While it’s not available in mid-step or step-thru to be more approachable, the top tube does slope down to make it easier to stand over. The high-step provides space for a bottle cage and makes it easier to hang on car racks like Dave had. Giant offers a smartphone app giant KIDS BIKES for tuning the different levels of assist and the bike is now Bluetooth and Ant+ wireless compatible for use with Garmins and other devices. Rubberized button pad is easy to reach and seems very durable, but the readouts are limited and a bit confusing in my opinion.
The new Stance 29 sets the rider up in a comfortable climbing position. The top tube and reach are moderate in length and you feel neither cramped nor stretched out when seated and climbing. Even during out of the saddle efforts, giant ROAD BIKES there was minimal pedal bob, especially when compared to the Hawk Hill 1. There is no compression damping/climb switch on the low-end Suntour Raidon R rear shock, though testers never really found it to be an issue.
For your inside leg measurement, stand against a wall and using a book hold it in between your legs into your groin and make sure it’s flat against the wall. If your height is on the cusp of the size range, your reach is often the deciding factor in which size to go for. To find out if you have short or long reach you will need to measure your ape index. If you have a positive ape index then go for the larger size, or if you have a negative ape index go for a smaller size.
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.
The bike was lined up with other Giant full suspension bikes, so I figured the price would be around $2K. When I saw the price at $1,470, at first I thought it was a typo or I was reading it wrong. Then my thoughts went through the parts list, expecting mechanical brakes, coil suspension – the usual suspects, but I was surprised with most of the decent parts that came with the bike.
The Stance 2 comes outfitted with Maxxis Rekon 27.5×2.6 wide tires in the front while having Maxxis Ardent Race 27.5×2.6 wide tires on the back. The amount of traction added to the bike by way of these tires delivers a smooth ride regardless of where you are riding. The Stance 2 is considered an entry-level full-suspension mountain 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 .
Smaller rocks seemed to disappear, and when racing through corners, the tires held traction even when the trail got loose. If you’re not planning on getting super gnarly then the Stance 2’s Suntour suspension will be adequate. But if you’re likely to ride bigger and more technical trails, the RockShox suspension on the Stance 1 will provide a smoother ride and give you more confidence, benefits that are well worth $200. The Suntour fork and shock handle choppy sections with small rocks with ease but when I rode in an area with larger obstacles the ride was noticeably rougher than with RockShox or Fox suspension parts .
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 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.
Thanks to a combination of the efficient Maestro dual-link suspension design, versatile geometry and a value-oriented build kit, the Trance has earned favour with many riders for many years. Indeed the latest model is one of our favourite short-travel trail rippers. It’s a great bike for riders who want a capable yet affordable trail bike.