. The fork doesn't have a rebound damper as standard and it badly needs one to stop it diving.
Mine was a 2011 model and I broke three bottom links. Worth knowing it takes 2-4 weeks to get a replacement which costs £120.
The 456 is absolutely bomb proof, you won't break it.

teejay73

I will take a swerve on that then for sure then!! I was not really sold on a full suss anyway and the reign x seems like a right pile, I noted it does not have a rebound damper on the fork as well, Also it is a air fork as well is it not?

I do like the 456 and I would prefer a bike I can rag a bit and still take it out for a tarmac run, Though might just chuck some slicks on the jamis and use that for some tarmac flats as my commuter. The 456 comes with Rock Shox Sektors with 140 travel, Are these forks ok or should I look to just get a frame and build a custom 456? The problem I have is that I am still pretty new to the game in terms of understanding what parts are best and keeping things at a reasonable cost. The pre-built bike that on-one have put together for the 456 evo x5 seem pretty good for the price but what would stick out as potential upgrades needed 1st in the not too distant future?

ilovedirt

I love my Reign X, makes an awesome freeride bike (but mine has an angleset, so slacker than stock), but yeah, I've broken a link on mine too. You can mod it to take the older (non-breaking) links, which I plan to do.

rockmonkeysc

To fit the old style link you do have to cut off one of the iscg tabs from the frame.
The fork is a coil lyrik with just a basic rebound damper. The coil lyrik is a very good but only if its a rc2dh spec.