It’s called this because the alloy seatstays actually flex slightly as the rear shock cycles through its travel. Whereas some similar-looking designs will have an extra pivot around the rear dropouts, the Stance skips the pivot, and relies on a bit of flex through the seatstays instead. As well as being a bit lighter, it also reduces moving parts, and therefore cost.
Flowing over obstacles with less rolling resistance and maintaining speed just got a lot more efficient. The bikes at the bottom of the price bracket did not really impress me and would need some serious upgrading to make it at least decent. I figured I giant ROAD BIKES would need to spend another $700 to make the bike suited for the light to medium trail riding that we would be doing. After countless hours browsing through the interweb and going through showroom floors, we came across the Stance at a local bike shop.
Dave swapped them out for some nice big green RaceFace pedals with metal pins shown in the photos and video above. While the battery interface and cover do appear to have some rubber for sealing out water, it does not extend all the way around but can pinch your skin when mounting the pack , so be careful. These bottom mount batteries take more arm strength and finesse to mount properly regardless of the interface. I appreciate that you don’t need to turn the key to re-mount it, just when taking it off the bike.
I used to live in Orlando and rode places like Santos and Mt Dora a lot, the Trance would just be a better overall bike. It’s still a good bike but the relative small price difference between the two the Trance is a better buy. The suspension design of the Trance is much better than that of the Stance as well. Unless some major technical innovation has taken place, there’s usually minimal changes year to year. The 2020 has a mostly SRAM drivetrain, whereas the 2021 is mostly Shimano. They both work, but some riders have a preference for one over the other A bike like this really begs for a dropper post.
To some, a longer stem might help to keep the front end straight or maybe it is just me and my lack of biking skills. This bike has modern features, so upgrading or finding parts when you progress shouldn’t be an issue. It giant ROAD BIKES has a tapered fork tube and even cable hangers for if you want to have a seat dropper which by the way is my next upgrade. Again, as an entry level full suspension, this bike would very difficult to beat for the price.
Combined with 120mm of smooth suspension travel front and rear, it’s a confident ride that will have you nailing new lines. Its 27.5+ wheel and tire compatibility gives it a plush ride quality that soaks up bumps and adds more traction and stability. So after riding this bike for more than two weeks now, I am still impressed and still surprised with the quality of this bike. My girlfriend rode this bike on a couple of intermediate local trails and in Copper Harbor, MI. First of, in my vid review, I have mentioned how easy it is to pedal the bike uphill.
While the Stance 2 has a lot of pros, like any other product, it also comes with its own set of cons. giant KIDS BIKES was created for those people who are looking for an affordable trail bike option that comes equipped with advanced riding capabilities. Stance 2 utilizes a modern design that can help those new to trail riding gain confidence in tackling rough and changing terrains with ease. Giant has taken a more contemporary approach to the new Stance 29, which gets a reasonably long wheelbase and a 67.5° head angle for improved descending stability. For going up, there’s a steep 75° seat angle to keep the rider further over the BB for a more efficient climbing position. No, the numbers aren’t as radical as some other envelope-pushing trail bikes in this travel bracket, but it’s much more modern than what we’re used to seeing from a budget full suspension bike.
The frame is purpose built with internal cable and wire routing, weight is well positioned low and center on the frame to maximize stability. Uncomplicated and lightweight, the Raidon R is a great shock for XC and trail riding. If you can swing it, I’d spend the extra money and get a Trance over the Stance.