I love that the latest control pad includes Bluetooth and Ant+ for use with their RideControl smartphone app and ANT+ wireless devices like Garmin! This was a big deal for Dave because it showed a more precise battery readout and other detailed specs. I love that Giant selected a narrow-wide tooth chainring, to help reduce slip and drops. They also included a small guide on top that could help to clear mud, grass, and other debris while fully preventing drops when riding hard and creating lots of movement in the rear swing arm. Giant also added a mounting point for a kickstand at the left rear of the bike.
Weighing in at 54lbs, this full suspension eMTB is heavier than most… especially given the modest 500 watt hour battery capacity. It seems like most competitors in the same price range are in the low 50’s, but at least the 9.5lb battery pack is removable to make the bike easier to lift and transport on automobile racks. The locking core that secures the battery is up high, but on the non-drivetrain side of the bike… which is the side you should lay the bike down on to avoid damaging the sensitive derailleur. I feel that Giant and other companies should put their key slot on the right side of the frame. it’s super low, right in the path of the left crank arm, and the charging plug angles towards the spindle vs. away, so it’s very crowded and feels sloppy to me. The bike looks beautiful with the premium metallic paint and all-black accents.
Tubeless reduces the chances of getting a flat tire, so riders can use lower pressures for better traction. The Stance 2 has 120mm of travel front and rear and its 27.5 wheels come set up for tubeless wrapped with 2.6-inch tires. The rest of the build includes a Suntour fork and shock, a 2×9 Shimano drivetrain, and Shimano hydraulic disc brakes.
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.
Maestro has an edge in pedaling efficiency and braking performance, but the Flexpoint proved capable in our testing and handled all the rocks and roots we came across. It even giant ROAD BIKES looks cool—it has great lines, and the paint scheme is simple and modern. Giant believes the Giant/Liv/Momentum retailer is an essential part of the cycling foundation.
We’ve criticised Giant in the past for dumbing down the build kit on its entry-level bikes, but no such complaint can be levied at the latest Stance 2. With wide 780mm handlebars, short 55mm stem and giant mountain a 150mm dropper post, it has the best finishing kit in test. It also shows just how light the Stance frame really is, because dropper posts typically add 0.5kg to the overall weight of a bike.
This full-suspension 29er makes it easy to experience the latest trail-taming technologies for a smooth, confident ride. The Stance E+ is a cross country and possibly light trail oriented electric bike. It offers 130mm of travel in the front and 120mm of travel in the rear suspension. The 2 is a mid-level build, and it appears that the company also sells a 1 that uses more premium components. Dave told me that he saw a 0 and 4 which would represent the very best and most affordable, but I didn’t see them on the official Giant website .
Built around a hydroformed alloy frameset and 29in wheels, the Stance 29 gets a 130mm travel fork along with 120mm of rear-wheel travel. But as the quality of the Trance’s geometry, suspension and frame has improved over the years, the prices have begun to notch upwards. The current alloy Trance range kicks off at well over three grand, with the top-end carbon model selling for north of $10K. That’s a lot of coin for those of us on a tighter budget, and it presents a much bigger commitment to newer riders to the sport who are weighing up the ‘hardtail vs full suspension’ equation. With its combination of grippy, rock-eating, plus-sized tires and smooth-riding suspension, the all-new Stance gives you more traction, more control and more fun. On the surface, Giant’s signature fluid formed aluminium frame looks exactly the same as the 2016 Stance we tested.