We take pride in offering the most honest and up-front reviews in hopes that you can better inform yourself on any future purchasing decisions based on your local terrain and skill level. Include BikeExchange.com among your favorite sites to keep abreast of the latest cycling product and industry news and information. Use our informative product reviews to help you choose the best bike for giant KIDS BIKES your needs, or follow the timely selling advice to maximize the potential of your online store. We also recommend subscribing to our free e-newsletter to receive loads of valuable information in your inbox. It’s a twin link floating pivot design of which Giant have been using variation of Maestro for years and as such it’s arguably one of the most refined suspension platforms out there.
As with their hardtails, Giant differentiate the frame materials by branding; Aluxx for the alloy frames and Advanced for the carbon fibre frames. The Giant ATX is the entry level hardtail that’s suited to cross-country duties. They are very similar in terms of essential frame and spec and as such most beginners would be wise to get the cheaper one or save up for a Talon. As with other big bike brands, Giant have their own range of finishing kit and components.
Integrated aerodynamics AeroSystem Shaping, a result of CFD analysis and dynamic wind-tunnel testing, optimizes aerodynamic performance at every yaw angle. The truncated ellipse airfoil tube shapes and Contact SLR/SL Aero cockpit produce the best overall aero performance. Total control Integrated disc brakes deliver powerful stopping power and modulation for added control in variable weather. Flat mounts and thru-axles boost stiffness and improve overall handling, and an integrated WheelSystem with a 65mm rear rim and shallower 42mm front rim optimizes aerodynamics and control. Unrivaled efficiency Advanced-grade composite frameset features high-performance materials and Giant manufacturing processes for optimized stiffness and the lowest weight in its category. Lightweight, efficient and nearly invisible to the wind, this composite road machine offers a true advantage for sprinting and solo riding.
Since then, Giant has popularized at least two significant technological advances that have become the industry standard. First, in 1987, with the high-volume production of its CADEX carbon-framed bike, Giant was the first big bicycle company to mass-produce a carbon road bike. And in 1997, Giant debuted a road bike with “compact geometry.” The bike’s sloping top tube and smaller rear triangle are now used across the industry. Giant’s technology wins are worth noting, but they aren’t the only thing that separate it from other brands, Giant’s Global Marketing and Communications Manager, Doug Barnett, said. They offer a comfortable ride that can be enjoyed for the entire day. This is a great model if you are just starting out riding or you want a reliable commuter or winter-season bike.
It comes in two main guises, simply the Trance and then the Trance X which offers a boost in travel and a bit of a geometry tweak. The standard Trance models get a 130mm fork with 115mm of travel at the back, again, provided by the Maestro suspension platform. On the subject of geometry, in the Low setting, a Trance X comes with a 65.5° head angle, 438mm chainstays and a 77.2° seat tube angle.
The built on the Reign 29 2 is very predictable and it’s happily in line with its price point. Gone is the Rockshox ZEB or Fox 38 but instead there’s a RockShox Yari RC fork with a RockShox Deluxe+ shock. The bike gets a Shimano SLX shifter and mech with a Deore cassette.
Its progressive frame geometry makes it quicker and more agile on climbs and descents. A trunnion-mount shock produces a smooth, supple feel with improved pedaling efficiency, and its Advanced Forged Composite upper rocker arm is lighter and stronger than aluminum. A lightweight Giant WheelSystem with Boost technology comes with tubeless tires already set up, making it easy to experience added efficiency and control on technical terrain. XC Efficiency ALUXX SL aluminum frameset is engineered with lightweight materials and aggressive geometry for faster climbing and accelerating. 29er speed and stability Frame geometry and suspension are optimized for 29-inch wheels to deliver a race-winning combo of speed and stability on XC terrain.
This new version is one of the best all-around bikes currently available. It’s insanely light (our Large test bike was 14.5 pounds) and has a beautiful balance of stiffness for superb pedaling efficiency with just the right amount of lateral flexion for hard cornering. SRAM’s wireless RED eTap groupset aids a clean look, although the cockpit isn’t as aero or fully integrated as other similar bikes. The Cadex carbon rims are tubeless ready, and laced with carbon spokes, and the SRAM RED crank is fitted with a Quarq powermeter.
Fast starts, tight corners, efficiency, and control through dirt, sand, and mud. Proven by top World Cup pros for years, the legendary TCX gets a reboot this year with some key updates to make it faster and smoother than ever. Pro cyclocross racers settle for nothing less than perfection, and this is the machine that meets their demands.
Fenders and racks are no longer standard for 2021, but mounts let you add them if you’d like. The upright riding position helps you keep an eye on traffic or take in the surroundings, and the Escape’s damped ride won’t beat you up on longer adventures. The double-chainring drivetrain offers a wide range of gearing that can handle most situations and terrain. And since inner-city roads are fraught with potholes, glass, and other debris that can wreak havoc on tires, the Escape 1 Disc has puncture-resistant rubber. At first glance, the 2021 Giant TCR Advanced SL 0 Disc might not appear much different than its predecessor. But a closer look reveals that this ninth-generation TCR has been completely redesigned to be both lighter, stiffer, and more aerodynamic.