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. giant KIDS BIKES 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.
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.
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 .
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 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.
When ascending, there’s little to no bob, whether you’re seated or standing up and mashing the pedals. Hop on the Stance and you’ll notice the upright riding position giant ROAD BIKES and relatively short cockpit. There’s nothing outlandish about the individual geometry figures, but as a package the bike makes you feel rather perched.